Books For Treats Day – October 31, 2024

History of Books For Treats Day

Books For Treats Day was born from the belief that books are a more valuable treat than candy on Halloween. Books are more beneficial to children than candies because they nourish the mind and equip the child to understand life better.

The holiday was inspired by Rebecca Morgan, the founder of Books for Treats, a non-profit movement. The idea was to step outside the tradition of giving candies on Halloween, so Rebecca Morgan began giving books as treats in 1995 from her home in Willow Glen. She liked the idea of books because it was a treat that lasted longer than candies or toys. Being a best-selling author herself, she knew the value of books, especially in a child’s life. So, when she saw a box of gently read books at a local library, she didn’t hesitate to purchase them. She sorted the books according to grades to make them age-appropriate for children who came trick-or-treating.

Many people welcomed her idea, which prompted her to launch Books For Treats in 2001. According to her, it was important to “feed kids’ minds, not their cavities.”

The movement continued to grow across the U.S. while also gaining some popularity in Canada. In 2009, the movement gained huge momentum when she convinced Greg Evans, the “Luann” comic creator, to promote Books For Treats and encourage more people to give books to little children.

Most of the books given are gently read, and many are cheap to get, especially from thrift shops. Morgan also noticed how excited kids were about books and how they’d even offer to swap books after reading them. It inspired her to push the movement even further.