Jolabokaflod

Christmas Book Flood • Reading for Pleasure


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DAY 5 — The Book You Can Finish Before Bed

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

There is a special kind of satisfaction that comes from finishing a book before you fall asleep.

Not the triumph of speed. Not the rush of “getting through”. But the gentle closing of a story while the day itself is closing too. The soft thud of the final page. The quiet sense that something small and complete has been set gently to rest.

For many adults, the hardest part of reading is not enjoyment — it’s beginning. And often, what makes beginning feel heavy is the unspoken pressure to commit hundreds of pages of time and attention. We think, I’ll start when I have more space. But December rarely gives us more space. It gives us fuller diaries, shorter days, and many competing forms of tiredness.

That is where the magic of short books quietly waits.

I once read a slim novel in a single winter evening — not because I rushed, but because the story was shaped to fit the natural arc of fatigue. I remember closing the last page, switching off the lamp, and feeling a rare sense of completion that modern life so often withholds from us. That night, my sleep was deeper for it.

Short books build momentum.

They remind us that reading does not have to be an endurance event. It can be a small daily pleasure. An achievable promise kept to yourself at the end of a long day.

Today, on Day 5 of our Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar, I invite you to choose a book not for its scope, but for its scale. A book that respects your tiredness. A book that knows how to end before you are completely spent.

🌙 Today’s Reading Picks — “Books You Can Finish Before Bed”

Gentle, short, deeply satisfying reads:

Each of these can be read in one or two quiet evenings — and each leaves a long echo.

You can explore the full Advent Calendar titles here:
👉 Explore the Advent Calendar collection on Bookshop.org

And if you’d like more quick, beautiful victories:
👉 Visit the Short Reads & Novellas Shelf

Tonight, you do not need to make big promises.
Just turn a few pages.
And let the day end with a story.


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DAY 4 — The Cup-of-Hot-Chocolate Books

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

Some books don’t ask to be analysed.
They ask only to be held.

Held the way you hold a warm mug on a cold evening. Fingers curved around ceramic. Steam rising toward your face. A soft pause between one small sip and the next. These are the books I think of as hot-chocolate books — stories that warm you from the inside out.

I first noticed this kind of reading on a winter evening when the day had been heavy for no obvious reason. Nothing dramatic. Just one of those tired, emotionally cluttered days that December seems so good at producing. I made hot chocolate almost without thinking, opened a book at random, and somewhere between the sweetness and the softness of the words, I felt my shoulders lower.

That’s when I realised something important:

Comfort reading is not indulgence. It’s restoration.

We live in a world that constantly invites us to optimise even our leisure — to learn more, grow faster, consume smarter. But winter asks something different of us. It asks us to be gentler. It asks us to choose warmth over acceleration. And few things do that as reliably as a truly comforting book.

These are the stories where not much explodes. Where kindness appears quietly. Where the stakes are human rather than heroic. They are perfect companions for evenings when the dark arrives early and the only plan is to stay in.

So today, on Day 4 of our Jolabokaflod Advent journey, I invite you to choose a book the way you might choose a hot drink: not for its prestige, but for how it makes you feel when you take the first sip.

☕ Today’s Reading Picks: “Hot-Chocolate Comfort Reads”

Books that soothe, soften, and wrap you up in story:

These are books you can return to when the world feels a little too sharp around the edges.

You can explore the full Advent Calendar titles here:
👉 Explore the Advent Calendar collection on Bookshop.org

And if you’d like to wander a little further:
👉 Visit the Cosy Winter Fiction Shelf

Tonight, may your book be warm.
May your drink be sweet.
And may the world feel just a little kinder.


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DAY 3 — The Most Memorable Book I Ever Received

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

There are many gifts we forget. Some we remember for a season. But a few linger for a lifetime, quietly shaping who we become. More often than not, those are the gifts that came wrapped not just in paper, but in story.

I can still remember the weight of one particular book in my hands as a child—the satisfying density of it, the faint smell of ink and dust, the way my name had been written carefully on the inside cover. I don’t remember what else I received that year. I don’t remember the toys, the clothes, the noise. But I remember that book. I remember where I sat when I opened it. I remember how it felt to realise that something inside those pages now belonged to me.

That is the quiet power of giving a book.

Unlike most gifts, a book does not announce itself all at once. It unfolds slowly. It waits. It meets the reader in private moments—in bed after the lights go out, on the sofa while the house sleeps, in the quiet spaces between the busyness of life. A book becomes more than an object. It becomes a companion. A refuge. Sometimes even a turning point.

When we speak about Jolabokaflod—the Icelandic tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve—we often talk about culture, community, and reading habits. But at its heart, the tradition is deeply personal. It’s about saying to someone, quietly and with care:

“I chose this story for you.”

