Why will Utahns be showing up to work Oct. 2 in jammies — and with a favorite book?

SALT LAKE CITY — Remember those school read-a-thons where jammies-clad kids would arrive in class with pillows and their copies of "Harry Potter" or maybe "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"?

Then all the students would scout out quiet spots, stretch across classroom floors and spend the day doing nothing but reading.

Still popular today, school read-a-thons are memorable diversions from day-to-day classroom routines — and both celebrations and promotions of student literacy.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is himself a veteran of school read-a-thons at rural Fairview Elementary. The memories of read-a-thons — and Pizza Hut's ubiquitous BOOK IT! K-6 reading programs — bring a smile to his face.

And now, as part of his ongoing call for boosting literacy, Cox and his wife, first lady Abby Cox, are staging a Utah Statewide Read-A-Thon for all ages.

"On Oct. 2, mark your calendars — we are having a statewide read-a-thon," said Cox at Thursday's "Show Up for Teachers" education conference at Mountain America Expo Center.

And, he added, the upcoming Utah Statewide Read-A-Thon won't be just for kids arriving at school with their pillows and books.

"We want businesspeople in their pajamas and bringing their pillows and their books to work," he said. "We're hoping that every Utah business gives their workers at least an hour on Oct. 2 to bring a book, read a book and talk about a book."

"Let's get reading again."

Gov. Cox, meet the Count of Monte Cristo

Cox earlier touted the Utah Statewide Read-A-Thon during Tuesday's Honors in Education Gala.

The purpose of the Oct. 2 event, he added, is simple: Everyone in the Beehive State should be reading.

"I need all of you to engage and start reading again if you've stopped," said Cox. "And if you are reading, keep going."

The governor paused his gala message for a moment to ask all in his sprawling audience of educators to turn to the person at their side and ask what they would be reading on Oct. 2.

"And," he quipped, "if you can't think of anything to read, I have a book coming out on Sept. 8. You're welcome to read it."

Sitting next to Cox was Deseret News Publisher Burke Olsen, who told the governor he planned to spend the Utah Statewide Read-A-Thon with a copy of Yuval Levin's "American Covenant" — a book on Cox's must-read list because of its examination of the Constitution.

And what book will be in Cox's hand on Oct. 2?

"I'm going to read 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' because it's Abby's favorite book. I haven't read it, so I'm going to do that."

A day of reading for husbands, wives — and the 'kiddos'

During Thursday's Show Up for Teachers event in Sandy, Abby Cox broke the news of the Oct. 2 Utah Statewide Read-A-Thon to thousands of Utah educators.

Literacy is a defining priority for both Gov. Cox and the first lady.

"We are going to make sure that your kiddos are doing it — but also the businesses and the higher ed and the libraries and the communities," she said of the event.

"You're going to see your husbands or your wives going to their businesses, and they're going to be in their pajamas, and they're going to get their pillows out, and we're going to have a day of reading," she said to cheers.

"We're really excited about that."

The governor has admitted that reading for pleasure has not always been a favorite diversion. "I didn't like reading either, but let me tell you why it's so important — reading has the ability to change everything in your life," he told a group of Bryant Middle School students in February.

Setting aside cellphones and video games to sit down with a book can be tough — but it's worth it, he promised.

"It can actually rewire your brain in very, very positive ways."

Research, he added, confirms that students who read every day will do better in school. But that's just the beginning.

"Later on, you will actually make more money in your career," Cox promised the middle schoolers.

"You'll be happier throughout your life and you will have better and stronger families. The outcomes that are associated with people who read are incredible.

"And so even if you don't like reading, if you start right now — I promise it will change."

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