Blogmas Day 15: Bookish Gift Ideas

Hello! Welcome to Blogmas Day 15!

We’re on the final countdown to Christmas, with 10 days to go! Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Are you stumped on what to get for the bookish person in your life? Never fear! I, a self-declared Bookish Person, am here to suggest (and low-key rank) the best Christmas gifts you can get for your book-loving loved one! Aside from books, of course. (Seriously, get ’em books.)

But first, today’s jigsaw puzzle…

Advent Calendar

Today’s puzzle is another one with a little too much of the puzzles above and below attached. But again, that’s completely on me for assembling each one separately. Still an enjoyable way to start my December days.

The Top 10 Bookish Gift Ideas

Okay, down to the nitty gritty. What can you get for that bookish person who seems to have everything? You don’t know what books they’ve read and what they’re not interested in reading. And how are you supposed to keep on top of their ever-changing TBR to know what’s truly missing from their collection? Well, I’m here to tell you that there are many bookish gift options to choose from outside of actual books!

Bookish people tend to love anything book-related, and anyone who’s been to a bookstore lately can tell you that’s a well-known and oft-capitalized-upon fact. There’s usually a section of the store dedicated to bookish items that would delight any book lover’s heart. But how are you supposed to decide what to buy? If the answer to that question can’t be “One of everything!” then read on, because this book lover has low-key ranked the top 10-ish options from “safe bet” to “they will adore you forever.”

Bookmarks

It sounds a little too easy, right? But the vast majority of readers LOVE to receive a good quality bookmark. I personally have a big collection of them, but I’m always excited to receive more. Look especially for images or quotes that might suit your bookish person’s taste. And don’t be afraid to choose something unusual or gimmicky, like a magnetic bookmark, or one of those bookmarks that looks like an animal got squashed between the pages and only its head and feet are hanging out. Embrace the whimsy! Bookmarks should be fun!

Reading socks / sweatshirt/ t-shirt

I wear my “Shhh! I’m reading!” and “So Many Books / So Little Time” socks ALL THE TIME. I also have a “Booktrovert: A person who prefers the company of fictional characters to real people” sweatshirt that I adore and that makes everyone smile when they read it. All of them were gifts that I was thrilled to receive. The simple truth is, most bookish people wear clothing while they read. Why not make that clothing book-related? It serves the triple purpose of keeping your bookish person modest in public, keeping them warm while they’re sitting around engaging their mind instead of their body, and tipping off everyone they meet that This Person Is a Reader. All good things.

Stickers / decals

Maybe your bookish person has an ereader, tablet, or laptop that needs some personalization. Or maybe they have bookshelves they’d like to decorate. Maybe they’re even the type to dress up their staircase to look like a stack of their favourite books. Readers can always find places to put bookish stickers or decals, and there are thousands of options out there to choose from. And they’re so much fun to shop for! Go on, pick out some stickers for yourself at the same time. I won’t tell.

Bookish mug / water bottle

You really can’t go wrong giving your bookish person a bookish mug or water bottle, and you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped keep them hydrated on their long adventures in faraway lands. There are literally millions of literary mugs and things out there to choose from, ranging from whimsical book-shaped mugs that look almost impossible to drink out of (who cares? they’re so cool!) to standard drinking vessels with bookish slogans or quotes written on the side. I’m sure you’ll see one that will scream Your Bookish Person, and I guarantee they’ll love it.

Journal / stationery

The thing about bookish people is, most of us are also write-ish people. We love keeping track of what we read in reading journals, jotting down quotes we like in stylish notebooks, and pretending that one day our diaries and letters will be published “against our will” to scandalize our families. If you have a sneaking suspicion that any of the above describes your bookish person, try giving them a nice journal, a fancy notebook, or a stationery set. Unintended side benefit: they’ll say glowing things about you in that tell-all diary they’re writing. 😉

100 Books scratch poster

It’s very on-trend right now to have a 100 Books poster, with book titles you can scratch off to reveal the cover once you’ve read them. There are many different kinds like “100 Best Sellers” or “100 Classics” or “100 Essential Novels,” and I think there’s even a version for children’s books. These posters double as both a fun reading challenge and also an opportunity for readers to brag about what they’ve read. Double win!

Bookends

Does your bookish person have bookshelves? Yes? Then they need bookends. And let me tell you, you can get ANYTHING as a bookend these days. Some of them get really inventive, like the ones that look like a superhero floating in the air while valiantly holding up your books, or the ones that turn your bookshelf into one super-long wiener dog. There are cute ones, fancy ones, plain ones, funny ones, and even invisible ones. Giving bookends to your bookish person is the perfect opportunity to show that you know their personality and want to give them a gift that will make them smile every time they look at their bookshelves. I mean, they probably already do… but they’ll be smiling extra big and thinking about YOU!

Tote bag

Readers have a lot of books to carry around. Why not make it easier for them with a bookish tote bag? I’ve honestly never met a reader who doesn’t love a good tote bag or twelve, so it’s one of the safest gifts you can get your bookish person. Bonus points if you can find one that relates to their favourite author or book (there are customizable options on Etsy), but a generic “This bag is probably full of books” or “My weekend is fully booked” will also be well received. If you’re able to get your hands on one featuring a popular or independent bookstore, those are actually cool collector’s items.

Anxiety bookshelf

I only learned of the existence of these things recently, and it blew my mind. These are little wee bookcases in a box, complete with hundreds of mini books, and the idea is that you shake them up when you’re anxious and spend a few focused minutes reorganizing them. That’s such a cool idea! Beyond the anxiety relief, though, they also look really cute as a decoration on a bookshelf. So whether your bookish person is a nervous wreck or not, an anxiety bookshelf is a unique gift that they’ll love!

Personal library kit

If your bookish person has a sizeable personal library, chances are they’ve said to themselves, “I should get one of those personal library stamps or something.” If they didn’t go right out and get one for themselves, you’re in luck! You know the perfect thing to give them for Christmas! Whether you get them a customized ‘From the library of ___’ stamp or a generic library kit that they can modify themselves, most bookish people would lose their minds at the idea of turning their book collection into a true library. Personal library kits contain things like catalogue cards and date-borrowed stamps, which are perfect for generous book lovers who frequently lend their books to friends. But even stingy readers who guard their books diligently would love to leave their mark on each one for posterity, and there are hundreds of stamp designs out there to choose from.

Book nook kit

If your bookish person is willing to put a little bit of effort into their bookshelf decorations or bookends, a book nook kit makes a perfect gift. I’m currently working on one myself that was a gift from a family member, and it’s styled to look like an old-fashioned personal library. A lot of them have an optical illusion effect that makes them look much deeper than they are, and that turns them into conversation pieces that will grab the attention of anyone who sees your book lover’s bookshelves. They come in various levels of difficulty, from simple 3D jigsaw puzzles to slightly more intricate LEGO sets to full-on paint-and-glue-required miniaturist kits. Find one that best represents your bookish person’s personality and effort level, and they’ll love you forever!