Each year, residents in the Naperville, Illinois, area enthusiastically embrace an exciting reading program. Inaugurated in 2001, Naperville READS is a variation of the “one city, one book” reading programs popular around the country. As a partnership with Anderson’s Bookshop, the Naperville Public Library, Naperville School District 203, and Indian Prairie School District 204, Naperville READS seeks to promote the pleasures of reading as a family and community activity.
For several exciting days in Naperville, residents engage in reading, discussing, and celebrating the authors’ books. Children's and adult authors are chosen, and the titles selected may be fiction or non-fiction. The constant is always “a good read”! During Naperville READS, the authors visit area schools at all levels, including elementary, middle school, and high school, and they speak with students in classes from across the curriculum—language arts, reading, communications, creative writing, art, drama, history, and social studies. In addition, each author meets the general public in a free evening event. Depending on author schedules each year, there are other opportunities for citizen and school groups to spend time with the authors through additional programming as part of Naperville READS.
Naperville READS is partially funded by a SECA grant from the City of Naperville.
Sponsoring organizations include Jumping Off the Page*, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204, Naperville Public Library, and Anderson’s Bookshop.
* Jumping Off the Page is a registered 501 (c) (3).