October 31 – National Books for Treats Day
By DiAnn Mills
Many of us have a sweet tooth for Halloween candy, but do you have a sweet tooth for National Books for Treats Day?
Of course, you do! You’re a writer. Candy is to a
trick-or-treater as books are to a writer – or avid reader. I dare say we are
both.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The
more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss
Consider the value of what reading does for a child:
1.
Develops the child’s vocabulary.
2.
Allows the child to imagine and dream.
3.
Transports the child to places they may
physically never visit.
4.
Relieves stress and allows them to
relax when the world is overwhelming.
5.
Builds the child’s ability to
concentrate.
6.
Paves the way for learning and
performing better in school.
7.
Helps the child understand culture and
diversity.
8.
Answers and raises questions for good
conversation.
9.
Initiates hobbies and interests.
10.
Entertains the child separate from
technology.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s
loot on Treasure Island.” Walt Disney
Now that you see the benefits of placing a book into a child’s
hand, where can you find these gems?
If you aren’t a writer or live in a busy neighborhood, where
do you find children’s books that are inexpensive or free? Here are a few
suggestions:
·
Public and church libraries often have
used books that they’d be happy to donate.
·
Yard sales.
·
Goodwill and other charitable donation
centers.
·
Walmart specializes in keeping prices
low.
The nonprofit organization that promotes Books for Treats
Day encourages giving books instead of candy. Books inspire children to read
and hopefully establish a habit. I’m all for placing a book in a child’s hand
but here’s my spin—kids are dressed for an evening of door-to-door fun. When we
open the door to a costumed child, they expect candy. I suggest dropping sweet
treats into their open bags and including a book. Their adventure will be
waiting long after the last piece of candy is popped into their mouth.
“To read is to voyage through time.” Carl Sagan
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
TWEETABLE
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure? Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.
A founding board member of
the American Christian Fiction Writers, DiAnn is also an active member of the
Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers
Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Sisters
in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Her passion is to help other
writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing
workshops around the country.
DiAnn has been termed a
coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to
cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She
and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and
would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn, or her website: diannmills.com
Thank you for hosting me!
ReplyDeleteTotally my pleasure. :)
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