Literary calendars for 12 months of your exciting reading life!

These fun literary calendars include not only the most important dates and events, but also a reading challenge for each week, a fun fact, and a bookish quote.

Some book lovers sometimes need a little reminder to reach for a favorite book or go to a library.

A literary calendar is a wonderful way to keep track of important events to celebrate and share with students or other book lovers.

The idea to design the calendars was inspired by fantastic literary calendars created by Emily Temple for Flavorwire, back in 2013.

I also used the Literary Birthday Calendar from Writers Write, and Literary Hub’s Fictional Dates in Literature (Emily Temple, again!).

For quotes and fun facts, I used our own lists, including most interesting facts about books and libraries.

Would you like to get the calendars in a quality that’s high enough to print them out in the US letter or A4 paper size? High-resolution calendar pdf files are available for download at our sister blog, Reader updated.

If you’d like to hang the calendars on a wall, I have made the designs to my Redbubble, Society6, and Zazzle shop. They are available in different sizes and finish options. Enjoy!

12 monthly literary calendars

January

Literary calendar - January
Literary calendar for January / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

January 1 – International Public Domain Day

The first day when copyrights expire and works enter into the public domain.

January 2 – Science Fiction Day

Unofficially celebrated by sci-fi fans to correspond with the birthdate of a prolific science-fiction author, Isaac Asimov.

January 3 – J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday, 1892

An English writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

January 12 – Haruki Murakami is born, 1949

An Acclaimed Japanese essayist, short-story writer, and novelist. The author of Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore.

January 18 – National Thesaurus Day

Celebrating the birthday of the creator of the first English-language thesaurus, Peter Mark Roget.

January 19 – Edgar Allan Poe is born, 1809

An American poet and writer best known for his macabre works. The author of The Raven and The Masque of the Red Death.

January 27 – Lewis Carroll’s birthday, 1832

An inventor, photographer, and the master of word play. The author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

January 28 – Pride and Prejudice is published, 1813

The novel was originally published anonymously, as were all of Jane Austen’s novels.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A sci-fi book by a debut author
Week 2: A book set in a Victorian era
Week 3: A book recommended by Tolkien fans
Week 4: A book about travelling to a mysterious land

Did you know?

Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt houses the oldest continually operating library in the world, established AD 565.

Quote

If a book is well written, I always find it too short. – Jane Austen

February – Library Lover’s Month

Literary calendar - February
Literary calendar for February / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

February 3 – Johannes Gutenberg’s death, 1468

A German goldsmith who invented a movable-type printing press, starting the Printing Revolution.

February 6 – Brontë sisters send their poems to a publisher, 1846

Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë published the book using the male pseudonyms: Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.

February 7 – Charles Dickens is born, 1812

Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian Era. The author of A Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist.

February 9 – Alice Walker’s birthday, 1944

The author of The Color Purple is the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize.

February 9 – Read in the Bathtub Day

Reading a book while relaxing is the greatest enjoyment in life!

February 14 – International Book Giving Day

A worldwide volunteer initiative aimed at encouraging people to give a book to a child.

February 18 – Toni Morrison’s birthday, 1931

An American novelist and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. The author of Beloved and Song of Solomon.

February 22 – The first commercial audiobook is recorded, 1952

The record included five poems by Dylan Thomas and his holiday story A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

February 28 – Lemony Snicket is born, 1970

Daniel Handler (pen name: Lemony Snicket) is best known for his children’s books A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: An anthology of poems
Week 2: A contemporary Dickensian novel
Week 3: A full-cast audiobook
Week 4: A book by a foreign author

Did you know?

BiblioTech, the first ebook-only library, opened in Texas in 2013, with 10,000 titles, 45 iPads, and 40 laptops.

Quote

We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth. – John Lubbock

March

Literary calendar - March
Literary calendar for March / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

March 2 – Dr. Seuss is born, 1904

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was the author of children’s classics, including The Cat in the Hat.

March 4 – Sherlock Holmes gets his first case, 1881

As recorded by Dr. Watson in a first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet.

March 14 – The first mass-market ebook is published, 2000

Over 400,000 copies of Stephen King’s Riding the Bullet novella were downloaded in the first 24 hours.

March 19 – International Read to Me Day

Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world.

March 21 – World Poetry Day

UNESCO’s initiative to promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry.

March 25 – Tolkien Reading Day

The date is inspired by The Lord of the Rings. On this day, the Ring was destroyed, and Sauron was defeated.

