National Book Month

National Book Month

Written by: Sitara Nair

Do you love to read? Books have been an essential part of today's society since the beginning of time, with their incredible ability to educate and transport people to different realities. But did you know there is an actual time to celebrate books? Well, it’s the month of October! Let’s learn about how this came to be, and how you can join in!

The Importance of Reading and Literacy

Illiteracy means not being able to read or write, and sadly, over 781 million people around the world face this problem. When someone can’t read, it makes school harder, finding a good job tougher, and even simple everyday tasks more stressful. Illiteracy can also trap families in cycles of poverty, where kids grow up without the same chances to succeed as others. In today’s world, where we use words and information everywhere, from schoolwork to signs to technology, reading is more important than ever. Reading isn’t just about books, it’s a skill that opens doors, helps us learn, and gives us the power to imagine and grow. Without it, people can get left behind, which is why learning to read and building strong reading habits is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and for the future. But, that's why National Book Day Exists!

Reading habits in our country are declining, with only 31% of Americans reading at least one book a year, a 10% drop compared to forty years ago! Reading is regarded as one of the best activities for the body, and here are the reasons why. It strengthens your brain by building neural connections, improving comprehension, and rewiring the brain. Next, it reduces stress and studies have learned that six minutes of reading lowers heart rate and relaxes muscles, and regular reading has the ability to reduce long-term stress. By activating the occipital lobe, improving visualization, and aiding decision-making, reading also enhances creativity and imagination. You also get exposed to tons of new words in context, increasing your vocabulary and accelerating language learning! Additionally, improving communication skills, such as writing, empathy, and verbal clarity, can significantly enhance personal and professional relationships. Next, engaging in such activities also supports mental health by reducing feelings of isolation, fostering empathy, and complementing therapies like bibliotherapy. Lastly, this activity provides entertainment that increases dopamine in the body and healthy engagement, serving as a great alternative to passive screen time. All in all, iIt cannot only greatly improve your mental health, but it also significantly improves vocabulary, spelling, and even memory. 

National Book Month

Now, every October, many people get together to support and celebrate National Book Month (NBM), a time to promote literacy and education. Apart from NBM, there are a couple other celebrations also dedicated to the importance of literacy. In March, we have National Reading Month in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, which aims to motivate people of all ages to read daily. World Book Day is on April 23rd, and is a global event to promote reading, writing, and the importance of copyright. Finally, August 9th is National Book Lovers Day, a day dedicated to celebrating books!

This month isn’t just for supporting literacy and readers, but also for appreciating the best books and authors. The National Book Awards will take place in mid-October and announce the 15 finalists for the year. (Actually, the National Book Foundation is the reason we have NBM, the first being in 2003!). This year, the 2025 National Book Awards will announce winners on November 19th, 2025, with finalists being revealed on October 7th. Listings are already out across Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature, featuring authors like Susan Choi, Rabih Alameddine, Yiyun Li, and Han Kang. So, you should keep an eye out in the upcoming months to see who wins!

To observe National Book Month, read some books and get any new books you’ve been wanting to read! To go the extra mile, use the #NationalBookMonth and post on social media to find a community of readers!! Happy Reading!