I have loved reading ever since I was a child. But ever since I discovered picture books as a mom, I have been blown away! These deceptively simple books are such a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and magnificent windows to the world! Nothing encouraged me to bring my ideas to life like the book, ‘What Do You Do with an Idea?’, and nothing taught me metamorphosis better than ‘A Very Hungry Caterpillar’! You see, I went to a good school in India and believed I got an excellent education, but I was stumped by how much I did not know when I started to read to my daughter every day. I have read to my daughter every single day since the day she was born, and for the past 7-8 years, we have been going through around 1000 books a year! It is true (I have done the math!)! If there is one thing I absolutely love about living in the US, it’s the libraries - they are Phenomenal! The libraries have not only helped us successfully stay as a screen-free family for the past 12 years but also helped us raise two children, often found with their noses buried in a book. These books have blessed us with AWE. These books have blessed us with empathy, wisdom, laughter, curiosity, and so much compassion. These books have blessed us with magic.

It is this magic that I want to share with you so you can share it with your children and families (today, I saw a smile of AWE spread across my father's face as he read ‘The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read’). Young or old, our souls cannot help but be touched, moved and changed by these stories of awe. We all love a good story, don’t we?

So, are you ready to take up this challenge with me? To read 1000 picture books a year to your child(ren)? To welcome a special kind of magic that will last and influence generations?

It may seem daunting, but it is doable: 1000 picture books a year is only about 3 picture books a day! At around 20 minutes for a picture book, it’s only 1 hour of your day! It may be the best 1 hour of your day, and theirs.

But maybe you don’t have good libraries near you, or you simply cannot spare an hour a day reading. It’s Alright! Start wherever you can. 1 book a day, the same book for a week! Hey, kids love repetition!

We are all pretty diligent about feeding our bodies three meals a day; reading 3 books a day is akin to feeding our souls. Can’t ask for better nourishment, in my opinion!

So, what do you think? Shall we do this, together?

I can help you get started with a good list! :D

Let’s open a page and step into a world of wonder, together. Godspeed!