The best month of the year has finally arrived! Fall festivals, hayrides, sweaters, and pumpkin spice- yes, please!
It is also the perfect time of year to cuddle up on the back porch with a flannel blanket and a cup of something warm and yummy and fall into a good book. (My dad would be so proud of that pun!) And just look at all these wonderful bookish holidays to celebrate! I told you October was the best month of the year- it's National Book Month after all!
10/1: International Coffee Day & Poetry Day
Coffee, you are so dark and rich
Books, you are a loyal friend
Together, you are a delightful mix
whose treasures have no end
I know, I know- International Coffee Day is technically not a bookish holiday. But as I so perfectly illustrated in my poem, they are the perfect pairing. So, Bookstagrammers get busy creating those book spine poetry posts with beautifully curated coffee mugs and autumn leaves and teachers encourage your students to create poetry as you pace the room sipping your warm brew. The rest of us will chill with a nice book of poetry and our favorite coffee concoction. What a delightful beginning to Book Month!
10/2: Mystery Series Week
What do Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Case Closed have in common? They are all mystery series your child will devour, and this just may be the genre that hooks him/her on reading. I think the hours adult women invest in ID network proves the theory of how addictive mysteries can be!
Verity, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Maid are three mysteries that I have enjoyed this year. It's not my go-to genre, but I'm always glad when I do! If you have any favorites, please comment and clue us in. (My puns are on point today!)
Bookstagrammers, you could get creative with Clue board game themed posts. Think Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mr. Green, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, and Mrs. Peacock for colorful book stacks. Or peruse book covers for a Clue's weapon composition which would include a rope, candlestick, revolver, wrench, lead pipe, and knife. So fun!
10/5: World Teacher Day
This is another stretch into bookish holidays, but I couldn't resist because it is so often times teachers who inspire us to become book people. So, honor your favorite teacher this month, and reread a favorite book he/she read to you in class. Or read a book like Wonder, Matilda, or Thank you, Mr. Falker featuring loveable teachers. Teachers (or parents) if you're looking for great read alouds, check out August to May Read Aloud Line-Up.
Bookstagrammers, you could post a picture of yourself in the grade you had your favorite teacher and give a quick shout-out to the teacher who made a difference in your life. Let people know some of the special things that teacher did to make them stand out in your memory. All teachers love a good teacher story and Bookstagram is full of teachers- including yours truly!
10/6: Mad Hatter Day
Do you ever have a hankering to wear a silly hat, do nonsensical things, and throw an eccentric tea party? Well, today is your day! Or you could just read (or reread) Alice in Wonderland. Or maybe read the book to your kids or watch the movie together. However, you choose to celebrate, have fun! But make sure you wear the sill hats- you're just mad if you don't. (Is there no end to my pun genius?!)
Ahhhh teenagers... don't you just love em'?! So, let's spend a week cuddling those prickly beasts and encouraging (aka nagging) them to read. Your local library is most likely full of resources to help you get a book under your teen's nose. I also have an eBook entitled Read, Dang It! full of ideas that you can download for free if you subscribe to my newsletter. But one thing most teens won't complain about is time with you, so take them on a bookstore date. Let them pick out a few books, then grab some food or coffee. It's Fall, life is good baby- share a day together and celebrate!
10/16: Dictionary Day (Webster's Birthday)
Not gonna lie- your ordinary Ink Drinker isn't going to do much to observe this holiday. Maybe you could look up a few words to expand the ol' vocabulary- other than that, I got nothing.
However, Bookstagrammers, you can have a lot of fun. Create a carousel of your favorite words and definitions. Or, make up words and give them definitions. You could also amaze your audience with endless dictionary trivia. Go on- get jiggy with it. (jiggy- uninhibited, especially in a sexual manner.) I think I've been using that word incorrectly!
10/16: Oscar Wilde's Birthday
"I can resist everything except temptation."
"A man's face is his autobiography.
A woman's face is her work of fiction."
