On Friday, March 7, we’re celebrating 25 years of reading together at Family Reading Night with special guest Caldecott Honor author/illustrator Marla Frazee.

The free family event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Washington Middle School.

Family Reading Night Flyer

This annual event is organized by the Community Literacy Foundation, in partnership with the School District of Washington, Washington Optimist Club, Washington Public Library and Friends of the Library, and Neighborhood Reads bookstore.

Frazee returns to headline the event after 17 years. In 2008, she shared her book “A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever.” That book went on to win a Caldecott Honor. Two more of her books, "In Every Life,” and "All the World," (written by Liz Garton Scanlon), also earned Caldecott Honors. 

Frazee's picture book "The Boss Baby," has been turned into a DreamWorks animated feature film and TV series. She is the illustrator of "The Seven Silly Eaters," the NYT bestselling “Clementine" series, the picture books "It Takes a Village," and "The Great Zapfino." Her wordless picture book "The Farmer and the Clown" won the 2015 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Picture Book and a Best in Book Illustration Award from the National Cartoonist Society - and is the first book in The Farmer Books trilogy. More information on her other books can be found at MarlaFrazee.com.

Family Reading Night will feature stories in reading rooms, activity tables hosted by area school PTO organizations, refreshments and book giveaways. The Washington Police Department will share a skit at the end of the evening based on a book.

Organizations and individuals interested in donating book baskets or making a donation to fund book giveaways at Family Reading Night may contact Penny Heisel or drop them at the Washington Public Library, Washington Middle School Library or Neighborhood Reads bookstore.

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the Bookmark Contest art project and have their work displayed at Family Reading Night. The bookmarks should celebrate reading - all themes, slogans and artwork are welcome.

Bookmarks can be submitted as a class project or individually. The template and more information can be found at the Neighborhood Reads website and should be submitted by Friday, Feb. 28. Bookmarks will be displayed at Family Reading Night and the winning bookmark will be printed and distributed at local schools and public libraries.

Families who read together the week before Family Reading Night will have the opportunity to bring their reading logs to enter into a drawing for gift certificates. Reading logs will be distributed in schools in mid-February and can be downloaded at the Neighborhood Reads website.

Family Reading Night is a free family event for all ages.