Tomorrow is World Read Aloud Day, celebrated the first Wednesday of March as a way to promote literacy and the shared word.

I think most of us adults equate reading aloud as something we do with children. I certainly did a great deal of that. Heck, I’d even change my voice for the characters because I’d just get that into it. But I’d like to take a moment to suggest that if you don’t have children handy tomorrow, you might consider sharing that wonderful moment with an older adult, maybe someone with vision problems or just someone who’d love to hear your voice.

My grandfather passed away last July. One of the most precious things we did together on my final visits was spend time together as I read aloud to him from Don Quixote. That classic is a long two books. I knew starting the first that I wouldn’t get a quarter of the way through before he’d leave me. I was right. Still, I enjoyed laughing with him at the funny parts, and I could tell that he cherished the moments.

Reading aloud does more than celebrate the written word. It builds connections across cultures, ages, and even time. And so I hope you’ll get a chance tomorrow to create memories as beautiful as mine.