December 2020 Monthly Newsletter
December 1, 2020
The following post will be a blog archive copy of the Build Your Library’s December 2020 Monthly Newsletter. If you missed the email, you can subscribe to our mailing list here. [Scheduled to be sent 11/30/20 8:15 AM EST]
Hey everybody, it’s Emily from Build Your Library! If you are just going to skim the beginning, here are the main topics in this month’s newsletter:
Now that I have your attention, here are the details on those items and more.
Monthly Newsletter
First off, Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! If I missed your holiday greeting, Happy Holidays!
We have some new information to share, as well as some reoccurring monthly reminders!
Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale weeks
OH MY GOODNESS, Is it already that time of the year?? Well, here it is – take 25% off of all our products during our back-to-back Black Friday Week Sale. Technically the Black Friday portion is over (Nov 23-Nov 29), but our Cyber Monday week sale from Nov 30-Dec 6 is in full force. This includes all full-year programs, unit studies, and any remaining Family Reading Crates! In the past, we have used food-based codes such as “cranberry”, “sugarplum”, “figgypudding” and “gingerbread.” So in keeping with tradition, this year you can use the code EGGNOG at checkout!
December Bookish Holidays
The month of December is designated as Read a New Book Month! December 24 is “Jolabokaflod”, also known as the Yule or Christmas Book Flood (Iceland).
As far as literary birthdays go, we have Jan Brett Birthday (December 1, 1949) (perfect day to start the Jan Brett Christmas Unit Study) and Jane Austen Birthday (December 16, 1775). We also have a couple of Harry Potter character birthdays with Rubeus Hagrid (Dec 6), Charlie Weasley (Dec 12) and although we probably should not speak of it, Tom Riddle (Dec 31).
2021 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Are you looking for a fun reading challenge for the whole family? Well look no further! We had so much fun this past couple of years with the 2019 and 2020 BYL Reading Challenge, we created a new list of 40 reading prompts to help you and your children stretch your reading muscles in 2021. This year’s challenge is all about Hygge! Head over to our blog and download your checklist today!
Bookshop.org Book List Conversion
You may or may not have noticed, but we are slowly working on converting our Amazon affiliate book lists to a new website called Bookshop.org.
From their website “Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.
We believe that bookstores are essential to a healthy culture. They’re where authors can connect with readers, where we discover new writers, where children get hooked on the thrill of reading that can last a lifetime. They’re also anchors for our downtowns and communities.”
So basically instead of Amazon making all of the money, independent bookshops all across the United States get the sales. As a small business owner myself, I love helping out other small businesses. We are all going to buy books anyway, we might as well shop small when we can!
“Read Aloud Book Club” Pack
Our twelfth monthly “Read Aloud Book Club” subscription pack is now available! The December 2020 theme is “Fire and Ice” . This month’s selection is an exciting and beautifully written fantasy that is set in Antarctica! The perfect winter read-aloud for the whole family!
“Tea with Emily” Facebook Live Streams
We hope you all enjoyed our last “Tea with Emily” Facebook Live Stream. If you missed our “Q & A Session“ last month in October, you can find a recording by scrolling our Facebook or direct links on our past events page.
Our next Facebook Live will be December 4, 2020, at 1:00 PM EST, where we’ll discuss Homeschooling High School! I have gotten so many requests for tips and advice about homeschooling high school – from grading to transcripts to college applications, I will offer what advice I can to help you on this journey!
Every other month, I host a 30-60 minute Build Your Library homeschooling chat. You can ask questions about homeschooling, using Build Your Library curriculum, book recommendations, etc. We will announce the date ahead of time, and you will be able to submit questions you would like to cover. Additionally, you can also ask questions during the interactive live stream. Grab a mug of tea (or coffee) and cozy up with our virtual hangout!
Build Your Library Support
Are you looking for help or advice on your homeschooling journey? We have compiled all of our helpful resources into one blog post for you. From the many BYL related Facebook groups to my book A Literary Education, there is a treasure trove of information and helpful parents out there to help guide you along your homeschooling adventure. If you have any questions, just ask!
BYL Social Media Shout Out
We always have our Social Media “chicklets” at the bottom of our newsletters and webpage, but we wanted to make sure you are following us on our other platforms. The Build Your Library Facebook is our go-to social media site, and we post there frequently with cool Amazon products and book recommendations we think you would like, as well as all of our Read Aloud Book Club announcements, blog posts, full-year and unit study product releases and updates, and more.
Our Build Your Library Instagram page regularly posts pictures and insider info about projects I’m currently working on or what I’m doing with my kids.
Although not 100% exclusively Build Your Library related, our Arrrgh Schooling YouTube channel has videos about books and homeschooling, but let’s be honest, it’s mostly books. If you want to see what I’m reading, join my Arrrgh Booked Book Club (we are taking December off for the holiday season, but we’ll be back reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab in January!), or just want ideas for books to read (either for you for your children) you are sure to find something useful! We also have a BYL Twitter feed where I share links and information about BYL and homeschooling. Or you can stay subscribed to our email list and browse our monthly newsletters.
Wrap Up
I hope you are all enjoying fall in your neck of the woods! Remember to get outside and observe the changing of the seasons. Even if you don’t do formal nature study, it’s a great time to get outside and note the transition of the seasons!
If you are looking for inspiration, here are some articles you might find helpful:
- Lighting Up Your Long Winter Nights
- 12 Days of Christmas Freebie
- Unit Study: A Jan Brett Christmas!
- Happy, Hygge Homeschooling?
We have well over 100 blog posts on various homeschooling and book-related topics if you want to browse for more.
I think that is about all for this month. Again, please follow us on whatever social media you frequent, there will be periodic updates posted there as well, but we will try to keep everyone in the know where ever you are surfing!
Thanks and Happy Reading! Emily
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