Feliz día de los Muertos! November 1 is celebrated in Mexico and throughout Latin America as the Day of the Dead. It is a day to pay tribute to lost loved ones by visiting the cemeteries where they are buried and leaving them flowers, their favorite food, and tributes.
November 1 is also National Family Literacy Day in the United States, and the kickoff to National Family Literacy Month—a great time to get back into the tradition of reading as a family. Here are some ways to celebrate throughout the month, courtesy of GettingSmart.com:
- Get older siblings reading to their younger siblings. It’s great practice for big bro or big sis to explain big words or summarize the story, and it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate a love of reading to little bro or sis.
- Take turns choosing the book or the book reading location of the night.
- Pitch a tent in the living room and “camp out” while you read.
- Involve distant family and friends. Books can be read aloud over FaceTime or Zoom. Or record your child reading their favorite book and send the video to loved ones.
- Read and watch. Choose a book that has been turned into a movie. Read the book first and then have a family movie night to see the book come to life on the screen.
- Dinner talk. Books can be a topic of discussion at family dinner. Ask family members to share about the latest books they’ve enjoyed, or how the plot is twisting in their latest chapter book.