Camden Reads - A yearlong celebration of literacy

Camden County Schools Launches Camden Reads, a Yearlong Literacy Initiative

Courtney Ray

September 8, 2026

Camden County Schools is excited to introduce Camden Reads, a new district-wide initiative designed to celebrate reading and engage students in literacy throughout the school year.

Beginning this month, Camden Reads will feature a different literacy-focused event each month, giving students opportunities to explore a variety of books, genres, and topics while participating in activities that make reading fun and engaging.

Camden Reads is about creating opportunities for our students to experience the joy of reading in new and exciting ways. By celebrating literacy throughout the school year, we hope to encourage students to explore new genres, discover books they love, and see reading as something that can inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

— Rika Dow, Director of K-12 Literacy

Each monthly celebration will feature its own theme and activities:

  • September 25 - Comic Book Day: Graphic novels and superheroes

  • October 8 - Mad Hatter Day: Fun hats and a garden party

  • November 18 - National Nonfiction Day: Biographies and Science

  • December 18 - Frosty Festivities: Hot chocolate and holiday favorites

  • January 8 - New Year, New Books: Interesting stories and great ideas

  • February 12 - Love Reading Day: Heart-healthy habits and a book swap

  • March 2 - Seussical Day: Rhyming contests and classic tales

  • April 30 - Children's Book Day: Storybook characters and fairytales

Through Camden Reads, schools will have the opportunity to bring each month's theme to life in ways that encourage students to discover new books, explore different types of literature, and share the experience of reading with others.

The initiative also provides an opportunity to extend literacy beyond the classroom. Families are encouraged to join in throughout the year by talking with their children about what they are reading, exploring new books together, and making reading part of their routines at home.

Strong literacy skills provide a foundation for learning across every subject and throughout a student's life. Through Camden Reads, Camden County schools looks forward to celebrating the stories, ideas, and discoveries that begin when students open a book.