It’s another successful event in the books for the twice-yearly Children’s Book Week, which wrapped on May 7. With more than 2,600 schools, libraries, bookstores, and parents participating in the 2023 celebration, which is organized by the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, the national literacy initiative was jam-packed with in-person and virtual programming for young readers across the country.

Here’s a recap of the milestone moments that made this year’s Book Week—touting the “Read Books. Spark Change” slogan—memorable.

Getting Social. Educators, librarians, and author-artists took to the web to discuss their favorite books. This year’s poster creator Rilla Alexander highlighted her book Her Idea (Flying Eye) while teaching a workshop about stories and characters in Berlin, Germany. Meanwhile, across the pond at the Lynchburg (Va.) Public Library, youth services supervisor Victoria Winfree shared her personal spark-inducing pick, She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein (Knopf).

Floyd Cooper Day was also recognized online, where Round Rock (Tex.) Library encouraged kids to read the late author-illustrator’s books. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library honored Copper by promoting its YouTube video of Parton reading Max and the Tag-Along Moon (Philomel).

Publishers and librarians alike utilized platforms like Twitter and Facebook to craft social media shoutouts. During Book Week, staff at Scott County Public Library in Georgetown, Ky., were featured holding beloved children’s books. Art agent Anne Armstrong of Bright Agency US created an original Book Week illustration in honor of the week-long event. And across the pond, Oxford Children’s Books showcased select titles that spelled out R-E-A-D-I-N-G via the first letter of each work.

Personally Speaking. Traditional in-person programming made a strong reprisal during a post-pandemic Book Week, enabling libraries and schools to supplement their literacy programs with live events. At Warner Library in Tarrytown, N.Y., parent and child attendees at a bilingual storytelling show received Book Week posters and activity sheets to support learning at home. The event, which is part of the library’s five-year strategic plan to increase Spanish language initiatives, attracted 70 participants.

Also supplementing virtual events was Fairplay’s Screen-Free Week, which coincided with this year’s Book Week. To reward kids who put aside their electronic devices for the duration of this initiative, the nonprofit dedicated to providing kid-friendly alternatives to digital entertainment is hosting a giveaway of books listed on the Annual Screen-Free Children’s Booklist. Interested readers can enter to win from now until May 21.

Future Opportunities. While spring Book Week is technically over, there are still opportunities for extending the festivities. Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou, winners of the seventh annual Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, will host a video read-aloud of their book, The Proudest Color, and hold a virtual q&a. Teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents are invited to submit their questions for the authors by May 19. And for young readers still contemplating how books have inspired them, they have until June 1 to complete the Find Your Spark Challenge and receive their personalized digital certificate.

“We loved seeing all the ways that readers young and old were inspired by the theme this spring,” said Children’s Book Council associate executive director Shaina Birkhead. “We cannot wait to further this connection between young readers and the spark a good book can bring this fall when our celebration focuses on classrooms around the country. We hope to see even more kids participate in the challenge, sharing their sparks with us.”