Leap Day books, you ask? Well, in case you haven’t noticed, there’s an extra day in February this year. Yep, 2016 is a leap year, when we add an extra day to the calendar to keep our calendar year in sync with the astronomical calendar. Fun fact: the term “leap year” refers to the fact that holidays with fixed dates usually move forward one day of the week per year, but jump forward two days during a leap year. For example, Christmas Day (Dec. 25) was on a Thursday in 2014 and a Friday in 2015, but it will “leap” ahead to Sunday in 2016.

So check out these Leap Day books and movies now, because you’ll have to wait four years for your next chance.

Leap DayLeap Day
Author: Wendy Mass
In this YA novel, Josie is turning 16 — but since her birthday falls on Leap Day, it’s only her 4th actual birthday. Her family and friends are excited about her last teen birthday, but Josie is distracted by school play auditions, her upcoming driver’s test, and a certain cute guy by the name of Grant Brawner. Josie’s first-person chapters alternate with third-person chapters narrated by others, in which we get a new angle on how other characters feel about the same events. By the time the day is over, this will surely be a birthday to remember.

 

 

 

 

leap-year-movieLeap Year
Director: Anand Tucker, starring Amy Adams, Matthew Goode
After Anna (Amy Adams) sees her fourth anniversary with her boyfriend Jeremy come and go without a proposal, she’s had enough. Thanks to an Irish tradition where women can propose to men on Leap Day (OR ANY DAY, amirite???), Anna decides to follow Jeremy to Dublin and pop the question. But when a mistake lands her on the wrong side of Ireland, Anna needs the help of the handsome Declan to get her to Dublin. I am quite sure you can take it from there, but we don’t watch these kinds of movies for suspense, now do we?

 

 

 

 

Leap Year BookLeap Year Book
Author: Barbara Sutton-Smith
Stun your family, friends, coworkers, and strangers with a plethora of Leap Year facts with the help of this little trivia book. You’ll learn about noteworthy events that happened on Leap Days, famous people born on Leap Day, the origins of the day, and other little-known facts. A fun gift for someone you know who was born on a Leap Day or your favorite trivia junkie.

 

 

Leopold's Leap Year BirthdayLeopold’s Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday
Author: Dawn Desjardins, Illustrator: C.E. Locander
This cute picture book will help parents explain Leap Year to kids with Leap Day birthdays. Leopold the frog (get it?) waits and waits for his birthday to come, but it never seems to happen. Finally, they figure out the reason: Leopold has a Leap Year birthday. At long last, Leopold and his friends get to celebrate his birthday while learning what Leap Day means. A fun, simple book that explains the concept for young kids who might be feeling left out or confused about their birthday.

Stephanie Perry
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