Grand Forks will be celebrating Family Literacy Day a little early this year. The actual national family literacy day takes place on Jan. 27 and it is an initiative meant to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in literacy related activities as a family.However, Grand Forks will jump the gun with their show “Tell me a Tale: Share a Family Story” on Friday, Jan. 24.The event, which is sponsored by Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL), goes from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Grand Forks Art Gallery and is open to everyone.Sheila Dobie, CBAL community literacy coordinator for Grand Forks, said the Friday worked out better than Monday because the children are off school and the gallery is open.“It’s an afternoon of sharing stories,” she said. “It’s families, adults, really anyone coming forward sharing a story they have written or are willing to read out or tell that’s about a family, is family-oriented, or about something special that occurred in a family.”Dobie said they are partnering with the local writer’s guild and the Riverside Storytellers to put on the event.“They are quite keen on sharing some of their stories,” she said. “We’re hoping we’ll get a good turnout of all ages of folks sharing some of their writing, stories or poetry.”Family literacy is important is establishing a culture of learning and encourages an exchange of ideas, enriches family relationships, and bolsters confidence and independent thinking, said Dobie.CBAL encourages families to develop and use literacy at home and in their community through such daily routines as enjoying a storybook together, playing word games, singing, writing to relatives or friends, and making shopping lists or using a recipe.