A book for everyone this year
DEAR READERS
>> Every year at Christmastime, I prompt readers to put A Book on Every Bed.
The idea originally came from historian David McCollough. On the Christmas mornings of his youth, the very first thing he woke up to was a wrapped book at the base of his bed, left there by Santa.
Working with my literacy partner, Children’s Reading Connection, this campaign has grown to include schools, libraries and bookstores.
This year is different. All of us — not just children — need a good book on our beds.
I’ve reached out to some of my favorite independent booksellers for their special picks for books for all ages.
I hope you will be inspired to put A Book on Every Bed this year, and not only for Christmas. This idea is one to sustain people throughout what might be a long and dark winter.
BABY AND TODDLERS >> From Brigid Hubberman,
Children’s Reading Connection (childrensreadingconnection.org):
• “Baby Cakes,” by Karma Wilson and Sam Williams
• “Haiku Baby,” by Betsy E. Snyder
• “Shine Baby Shine,” by Leslie Staub and Lori Nichols
AGES 3 TO 5 >> From Lisa Swaze, Buffalo Street Books, Ithaca, N.Y. ( buffalostreetbooks.com):
• “If You Come to Earth,” by Sophie Blackall
• “You Matter,” by Christian Robinson
EARLY READERS >> From Sandra Dear, owner of The Little Boho Bookshop, in Bayonne, N. J. (thelittlebohobookshop.com)
• “The Suitcase,” by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
• “Home in the Woods,” by Eliza Wheeler
IDDLE GRADE READERS >> From Becky Anderson, co- owner of Anderson’s Bookshop, in Naperville, Illinois (andersonsbookshop.com)
• “Ways to Make Sunshine,” by Renee Watson
• “The Silver Arrow,” by Lev Grossman
YA READERS >> Danielle Kreger, Blue Bunny Books, Dedham, Massachusetts. ( bluebunnybooks.com):
• “One of Us is Lying,” by Karen M McManus
• “The New Kid” by Jerry Craft
ADULT NONFICTION >> From Alex George, author of “The Paris Hours,” owner of Skylark Bookshop (skylarkbookshop. com), in Columbia, Missouri:
• “Wintering,” by Katherine May
• “The Book of Delights,” by Ross Gay
• “Intimations: Six Essays,” by Zadie Smith
ADULT FICTION >> From Mark LaFramboise of Politics and Prose, in Washington, D.C. ( politics-prose.com)
• “The Butterfly Lampshade,” by Aimee Bender
• “What Are You Going Through,” by Sigrid Nunez
ELDERS >> From Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona (changinghands.com):
• “Apeirogon,” by Colum McCann
• “The Chair Rocks,” by Ashton Applewhite