neil gaiman | Musings of the Monster Librarian

All Hallows’ Read- Join the Party!

Here’s a new tradition I can get behind- All Hallow’s Read, first proposed here by Neil Gaiman. What do you do to participate? Give someone a scary book this Halloween, or at least the week of Halloween. October 25 was the All Hallow’s Read Book Drop, a day to leave a scary book in a random location for the next person who sees it. Of course, you could do this any day, so don’t let the fact that the date has passed stop you. Even if you don’t feel like leaving a book for a random stranger, you can always send one to a friend, or a kid, assuming that you like them, pick something appropriate, and end up encouraging them to read more. Or you could even do a round robin. Hey, however you want to do it is great! Post below and tell me what book you gave or how you celebrated All Hallow’s Read, and I’ll randomly pick a winner for a signed copy of The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian, who I just met yesterday, and whose book, so far, is very cool. Give a book this Halloween, or in the words of Spook House Dave, share a scare!

Neil Gaiman wants you to spread the word- Libraries are awesome!

Maybe you’ve heard of Neil Gaiman. He’s the author of graphic novels, fantastic novels, amazing short stories, and children’s books that are frightening, funny, and sometimes enchanting. He’s also won numerous awards, including the Newbery Award for outstanding children’s fiction, for his novel The Graveyard Book. If you haven’t read anything by him, I highly recommend that you do.

I am so pleased that he is participating in the “Our Authors, Our Advocates” initiative of the American Library Association, and as part of that, he’s filmed this PSA. I’d love it if you’d share this with other readers and library supporters- now is a difficult time for libraries, and the more people who stand up for them the better.

I had the privilege of hearing him speak last year, and he talked a lot about the library he grew up in. So many writers really do grow up surrounded by books, not because they had them at home, but because of their library.

And the right librarian can be so important in your life. I personally was incredibly lucky in that my elementary school librarian was there to meet me in the high school library when I finally made it through the doors, and the children’s librarian at my public library(there were no YA librarians) drew together a bunch of middle schoolers to read William Sleator and teach us the power of story. But we’re not supposed to be talking about me, although I share something with Mr. Gaiman here.

We both are passionate about keeping libraries alive and growing. And we want you you to pass it on.