May Is Made for Stories

Reading, Writing, and the Joy of Books

May 6, 2026 | 7-minute read

There are some months that quietly pass by…

And then there’s May.

May feels like a celebration.

The weather warms. Flowers bloom. And somehow, it feels like the perfect time to slow down, pick up a book, and get lost in a story.

And this month?

It practically invites us to do just that.

Because May isn’t just beautiful…

It’s made for stories.

A Month Devoted to Reading (and Getting Caught Doing It!)

Woman reading outdoors in spring.

May is home to two of my favorite month-long observances:

📖 Get Caught Reading Month

📃 Short Story Month

And honestly?

That feels like permission to fully embrace something we often push to the side.

Reading.

Get Caught Reading Month

I love the idea behind this one.

There’s something quietly rebellious about being “caught” reading—as if you’ve been discovered doing something indulgent… when really, you’re doing something deeply enriching.

It reminds me of being a kid, completely absorbed in a book, unaware of time passing.

And if I’m honest?

That’s still how I want to read.

Short Story Month (and a Little Gift for You)

Short stories are something special.

They don’t ask for hours and hours of your time.

They simply say:

“Come sit with me for a little while.”

And in that short space, they can:

  • make you feel,

  • make you think, or…

  • transport you somewhere entirely new

So in honor of Short Story Month…

I’ve included a short story for you below. 🎉

A small gift.
A small escape.
A little moment of story—just for you.

Celebrating Young Readers (and the Magic of Childhood Stories)

Parent and child reading together.

From May 5–11, we celebrate Children’s Book Week.

And this one feels especially close to my heart.

As you know, I stepped into the wonderful world of children’s books in 2024 when the kids at the school I was working at inspired my first kids’ series, the Swallowtail Four.

It has been such an interesting journey. But the best part of all?

My freshman novel, The Adventure in the Magical World, gets to be part of this week we’re celebrating.

Stories That Stay with Us

There’s something about the books we read as children.

They don’t just entertain us…

They shape us.

They spark imagination.
Teach lessons.
Introduce us to wonder.

And long after we’ve grown?

We still carry pieces of them with us.

A Personal Note

I grew up reading.

And while my childhood looked a little different from most, books were always a place where I could step into something bigger.

Different worlds.
Different lives.
Different possibilities.

And maybe that’s why writing children’s stories means so much to me now.

Because I get to be part of that experience for someone else.

A Little Fun with Words (and a Bit of Mystery)

Writing desk representing poetry and storytelling.

May also gives us a chance to have a little fun with language—and a little intrigue, too.

National Limerick Day (May 12)

A limerick is a short, playful poem with a distinct rhythm—and yes… some of them can be a little cheeky.

But we’ll keep ours on the wholesome side 😉

Here’s a classic-style one:

There once was a reader so keen,
Who lived somewhere in between
The pages of books
And quiet little nooks,
Where adventures felt vivid and seen.

And one a little more playful:

A writer sat down with a grin,
And wondered just where to begin.
With a twist or a turn?
A lesson to learn?
Or a world they could wander within?

(And yes… some limericks out there are a bit more mischievous—we’ll leave those to the corners of the Internet where they belong. 😄)

Sherlock Holmes Day (May 22)

Ah, Sherlock Holmes.

One of the most iconic characters in literature.

But beyond the man himself…

There’s something even more enduring:

Our love of mystery.

The satisfaction of:

  • piecing clues together.

  • noticing what others miss.

  • solving the puzzle before the final reveal.

Stories like these don’t just entertain us.

They invite us to think.

And maybe even sharpen how we see the world.

So Much to Celebrate

May is packed with observances.

I’ve highlighted the ones that mean the most to me—but there’s so much more to explore.

  • Get Caught Reading Month

  • Short Story Month

  • May 1 – Mother Goose Day

  • May 2 – International Harry Potter Day

  • May 3 – Free Comic Book Day; National Scrapbook Day

  • May 5 – National Cartoonists Day

  • May 5–11 – Children’s Book Week

  • May 9 – Peter Pan Day

  • May 11 – National Technology Day

  • May 12 – National Limerick Day

  • May 16 – National Biographer’s Day

  • May 22 – Sherlock Holmes Day

  • May 31 – National Speak in Complete Sentences Day

If something catches your eye, you just might discover a new tradition of your own.

Next time: Next week, we’ll return to the Who I Write As series and explore my kids’ pen name through “Why I Write under Allie Jay.”

Don’t miss it!

Let me ask you…

What kind of stories are you drawn to right now?

Something light and playful?
Something deep and emotional?
Or something adventurous and full of wonder?

I’d love to hear what you’re reading—or what you want to read—so share it with me in the comments below.

In the meantime, I promised you a free gift. (Did you think I forgot? Never!) Here it is…

My newest short story written just for this special month: “The Day the Characters Walked off the Page.”

I hope you enjoy it.

Related Topics: Reading habits • Short stories • Children’s books • Book lovers • Storytelling inspiration • Seasonal reading

* NOTE: If you’re looking for something to read this month, you can explore my spicy romance novel Unconditional Love or step into a fantastic journey with The Adventure in the Magical World.

And if you’d like more stories like these, be sure to join my email list so you never miss what’s coming next.

All images courtesy of ChatGPT.

Alicia Strickland

Hi! I write across multiple genres under various pen names. But for nonfiction, I write as myself.

As a designer with a love of Old Hollywood and all things creative, I bring diverse perspectives to my storytelling... and to my blog.

In the unlikely event that I’m not writing, I enjoy crafting, gardening, or spending time with my flame-point Siamese, Hunter.

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