Grab1 your favourite book, or perhaps a new one you’ve been dying to read, grab your favourite beverage, curl up in a good spot, and enjoy; it’s Read a Book Day!
On September 6th, book lovers come together in a pleasurable stance of
solidarity and shared enthusiasm to celebrate. Read a Book Day.
The origin of Read a Book Day is generally uncertain, but it’s thought to
have started around the end of the first decade of the 2000’s. It is believed that it was probably the idea of a librarian who wanted to encourage reading
among the youth.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that
you learn, the more places you’ll go.”- Dr. Seuss
Whether young or old, good books are invaluable to a well-lived life.
BOOKS ARE A SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT.
Books liven up slow boring days, they transport us through the pages into different scenarios and different worlds. The words in a book can make us laugh, bring us to tears, and every other emotion in between, as we identify with the characters and they take us through their journey. Books are just a pure source of fun! Reading is relaxing, a pleasant stress reliever.
BOOKS EDUCATE US ABOUT THE WORLD.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… the man who never reads lives only one.” – George R. R. Martin.
Through books you can adventure your way through countries you’ve never seen, learn customs and cultural nuances of far-flung societies, and broaden your knowledge about the world.
BOOKS ENRICH OUR MINDS.
Reading doesn’t just give us knowledge about the world, but also helps us expand our vocabulary. It stimulates our minds for a stronger memory and concentration, stronger analytical and thinking skills, and better writing skills. Whether you are an avid reader or not, today is a day for some fun with books, so go ahead and grab one! Read a Book day does not require reading a whole book, but the day serves as an inspiration to commit to reading related activities, like reading passages of books you like, reading out loud with your friends, donating books to where the need is greatest, or even sharing some of your favourite book recommendations to your social media.
Tips to Cultivate a Reading Habit
Half the battle to getting into reading can be picking a good book. When building a reading habit, start small. Pick an easy read, perhaps a novel in a topic you are passionate about. Starting with a difficult read will cripple your efforts as you’ll find it difficult to get into it.
Dedicate about five to ten minutes a day to reading. Make it a goal to read at least for five to ten minutes a day no matter what. Right before bed, for example, to relax after a long day. Always carry a book. Let a book be one of your everyday bag essentials. This is useful especially for times when you have to wait in line somewhere, or wait for someone, etc.
Set a goal of books to read each year, log and journal the journey. Set a goal to work towards, say, twenty books per year. Choose the number based on your lifestyle and free time. Make a list of the books you’d like to read, and cross off the successful reads. Journal the process, make notes on the books you finish, perhaps short summaries, quotes, vocabulary words and lessons.
Activity
1/ Host a reading party! Invite your friends and decide on a book to read together. Late summer September weather can be beautiful, so don’t restrict yourself to indoors. Who says fresh air and books don’t mix? Add your favourite snacks and it’s a match made in reading heaven. Different people have different perspectives on a book passage, so now would be a good time to discuss and trade perspectives and lessons from what you read. Have fun discovering and writing down new words. Analyse the writing, what makes these books so amazing?
2/ Make a list of your favourite quotes. Reading is enlightening, and some books prove to be positively life changing. What are some quotes from books that have moved you or inspired you in some way? Compile them into a list and share with your friends on social media.
3/ Reading Bucket List. Some books are very good to the point that they have withstood the test of time and are recommended to every generation of young readers. Read a Book Day is the perfect time to reflect on these classics and compile your list of must reads. For example, did you know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is one such classic?
4/ Make a Pie Chart. The general consensus is that reading is wonderful, but not everyone likes reading. How many of your friends love reading? How many don’t? Make a pie chart illustrating this. How can we raise the percentage of book lovers even more?
5/ Write a Short Story or Poem. Did you know that reading makes you a better writer? This is a good time to attempt a short story, essay, or rhyme your heart out in a poem.
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