October 2022: Book Month

WHEREAS, books play a crucial role in our lives, stimulating our imagination, expanding our knowledge of the world and each other, and helping us to develop language skills; and,

WHEREAS, reading books is also associated with early childhood learning and development, as it helps children to learn sounds, words, and language, expand literacy skills, and develop the ability to focus, concentrate, socialize, and communicate; and,

WHEREAS, reading books has long-lasting health benefits for individuals of all ages, including increased cognitive function, memory, empathy, and decreased levels of stress; and,

WHEREAS, reading books is important for mental health - regular readers sleep better, have lower stress levels, higher self-esteem, and lower rates of depression than non-readers; and,

WHEREAS, according to U.S. Department of Education estimates, more than half of United States adults (54 percent) between 16- and 74-years of age lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level; it is proven that as literacy rates go up, so do wages; reading is intrinsic to a strong economy; and,

WHEREAS, the right to literacy for all children in Michigan depends on providing access to quality books and literature; literacy is a priority of the Michigan Department of Education, and books are our vehicle to literacy success;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 2022 as Book Month in Michigan.  During this time, we should encourage each other to read books every day, spend time reading our favorite books, and discover new materials. Let us recommit ourselves to encouraging children and each other to read diverse literature as it positively impacts all facets of our shared quality of life.