March is National Reading Month, a nationwide campaign dedicated to getting people of all ages to read more and build it into a real daily habit. Here in Tempe, there’s a full month of reasons to celebrate and plenty of ways to get involved, even with just about 10 days left.
Why March? Here’s the Short Story
National Reading Month is tied to Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd and has grown into a month-long push to help kids, teens, and adults build a lasting reading routine. The idea is simple: read something every day this month and let that momentum carry into April and beyond. It’s not about finishing War and Peace. It’s about forming a habit that lasts.
Reading Is Working Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It
A lot of people treat reading as passive downtime, but the research tells a very different story. A University of Cambridge study found that children who read for pleasure early in life showed measurable differences by adolescence:
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Higher scores on cognitive, memory, and verbal learning tests
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Better mental health, with fewer signs of stress, anxiety, and behavioral issues
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Larger brain volumes in regions tied to language and learning
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Less screen time and longer sleep compared to non-readers
Adults benefit just as much. Regular reading has been linked to stronger vocabulary, sharper focus, and a lower risk of cognitive decline as you age. It’s one of the few habits that genuinely pays off at every stage of life.
Tempe Already Has This Covered
Tempe has built one of the strongest community literacy networks in the Valley. Read On Tempe, a city-led initiative launched in 2015, was designed to create a full early literacy support system from birth through third grade. The programs are evidence-based and city-funded:
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Tempe PRE: A high-quality preschool program built around early literacy using the HighScope curriculum, aligned to Arizona Early Learning Standards
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Experience Corps: Volunteer tutors providing one-on-one reading support for over 500 students in 1st through 3rd grade across Tempe and Kyrene elementary schools
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Triple P: A positive parenting program that helps families build reading-friendly home environments
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HUG (Helping Us Grow): Connects low-income Tempe families with home library resources so kids always have books within reach
What’s Still Happening at Tempe Public Library
The Tempe Public Library at 3500 S. Rural Road is one of the best free resources in the city, and it has two events still on the calendar this month worth catching:
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Board Game Cafe on March 22 at 5:30 PM, a laid-back social night for older kids and teens
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Weird Books for Weird People on March 29 at 6:00 PM, a community pick for anyone ready to find their next favorite read
Beyond these events, the library runs book clubs year-round for adults and teens, and every member gets free access to digital titles and audiobooks through Hoopla with a standard Tempe library card.
Build the Habit at Home
You don’t need a big commitment to make reading stick. Small, consistent steps go a lot further than marathon sessions:
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Set a daily reading window, even 15 minutes after dinner works well
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Let kids choose their own books, including comics, graphic novels, or magazines
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Read aloud together. Recent research shows that parents who read nightly to children ages 6 to 8 see measurable boosts in creativity and empathy
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Trade one screen session for page time a few nights a week
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Visit the library regularly. It’s free, and there’s always something happening at 3500 S. Rural Road
There’s still time to make this month count. Head to tempepubliclibrary.org to check the full events calendar, grab a free library card, and explore Read On Tempe programs built for Tempe families. Your next favorite book is already waiting.
Sources: nationaltoday.com, cam.ac.uk, readonarizona.org, tempe.gov, tempepubliclibrary.org, theconversation.com
Header Image Source: Aaron Burden on Unsplash
