For the last couple of years, my Professional Book Nerds co-host and I have created a reading challenge to encourage our listeners and fellow book nerds to read outside their comfort zone. When we were coming up with our list, we took 2020 into account because we know it’s been a tough year for everyone. Even just finding the mental bandwidth to finish a book this past year was difficult. Which is why one of our 2021 reading challenges is to read a picture book. Because picture books are fun and quick, but chances are unless you have kids in your life you haven’t read one in awhile. So go ahead and indulge in the whimsy of your childhood and read a picture book.

I have always loved this time of year in college and grad school; walking around campus, that whip of a cool breeze tussling with the orange and red leaves around my feet. While I’m glad to no longer have to deal with homework, I do sometimes miss just being on a campus which is why my reading habits in the autumn shift towards books set at school.