Family Literacy Day

Posted: January 9, 2008

FAMILY LITERACY DAY

January 27, 2008

Created by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation in 1999, Family Literacy Day® (FLD) is a national initiative that promotes the importance of reading and learning together as a family. Every year, on January 27, families and communities across Canada celebrate this special day at literacy-themed events coordinated by literacy organizations, schools and libraries. Family Literacy Day is promoted through a national marketing campaign, with advertising in magazines and newspapers, on TV, radio and the Internet, as well as public relations initiatives, and corporate support from companies like Honda Canada, the Founding Sponsor of Family Literacy Day.

You can find out more about FLD by reading the history of Family Literacy Day on the ABC CANADA website.

Robert Munsch, Canada's best-selling children's author, has once again agreed to be the Honourary Chair of Family Literacy Day. The well-loved author of over 50 books for kids, including The Paper Bag Princess, Thomas' Snowsuit and Love You Forever, brings over two decades of storytelling experience to the Family Literacy Day initiative. Mr. Munsch willingly lends his name to Family Literacy Day (FLD) public relations and marketing activities, and provides support for FLD activities coordinated by ABC CANADA.

In honour of the 10th year of Family Literacy Day®, January 27, ABC CANADA asked Robert Munsch, celebrated children’s author and honourary chair of the day to share 10 little known facts about himself.

1. Robert Munsch didn’t start writing until he was 35 after someone heard him telling stories to children at the daycare where he worked.

2. It takes an average of five years for Robert Munsch to write a book.

3. Most Robert Munsch books are based on children he knows. Three stories are about his kids.

4. Robert Munsch has an editor, like most writers do, to get rid of the poor grammar in the original texts of his stories.

5. Robert Munsch likes hip-hop and his favourite rapper is Missy Misdemeanor Elliot.

6. His kids are grown-ups, but Robert Munsch still reads to his nephews and nieces.

7. Nine publishers turned Robert Munsch down before he was published.

8. When Robert Munsch was a kid his favourite book was The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss.

9. If Robert Munsch could be in one of his books, he would be in Mortimer.

10. Robert Munsch loves Family Literacy Day because it enables him to meet lots of interesting people and help to create a love of reading.

Robert Munsch also wrote a special book for Family Literacy Day.  You can find a copy of this book by following this link to Name Tags.

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