I’ve recently been poring through a gorgeous book called A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader by Maria Popova and Claudia Bedrick. It contains a collection of letters from brilliant writers dedicated to readers worldwide. To make it even better, each entry is also paired with an illustration from a diverse range of artists. One of my favourite letters comes from the teacher and best-selling author Seth Godin:

“Hey,
Are the eggs of the purple unicorn edible?
It’s a fair question, and one worth discussing. If they are edible, would you be willing to have a unicorn-egg omelet? Would that be fair or right or even delicious?
The thing about reading is that anything is possible. No special effects, no stunt men. If the writer can write it, it’s real.
And the other thing about reading is that it will take you somewhere impossible, without a teacher or a parent going there first.
Discovering what’s possible is your job. And there’s no better way to do your job than reading something new.
Go make a ruckus,
Seth.”

It’s easy to feel disillusioned with the world, no doubt exacerbated by the current onslaught of restrictions. This letter is a great reminder that books provide a way to sprinkle some colour onto grey and dying canvases. Here’s to exploring new ideas, worlds and reinventing what’s possible through the world of literature.