Monday Musings – National Reading Month – 7 Ways to Celebrate

 

It’s National Reading Month! That’s right March is celebrated as National Reading Month. It’s a good excuse to curl up with a good book, relax, and tune out everything around you. Think of it as a form of self-care.

In addition to reading, there are other ways you can celebrate reading month. Below is a list of 7 Ways to celebrate National Reading Month.

1.      Support local bookstores.

2.      Read to a child.

When my sons were in elementary school, their school had a program called D.E.A.R. which stands for Drop Everything And Read. They had designated times during the day allotted for this program. There was also a day where parents could visit the school and read to the class, or maybe that was a different program I’m thinking about. Either way, reading to a child or with them can open their minds to new things.

3.      Listen to an audio book. I like listening to an audio book when I have a long drive somewhere. It helps the drive go by faster. On a recent four-hour drive to a conference, I listened to one of my favorite authors, Mary Higgins Clark. It was a good “Whodunit” mystery. In case you’re interested, the title of the book is Where Are You Now?

4.      Host a reading challenge – set a goal for the month and invite friends and family to join in. Have a prize or celebration at the end of your challenge. Better yet, reward yourself. Purchase a new book, a book light, or something else bookish.

5.      Follow an author – learn more about your favorite writers and explore their works. You could even try reading something by an author new to you or read a different genre than you typically read.

6.      Start a reading journal – keep track of the books you’ve read and write down favorite quotes or reflections.

7.      Write a book review – share your thoughts on a recent book, to help others discover great books.

Just for kicks and giggles here are some book related jokes I came across while surfing the internet.

1.      Why did the book join the police?

It wanted to go undercover!

 

2.      What’s a book’s favorite drink?

Tequila Mockingbird.

 

3.      Why don’t books ever get cold?

They wear book jackets.

 

No matter how you participate, National Reading Month is an exciting time to embrace the joy of books and lifelong learning.

Wordless Wednesday - National Reading Month

 

Children's Room - Public Library

Fun Friday – National Reading Month – 5 Ways to Celebrate

 

Books on my reading list

Are you a bibliophile? Do you have a love for reading? March is Reading Month, and a great time to surround yourself with books, and add to your “To Be Read” list. How will you celebrate?

5 Ways to celebrate National Reading Month:

1.      Attend a virtual book festival – this is a good way to discover new authors. Some of them are also interactive, with polls to answer, a spinning wheel with prizes, and author readings.

2.      D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) – in the olden days (a couple of decades ago) when I was a substitute teacher; there was a day dedicated to D.E.A.R. in the elementary schools. Who’s to say we can’t do this as an adult? Choose a day this week and drop everything and read. Tell your family you’re going “relaxing” even if it’s for a short while.

3.      Swap a book with a friend – do you have a book that you really enjoyed, and you’re willing to part with it (temporarily).

4.      Give a book to a child – spread the joy of reading.

5.      Rearrange your bookshelf and donate some of your books – decide which books you no longer need and you’re willing to part with.

A heavy bookshelf in need of rearranging

Here are a few book quotes to get you in the mood for reading:

1.      “If you want t hear a sound of happiness, turn the page of a book.”

2.      “Make books a part of your day, and they will make happiness a part of your life.”

3.      “Life is lighter with a heavy bookshelf.”

WWhat book or books are you currently reading? Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a book from my bookshelf. Add a picture of the book for two chances to win (books will be shipped within the United States).

Fun Friday – March is National Reading Month



Do you read more than one book at once?

The month of March is celebrated as National Reading Month. Schools and libraries sometimes kick off their celebration with an event recognizing Dr. Seuss’s birthday (March 2^nd). Last year the children I worked with made green eggs and ham and read their favorite Dr. Seuss books.

National Reading Month can be fun for grown-up as well as children. If you love to read, but can never seem to find the time…here’s your chance. Grab a book by your favorite author or choose a book by a new author you’ve wanted to read.

What are your reading habits like? I’m joining fellow blogger (Sherry Ellis) by answering questions about my reading habits. Here are the questions and my answers to them? Feel free to respond to the questions and also answer them in a blog post on your site (consider yourself tagged).

1.      Do you have a place at home for reading?

My favorite spot is stretched out on the couch with a blanket thrown across my legs.

2.      Book mark or random piece of paper?

I love decorative bookmarks, but I can never seem to keep up with them. So random pieces of paper end up between the bindings of my books.

3.      Can you stop reading at any time or do you have to stop at a certain page, chapter, part etc.

It would be nice to spot at the end of a chapter, but that is rare. Instead, I often stop reading abruptly to do something else.

4.      Do you eat or drink while reading?

Eating while reading is out of the questions for me, it can get messy. I’ll sometimes drink while reading, but I’m very careful.

5.      Can you read while listening to music or watching TV?

Sometimes I’ll have the TV volume low while reading, but I don’t usually listen to music. Music may cause me to jump up and start dancing around the room.

6.      One book or several at once?

Several. I like variety.

7.      Reading at home or everywhere?

Everywhere…grocery lines, sitting in the car, waiting to pick up my son from school.

8.      Reading out loud or silently in my head?

Silent reading works best unless I’m reading a picture book that I’m analyzing.

9.      Do you read ahead or skip pages?

No, I like the suspense of waiting to see what will happen.

10.  Breaking the spine of keeping it new?

Keeping it new.

11.  Do you write in books?

Yes. I make notes in the margins and underline words/sentences that I like.

How will you celebrate National Reading Month? What are your reading habits?