The holidays are here and although this may seem a bit random, December is Read-A-New-Book Month! Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, this is a perfect reminder for us to slow down a bit and take some leisure time for ourselves.
I’m a huge fan of this idea because, truth be told, I’m a book nut! I can always be talked into paying a visit to a Barnes and Noble, a small independent store, or even the library. I just love wandering the aisles and perusing all the interesting titles and fascinating subjects. I even created a “Wander-ful Bookstores” list on Yelp of some of my local favorite spots in the Raleigh area.
But what to read?!? Yes, quite a dilemma when dealing with limited time in a busy month like December. This Visual.ly infographic should help lead you to just the right choice:
I also highly recommend GoodReads.com as a resource for finding great books. You can connect with your friends, see their lists and recommendations, and create “to-read” lists so that you don’t lose all that great advice!
And doesn’t a good book make a perfect Christmas present? This list from About.com has some excellent ideas for your friends and family: bestsellers.about.com/Best-Books-for-Christmas-Gifts
December is also the time of caring and sharing, so consider providing books to kids and classrooms in need! First Book is an organization that I whole-heartedly endorse. I met the great folks from the FirstBook in New Hanover County at an event in Wilmington as they were doing storytime and talking about their local efforts. They are an amazing group doing fantastic work. Another organization I endorse is DonorsChoose.org. Teachers from across the nation can list projects for which they need funding. I provided funding towards science kits for a high-poverty classroom one year and got a personalized letter from the teacher and her students. It was truly special!
So, give yourself a gift this busy season: grab a book and settle into a quite corner for some much needed downtime. Happy Read-A-New-Book Month! Spread the word…