Get Caught With Your Favorite Book

Apr 21

Reading Time: 2 min

May is not only a month to celebrate spring, it’s also the kickoff to the literacy campaign “Get Caught Reading”, a nationwide public service campaign launched by the Association of American Publishers. This campaign exists to remind people of all ages that reading can be a fun and engaging experience no matter where you are. It officially starts in May and lasts throughout the year.

Get Caught Reading provides teachers, librarians, and booksellers with free bulletin-board-sized posters of authors, artists, athletes, musicians, and beloved book characters “caught” reading a favorite book. This is a great way to showcase how anyone can find joy in reading, even celebrities!

Get Caught Reading is sponsored by Every Child A Reader, which believes in introducing children to the magic of reading. They are focused on connecting book creators with communities, providing literacy tools and resources that champion young voices.

Since its inception, this campaign has been supported by hundreds of celebrities, including LL Cool J, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, and players from professional sports teams. The campaign creates posters that “catch” notable people reading. This is meant to offer inspiration to readers by showcasing the fact that anyone, regardless of their talents or profession can find joy in reading wherever they go.

Here are some ways to make reading fun and exciting for everyone in your life:

“Catch” members of your family reading in uncommon spaces, the more creative the better! Think: Under the dining room table, in a tree, in a tent, laying on the front lawn.
Create your own “get caught” poster gallery at home or school in unique reading spaces as a reminder that any time is a good time to read.
Invite senior family members or friends to join you for family reading nights - in person or on zoom.
Use your crafting skills to create a book as a family to read now and save as a treasured keepsake - this can be a story about your family or a scrap book that uses family photos and mementos as illustrations.
Have each member of the family or a friend group read a single book and discuss or present a review of the book from each perspective.