"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much."
And these little nuggets of wisdom from Oscar Wilde are just the tip of the iceberg. Bookstagrammers, pick your 10 favorites and fill a carousel to celebrate his Birthday. Teachers use them as your inspirational Quote of the Day. Parents have your kids create fun bookmarks to give away as gifts. Whatever you do, don't let these gems go to waste!
Oscar Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. I must admit, I've never read one of his poems or watched one of his plays; but I have quoted his quotes! I always wondered who he was as I posted his quotes on my bell work board. I always pictured Gene Wilder- anyone else?
10/20: National Day of Writing
I'm a bit confused by this holiday because if you're a writer- you need more than one day of the year to dedicate to writing. I'm not sure what one day of writing can actually produce? Maybe a journal entry, blog post, 1,500 words in my novel, and a letter to my Compassion Child. Okay- National Day of Writing is the next best thing to the 24-Hour Reading Challenge! (If you haven't heard of that one- look it up on booktok and give it a try!)
Put the book down for a day and create something. If you don't know what to write, may I suggest a love letter? They really do need a comeback!
10/25: Art Day
While we're in the creative mood, let's pull out that book we started on National Writing Day and add some pizzazz (aka illustrations). Or use some old books to create cozy home decor. Try searching Pinterest for some book-inspired art and give it a whirl yourself. Or you could simply buy art you love and support a starving artist. There are no bad choices on art day, just happy little options.
10/29: National Cat Day
Okay, again another non-book holiday thrown into the mix. But you must admit this isn't much of a stretch to Book World citizens. What self-respecting bookworm doesn't own at least one cat?! Let's embrace our crazy cat lady vibe and have yet another day to celebrate the greatest pastime in the history of humankind (that would be reading in case I haven't been clear)!
Bookstagrammers, pose your precious cat precariously on top of that book stack and capture your feline in all her glory. Or wait until she's sleeping and snap a photo of you holding a book above her. Either way, your fellow book people will appreciate your cat post!
10/31: Halloween
Don't get testy with me! I did not include this holiday on the official October Bookish Holidays list. However, I did want to remind Bookstagrammers to create a Halloween-inspired post. Make black and orange book stacks, create a pumpkin using books, showcase your favorite scary books, or pay tribute to the master- Stephen King himself. Halloween always seems to be 1 part scary, 1 part Fall vibes, 1 part quirky, and 3 parts fun- so enjoy!
If you're not a Halloween person, turn off the porch light, hide out in your room under the cloak of darkness, and read a page-turner!
National Church Library Month
I found this obscure little holiday in my search for October bookish holidays. Although it didn't make my top 12 list due to its limited appeal, I did want to mention it for edification purposes. (Boy, would my principal be proud of me for the use of one of his favorite vocab words. Can you guess which one it is?)
A church library can house so many helpful resources like concordances, commentaries, Bible studies, and devotions. Some churches even stock Christian fiction and classic literature for their parishioners to enjoy. My church library is the coziest spot in the entire church, a small room with comfy couches and fluffy pillows encased in 4 walls of floor-to-ceiling books. Our librarians feature authors of the month, host book discussions, and organize book drives. My point to all of this- if your church doesn't have a library, maybe that is a ministry that has your name written all over it! (Now you can add church lady to your crazy cat lady title!)
World Smile Day: 1st Friday in October
One last thought, since October 7th is World Smile Day, maybe you should buy yourself a book and bring a smile to your own face!
If you haven't noticed, I'm 2 for 2 for finding excuses to buy books in my posts of monthly bookish holidays. This is why you should consider me as an authority on such lists of Bookish Holidays and always consult here first!
Have the most Octoberiest October yet! Don't forget, It's National Book Month, so you have a reason to celebrate your passion for reading every day! I will be celebrating all month long on Instagram @staceywritesandreads if you would like to join me! I'm always looking for new bookish friends.
Until then, happy reading!
Stacey Faubion