March 31 – Alice for the iPad is released, 2010

One of the first books for iPad and a breathtaking interactive version of the classic tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

March 31 – The first part of The Pickwick Papers is published, 1836

Charles Dickens’ first novel was published in 19 installments, highly contributing to the success of serialized fiction.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: One of the Sherlock Holmes stories
Week 2: A collection of poems
Week 3: A book set in the near future
Week 4: A book recommended by a friend

Did you know?

John Steinbeck’s dog named Toby ate the original manuscript for Of Mice and Men. The dog, quite literally, chewed up half of the only manuscript of the classic.

Quote

Reading makes a full man. – Francis Bacon

April

Literary calendar - April
Literary calendar for April / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

April 1 – The beginning of Hay-on-Wye book town, 1977

Richard Booth proclaimed the town an “independent kingdom,” which sparked a surge in interest in local bookshops.

April 2 – International Children’s Book Day

The day is observed on the birthdate of Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author best known for his fairy tales.

April 4 – The day George Orwell’s 1984 starts

On this day, the main character of Orwell’s classic novel started a secret diary by writing a sentence “Down with Big Brother.”

April 6 – The Little Prince is published, 1943

A novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry became one of the most influential books of the 20th century.

April 23 – William Shakespeare is born, 1564

The greatest writer in the English language created almost 40 plays, including Romeo and JulietHamlet, and Macbeth.

April 23 – World Book and Copyright Day

An annual event by UNESCO to discuss publishing and copyright, as well as promote the enjoyment of reading.

April 24 – The Library of Congress is founded, 1800

The largest library in the world. Its collection is growing at about two million items per year.

April 28 – Harper Lee’s birthday, 1926

An American novelist best known for her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: Your favorite childhood book
Week 2: A book with a number in its title
Week 3: A book about a prince or princess
Week 4: A book set in medieval England

Did you know?

A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading for just 6 minutes can help reduce stress by up to 68%.

Quote

If you wish to renew your mind, read. – Lailah Gifty Akita

May – Get Caught Reading Month

Literary calendar - May
Literary calendar for May / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

May 1 – Joseph Heller’s birthday, 1923

An American author of novels, short stories, and plays, best known for Catch-22 anti-war satire.

May 2 – International Harry Potter Day

On this day, the Battle of Hogwarts was fought.

May 3 – World Press Day

Celebrating the freedom of expression and raising awareness of the importance of the free press.

May 12 – The Internet Archive is founded, 1996

It’s the largest digital library, providing free access to well over 30 million books, as well as millions of video, audio, and image files.

May 17 – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is published, 1900

Written by L. Frank Baum, this children’s novel is one of the best known stories in American literature.

May 22 – Arthur Conan Doyle is born, 1859

A British writer and the creator of the Sherlock Holmes stories, regarded as milestones in crime fiction.

May 26 – World Dracula Day

Lovers of literature and vampires celebrate the publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on this day, in 1897.

May 30 – The word “audiobook” becomes official, 1997

The Audio Publishers Association officially adopted the word ”audiobook” to describe all non-music recordings.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A humorous or absurdist novel
Week 2: A detective story
Week 3: A book with a castle shown on its cover
Week 4: A steampunk book

Did you know?

The first ever spoken-word sound recording took place in 1877. Thomas Edison recorded “Mary Had a Little Lamb” nursery rhyme on his newly invented phonograph. The machine played his words back!

Quote

I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once. – C.S. Lewis

June

Literary calendar June
Literary calendar for June / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

June 9 – The premiere of Jurassic Park movie, 1993

Based on a novel by Michael Crichton, and directed by Steven Spielberg, it’s one of the most successful movie adaptations of books.

June 9 – Dickens House Museum opens, 1925

Charles Dickens lived at 48 Doughty Street, London, with his wife and three of their ten children.

June 11 – Dickens completes writing Great Expectations, 1861

The novel was then published in three volumes that reflected the stages of expectations of the main character, a young Pip.

June 13 – A day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, 1923

The best guess when all the action of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway takes place.

June 16 – An idea for Frankenstein is born, 1816

Mary Shelley came up with the idea for the novel in a waking dream during a ghastly summer on Lake Geneva.

June 21 – Andrzej Sapkowski is born, 1948

Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy books from The Witcher series were adapted into popular video games, graphic novels, and TV series.

June 26 – The first Harry Potter book is published, 1997

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has been translated to more than 70 languages.

June 30 – The first issue of Action Comics magazine, 1938

The anthology, featuring the first appearance of Superman, begun The Golden Age of comic books.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A book that inspired a movie
Week 2: A book with a female as a main character
Week 3: A book about a monster
Week 4: A comic book

Did you know?

Thanks to a clever binding, a German religious book from the 16th century can be read in six different ways and contains six different texts.

