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HOW TO CREATE A SEASONAL BOOK DISPLAY

When leaves begin turning and temps grow brisk, nothing’s more inviting than a cozy reading corner. Pagination Owner Jen Murvin tells us how to encourage young readers to curl up with a good book.

WRITTEN BY LUCIE AMBERG

Tempt Kids with Design

Just as a well-composed plate enhances a meal, an intentionally designed library makes kids want to dive into reading. Once you’ve dedicated a special shelf or space for your seasonal selections, use wire book stands—or simply lean books against other books—so that some titles face out. Books can be a design feature, Murvin says, and you can use them the way you’d use a painting or photograph. She also recommends grouping books according to color. For peak autumn vibes, choose shades of red, orange, brown and green. Then intersperse them or colorblock them—have fun!

Build on a Theme

Instead of o ering up books as single-serving selections, create a bu et of options that complement each other. This approach is particularly suited to beginning readers, who may not nish one book before starting another. “Young picture-book readers don’t read one book at a time,” Murvin says. “They want to read at least three.” She recommends starting with a book that’s a little bit challenging and grouping it with something shorter or easier to read—something little ones can move onto as they get sleepy.

Make it Interactive

You know how kids are more likely to eat something if they’ve helped prepare it? Murvin says this principle applies to home libraries, too. “If kids are part of arranging, they’ll get excited to read one of the books or get reminded of one they haven’t read in a while,” she says. She also suggests getting crafty with a cool bookmark-making activity. It only takes construction paper and crayons, so you’ve probably got the supplies at home. Or you can amp up fall feelings by pressing colorful leaves in wax paper—the perfect marker to tuck into a favorite book. 

Build Your Little Library

Pagination staff are happy to make customized book recommendations. “We love curating home libraries,” Murvin says. “It’s a free service, and it’s part of who we are as booksellers.” Check out a few of her top picks for fall:

1

Picture Books Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds

2

Elementary-aged Readers Goosebumps by R.L. Stine o ley e erso s esome r e dly Spooky Stories b Jeff inne he a ed o se e oor Volume 1 by Andres Miedoso he chool s l e ra ches oo by Jack Chabert

3

Ages 12 and Over Sheets by Brenna Thummler ya s hos by Vera Brosgol Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne Coraline by Neil Gaiman Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn