On Saturday, December 7, the annual Take Your Child To a Bookstore Day takes place, celebrating neighborhood bookstores and the love of reading.
Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day was created by Jenny Milchman, a local mom and author. Milchman loves bookstores. In fact, every summer, she packs her family in the car and they drive across the country visiting independent bookstores and spreading the word about Take Your Child to A Bookstore Day. Why? Because, explains Milchman:
Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day began when my children were little and I was going to story time at bookstores nearly every week. Did all children know the pleasure of spending time in a bookstore? I wondered. Of being drawn into a magic world for a while, then being left to choose treasures on the shelf? I wanted to begin a holiday that would expose as many kids as possible to this joy.
Bookstores hold a place in the hearts and times of our community. They are places to discover an author, a story, a life. Nothing affords the conversation and interaction among books and book lovers that a bookstore does. In the future, whether you download your story or pluck a volume off a shelf, a bookstore will be able to accommodate. But in order for bookstores to flourish and thrive, we must expose future generations to the unique pleasures they offer.
On Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, bookstores from every US state, seven Canadian provinces, an even England, Australia, and Germany will celebrate! Take you kids to our local bookstores for special storytimes:
Watchung Booksellers Take Your Child to a Bookstore Storytime with Tara Lazar
Who: All ages.
What: Come with your child and meet author Tara Lazar, and learn more about her book, The Monstore.
Where: Watchung Booksellers, 54 Fairfield Street, Montclair, NJ.
When: Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 am.
Cost: Free.
Fancy Nancy series Storytime with author Jane O’Conner
Who: Fancy Nancy fans of all ages
What: Nancy Clancy is back in New York Times bestselling team Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser’s third Fancy Nancy chapter book, Nancy Clancy Sees the Future! Fancy Nancy fans will love joining Nancy Clancy in the latest edition to the chapter book series.
Where: [words] Bookstore, 179 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, NJ.
When: Saturday, December 7 at 11 am
Cost: Free.