Quote

The book you don’t read won’t help. – Jim Rohn

July

Literary calendar - July
Literary calendar for July / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

July 1 – The British Library is founded, 1973

The UK’s national library was created from several organizations, including the British Museum.

July 3 – Franz Kafka’s birthday, 1883

The author of The Trial and The Castle is regarded as one of the most important writers of the 20th century.

July 4 – The world’s ebook is created, 1971

Michael Stern Hart transcribed the text of the U.S. Declaration of Independence into Xerox Sigma V computer.

July 11 – The first Reading Rainbow episode, 1983

The iconic show hosted by LeVar Burton was designed to encourage the love of books among children.

July 16 – The Catcher in the Rye is published, 1951

The main character of this iconic novel by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield, became an icon for teenage rebellion.

July 21 – Ernest Hemingway is born, 1899

An American novelist and the author of The Sun Also Rises.

July 30 – First Penguin paperback books, 1935

These inexpensive books revolutionized publishing. The “Original 10” batch included books by Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway.

July 31 – Harry Potter is born, 1980

Harry Potter shares the birthdate with his creator, J.K. Rowling, who was born in 1965.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: One of this year’s beach reads
Week 2: A book with a teenage as a main character
Week 3: A classic Penguin title
Week 4: A book with a title consisting of one word

Did you know?

In 1972, a literary magazine in communist Poland published a short story titled “Harry Potter.” The author, Jan Rostworowski, was a Polish writer and poet who spent twenty-eight years in Great Britain.

Quote

There is no friend as loyal as a book. – Ernest Hemingway

August

Literary calendar - August
Literary calendar for August / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

August 1 – Peter Pan’s first appearance, 1902

A famous literary character created by J.M. Barrie appeared in The Little White Bird novel, serialized in Scribner’s Magazine.

August 1 – Herman Melville is born, 1819

An American novelist, short story writer, and poet. The author of Moby-Dick.

August 9 – Book Lovers Day

An unofficial holiday observed to encourage bibliophiles to celebrate reading and literature.

August 10 – The Digital Bookmobile starts operating, 2008

The world’s first bookmobile dedicated to ebooks and audiobooks was launched in Central Park, NY.

August 10 – Suzanne Collins is born, 1962

She began her career as a writer for children’s television shows, but she’s best known for The Hunger Games series.

August 14 – Shakespeare and Co. opens in Paris, 1951

The world’s most iconic bookshop was founded by George Whitman. It was first called “Le Mistral.”

August 17 – Lois Lane’s birthday

A popular character from DC Comics publications is a Pulitzer Prize journalist who writes for the Daily Planet.

August 20 – H.P. Lovecraft is born, 1890

A popular science-fiction and horror writer best known for The Call of Cthulhu short story.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A book you can read in one sitting
Week 2: A recently released mystery novel
Week 3: A book set in France
Week 4: A book about a dangerous contest

Did you know?

The first bookmobile in the world was launched in 1857 in Great Britain. It was a horse-drawn wagon with bookshelves mounted on the outside.

Quote

I read for pleasure and that is the moment I learn the most. – Margaret Atwood

September – Library Card Sign-up Month

Literary calendar - September
Literary calendar for September / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

September 6 – Read a Book Day

An annual event to celebrate the joy of reading and get young people interested in books.

September 8 – International Literacy Day

Events are held across the world to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals and communities.

September 9 – Leo Tolstoy’s birthday, 1828

A master of realistic fiction, and one of the world’s greatest novelists. The author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

September 13 – Roald Dahl is born, 1916

A British novelist and poet. The author of popular children’s books: Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

September 15 – Agatha Christie’s birthday, 1890

An English novelist and playwright, best known for her works starring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple detectives.

September 17 – Oprah’s Book Club starts, 1996

The first book selected for The Oprah Winfrey Show was Jacquelyn Mitchard’s The Deep End of the Ocean.

September 20 – George R.R. Martin is born, 1948

An American novelist best known for his epic Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, including A Game of Thrones.

September 25 – Comic Book Day

Fans, collectors, readers, and artists come together to celebrate the joy of reading comic books.

September 30 – International Translation Day

The date of the feast of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators, is an opportunity to pay tribute to language professionals.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A book you can finish in one day
Week 2: A book with a librarian as one of the characters
Week 3: A fantasy novel
Week 4: A book recommended by online book clubs

Did you know?

Portuguese library Biblioteca Joanina is home to a swarm of bats that feed on book-eating insects every night.

Quote

There is no problem that a library card can’t solve. – Eleanor Brown

October

Literary calendar - October
Literary calendar for October / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

October 1 – The first book-to-movie adaptation, 1899

A French film director, Georges Méliès, released Cinderella, a 6-minute movie based on Charles Perrault’s fairly tale.

