It’s nearly that wonderful time again, and I do mean that sincerely, Christmas!
It’s an open secret that I love to read and that I am a practising History Geek. And as a self proclaimed, loud and proud bookworm I love to give books as gifts, especially for any littlies on our gifting list. One year my brother-in-law actually said
“Thank goodness for Auntie Zoë, Santa seems to have forgotten books this year…”
Yes that’s me. The boringly predictable one who can be relied upon to produce bookie gifts with plenty of enthusiasm. So as a Reading Ambassador, here are my top tips for joining me in this endeavour, and Christmas is the perfect time to start!
Reading Ambassadors
A Reading Ambassador promotes reading for pleasure and really the only qualification you need is a passion for reading and spreading this gospel!
It isn’t something you have to apply for.
You don’t have to make banners or campaign.
There are no demands for any money.
You just need to practice what you preach.
So here is my little guide and the time to start is now!
Becoming a Reading Ambassador
- Give books as presents instead of disposible gifts such as cut flowers or chocolates.
- Take a book with you and read it at every available opportunity – especially in public.
- Give book tokens.
- Join AND USE your local library. They have books (obviously), DVDs, CDs, magazines, internet uses, classes, audio books and that’s just the list of the top of my head.
- buy your books from a local bookshop rather than online. (guilty as charged).
- visit your local charity shop and buy/donate books. Oxfam have specialist book stores with all sorts of gems in – even first editions. My other local charity shops sell paperbacks for 75p – buy one get one free. Even those on the tightest of budgets such as myself can afford that!
- talk about your love of books. Recommend books to friends and pass on the books you’ve read to them.
- model reading to the younger generation. Monkey see as Monkey do. At school it’s all about modelling everything for children from trying out new fruit taste to how to write and count in real life. So many times I’ve had parents come in and “confess” (though they should feel no shame) that reading is a struggle. More often than not their kids will be struggling too. Kids need to see the point. Why are you teaching me to read when no one reads?
- accept that reading doesn’t always mean stories. It means: magazines; blogs; articles; newspapers; signs; menus; posters; leaflets; receipts; biographies; cookbooks; non-fiction books; bibles; packets; television; websites; the list goes on….
So that is my plea. Let’s all get stuck in and get reading. Whatever form that may take.
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