Ima Kidd books set for Chicago reading day at Da Book Joint

Ima Kidd will spotlight Chicago-themed children’s books at Da Book Joint’s Community Reading Day on Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. The event pairs music video trailers with live readings to promote early literacy and family engagement.

Why it matters: - The event uses children’s books, music and live reading to make early literacy more engaging for kids and parents. - The program centers Chicago’s neighborhoods and city nicknames, giving young readers a local connection to reading. - The gathering also brings together family-run businesses built around youth literacy and community engagement.

What happened: - Ima Kidd will be featured at Da Book Joint’s Community Reading Day on Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. - Patricia Rogers and Eric Williams, the niece-and-uncle team behind Ima Kidd, will read from The Chicago Kidz Book Series. - The event runs from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is open to kids, parents and other attendees.

The details: - The featured books are "The Envy Of The Winds: How Chicago Became Known As The Windy City," "The Chicago Kidz In The City That Works" and "The Chicago Kidz In Chiberia." - Each book explores the meanings behind Chicago nicknames and takes young readers through the city and its neighborhoods. - Rogers and Williams open their readings by playing music video trailers tied to each book. - The authors say the videos are designed to increase student and parent interest in learning to read and reading to learn. - Young readers often dance and sing along before and after the readings. - The event will include refreshments, giveaways and other authors sharing books with attending children and parents. - Kuumba Enterprises LLC is the parent company of Ima Kidd and The Chicago Kidz. - Da Book Joint is a Black mother-daughter-owned business on Chicago’s South Side focused on literary growth and positive youth engagement.

Between the lines: - The collaboration connects two Chicago literacy-focused groups with family ties and a shared community mission. - The format suggests Da Book Joint is using an interactive, entertainment-first approach to keep children engaged with books. - The Chicago-centered themes may help make the reading experience feel familiar and relevant for local families.

What's next: - Attendees can join the Community Reading Day on Sept. 19 and hear the featured stories in person. - The event may also introduce families to additional authors and books during the three-hour program. - More information is available through The Chicago Kidz on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.