Today, I invite you to pause and think about the most memorable book you ever received. Who gave it to you? Where were you? What did it awaken in you? Often, when we trace our reading lives back far enough, we find that everything began with a single, thoughtful gift.

That’s why, on Day 3 of our Advent journey, today’s focus is on books that make unforgettable presents—the kind that live on long after the wrapping paper is gone.

🎁 Today’s Reading Picks: “Most Memorable Book Gifts”

Timeless, emotionally resonant titles that make extraordinary presents:

These are the books people return to decades later and still remember who gave them.

You can explore the full Advent Calendar curated shelf here:
👉 Explore the Advent Calendar collection on Bookshop.org

And for even more timeless choices:
👉 Visit the Jolabokaflod Classics Shelf

If you’re giving a book this Christmas, you’re not just giving a story.

You’re giving a future memory.

Choose it with care.


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DAY 2 — The Hygge Reading Nook Challenge

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

There’s a particular kind of happiness that arrives not in grand gestures, but in the quiet rearranging of a corner of your home. A lamp moved a little closer. A blanket folded just so. A mug placed within easy reach. And suddenly, what was once simply a chair becomes something far more powerful: an invitation to read.

For me, the discovery of hygge years ago didn’t come from a book or an article—it came from a moment. A dreary December afternoon, the kind where the sky hangs low and everything feels slightly unfinished. I lit a small lamp, wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, and sat down “just for a minute”. That minute became an hour. That hour became the start of a ritual that has stayed with me every winter since.

Because here’s the truth we often forget:
Adults don’t just need more time to read. They need more reasons to begin.
And nothing encourages beginning quite like a cosy, welcoming nook.

The beauty of a reading nook is that it doesn’t need to be elaborate. You don’t need a fireplace or a bay window or a perfectly curated stack of Pinterest-worthy décor. All you need are three things:

  1. A comfortable seat
  2. A forgiving light source
  3. A sense of shelter

The shelter is the secret ingredient. It might be the way a blanket drapes over your knees. Or how the chair angles away from the busyness of the room. Or even the presence of a cat who is absolutely convinced this nook was created for them.

Today, for Day Two of our Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar, I invite you to join the Hygge Reading Nook Challenge:

Create—or reclaim—one small corner of your home that whispers, “Stay a while.”

And once you’ve done that, you’ll need the right book: something warm, atmospheric, and comforting enough to justify staying put for just one chapter more.

☕ Today’s Reading Picks: “Hygge Nook Essentials”

Books that pair beautifully with soft light, blankets, and unhurried evenings:

You can explore the full Advent Calendar titles here:
👉 Explore the Advent Calendar collection on Bookshop.org

And if you want even more comforting choices:
👉 Visit the Cosy Winter Fiction Shelf

Whether your nook is humble or heavenly, minimal or magical, let it become your daily December refuge.

May it bring you warmth, rest, and many beautiful pages.


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DAY 1 — The First Snowfall of Reading Season

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

There’s a moment every winter when the world changes all at once.

It happens quietly—almost shyly—when the first snowflakes drift past the window. Streets soften. Sounds become muffled. The light turns a gentler shade of silver. And for a few precious hours, the world gives us permission to slow down.

For many people, that first snowfall is the moment they finally exhale. For readers, it’s something more: an invitation. A reminder. A tug at an old, familiar thread of comfort. The first snowfall carries a secret message whispered only to those willing to hear it:

“It’s reading season.”

I remember one first snowfall in particular—a December morning years ago, long before Jolabokaflod became a part of my life’s work. I had been rushing, overstretched, juggling the many unnecessary urgencies we invent for ourselves in the run-up to Christmas. Then suddenly, there it was: a soft flurry outside the window. I stopped, mid-task. Without thinking, I made a cup of coffee, pulled a blanket over my lap, and picked up the book waiting quietly beside the sofa.

Thirty pages later, I realised I hadn’t looked at my phone once.

That morning taught me something I’ve since seen echoed in research, book clubs, libraries, and conversations with readers around the world: winter itself can be a catalyst for reading. The colder, quieter, darker days nudge us toward stories in a way summer rarely does. We’re less inclined to rush. We crave atmosphere. We want warmth—not just in temperature but in feeling.

So today, on the first day of our Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar, I invite you to embrace that small but powerful shift. Whether snow is falling where you are or only in your imagination, let this be your moment to pause—to choose a book that mirrors the pace of the season, and to let it carry you gently into December.

❄️ Today’s Reading Picks: “First Snowfall Reads”

Books with crisp air, quiet moods and the soft glow of winter light:

These books pair beautifully with early mornings, warm blankets and the sound of nothing much at all.

