Book Lover's Gift Guide

Christmas is just around the corner and, if you’re like most people, you still have some shopping to do! 

While books make WONDERFUL gifts, sometimes finding that special something for a book-obsessed friend or family member can be tricky. What have they read? What do they want to read? What do they absolutely not want to read?  The list of questions could fill, well, a book!

There’s no need to get your Christmas lights in tangle, though! We have you and your literary loving friends covered with a gift guide to help you feed into their book obsession--without agonizing over which book to choose! Without further ado, here are 10 gifts to please any book lover in your life.
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​1. DIY Curated Box

From makeup to dog toys, it seems like there is a curated box service for just about everything these days. There is nothing quite like opening a box of items selected just for you; however, these boxes can come with a hefty price tag.

If you love the idea of a bibliophile’s dream box, but want to save some money for the rest of your Christmas list, why not curate your own box? Below is a list of just a few customizable items that would make any reader’s heart soar. Any of these items would also make an excellent gift all on its own!

• Mini Book: Yes, we know we just said choosing a book can be tricky, but this gift strikes the perfect balance by delivering an old favorite in a new way. There’s nothing worse than being stuck somewhere without a good book, so grab a copy of a mini-sized novel, or simply a collection of quotes by a favorite author that can be discretely stowed in a purse or pocket for those inevitable book emergencies.​​

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• Mini reading light: Light up your tiny book with this cute, tiny reading light! It stores easily and even doubles as a bookmark.

• Mug: Nothing goes with a book quite as well as a hot beverage! Thankfully, there is no shortage of book-themed mugs! Whether your loved one is into classics like Alice in Wonderland , ​by Lewis Carroll, or loves all kinds of genres, there is sure to be a mug for them to enjoy as they turn the pages.

This gentle nod to Lewis Carroll's famous piece can be found on etsy.com

Find it on etsy.com

• Bobble: Most curated boxes include a bobble or two, such as a keychain, necklace, earrings, or bookmark. Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling Cuff Links

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath earrings

Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien hair bow

Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum Coasters

• Cozy Socks- Make sure your friend is decked head to toe with these bookish socks!

​If you’re in a pinch and want to go with a ready-made box, My Subscription Addiction reviewed 19 different book boxes that do the work for you, so all you have to do is click 'purchase'!

2. Audio Book Subscription

January is when a lot of people make the move to...get moving! What does the reader on the run need? An audio-book subscription, of course! Now your friend won’t have to choose between reaching their reading goals and reaching their fitness goals.
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Here are a few more items to round out the perfect gift for the running reader in your life: 

• Headphones
• Running sleeve
• Bookish shoelaces

3. Board Games

Mix it up on game night with some literary-themed board games. This list, curated by Bustle, will have you competing all year long.

4. Recipe Book

Now you can dine like your favorite characters with these recipe books themed after old and new favorites. List by Buzzfeed.

​5. Book-Scented Candle

As much as we would all love to live in a library, it just isn’t possible. But that doesn’t mean your house can’t smell like a literary wonderland! Frostbeard Studio has a selection of book-themed candles that would make any reader swoon. 

6. Literary postcards

These fun literary postcards are a great way to help your friend rediscover the lost art of letter writing, or to simply frame up and deck out their home!

​7. Creative Storage

All book-lovers have the same universal struggle--where to keep all their books! Help your favorite bookworm feed their obsession with these cute and clever storage solutions:

8. Literary Calendar

In today’s hectic world, it can be difficult to find the time to sit down and enjoy a good book. Thankfully, these literary calendars provide a welcome boost of books each and every day!

9. Embosser

Is your friend’s book collection their pride and joy? Help them make it their own with a personalized embosser!

10. Blanket

Wrapped your loved one in their favorite book with a customized blanket. 

11. BOOKS! 

Ok, we couldn’t help adding this to the list! Book really are the best gift you can give. They take you on adventures, expand your mind, and become old friends you can take with you wherever you go. So how do you avoid buying something your favorite reader has already read? A great way to get a peek inside their head is to take a peek at their Goodreads profile! On Goodreads, users can create lists of books they have read and enjoyed and books they want to read. It’s almost like a ready-made Christmas list! 

Young or old, books are gifts that keep on giving.

One final bonus idea: if your friend isn’t into material items, why not give the gift of giving? Donate books or money to an organization that champions children’s literacy in your friend or family member’s name and change two lives this Christmas!

​Here are a few organizations spreading the joy of reading:

• Book Aid International
• Literacy for Incarcerated Teens
• World Literacy Foundation

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A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 

Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!

Before it was on a bus, A. Blob was on the playground. This first installment of The Blob Series follows the antics of A. Blob, as it wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye.

Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.