“From an early age, books were my constant companions and my local library, a place I could find a new friend on every shelf.”– Sarah Jessica Parker.
November is bursting with reasons to celebrate children’s reading! From November 6-12, we honor Children’s Book Week, an annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1913 by Franklin K. Matthiews, librarian for the Boy Scouts of America, Children’s Book Week was born from the belief that children’s books and literacy can change lives. Matthiews toured the country to promote higher standards in children’s books, advocating for the creation of a week dedicated to celebrating books, supported by publishers, booksellers, and librarians.
Most children first experience the joy of books in the laps of loving adults who read to them, making it fitting that November is also *Picture Book Month*. This month-long tribute celebrates the enduring importance of picture books — those beautifully illustrated stories that engage and educate children. Picture books cover everything from family and friendship to nature, animals, and emotions, and they hold a unique charm for readers of all ages. In fact, author and storyteller Dianne de Las Casas co-founded Picture Book Month to highlight their importance, stating, “In this digital age, picture books (the print kind) need love. And the world needs picture books.” There’s something special about the physical act of turning the pages of a beautifully crafted picture book.
Celebrate Children’s Book Week and Picture Book Month by checking out some beautiful picture books at your library. What will you discover?
As we kick off November, it’s also worth mentioning NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book but struggled to find the time, NaNoWriMo’s one-month, 50,000-word challenge might be just the push you need. Writers worldwide start their first novels with NaNoWriMo, so if you’re participating, keep going — that novel won’t write itself!
Happy reading and writing!
“I will defend the importance of bedtime stories to my last gasp.” ~ JK Rowling