Ep. 232: Megan Tady Whisks Us Away to a Dreamy Swiss Village in Bluebird Day

Today Megan Tady is back with us to discuss her new hilarious and heartwarming new novel from Zibby Books, Bluebird Day -about  a mother-daughter celebrity skiing duo who must learn to manage the bumps in their own estranged relationship when an avalanche in a dreamy Swiss village forces them together.

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Bluebird Day is the ideal read for anyone looking for a fast-paced, lighthearted novel you could enjoy equally beside a crackling fire or at the beach. Tady delivers a cozy tale with layers as numerous as midseason snowpack.”
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Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

 

About the Author:

Megan Tady, a journalist and editor, is the author of Super Bloom. She founded Word-Lift, a communication consulting and copywriting firm. Originally from Nebraska, she now lives in New England with her husband and two children. Learn more: http://www.megantady.com

 

 Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Links

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 231: RaeAnne Thayne Delivers Pure Holiday Joy in The December Market

This week my guest is RaeAnne Thayne, author of The December Market, her 75th book and a delightful second chance holiday romance. Hallmark holiday movie fans look no further, you’ll want to curl up by the fire with this book and some hot chocolate this season.

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“I always turn to RaeAnne Thayne for stories that are riveting, characters who are inspiring and endings that fill me with joy and hope. -Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Virgin River Series.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

 

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website: http://www.raeannethayne.com

 

 Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Links

Macmillan Audio

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 228: Georgia Clark on the Season’s “Most Wonderful” Holiday Romance

This week my guest is Georgia Clark, author of Most Wonderful, a charming queer holiday romance that’s a must purchase this December.

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“Perfectly capturing the glimmering magic of love at the holidays and brimming with hopeful, big-hearted romance and a cast of lovable, dimensional characters, Most Wonderful is itself the most wonderful.”-Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/zqasmz9p9sq6hb49/MostWonderful_finalwithad.mp3

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

 

About the Author:

Georgia Clark is a novelist, performer, and, in addition to Most Wonderful, the author of Island Time, It Had to Be You, The Bucket List, The Regulars and two YA books. Clark is the host and founder of the internationally popular storytelling night, Generation Women, which is performed monthly at Joe’s Pub in New York. A native Australian, she lives in Brooklyn with her hot wife and sweet toddler.

 

 Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Links

Macmillan Audio

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 179: Talking Heartwarming Holiday Stories and Found Families with Becca Freeman

This week my guest is Becca Freeman, author of a hug of a book that’s perfect for this holiday season, The Christmas Orphans Club, about four friends who gather every Christmas as a found family.

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Freeman’s writing is filled with wit and insight, and her dialogue crackles. Beneath the abundant humor and charm is a thoughtful exploration of friendship, tradition, and the challenges of growing old.
-Grant Ginder, bestselling author of The People We Hate at the Wedding 

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Becca Freeman is the co-host of the popular books and lifestyle podcast Bad on Paper and the co-creator of RomComPods. She is a graduate of Boston College. Becca currently lives in Brooklyn, where she enthusiastically celebrates Christmas every year. Learn more: https://beccafreeman.net/

 

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Links:

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ten Bookish Charities to Support on Giving Tuesday

Here are ten organizations promoting reading and literacy that you can donate to this holiday season.

1. Book Trust

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Book Trust’s mission is to help elementary school children with little or no access to books fall in love with reading and become lifelong learners. In the 2017-2018 school year, Book Trust provided nearly 1 million books to 55,000 students (22,000 in CO) who chose, read, and loved them.

2. Pajama Program

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Pajama Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that believes that every child, no matter their circumstances, has the inherent right to a loving good night, complete with the comforting bedtime ritual of changing into new pajamas and enjoying an enchanting story. Pajama Program offers children affected by instability the unconditional, magical gifts of new pajamas and new books so that they can enjoy the greatest benefit of a loving bedtime and peaceful good night: a fulfilling good day.

3. Books for Africa

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Books For Africa remains the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, shipping over 42 million books to all 55 countries on the African continent since 1988.  In fiscal year 2018 alone, Books For Africa shipped 2.3 million books, and 123 computers and e-readers containing 283,000 digital books, to 29 African countries. More than $2.2 million was raised last year to ship these books to the students of Africa.

