It's February, the month for love, and what could we possibly love more than books? If you're looking for Bookstagram post ideas or just a fun way to celebrate your passion for stories, then read on. February has many treats in store for us ink drinkers.
Library Lovers Month
Just the excuse you were looking for to make a trek to the most beautiful place in the world- your local library. Use this month to reacquaint yourself with your neighborhood gem. Libraries have so much more to offer than checking out a stack of delights (as if this isn't enough).
Join an IRL book club.
Discover your next obsession by taking a class.
Make a cozy nook your new favorite reading or writing space.
Introduce yourself to the librarian, your new bookish bestie.
Trace your genealogy.
Check out magazines, audiobooks, talking picture books, and even fun items like sewing machines and Cricuts!
"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library."
Well said Mr. Albert Einstein, well said.
1st Week: Children's Author & Illustrator Week
What a sweet opportunity to share your childhood favorites with the kids in your life. I loved reading Jane Yolen, David Shannon, and Eric Carle to my kids. The pictures were works of art and captured the magic of the stories.
I think I have a new idea for an art exhibit! Wouldn't it be magical to walk into a gallery filled with all the magic of children's book illustrations?
If you want a child to fall in love with reading, begin with picture books and never stop sharing them. I still have a shelf dedicated to my collection of favorites and can't wait to read them with my grandchildren. And I look forward to when they share their favorites with me.
2/3: Take Your Child to the Library
We've already discussed the many delights the library can bring to you, but what about your kids? It is the perfect, no-cost beginning or end to any outing. Libraries host amazing story and craft hours that will be sure to please your kids from toddler to teen. And what a joy it is to have something so valuable and grown up to put in your wallet, your very own Library card. This is a memory you do not want your babies to miss.
2/7: World Read Aloud Day
This has to be my favorite bookish day of the year! One of life's sweetest pleasures is sharing a good book with the ones you love. As a mom and a teacher, I've been blessed to share so many.
Choosing the right books can make all the difference in the world. Here are some hints for choosing your next read aloud:
Select a book you love. Excitement is contagious.
Humor goes a long way with kids.
For younger kids, vibrant illustrations are always great discussion starters.
Survival stories or those with elements of magic spark imagination.
The Social Injustices found in To Kill a Mocking Bird and The Hate You Give present so much to talk about long after the story is over.
Authors like Gordon Korman, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, and Rick Riordan provide an opportunity for kids to enjoy many other titles by their new favorite author.
So, what are you waiting for? Take another trip to the library and go select a book to read together.
2/7: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday
Cuddle up for a reading marathon of the iconic Little House series on World Read Aloud Day. It is the perfect blend of Americana, simple times, and family ties. Or pop some popcorn, put on your bonnets, and enjoy the pioneer experience on the big screen. Little House on the Prairie filled the hearts of viewers from 1974 to 1982 so this should keep you entertained the rest of winter.
Laura Ingalls Wilder based her stories on her childhood growing up in several prairie towns in the Midwest, most notably Walnut Grove of Minnesota. Her daughter, Rose, suggested she turn her memories into Children's books. Little House in the Big Woods was published in 1932 when Laura was 65 years old, proving yet again that age is a state of mind. She continued publishing books for eleven years and helped dig her family out of a financial crisis experienced during The Depression. Eventually, Laura died at the age of 90 in Mansfield, Missouri. You can visit her home to this day and see her writing desk.
The fact that Little House still keeps finding young readers 90 years later is a testament to the endearing stories and universal themes found inside.
2/12: Judy Blume's Birthday
This was my "A-Ha" book- the book that made me a reader, the book that had me dreaming of becoming a writer just like Judy, the book that read like it was written just for me, the book that changed me completely and forever into a crazed bibliophile.
So how can we celebrate the queen of middle grade? Make a post on Bookstagram, buy a boxed set of Blume books, watch the documentary "Judy Blume Forever" (If you are a fan, this is Must-See TV.) or the newly released "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret," reread a favorite Blume book, or if you're lucky enough to be in Key West, visit her bookstore, Books & Books.
2/14: International Book Giving Day
Hooray! You now have a valid excuse to go to the bookstore and select the perfect book for that special someone or somebodies in your life. And while you're there, don't forget to treat yourself to a book as well.
Low on cash? Grab a favorite from your shelf and tell yourself you're making space for future loves. When you give a book you love, you are giving a piece of yourself.
Want to kick it up a notch? Tuck in a cutesy bookmark and sweet note to really make the book receiver's day.
And if you're really clever (and I know you are since you're a book person), show your Valentine romantic pictures of couples on bookstore dates and smiling women receiving book bouquets. Then when you go on the best date ever, be sure to thank him for his creativity and thoughtfulness. (wink, wink)
2/20: Clean Out Your Bookcase Day
This is a chore for me! Dishes, laundry, sweeping, making beds, etc. bring me doom and gloom- unless I have an audiobook playing in my ear, of course. But bookshelf organization is where my domestic skills shine!
You may want to check out my blog, Create Your Dream Book Nook, for inspo.
Before I begin organizing, I always begin by answering this question, What kind of spaces do I want to have on my shelves? I usually create a space for the following categories:
Favorite colors (I have shelves dedicated to my blue & purple books)
TBR books
Books I've read this year
Favorite books (I have separate shelves for picture books & middle grade books.)
Art supplies
My Bible & resources
Journaling
Writing resources
Then I sprinkle in art pieces and family photos. The point is, make this space 100% you. This is your sanctuary. Make it put a smile on your face whenever you walk into the room.
Oh, was this supposed to be Clean Out Your Bookcase Day? Oops. Well, I suppose you could get rid of a few books to make room for new ones. However, I tend to solve that problem by buying more shelves!
2/26: Read a Fairy Tale Day
Once upon a time, there were books filled with dozens of beautiful stories that captured the imagination and were meant to be enjoyed over and over again. IMHO, an ornate, gilded-edge book of Fairy Tales should grace the shelves of every home library. They are a common thread that binds us story aficionados.
And once you have the classics down, what fun it is to read all the retellings!
2/27: John Steinbeck's Birthday
"I guess there are never enough books." John Steinbeck
A man with this kind of thinking deserves to be celebrated. Not to mention, this American, Nobel Prize winner is the author of such classics as The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men both of which were made into critically acclaimed films. Most authors dream of having one book that transcends time, Mr. Steinbeck crafted 2 such masterpieces.
John Steinbeck put a face on The Great Depression with his depictions of the working-class people's harsh lives. He called attention to the social injustices of migrant workers and captured the spirit of human resilience.
If you desire to read more classics, Mr. Steinbeck is a great place to start.
I hope you find many ways to celebrate books and your love of reading this month. And since you made it this far, I leave you with one more treasured bookish holiday! February 9th is National Read in the Bathtub Day. Is there anything more delightful than a burning candle, foaming bubbles, steaming water, and a five-star paperback nestled close to your freshly washed face?
Happy reading, friends! I'll see you in March to keep the book celebrations alive!
Your bookish friend,
Stacey Faubion