National Book Month

At Planet Word, we aim to inspire and renew a love of words, language, and reading in people of all ages. In recognition of National Book Month this October, we have curated a selection of resources below to help you discover and celebrate the magic of books and storytelling.

Watch PAST PROGRAM VIDEOS featuring authors, literary critics, and book professionals like Clint Smith, Julia Whelan, and more.
Explore 10 Books to Read Before High School, a reading list curated by Read With Val, a high school YouTuber passionate about sharing powerful and diverse books written by underrepresented authors.
Head over to OUR BLOG to check out our past Q&As with authors like Jason Reynolds and David Crystal, messages from our founder, and more.
Follow Planet Word on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM @PlanetWordDC for fun word- and book-related content.

From the Founder

We Need Diverse Books

Read the latest from Planet Word Founder Ann Friedman about the importance of books that reflect the experiences of more young readers: “Finding diverse books is essential: When asked why they don’t read, too many students say that they can’t find books that reflect their cares or world.”

Featured Programs

Special Event

Shout Mouse Press Book Launch Celebration: Bright Before Us, Like a Flame

October 08, 2025
6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

$0 | Friedman Family Auditorium

This program is sold out. Join Planet Word and Shout Mouse Press in celebration of the highly anticipated book launch of Bright Before Us, Like a Flame — a bold new anthology celebrating a…

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Special Event

The Crossover: Ten Years Later with Kwame Alexander

October 25, 2025
6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

$13.22 | Friedman Family Auditorium

Planet Word and Politics and Prose invite you to celebrate 10 years of The Crossover with #1 NYT bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning producer Kwame Alexander! Newbery Medal-winning book turned Disney+ TV series, The…

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Featured Past Program

The Enduring Appeal of The Great Gatsby

April 09, 2021
6:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.

Since The Great Gatsby’s debut in 1925, it’s been dismissed, beloved, misunderstood, interpreted, reinterpreted, and deified among the greatest American novels. This year, Gatsby enters the public domain, ensuring a new creative crop of…

Watch Online

Planet Word’s Story Table

Planet Word’s Schwarzman Family Library invites visitors to discover the wonders of the written word, with walls lined with some of our favorite books, from picture book classics like Corduroy to modern masterpieces in verse like Long Way Down. Place any of these books on the Story Table and watch them come to life.

Explore the books in the Library

October 5–11, 2025

Banned Books Week

Attempts to ban books violate one of the most fundamental tenets of our democracy: free speech. Explore our curated selection of resources about the negative impact of banning books and ways to fight back this Banned Books Week.

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Stories Matter

10 Books to Read Before High School: A Reading List from Read with Val

Check out this list of ten powerful and diverse books that all kids should read before they start high school, curated by Read With Val in recognition of National Book Month.

Read the list

From the Blog

The Book Doctor Is In: Q&A with Bookbinder Emma Kiely-Hampson

When you’re feeling out of sorts, you go to the doctor. But where do you bring worn-out books? To a book doctor, of course! In this Q&A, we ask local bookbinder and restorer Emma Kiely-Hampson to talk about her experience and shed light on her field.

The Swiftie Library: 12 Literary References in Taylor Swift’s Discography

Taylor Swift is known for her chart-topping pop hits and glittering performances, but did you know she’s a master of literary references? With her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, out, take a look back at some of the surprisingly literary layers to her past album lyrics.

Literacy Resources

National Literacy Month may be over, but literacy is a year-round issue that impacts us all. Reading is not just a skill, it’s a fundamental human right that opens doors, builds foundations for a lifetime of learning, and fosters a more empowered society. Explore our curated selection of resources about the science of reading and reading recommendations for young readers from our friends at Reading Rockets.