“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” (but actually, May 4, 2026 in Ogden, Utah), our youngest readers blasted off into a galaxy of literacy fun during this year’s Early Literacy Event featuring children’s author Adam Rex. During school assemblies with first graders from across the district, Mr. Rex shared the creative process behind his many beloved books, and read from one of his most popular titles, Are You Scared, Darth Vader? The enthusiasm and excitement were out of this world!
That evening, families gathered at Hillcrest Elementary School for an interactive Family Literacy Night themed around Star Wars (“May the Fourth Be With You!”). The school was transformed into an intergalactic celebration complete with cosmic games and activities, hands-on demonstrations in the StarLab portable planetarium, and plenty of opportunities for families to explore reading together in a fun and engaging environment. Each first grader also received a copy of Pluto Gets the Call to take home and read with a parent, grandparent, or older sibling, helping extend the joy of reading beyond the classroom.
We are thrilled to sponsor this event each year with the district as part of an ongoing effort to build strong early reading skills and encourage family involvement in literacy. It's always an exciting reminder of the power of books to bring students, families, and our community together. A huge thank you to our Ogden School District librarians for all their hard work organizing this event, to the community partners who joined us, and to the students and families who came out to be part of the fun. We can’t wait to do it all again next year with another amazing author!