4. Save the Children

In their gift catalog, Save the Children offers options to provide a Book Bag to children in need or to fund a Community Book Bank.

5. First Book

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First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. Since our founding in 1992, First Book has distributed more than 175 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families.

6. Children’s Literacy Foundation

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The Children’s Literacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire a love of reading and writing among children up to age 12 throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. Since 1998, CLiF has served more than 180,000 low-income, at-risk, and rural children in 400 communities across every region of the Twin States.

7. Room To Read

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Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond. 

8. Project Night Out

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Project Night Night donates over 25,000 Night Night Packages each year to homeless children 12 and under who need our childhood essentials to have a concrete and predictable source of security and an increased exposure to high-quality literacy materials during their time of upheaval. Each Night Night Package contains a new security blanket, an age- appropriate children’s book, and a stuffed animal — all nestled inside of a new canvas tote bag. By providing objects of reliable comfort, Project Night Night reduces trauma and advances the emotional and cognitive well-being of the children we serve.

9. Reach Out and Read

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Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

10. Book Aid International

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Book Aid International is the UK’s leading international book donation and library development charity. Every year, the charity sends around one million brand new books to people around the world who would otherwise have very few opportunities to access books and read.

Mothers’ Day Read In

What are you doing for Mothers’ Day this year?

If you’re a bookish introvert like me, with littles at home, your idea of a fun celebration might look quite different than normal. Usually we go to a lilac festival in Boston as a family and out to lunch. This year, all I want is to read all day in bed by myself with coffee.

I want to kiss my kids as they hand me something tasty to eat, then send them on their way so I can soak up some quiet and escape into the pages of a book!

Ideal Mothers’ Day night? I’ve been saving renting the new Little Women and I think this is the perfect time for some Jo and Marmee.

Now I just have to decide what to read! I’m thinking something comforting, preferably book related…and British.

What books are you planning to curl up with on Mothers’ Day? I hope you can treat yourself to #MomsReadIn and #MarmeeMovieNight

You might also enjoy these past posts:

Reads for the Moms in Your Life

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18 Ways to Celebrate Little Women’s 150th Anniversary Year

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And to the moms who are essential workers and can’t be home, we see you and are sending Mother’s Day love your way!

Happy Mothers’ Day Mamas!
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Stay safe and happy reading,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

Read Alouds to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Today I’m sharing a post from last year with a few of my favorite Valentine’s Day books. Happy reading!

 

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Valentine’s Day is almost here! These books are perfect to share with your little valentine.

Pair one of these books with some sweet treats for a winning Valentine’s Day gift.

Picture Books:

Click, Clack, Moo I Love You!

by Doreen Cronin

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“It’s Valentine’s Day and on the farm – that means a Valentine’s party! Little Duck is wildly excited. She hangs balloons, streamers, sparkling lights, and hearts everywhere, and hand-makes a valentine for everyone. On top of a hill, a little fox hears the music from the party and follows Little Duck’s many decorations to the barn…but foxes are not at all welcome on farms. The chickens stop dancing. The sheep stop dancing. The pigs stop dancing. The mice hustle off to hide. Will Little Fox ruin the dance? Or, perhaps, she’s just what the party needs!”

Hedgehugs

by Steve Wilson

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“Horace and Hattie are hedgehogs, and the very best of friends. Together, they make daisy chains, splash in puddles, and have tea parties. But there is one thing they can’t do—hug! They are just too spiky. Throughout the seasons, these two hedgehogs will try many different ways of hugging. But will Horace and Hattie find a hug that feels just right?”

Here Comes the Valentine Cat

by Deborah Underwood

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“Cat does NOT like Valentine’s Day. It’s much too mushy, and no way is he making anyone a valentine—especially not his new neighbor, Dog. Dog refuses to respect the fence. He keeps tossing over old bones and hitting Cat in the head! But just as Cat’s about to send Dog an angry “valentine” telling him exactly what he can do with his bones, Dog throws a ball over the fence. What is Dog playing at?”

