Drop Everything And Read

D.E.A.R. Friend,

I put D.E.A.R. in all capital letters on purpose to get your attention. This Web site is about National Drop Everything and Read Day. D.E.A.R. stands for Drop Everything and Read—get it?

I got it ever since I was eight and we started having D.E.A.R. time at my school. D.E.A.R. is a lot of fun and because I know so much about it, librarians [Association for Library Service to Children], teachers [National Education Association], parents [Parent Teacher Association], journalists [Newspaper Association of America Foundation], some people who make books [HarperCollins Children’s Books], and some people who give books [First Book] have asked me—Ramona Geraldine Quimby—to be in charge of telling everyone about National Drop Everything and Read Day on April 12^th.

April 12^th will be a busy day for me since that is also Beverly Cleary’s birthday, but I always can find time to read. I am going to tell everyone in my family to Drop Everything and Read on April 12^th. We can do it right at home or to make the day more special, maybe go to the library or a bookstore.

I hope that you, D.E.A.R. friend, will be reading too. Everybody can do it! All you need is a book, your family and 30 minutes together.

Sincerely,
Ramona Q.