You can explore the full Advent Calendar titles here:
👉 Explore the Advent Calendar collection on Bookshop.org

And if you want a second cosy corner to wander into, today’s recommended evergreen shelf is:
👉 The Cosy Winter Fiction Shelf

Let’s begin this season as gently as possible.
Let’s begin with a book.
Let’s begin with the first snowfall.


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Help Us to Spread the Joy of Reading

Invitation to a free Jolabokaflod event: Quiz + Masterclass

Dear friends,

Given your interest in reading more for pleasure as part of your busy lifestyles—I’m writing to tell you and people in your networks about a new campaign being launched soon by Jolabokaflod CIC.

In celebration of World Book and Copyright Day (23 April 2025) and World Intellectual Property Day (26 April 2025), I’d love to personally invite you—and your friends, family and colleagues—to take our free Quiz—Your Book Persona Blueprint—to find out “What kind of reader are you?“

Quiz 💻 Your Book Persona Blueprint

📚 What kind of reader are you?
1️⃣ Casual reader
2️⃣ Literary Connoisseur
3️⃣ Bibliophile
4️⃣ Book Dragon

Once you have completed the Quiz, signing up to receive your Book Persona archetype report leads to the opportunity to attend a special, free online Masterclass event designed to inspire, uplift and reconnect us all with the joy of reading:

Masterclasses 📚 The Joy of Books—The Busy Person’s Guide to Reading for Pleasure and Mental Wellness
🗓️ 23 April 2025 | ⏰ 6.00 pm BST • 1.00 pm EDT • 10.00 am PDT
🌍 Live Online: LinkedIn • Facebook • YouTube
🗓️ 26 April 2025 | ⏰ 10.00 am BST • 2.30 pm IST • 7.00 pm AEST
🌍 Live Online: LinkedIn • Facebook • YouTube

Led by me, Christopher Norris, the pioneer of World Book Day in the UK and founder of Jolabokaflod CIC, these 60-minute masterclasses help busy professionals rediscover reading as a powerful leisure activity that supports mental wellbeing, creativity and personal growth.

Participants will:

✅ Discover their Book Persona archetype
✅ Learn how to make space for reading—even with full schedules
✅ Get curated recommendations and tools for lifelong reading habits
✅ Be invited to become a Reading Ambassador, by contributing a favourite book recommendation to our global BOOK BULLETIN catalogue by promoting the book they love in exchange for online visibility for their own project, service or business in the style of a free classified ad

It would mean so much if you could share the quiz event with your colleagues, clients, or community—and of course, I’d be delighted to have you join us personally.

If you’d like images, copy, or custom messaging for your internal channels or newsletters, I’m happy to provide.

Warmest thanks in advance for your support.


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How the UK Celebrates World Book Day

A Nation of Readers in Costume

Ever wondered why the UK turns into a sea of literary characters every March?

Every year, on the first Thursday of March, the UK bursts into a vibrant celebration of literature known as World Book Day. Schools, bookshops and libraries across the country unite to ignite a passion for reading among children of school age. But what makes this day so special, and how has it become such a beloved tradition?

A National Celebration of Reading

World Book Day in the UK is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a nationwide initiative that aims to make books accessible to all children, regardless of background. Launched in 1997 by UNESCO and adapted uniquely for the UK and Ireland, the event promotes reading through various engaging activities.

One of the most iconic aspects of World Book Day is the distribution of free book tokens. Each child receives a £1 token, which they can use to purchase a special edition World Book Day book or put towards a book of their choice. This ensures that every child has access to a book they can call their own, fostering a love of reading from an early age.

Dressing Up: More Than Just Costumes

Ask any schoolchild what they love most about World Book Day, and chances are they’ll mention the costumes. Schools nationwide encourage pupils to dress as their favourite literary characters, turning classrooms into a colourful mix of Harry Potters, Alice in Wonderlands and Gruffalos. But beyond the fun, these costumes serve a deeper purpose—bringing stories to life and making books more interactive for young readers.

For many parents, however, the pressure to create elaborate costumes can be daunting. While some opt for detailed, homemade outfits, others prefer simple yet creative solutions—often making use of household items to transform their child into a beloved character. The emphasis is always on participation rather than perfection.

School Events and Community Engagement

Schools play a pivotal role in World Book Day celebrations. Teachers organise storytelling sessions, book swaps and author visits to inspire their students. Many schools hold “Drop Everything and Read” (DEAR) sessions, where the entire school pauses to read for a set period, reinforcing the idea that reading is both valuable and enjoyable.