 

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

by Eileen Spinelli

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“One wintry day, a postman delivers a mysterious package with a big pink bow to a lonely man named Mr. Hatch. “Somebody loves you” the note says. “Somebody loves me!” Mr. Hatch sings as he dusts his living room. “Somebody loves me!” Mr. Hatch whistles as he does his errands in town. “But who, ” Mr. Hatch wonders, “could that somebody be?” After some time, Mr. Hatch discovers just who his secret admirer is and, in doing so, enjoys the biggest surprise of his life!”

Love, Splat

by Rob Scotton

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“It’s Valentine’s Day and Splat has a special valentine for a certain someone in his class. Her name is Kitten, and Splat likes her even more than fish sticks and ice cream. But Kitten doesn’t seem to like him at all—she always ties his tail and pokes his belly when she sees him. And then there’s Splat’s rival, Spike, who also likes Kitten. Will Splat’s heartfelt valentine win Kitten’s paw in the end?”

Pinkalicious: Pink of Hearts

by Victoria Kann

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“Everyone in her class is assigned to make an extra-special Valentine’s Day card for one person in the class. Pinkalicious creates a magnificently pinkerrific card. Will the valentine that she gets in return measure up?”

 

Board Books:

Llama Llama I Love You

by Anna Dewdney

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“With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands.

In Llama Llama I Love You, little llama shows his friends and family how much he loves them with heart-shaped cards and lots of hugs. What could be sweeter than Llama Llama on Valentine’s Day?”

Babies Love Valentines

by Holly Berry-Byrd

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“With colorful artwork and especially sturdy lift-a-flaps, this chunky board book introduces classic Valentine’s Day traditions like giving cards and candies.
Simple sentences reinforce future language structure.
Grasping and lifting the flaps helps develop fine motor skills.”

 

Huggy Kissy

by Leslie Patricelli

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“When you’re an adorable bald baby, your family finds lots of ways to show you how much they love you: Mommy lifts you uppy, Daddy kisses you on the tummy, and everyone wants to snuggle. What’s not to love? With comedy and warmth, Leslie Patricelli offers a universal tribute to love and affection in a board book full of instant appeal for little valentines everywhere.”

Happy Valentine’s Day Mouse!

by Laura Numeroff

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Join Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as he celebrates Valentine’s Day with all the friends he loves. This board book with sturdy pages is perfect for preschoolers, who will enjoy the simple introduction to the fun of Valentine’s Day.

Where Is Baby’s Valentine 

by Karen Katz

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“Baby made a valentine for Mommy. Where could it be?
Is it behind the lamp? No, those are pretty, sparkly flowers!
It’s a shiny, glittering delight as you lift the sturdy flaps to help Baby find her very special valentine.”

 

What are you favorite Valentine’s Day reads? Leave a note in the comments or let me know on Twitter or Instagram @ABookishHome.

If you’re enjoying A Bookish Home, be sure to tell a friend and subscribe to make sure you’ll never miss a new post.

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

Affiliate links  are used in this post. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you purchase a book through the links provided. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home!

Make Reading Resolutions As A Family

Do you and your family set New Year’s Resolutions?

January is also the perfect time to reflect on our reading lives and set intentions for the coming year.

Share resolutions as a family during dinner time or before bedtime read alouds. You could tell your kids how many books you would like to read this year. Or share that your goal is to start waking up early each morning to read. You could resolve to read a particular book or series that has been on your list for a long time. Then invite your kids to share any reading resolutions they have. They may surprise you with what they come up with!

I know in my elementary school library, it really helped me get to know my students as readers to ask about their New Year’s reading goals and resolutions. It also helped me figure out ways I could help support them. For example, if a child raised their hand and said they wanted to find a new series to read this year, I would go up to them during browsing time and offer suggestions. Of if they told me that they wanted to find more great fantasy books, I could give them some ideas and also enlist their peers’ for recommendations. This can be a helpful way to figure out how you might be able to support your young reader.

If you want to take this a step further, you could write down your resolutions, decorate them, and hang them up so that you can refer to them throughout the year.

What are your family’s 2020 reading resolutions?

Share in the comments or let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

 

Take a Re-Reading Vacation

This week I’m sharing a post from last holiday season about taking a re-reading vacation.

