Why bother, when books are dying a slow death anyway?
Well, nearly everything that entertains us these days comes from a story. Every movie and TV show owes its genesis to books, to novels, to non-fiction books. We don’t love Star Wars because of the special effects or because Chewbacca is so handsome; we love the movie because it is a classic tale of good vs. evil, a story that has been written about in different forms for centuries.
Books transport us. Think of how many times you hear someone say, “Yeah, I liked the movie, but it wasn’t as good as the book.” But even beyond the stories, books are a source of wonder for children. When I was a kid, I remember spending hours in my father’s study browsing through the encyclopedia, and the Time-Life collection books of the Old West, nature, WWII, etc. Sure, I was mesmerized by the photos, but I read the captions and sometimes I even sat and read chapters that captured my imagination.
A book is a great way to discover something new, something you didn’t know existed. This April 23, take some time to turn your children or friends on to a good book. Celebrate. Enjoy the stories and understand where they come from. Challenge yourself. Let yourself be transported. Read a book.
Happy World Book Day!
