Ask Amy: Independent booksellers share their literary picks for the year Updated Dec 28, 2020; Facebook Share Dear Readers: Every year at Christmastime, I prompt readers to put “A Book on Every Bed.” The idea originally came from historian David McCullough. On the Christmas mornings of his youth, the very first thing he woke up to was a wrapped book at the base of his bed, left there by Santa. Working with my literacy partner, Children’s Reading Connection, this campaign has grown to include schools, libraries and bookstores. This year is different. All of us — not just children — need a good book on our beds.