
If you're a middle school or high school teacher, you might be saying you don't have enough time for this. It doesn't have to be long. Use that "Do Now" time that is so common to give students a chance to read something on their own or with a partner each day, or on predictable days of the week (once is probably not enough!)
If you're a principal, open up your faculty meetings or meetings with your colleagues by reading something...a piece of children's literature, an excerpt from a professional article, a piece of student writing. It will set the tone as a gentle reminder of something that your community believes in.

Read their texts again and again. Pick apart your favorite sentences. This doesn't mean diagramming the sentences or overdoing any one thing. It means savoring them, posting them around the room for kids to enjoy and internalize during the day. Refer to their lessons throughout the day. Name-drop them as often as you can so that the students feel like they know them!
When studying authors, you really shouldn't use worksheets or store-bought activities. You should just read the author's work, try out some of their techniques, and live his or her lessons. If it feels too school-like, don't do it! If it feels like something you yourself would do to get to know an author, do it!

You can also have the class choose something special to read in honor of the birthday person. We used to call this a literary gift. It allows kids to really be selective in what they choose, and teaches them that birthday presents are more than just the newest toy. It also builds the community of the class.
