Hey everyone! 

Today I have the abolsute joy of kicking off the CHCC YA Bookish Joy Blog Fest: a blog tour which will see some of my favourite bloggers celebrating everything they love about books. When I was initially asked to be on this blog tour, it was pitched to me as “write a letter to someone who made you the bookish you you are” and I was SOLD. I’ve toyed between writing to my favourite author (I give you 3 guesses as to who I would write to), my favourite main character (again, I bet you could guess… or maybe not!), my parents, the kids I teach (this would’ve made me cry, a lot!) and so many other options. I’ve decided however to write a letter to books. It sounds a bit weird, but I hope my letter will explain what I mean!

Dear books,

Yep, those things you pick up, open and read the words. That’s what I’m writing a letter to. Books are magical. Have you ever picked one up and been transported somewhere new? In the space of the past few weeks, I’ve been living with Greek Gods, lived in a lighthouse during WW2, lived in magical London where Big Ben is the keeper of time and I’ve even lived a story through the eyes of an African Grey parrot. Where else can you be transported to these places but in books? Where else can you learn about empathy and living life through someone else’s eyes other that in books? 

Books are not only a unique mode of transportation, but they can be transformational. They have the power to cheer up, sadden, inspire, motivate, anger. You will read a book in your life that changes your life. That will connect you to yourself and to others. I’m very lucky that I’ve had so many books and people in my life that have made me a better person. I can’t imagine my life without the bookish love in it. My friends, some of my very best friends, have come my way because of books.

I read Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive at a pretty down part in my life and it had such a profound impact on me. That might be cliched, but it’s true – it’s one of those special books. 

Books are such a massive part of my life: as a teacher, as a human, as a blogger. I just think there’s something very special and magical about them. I believe there’s the perfect book out there for everyone. I’ve seen kids’ attitudes to reading change entirely once they read “that” book. 

As Roald Dahl put it in Matilda (yep, of course I’m quoting Matilda… sue me!)
“These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” 

So books, thank you. For making me who I am. For giving me the people in my life that I am so eternally grateful for. For making me laugh, cry and be moved. 

S x 

If you’d like to go along to the CHCC YA Festival, you can get tickets from here. There are some amazing authors lined up this year and it promises to be a brilliant day! Even more excitingly, there’s a 10% code for you, my loyal readers! Go get your tickets and enter YAFEST10 – valid until 28th Feb for a one time use! Go forth and purchase!

Go check out the rest of the blog tour in the coming days! You’re in for a real treat. 

S x