For those who have slipped out of the habit of reading, books on tape are a painless way of keeping in touch with literature. The range of titles available is expanding all the time and you can get everything from poetry and plays to classic and modern novels. Taped books are a great alternative to music tapes on a long journey and they make excellent gifts for older people whose sight might not be as good as it used to be. If you were read to as a child you might also enjoy the indulgence of listening to some of the excellent tapes of children's literature available. It's amazing how a bad mood can be instantly lifted by Alan Bennett reading from Winnie the Pooh on the BBC's Young Collection.