 

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The rush and bustle of this time of year can leave us all a bit harried. There are parties to attend, shopping to finish, presents to wrap. Soon we’re rushing to catch flights to visit relatives or whipping the house into shape, preparing to host.

The pace is fast, and I know if I’m not careful, this bookish introvert will wind up curled into a ball in her fleece pajamas by New Year’s, totally depleted.

For the bibliophiles out there, maybe we can try at least slowing down when it comes to our reading lives. Not reading less, but retreating to a familiar, bookish happy place. Let’s take a re-reading vacation.

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I know for me, I sometimes feel guilty ignoring my library checkouts and long TBR list to re-read old favorites. Gretchen Rubin always says, something that can be done at any time, is often done at no time. I find that when it comes to re-reading.

So this holiday season, I’m pulling out the books I know by heart–the ones I’ve been yearning to revisit after reading three fabulous bookish titles this year: Jane Austen at HomeMarilla of Green Gables, and Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women And Why It Still Matters.

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“Few have failed to be charmed by the witty and independent spirit of Elizabeth Bennet in Austen’s beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows us the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.”

 

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“L. M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan mistakenly sent to a pair of siblings who intended to adopt a boy to help work on their farm in Prince Edward Island. Yet Anne’s quirky personality and good-natured spirit causes the siblings to grow to love her anyway, and soon the entire town falls for the precocious little girl with bright red hair.”

 

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“It is no surprise that Little Women, the adored classic of four devoted sisters, was loosely based on Louisa May Alcott’s own life. In fact, Alcott drew from her own personality to create a heroine unlike any seen before: Jo, willful, headstrong, and undoubtedly the backbone of the March family. Follow the sisters from innocent adolescence to sage adulthood, with all the joy and sorrow of life in between, and fall in love with them and this endearing story. Praised by Madeleine Stern as “a book on the American home, and hence universal in its appeal,” Little Women has been an avidly read tale for generations.”

 

Turning to Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables and Little Women sounds just right for the next few weeks. It’s impossible for me not to feel cozy and at peace when I curl up with the Marches, visit Avonlea, or root for Elizabeth Bennett. For you, it might be turning to Harry Potter, The Hobbit, or Middlemarch that calms you down and fills your bookish heart with joy.

 

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I want to show up as my best self for my family and friends and enjoy the magic of the holidays. Fitting in little bits of rereading quiet time when my daughter naps or while I wait in line at a store, will hopefully recharge this introvert.

What will you be reading during this season? Leave a note in the comments or tag me on Instagram or Twitter @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

 ABookishHome.com

Affiliate links for Amazon are used in this post. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you purchase a book through the links provided. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home!

Ep. 46: Susan Bailey on Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Stories

This week I’m sharing an interview with Susan Bailey, creator of the blog,Louisa May Alcott Is My Passion. We’re chatting about Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas stories, the new Little Women movie, and all things Alcott. 

 

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You can also listen on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Books Mentioned On This Episode:

A Merry Christmas And Other Stories

Little Women

Eight Cousins

Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters

Marmee and Louisa

Marcelo in the Real World

The Memory of Light

All the Lives We Ever Lived: Seeking Solace in Virginia Woolf

To dive into all things Alcott, visit Susan’s site Louisa May Alcott Is My Passion. There you will also find links to follow her on social media. You can also read Susan’s article “Spending the Holidays with Louisa May Alcott” in the current issue of Discover Concord Magazine.

 

You may also be interested other Little Women related A Bookish Home blog posts and podcasts episodes:

  18 Ways to Celebrate Little Women’s 150th Anniversary Year

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A Bookish Home Podcast Episode 1: A Conversation with Anne Boyd Rioux, Author of Meg, Jo, Beth Amy

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Ep. 7: An Interview with Jan Turnquist, Executive Director of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House

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If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with a friend and be sure to subscribe. If you could also take a moment to rate and review A Bookish Home on iTunes to help people find the show, I’d be so grateful.

 

Are you reading a book mentioned on the blog or podcast? I’d love to hear. Tag me on your favorite social media @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading and Listening!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

Affiliate links are used in this post. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you purchase something through the links provided. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home!