Dear Reader:

Another year, another chance to count one’s blessings and celebrate the season with friends and family. Time to unwind with simple, but essential pleasures: food, drink, good conversation, laughter—and reading.

Much is written about the plight of literacy and long-form reading, namely book reading, and how many potential readers are lost to video games, digital devices and social platforms.

As you might expect, I feel differently.

When I browse through the titles I see packed into my local bookstores, I can’t help but be impressed by the breadth, depth and quality of what I see.

This is particularly true of books for children and young adults, which is a good thing, since readers are made when they are young. If you’ve ever seen a child literally fall into a book, you’ll know just what I’m talking about.

So, this holiday season, I salute book readers of every age and ilk, with an extra dose of good cheer for my loyal readers. You are, each and every one of you, a blessing.

Best wishes to you and yours for a happy, healthy and well-read holiday season.

Sincerely,

P.S. Give books for the holidays. They really do make great gifts! #GiveaBook