May

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month — Celebrate family traditions and the rich diversity of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States with children's books and author interviews. (Image: “Blue Ocean” by Tadashi Ikai, from the collection, On the Cutting Edge: Contemporary Japanese Prints, Library of Congress)

Get Caught Reading Month! — Get Caught Reading is a national campaign to promote the joys of recreational reading for all ages. It was first held in 1999. The campaign is supported by the Association of American Publishers, the national trade association of the book publishing industry in the United States. The celebration lasts throughout the year. Find books you want to be caught reading at www.KidsReads.com.

May 13 – 19 — Established in 1919, Children's Book Week celebrates the transformative power of literacy.

May 30 – 31 -- Nine contestants participated in the first National Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Louisville, Kentucky, Courier-Journal in 1925. This year, 281 spellers will compete for the title of 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. The spellers range in age from 18 to 14 years old, but 89% are between the ages of 12 and 14 years old.