Have You Read the Most Popular Children’s Book in Illinois?

Normally I think designated "National Days" are hogwash. They're made-up days in order to promote something that probably doesn't need promoting.

For instance, National Cookie Day is like, really? We know about cookies, we already eat cookies, so why is there a day?

In case you're wondering, National Cookie Day is December 4 this year.

Anyway, in the myriad of insane "National Days", this is one that's actually important.

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Teaching kids the value of reading and writing is one of the biggest responsibilities teachers AND parents have.

Reading allows kids to be creative, and to live outside of a world much different from theirs. Reading is an escape from reality, or simply, just a good way to learn a lesson.

My wife and I have three kids and while they were young we agreed we would switch off every other night reading a book to our kids.

Our youngest, who is 6, is currently receiving the every other night Mom and Dad reading routine.

We both believe it's a great way to introduce our child to reading, especially before bed as a way to wind down after a busy day of nonstop screentime.

This week, and especially today is a big day for reading in the United States because it's officially dubbed National Read Across America Day.

My son's school does more than focus solely on today as they celebrate the entire week with the most popular children's author of all time, Dr. Seuss.

Theme days like dress-up as famed Dr. Seuss characters are the norm for the week so I guess it would make sense that the most popular children's book in Illinois would also come from the guy who created The Cat in the Hat.

However, it's not that one, or Green Eggs and Ham or Horton Hears a Who! chosen by Illinois residents.

Grand Canyon University looked at Google Trends from the past year or so and Kansas, South Dakota, and Illinois all searched for Yertle the Turtle the most.

Prindle Institute:

Yertle the turtle is the ambitious king of the pond who decides he wants to expand his kingdom. Yertle orders the turtles to stand on each other’s back to form a tall throne, ignoring the complaints of the turtles at the bottom. He then sits atop this throne and proclaims that he rules over all that he sees. Eventually, Mack, the exhausted turtle at the bottom of the stack, burps, and Yertle’s throne and power crumble beneath him.

If you haven't read Yertle the Turtle to your young ones yet, maybe today should be the day.

Also, you don't have to worry about going to the library or ordering one from Amazon, because the entire book is online for FREE HERE.