A Year of Books: Creating a Personalized Reading Calendar
Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we love arts and crafts, so you won’t be surprised that we adore the idea of creating a personalized reading calendar! Whether you are an ardent reader, someone who wants to read more, or are just hitting one of those reading slumps, we have some fantastic ideas to get you back in the swing of things while having a whole lot of fun.
Let’s get started with our calendar!
Make Your Own Calendar
There is no right or wrong way to create your calendar, so go crazy! But if you need a little bit of inspiration, we’ve got you covered!
- Design the Layout: Divide your poster board into 12 sections, one for each month—use a ruler to create even squares or rectangles.
- Label Each Month: Write the name of each month at the top of each section.
- Add Monthly Themes: Write the theme for each month under the month’s name. You can even decorate each section with drawings, stickers, or cutouts.
- Include Reading Goals: Make sure to leave a space in each section to write down your reading goals and the books you plan to read.
- Track Your Progress: There is something quite satisfying about marking off each month as you complete it!
- Decorate: This is the fun part—add stickers, drawings or whatever inspires you to have the best bookish year ever!
We can’t wait to see what you all create and would love to see your personalized reading calendars!
Reading Goals
Setting reading goals is a fantastic way to keep yourself motivated and organized throughout the year. Whether you're aiming to read a certain number of books, explore new genres and authors, having clear goals makes it so much easier.
Some people find reading more books challenging. We recommend deciding on the number of books you want to read each month. It could be one book, two, or even more. Having a target will help you stay on track, and there is no better feeling than having achieved your goal!
If exploring new genres is something that appeals to you, you can easily dedicate each month to a different genre. This will definitely broaden your literary horizons, and who knows, you may just discover some new favorites.
We all get stuck reading the same authors. That's why our book box subscriptions are just the thing! Why not make it a goal to read books by authors from different backgrounds? This could include authors of different nationalities, genders, or cultural backgrounds. It's a great way to gain new perspectives!
12 Months of Bookish Fun
We love themes, and when it comes to the wonderful world of books, there are so many to choose from – genres, authors, eras, and locations, to mention just a few. This is also the ideal opportunity to discover some new favorites, so don’t be scared of stepping outside your comfort zone.
Here are some themed month ideas to inspire your reading adventures!
Travel Time
We love how books let us experience new things from the comfort of our couches. This is the perfect month to bring out your inner explorer and travel the world through the pages of books. It is a wonderful way to explore new places and their diverse cultures, like Karachi, Pakistan! Grab one of our “Within The Garden Walls” book boxes featuring Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam.
Love is in the Air
Who doesn’t love a romance novel that makes you sigh and swoon? How far would you search for the soulmate of your dreams? Our “Steer Your Own Dreams” box features an exclusive edition of Love of My Lives by Yamile Saied Méndez. This is the perfect read for anyone who longs for a legendary love story that transcends time and distance!
New Author Month
It’s time to challenge yourself to read books by authors you’ve never read before. We love discovering emerging writers, diverse voices, and fresh perspectives. If you’re looking for a great recommendation, why not try All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir!
Murder Mystery Month
We all love a great murder mystery, and if you are a fan of Hallmark mystery movies, we know you’ll love this cozy mystery with humor, intrigue, and a librarian amateur sleuth.
Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews is just what you need to kick off your murder mystery month!
New Genre Month
Yes, it’s time to expand your literary horizons by grabbing one of those genres you don’t typically read. This may just be the month to try some YA fiction—who knows; you may just find a new favorite.
Bladestay by Jackie Johnson, featured in our “Bullets and Blades” full box, is the perfect choice! This is not only YA fiction, but it's also a Western, which is one of our 40 Book Reading Challenge prompts this year!
Historical Fiction Month
Travel back in time with historical fiction. Our January 2024 book box “Defying the Ton” featured The Diamond of London by Andrea Penrose. This historical novel is based on the real life of Lady Hester Stanhope (1776-1839), a British aristocrat, antiquarian, and adventurer who defied all conventional strictures of what a woman could and couldn’t do during the Regency era.
Summer Reading
Embrace the summer feeling with some fabulous light-hearted beach reads. Our limited Summer Reading Box has been so popular, and it’s not difficult to see why. It features a hardcover copy of Husbands & Lovers by bestselling author Beatriz Williams! This box is filled with lots of magic, including our famous exciting gifts that bring the story to life, PLUS an exclusively designed summer tote bag with a lined interior and plenty of pockets to carry your new favorite box to the best spot on the beach!
This box is ready-to-ship right now, so don't wait—order today and make your next beach day unforgettable!
Adventure Awaits
We all need a certain amount of adventure in our lives. Look for books that take you on marvelous adventures, from epic journeys to thrilling expeditions. We think you will love this epic tale featured in our book box “Their Untold Stories”—The Women by Kristin Hannah!
Fantasy Fun
It’s time to escape to magical worlds with fantasy novels. Why not grab one of our “Souls of the Sea” boxes before they sell out? This fabulous box featured Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen, plus four beautiful gifts that bring this novel to life! This box also includes a letter from the author, a signed bookplate, a bookmark, plus a detailed book club kit!
Halloween Horror
Get into the spooky spirit with chilling horror novels. You’re in luck as we still have a few of our “2023 Spooky Halloween” boxes available featuring Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong. This terrifying read comes with a collection of 4 hauntingly good gifts to bring this suspenseful tale to life! Be careful reading this past your bedtime, as the things that go bump in the night may be all too dangerous...
And considering it's Halloween, why not really get into the swing of things with our Sweet Halloween Pumpkin Carving Set?
Thriller Time
Enjoy suspenseful thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat and we can’t think of a better one than What Remains by Wendy Walker featured in our “Leave No Trace” full book box!
Happy Holidays
Holiday time! There is so much to celebrate and be thankful for, and we have just the thing. Our 2023 Christmas Box featured a stunning custom hardcover edition of Through The Snow Globe by Annie Rains plus 4 wrapped gifts that bring this incredible book to life.
Our beautiful custom edition features include a custom dust jacket designed by the OUABC team!
We can’t wait!
We can’t wait to hear about all of your reading experiences! For an extra bit of excitement, our monthly book box subscriptions are the perfect way to meet new authors and experience different genres. Each box is filled with surprises and an interactive reading experience like no other! Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!
Leave a comment