It's almost LitFest season again. Time to get your calendar out and pencil in a few dates.

You can start with 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at Bookwalter Winery in Richland where local avid readers share what's on their must-read list. It's only fair to warn you that this, About the Book, event is a popular night and seating is limited.

Also this month is the Poetry Out Loud youth competition at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 and a presentation on Feb. 22 by Kim Addonizio. She has been referred to as "one of our nation's most provocative and edgy poets."

And that's just the February lineup.

Between now and June there are 10 free events (most of them held at Columbia Basin College) that celebrate books.

OK, we're a little biased because the Tri-City Herald is one of the sponsors, but reading is good for you. It encourages thinking. Who knows where that could lead?