Ask Amy Says: A Book on Every Bed

I love to remind people about Amy Dickinson’s wonderful “Book on Every Bed” proposal:

Here’s how it happens: You take a book (it can be new or a favorite from your own childhood).

You wrap it. On Christmas Eve (or whatever holiday you celebrate), you leave the book in a place where Santa is likely to find it. When I communicated with David McCullough about borrowing his idea, he was very clear: Santa handles the delivery and places the book on a child’s bed.

In the morning, the children in your household will awaken to a gift that will far outlast any toy: a guided path into the world of stories.

Every family should establish this tradition. If you’re lucky, the child will insist on finishing the book before opening the rest of the presents!