A Book Lover's Gift Guide
for the readers who love bookish things
I’m a little sorry to be jumping on the consumerism train, but if you’re buying gifts for the holidays, why not something bookish? Books and reading help the people, right? Here are some favorite ideas.
Custom Book Embosser (dang it, Instagram, why do you show me these things?)
Lord of Maps kit (I am so excited to use it. You can make your own map or make a map of the setting of one of your favorite books!)
Book Stickers (these are all over Etsy…find the ones you love)
Christmas Tree Book Sweatshirt (cuuute; and 50% when I first posted this…)
Best Book Highlighters (I especially like the “boho” colors)
Typewriter (one of my most treasured and most fun items - kids LOVE them and it keeps them off screens…)
Gift Card to a local bookstore
Cool Chunky Reading Glasses (now I wish I needed readers)
A Bookish Candle entitled “Smells Like Mr. Darcy in a Wet Shirt” hahaha (so many book candles on Etsy)
A Guiltless Getaway Writing Retreat or Class (I’d love to take this one with literary agent, Donald Maass)
Jolabokaflod (it’s FREE and sounds like the dreamiest thing ever, anytime)
Date Stamp (great for letters, journals, and stamping books…you too can live out your dream as a librarian)
Book an Author Visit for your book club or child’s class (many authors do free zoom events; I do :)
A Signed Book from your favorite author (the day my daughter got a signed Outlander book from Diana Gabaldon’s bookstore was a good day)
Other ideas, book people? Would love to hear in the comments.
If You Want to Give Books: Amy’s 2024 Recommendations
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (a favorite writer)
You Could Make this World Beautiful by Maggie Smith (the beautiful, wise prose!)
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell and Ashley MacKenzie (a wild fantasy adventure with dragons and unicorns)
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon (by our favorite social studies teacher)
The Hidden Life of Trees: A Graphic Adaptation by Peter Wohlleben (this is so good)
The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict by Arbinger Institute (life-changing. really)
100 Letters That Changed the World by Colin Salter (from Leonardo de Vinci to Anne Boleyn to Nelson Mandela, this sounds fascinating)
Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry (an 11-year-old and an 88-year-old who are best friends. ya’ll are gonna love this)
The Crayons’ Christmas by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers (interactive, fun, funny)
All is Calm by Shannon Butler (from the great depression to now, 200 years of life in Maine at Christmas time)
The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair, Ten Thousand Tries, and The McNifficents by Amy Makechnie (already on your list, right?!) Want a signed book? I can send a book plate, sign locally, or you can purchase directly from me.
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody (for the writer if your life; my #1 go-to when drafting a novel)
Wild Flowers of North America: Botanical Illustrations by Mary Vaux Walcott (so beautiful)
Muji 2025 Planner (very minimal, first time using one…I think I’m going I like it?!)
Nothing catching your eye, here? Tell us what you’re looking for and we can brainstorm…(for instance, there is no Elizabeth Strout here, but there should be…)
Tasting: my first pomegranate of the season
Drinking: UCAN post-run energy protein powder. All-day energy, my friends
Smelling: cold, crisp air that makes my nose tingle
Hearing: the sound of turkeys in the woods trying to escape their fate…
Subscribing:
I’m determined to draw more
Ahhh so many good things here!!!!
I have been eyeballing those book embossers.