By Melanie Linn Gutowski

October is National Book Month, and here are some fun ways to share it with your nieces and nephews!

-If they don't already have one, take your nieces and nephews to the library and sign them up for cards of their own. Be sure to teach them about the responsibility involved with using the library - keeping track of their card and bringing books back on time, etc.

-If you're a Long-Distance Auntie (LDA), become a BenevolAuntie as well and volunteer with a childhood literacy organization. If there isn't one in your area, ask at your local library - they may be able to match you with a child who needs some mentoring and would love to have an Auntie to read to him or her!

-Start a "lending library" at your home for your nieces and nephews. Set aside a shelf in the bookcase for books you'd like to share with them. When they come over, they'll know exactly where to look for new books (and where to replace the old ones!). You can even get a nifty personal library kit to make this process even more fun!

-Contact the librarians at your local library or school library and ask what their policy is for donations. You may be able to donate some of your gently-used books for their benefit. Then, help your nieces and nephews weed through their own books. Be sure to get mom or dad's permission before donating.

-Start sharing book recommendations with your niece or nephew through a social media site for bibliophiles such as GoodReads or LibraryThing. Accounts are free, and you can see one another's book reviews and suggest books you think others would enjoy.

-Make a special event out of book-to-movie adaptations. Maybe your teenage niece is just getting into Jane Austen - after she reads "Pride and Prejudice," have a movie day and rent several of the adaptations. Have fun comparing and contrasting (and choosing your favorite Mr. Darcy, of course!).

-Have your niece or nephew start a wish list on Amazon.com or another book sales site. This is an easy way to get them exactly the books they'd like for birthdays and other special occasions.

-Of course, the best way to celebrate books with your nieces and nephews is to read to them from the very beginning. Get them involved in books early in their lives, and they'll thank you later. Whether they're hardback, paperback or e-books, a little reading now means more brain power later.

Melanie Linn Gutowski, Savvy Auntie's Associate Editor, is a proud Godmother and ABC.