The Christmas decorations are back in the attic. New Christmas gifts have been placed in closets, video cabinets and on bookshelves.

My bookshelf has four new additions. One book is humorous. Another book is about life in a country far away. The third book is a love story. The fourth book is about life and death.

No matter the genre, January is the time to curl up with a good book. During winter, the printed page can help us experience life in the past, life in the future or life as a penguin.

Yes, a penguin.

Monday, Jan. 12, is Penguin Awareness Day at the Roselle Library, 40 S. Park St. Readers of all ages are invited to stop by between 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. to make a penguin-inspired craft. A parent or adult caregiver must accompany children younger than 8.

The children’s librarians will be on hand to suggest great penguin books such as “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” the Walt Disney Club Penguin book series or National Geographic’s “March of the Penguins” book.

Inspired readers can register for the library’s winter reading program. Young readers who log in three, six or nine hours of reading between Jan. 5 and Monday, March 2, will receive a prize. For details, call (630) 529-1641.

At the Carol Stream Public Library, 616 Hiawatha Drive, “Capt. Underpants” books, “Junie B. Jones” books and the “Diary of Wimpy Kid” series are popular among young readers.

“Reading programs motivate children to read because the programs are fun,” said Lynn Johnson, head of youth services.

The library’s Pop Open a Good Book winter reading program continues through Saturday, Feb. 28. For information, call (630) 653-0755.

Winter reading programs at the Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way, feature the Polar Bears Program for preschoolers and Read to Succeed for readers up to eighth grade.

Merchandise from the Chicago Wolves hockey team will be given away as prizes for school-age readers. To register, call (630) 529-3120.

The incentives work.

“Children who are exposed to the joys of reading turn into lifelong readers,” said Julie Keating of the Bloomingdale library.

Those life-long readers can join the Lend Us Your Ears winter reading program.

“Many teens and adults listen to audiobooks and Playaways (MP3 players pre-loaded with books) on their commute, while walking or when working out at the gym,” Keating said. “Then, we ask patrons to share their recommendations. It’s proven to be a great way to discover good books.”