I heard stories of how epic my street was on Halloween, but I had to see it to believe it. 

• Shots. My neighbors pass out shots. 
• A haunted house that made my youngest muggle scream. 
• A hay ride by a slightly tipsy woman- wouldn’t suggest it. 
• A drunk Santa. He’s always a good time. 
• The atmosphere, it’s magical. 

I wanted to do something that added to the beauty of our street, so of course, I implemented books. 

Starting in September, I get on the Next Door app and start asking for donations. The women around here are always happy to clean out their kids’ bookshelves. But with close to 400 Trick or Treaters a year (our street is that of legends, people come far and wide to enjoy the festivities). 

My Neighborhood BFF does WORK, y’all. She’s a teacher and she starts knocking on those classroom doors asking for donations. She goes to Half Priced Books and works her magic, she taps into her tribe and they donate, too! 

Each year we pick a theme. Two years ago, it was Belle- duh. And this year, I had my followers on Candace Reads Books pick for me! Star Wars won, and I am so dang happy because Rey is a bad ass and I’m all about the girl power. 

Not every kid wants a book, and that’s totally fine! I realize they’re out there for candy, and we are sure to have oodles of it. I don’t want my house getting egged by a brat in an IT contest whose mad they didn’t get their ho-ho. 

But there are some kids… *wipes tears* who genuinely love it. One little boy ran across the street screaming “BOOKS!” Much to his moms dismay, because cars and drunken hay rides (I would like to add, the hay ride did not occur on year two; thank you, Baby Jesus.) Kids get EXCITED, and my heart recharges for the year. 

Readers are leaders, y’all.