National Reading Month: 5 Celebs Who Have Book Clubs
March is not only Women’s History Month; it’s also National Reading Month. According to America’s Charities, National Reading Month was created to motivate Americans of all ages to read every day, in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” Dr. Seuss once said. A great way to get people interested in reading more is with book clubs, and they are something that people have created and have been a part of for a very long time, including celebrities. Below, check out 5 celebrities who currently have book clubs.
1. Noname
Retired Chicago rapper Noname has created a digital book club, Noname’s Book Club, which now includes physical meetups. Noname’s Book Club was created to uplift voices of people of color. The book club does so by “highlighting two books each month written by authors of color.” In addition to the club’s social media presence, the book club feels that “it is highly important to have free in-person meetups to discuss the monthly picks in a safe and supportive environment. ” Noname’s club currently has six local chapters with plans for continuous growth. More information regarding Noname’s Book Club can be found on the book club’s website, its Twitter account @NoNameBooks, and its Instagram account @NoNameReads.
2. Amerie
Singer and author Amerie started a book club entitled Amerie’s Book Club. ABC is a book club for “the modern reader, where bibliophiles and occasional readers, alike, can connect via social media to discuss exciting new ways books capture our struggles, resilience, and eternal hopes.” The books that are selected for ABC “reflect the book club’s commitment to highlighting diverse and unique perspectives and voices.” The book club has a schedule of monthly social media moments via Youtube and Instagram. At the end of each month, America hosts Instagram Live sessions.“After years of building an online community on my love of books—and the other things that drive me: music, family, culture—I’ve found the best way to have dialogue with my fellow booklovers is online, where connection is energized and in real-time,” Amerie said of ABC. More information regarding America’s Book Club can be found on the book club’s website and its Instagram account @AmeriesBookClub.
3. Oprah
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is known for her popular book club, entitled Oprah’s Book Club. It’s been in existence since 1996 and has included books that were meticulously selected by Winfrey. Many of Winfrey’s selections become bestsellers. Winfrey now has a new partnership with Apple, giving Oprah’s Book Club a new chapter that began with Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer, and continued with Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout and American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Winfrey’s book club has over two decades worth of titles that have been celebrated and the complete list filled with 83 titles can be read on Winfrey’s website. More information regarding Oprah’s Book Club can be found on the book club’s website and Instagram page, @OprahsBookClub.
4. Nipsey Hussle
The late Los Angeles rapper didn’t actually have a book club while he was alive. However, “The Marathon Book Club” was created in the “Victory Lap” rapper’s honor. Hussle was an avid reader and loved books just as much as he loved giving back to his community. A woman in Wisconsin, Simran Kaleka, a 31-year-old lawyer, created a meme with Nipsey Hussle’s photo on it along with book titles that the rapper had read, and that is what caused The Marathon Book Club to jump off, according to the Los Angeles Times. Fans of Hussle have created a myriad of Marathon Book Clubs across the country in the months since. More information regarding The Marathon Book Club can be found by simply clicking on the hashtag #MarathonBookClub on various social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
hey y’all. here’s my updated list. i’ll continue revamping it in the thread. keep passing the baton. #TMC 🏁 pic.twitter.com/pzO6GdDMpC
— simran k. (@simrankaleka) April 17, 2019
5. Taye Diggs
Actor and author Taye Diggs doesn’t have a traditional book club. However, he has partnered with the National Head Start Association to “promote cultural understanding and pride while wishing Congress a Happy National Reading Month. ” The partnership’s program allows its participants to “share a special message with your Members of Congress and create a topic of discussion to engage parents when children return home at the end of the school day.” By reading either of Diggs’ children’s books, Chocolate Me! or Mixed Me! this March, participants “will enable them to celebrate and embrace their own unique cultures.”
Those who are interested can participate by doing the following:
- Choose what day or days in March you will do the reading month activity with your children.
- Print out a few sample activity ideas and read Chocolate Me! or Mixed Me! or both during the month of March at your Head Start program. There is even a take-home activity that parents can engage with their children.
- Take pictures and have fun! Post your pictures on social media using the hashtag #ReadWithTaye. When you post your pictures make sure to tag us (@NatlHeadStart) and Head Start’s Child Literacy Ambassador @TayeDiggs on Facebook and Twitter. He may even share your picture and promote your program!
- But, most importantly, tag your Members of Congress! Share your pictures and wish your Senators and Representative a happy National Reading Month! You can find out who your members of Congress are here. To tag them on social media, find Members of Congress handles here.
Happy National Reading Month, y'all! Check out the @NatlHeadStart #ReadwithTaye activity and get started today! https://t.co/NHqjYpZvUg pic.twitter.com/ifgiSMfBdU
— Taye Diggs (@TayeDiggs) March 1, 2017