Libraries and bookshops also join in the festivities—hosting workshops, readings, and signings with authors and illustrators. These events create an immersive literary experience that encourages children to explore different genres and discover new favourite books.

The Power of Representation in Books

A growing focus of World Book Day in recent years has been diversity in literature. Campaigns promoting books that reflect different cultures, abilities and experiences have gained momentum. Publishers and educators use the event as an opportunity to introduce children to books that feature characters from a range of backgrounds, ensuring that every child can see themselves represented in the stories they read.

The Digital Influence on World Book Day

With the rise of digital media, World Book Day has expanded beyond physical books. Many organisations now incorporate audiobooks, e-books and virtual storytelling sessions into their celebrations. Social media plays a significant role, with the hashtag #WorldBookDay trending across platforms as parents, teachers and other book lovers share their celebrations online.

The Lasting Impact

While World Book Day lasts only 24 hours, its impact endures throughout the year. By putting books in children’s hands—making reading an exciting, shared experience—the initiative contributes to lifelong literacy and a love of storytelling. Schools, families and communities continue to build on the enthusiasm generated, ensuring that books remain at the heart of children’s lives.

Do you think initiatives like World Book Day help foster a long-term love for reading?


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Embracing Jolabokaflod

Merry Christmas, everyone. Also, Happy Jolabokaflod.

Here is a 20-minute video I’ve recorded about how to integrate the Icelandic “Christmas book flood” tradition into the way you celebrate the festive season with your friends and family


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The future of reading? AI meets Jolabokaflod (episode #5)

Event announcement: Jolabokaflod CIC is hosting a 30-minute live-stream podcast today—Friday, 20 December at 10.30 am. Anyone who is free is most welcome to join in…

This Christmas season, discover the intersection of AI and literature in a unique and timely podcast episode all about Jolabokaflod—the Icelandic Christmas tradition of gifting books. Join us as we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we write, publish, and experience books, especially during the holidays.

In this episode, we delve into how AI can enhance the book discovery process, from personalised recommendations to AI-driven writing tools that help authors craft their stories. We’ll explore the growing role of AI in the literary world, from automated editing and book marketing to the creative collaboration between humans and machines.

As we embrace the magic of Jolabokaflod, a tradition that celebrates the joy of reading on Christmas Eve, we’ll also reflect on how technology is shaping the future of storytelling. Whether you’re a writer, reader, or simply looking for fresh ways to make your Christmas reading even more exciting, this episode will open your eyes to how AI and books are making the holidays brighter. Tune in for a fascinating look at the future of literature in the age of AI and join the conversation about the books we’ll be reading and gifting this Christmas.

Get into the Christmas spirit of Jolabokaflod by discovering how promoting reading for pleasure over the festive season can make the holidays more special and reignite a love for books to take into the New Year as a resolution you can keep.

On 20 December at 10.30-11.00 am GMT, join Christopher Norris in conversation with Georgia Kirke—Founder of ClioBooks.ai—to discover how AI impacts books, especially in relation to Christmas and the Jolabokaflod tradition.

Share your questions with us in real time.

• YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvQRRJwtHv0


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From sleigh bells to book sales: Christmas PR strategies (episode #4)

Event announcement: Jolabokaflod CIC is hosting a 30-minute live-stream podcast tomorrow—Friday, 20 December at 9.45 am. Anyone who is free is most welcome to join in…

As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better time to unwrap a winning strategy for your book’s publicity. In our latest podcast, we dive into the magic of Jolabokaflod — the Icelandic tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve — and how it can inspire your book PR strategy this festive season.

Join us as we explore how authors and publishers can harness the power of holiday gifting to boost visibility, connect with readers, and tap into the spirit of Christmas. From creating buzz in the weeks leading up to Christmas to leveraging social media and influencer collaborations, we cover actionable tips on making your book the gift everyone’s talking about.

This episode offers practical insights for authors, marketers, and publishers looking to elevate their book’s presence during the busiest shopping season of the year. Whether you’re preparing for a holiday book launch or aiming to maximize seasonal sales, this podcast will help you craft a compelling PR campaign that resonates with readers looking for that perfect gift.

Tune in for a festive, PR-packed conversation that will help your book shine bright this Christmas!

Get into the Christmas spirit of Jolabokaflod by discovering how promoting reading for pleasure over the festive season can make the holidays more special and reignite a love for books to take into the New Year as a resolution you can keep.

On 20 December at 9.45-10.15 am GMT, join Christopher Norris in conversation with Tony Mulliken—Founder of Midas PR—to discover how book PR impacts book sales, especially in relation to Christmas and the Jolabokaflod tradition.

Share your questions with us in real time.

• YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srHIdCdAygs