MAKING WONDERFUL NEW TRADITIONS
Those of us in book business are happy to see new traditions in gift giving that make books the main attraction.
For the past few years many baby shower hosts have asked guests to forgo a card and bring a book for the new baby. A wonderful way to help a young family start a library and introduce a child to a world of reading.
This Christmas season there are more and more families choosing books as this year’s gift of choice.
A friend shared a great facebook post with me about the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod. Icelanders are among the most literate people in the world, and it is a long standing tradition in Iceland to exchange books as gifts on Christmas Eve - then head to bed with a book and some chocolate! Sounds, to me, the absolutely most perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.
In North America this follows on the heels of the increasingly popular Blind Date with a Book. Book lovers gather, each with a favourite wrapped book and a tag indicating the general theme of the enclosed book. Each person chooses a wrapped book, and one by one they are opened. And, one by one, a book is kept, or traded for someone else’s unopened package.
What a great way to spend an evening with friends and family.
We’ve got the books to make for Happy Reading!!