October 6 – American Library Association is founded, 1876

ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. It promotes libraries and library education not only in the U.S. but also internationally.

October 12 – The New York Times Book Best Seller list , 1931

This superior list of book bestsellers started with five fiction and four non-fiction books for New York City only.

October 14 – Winnie-the-Pooh is published, 1926

The world’s favorite children’s book by author A.A. Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard became an instant bestseller.

October 16 – Oscar Wilde’s birthday, 1854

A controversial Irish poet and playwright, best known for his epigrams, plays, and a novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

October 19 – Fahrenheit 451 is released, 1953

Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel paints a future where books are outlawed and firemen burn any that are found.

October 28 – Gulliver’s Travels published, 1726

It’s the most famous work of Jonathan Swift, who is considered the foremost prose satirist in the English language.

October 30 – The War of the Worlds is aired, 1938

This legendary radio drama was based on a novel by H.G. Wells. Narrated by Orson Welles, it caused panic among its listeners.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A book becoming a movie this year
Week 2: A book borrowed from a library
Week 3: A current book bestseller
Week 4: A book about an alien invasion

Did you know?

The longest-ever book title consists of over 3,700 words and 26,000 characters.

Quote

A good book is an empathy engine. – Chris Riddell

November – National Novel Writing Month

Literary calendar November
Literary calendar for November / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

November 8 – The Book Thief in cinemas, 2013

The movie is based on a novel by Markus Zusak. It received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

November 13 – Robert Louis Stevenson is born, 1850

A Scottish novelist and travel writer. The author of Treasure Island.

November 14 – Treasure Island is published, 1883

This highly popular adventure novel significantly influenced the way pirates are portrayed in popular culture.

November 14 – Astrid Lindgren’s birthday, 1907

A Swedish writer best known for Pippi Longstocking.

November 15-30 – The final voting in Goodreads Choice Awards

It’s the only major book award decided by readers. The final round of voting usually takes place in the second half of the month.

November 19 – The First Kindle is launched, 2007

Kindle 1 had an asymmetric shape, full-size keyboard, and 6-inch E-Ink display. It was sold out in 5.5 hours.

November 29 – C.S. Lewis is born, 1898

The author of The Chronicles of Narnia and a close friend of J.R.R. Tolkien.

November 30 – Mark Twain’s birthday, 1835

The real name of the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A book about a treasure
Week 2: A Goodreads Choice Awards nominee
Week 3: A book you know nothing about
Week 4: A book from an author publishing under a pseudonym

Did you know?

The first electronic spell checker, Spelling Ace SA-88, was launched in 1986 by Franklin Computer.

Quote

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island. – Walt Disney

December

Literary calendar - December
Literary calendar for December / Designed by Piotr Kowalczyk

December 2 – The First edition of Argosy pulp magazine, 1882

Inexpensive pulp magazines and books were one of the primary forms of entertainment.

December 10 – The Nobel Prize in Literature Ceremony Night

The Nobel Prize award ceremony is held on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

December 10 – Emily Dickinson is born, 1830

A prolific writer regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. During her lifetime, she wrote nearly 1,800 poems.

December 10 – The first Encyclopædia Britannica is published, 1768

With the first part of the first edition being published in 1768, it’s the longest running English-language encyclopaedia.

December 10 – Melvil Dewey’s birthday, 1851

An influential American educator and librarian. The inventor of the modern system of library classification.

December 16 – Jane Austen is born, 1775

One of the world’s most beloved writers. The author of Pride and PrejudiceMansfield Park, and Emma.

December 21 – The journey ends in Around the World in 80 Days, 1872

In Jules Verne’s famous adventure novel, the main character accepted a wager to circumnavigate the world in 80 days.

December 21 – Short Story Day

An annual event that celebrates short fiction takes place during the shortest day of the year.

Reading Challenge

Week 1: A book by a Nobel Prize winner
Week 2: A book about a long journey
Week 3: A collection of short stories
Week 4: A romance novel

Did you know?

Written in AD 123, Chariton’s “Chaereas & Callirhoë” is the oldest existing novel in the world.

Quote

An hour spent reading is one stolen from paradise. – Thomas Wharton

Ultimate literary calendar
Detailed monthly calendars for book lovers and librarians / Images: Ebook Friendly

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3 responses to “Literary calendars for 12 months of your exciting reading life!”

  1. […] Tip: Explore our list of monthly literary calendars for book and library lovers. […]

  2. […] Literary calendars for 12 months of your exciting reading life! — Ebook Friendly […]

  3. […] you have a few minutes more? I’m delighted to present our monthly literary calendars. They include not only the most important dates and events, but also a reading challenge for each […]

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