It is Read a New Book Month!

Yes, it is Read a New Book Month, so take time today to find a new book and then set aside time to read it. I know, we are busy people, but taking time to read not only helps you learn new things, but it also has other fantastic benefits making it well worth the time to make time to read. Did you know . . .

• In a 2009 study by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex discovered reading reduces stress by 68% - yes, 68%!
• Children who read 20 minutes a day will be exposed to two million words a year!
• Reading can boost emotional development and career prospects by 50% to 100%
• Print also remains the most popular book format among U.S. consumers, with 65% of adults having read a print book in the last 12 months.
• According to a report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 37% of fourth-graders and 34% of eighth-graders in the United States are proficient in reading.
• A survey conducted by Scholastic revealed that only 51% of children between the ages of 6-17 read for fun, and the percentage drops as they grow older.
• Children who read for pleasure have higher academic achievement.
• Children who read for pleasure have better mental health.
• A report by the National Endowment for the Arts found that people who read for pleasure are more likely to have higher levels of civic engagement and social participation.
• A study by Rush University Medical Center found that engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as reading can help prevent or delay cognitive decline in older adults.

You will find more facts about the benefits of reading at this link and more about Read a New Book Month at this link.

So, get a new book for you and for the children you love (I'd like to recommend my books which you will find at this link!) Make reading part of your day, and when you model this to the children you love, they are more likely to become people who read as well.