Cherry Creek Reads 2024 is coming!

Did you know that if you read 20 minutes a day, you’ll read 1.8 million words a year?

Words have power. We can use words to express ourselves, to educate, to entertain, and even to inspire others. That’s why the featured book for Cherry Creek Reads 2024 – a districtwide celebration of reading – is Words of Wonder from Z to A, written by Zaila Avant-garde and illustrated by Keisha Morris.

In 2021, when Zaila was just 14 years old, she won the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She was the first African American to win the spelling bee in 100 years! Three years later, she wrote Words of Wonder from Z to A, a colorful collection of inspiring words, along with quotes from inspiring people, such as Maya Angelou and Nelson Mandela.

Cherry Creek Reads, now in its sixth year, brings the Cherry Creek Schools community together to read for fun, for the pure joy of reading.

“We want our students to develop a passion for reading so that it becomes a joyful and natural part of their lives now and into adulthood,” said Karen Connors, teacher librarian at High Plains Elementary, one of the organizers of Cherry Creek Reads.

Literacy is one of three key priorities in the Cherry Creek Schools Strategic Plan, which is designed to ensure that every student receives the high-quality education necessary to find their Pathway of Purpose.

Research shows that reading – whether for pleasure, or for a purpose, like school or work – has many benefits. Reading increases comprehension and vocabulary. In fact, children learn 4,000 to 12,000 new words every year through reading. Reading can also increase empathy, ease depression, reduce stress and improve sleep.

"Reading is an essential skill that is critical for students in school and in life. Books give students the opportunity to learn about new places, other people, and experiences that will help them understand our diverse world," added co-organizer Kim Casali, teacher librarian at Buffalo Trail Elementary.

During Cherry Creek Reads 2024, students, parents, teachers, staff, family, and friends are encouraged to read for 68 minutes or more. That’s one minute of reading for every Cherry Creek school. Students may also participate in a variety of special activities, from student-created podcasts, videos, or posters about their dreams, to messaging a favorite author or illustrator, or school-wide “Drop Everything and Read” time.

So, grab a book and join us for Cherry Creek Reads 2024, March 11-15!

Posted 2/13/2024.