“Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.” –Dr. Seuss

Even though he is mostly known for his children’s book like Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, if there is anybody who knows books, it’s Dr. Seuss.

The quote should be taken both seriously and not-so-seriously. 

I think that everybody should read. So when Dr. Seuss tells you to fill your house with books, I think you should. Reading takes you to places you’ve never been and may never have the chance to go.

For example,you can read J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece Harry Potter series and travel to Hogwarts, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You can learn spells, fly on broomsticks and face He-who-must-not-be-named. All while sporting the coolest looking scar shaped like a lightning bolt on your head.

When did you become such an excellent archer? That’s what you will become when you read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. You’ll fight until the death against 23 other tributes. You can become Katniss as she finds herself and tries to save the world she’s always known. And another bonus, you’ll have two hunks begging for your attention as well.

Travel back to 1942 in the very real world of Anne Frank. Her diary reveals the details of the life she struggled to live in as she hid with her family while the Nazis took over the Netherlands. Set specifically in Holland, you can experience her fears as they’re happening.

These are all books I’m sure you have heard of and maybe you’ve already read them. They all even have movies to go along with them, because that’s the thing to do now. But don’t cheat your way and just watch the movies. Trust me, it’s worth the read. You will learn so much more about the characters and the story in general. What is there to lose? Nothing.  

I know it is hard to find time to read. Especially in college when we are supposed to have a job, go to school and find time to do 101 other things. I even struggle to find time and its something that I absolutely love to do.

I have my Kindle with me at all times so if I have ten minutes between classes I can read. That doesn’t always happen, but just in case. Or make time to read. It can be a stress reliever. You can forget what is going on around you and immerse yourself into something entirely different.

One way to jump right into books is to attend the South Dakota Festival of Books. This year’s event will be the 12th annual event and its coming up on Thursday.

While most of the events are in Sioux Falls, there is a special Young Readers Festival that takes place right here in Brookings at the Children’s Museum on Sept. 25. For more information you can visit sdbookfestival.com. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about books or if you are already a book lover, you can expand your knowledge. 

If you can’t attend that’s O.K. too, just promise to read.  Because when else are you going to travel and experience different worlds that don’t even exist?

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” –George R. R. Martin.