21 Bookish Gift Ideas

So today I'm grumpy because getting all those presents for the holidays can be really daunting.  I'm the type of person who likes to go "all out" - but in a very specific way.  If you've ever seen the show Parks and Recreation then you know Leslie Knope likes to "win" gift giving occasions, and I am definitely the same way.  (Though... nowhere close to the degree Leslie wins.  She's kind of amazing.)  But I don't like to just get a gift, and I don't get friends and family a ton of stuff - I like to pick out something special, something that I think the recipient will really, really like.  I was looking for cool presents and I found a lot, so I thought I'd share them.  There are a lot of bookish gift lists out there, but a lot of times they have too much, or stuff I don't really want, so I wanted to curate my own list.  (This also, by the way, might be a great list for anyone getting me a gift.  Wink wink, husband and mother.  Ha.)

 So first, "check out" (ayyyy) these Library Card Socks from Out of Print.  Libraries are, first of all, amazing, and socks are a pretty iconic gift.  Iconic bad gift?  But I mean if Dumbledore always wanted socks then they're probably good enough, am I right?

 Or check out this Library Card Enamel Pin Set also from Out of Print.  "This is how we roll."  Perfect for the librarian or general library lover in your life!  And if you don't know any library lovers, then they make a perfect gift for yourself!  Because you are a library lover, I'm sure.  Aren't you?  Aren't you?!

Books and tea - a classic combination.  So for the tea enthusiast, why not try some Lightning Bolt, Harry Potter inspired tea blend from 9andthreequartersco on Etsy?

Who doesn't know that feeling of "Just one more chapter"?  Just one more...  And maybe one more...  And then before you know it, you've finished the book!  Well capture that feeling in a scent with the One More Chapter candle from Wick and Fable.

 If your bibliophile likes candles, you could also try the Bookstore Candle from Frostbeard Studio.  This is a "sweet, cozy blend of earthy fragrances" that will help you feel like you're in the familiar and magical world of a bookstore as you're curled up reading.

 If you're feeling really creative, or you just want to do something a little extra special, why not make personalized bookmarks from Vista Print?  Use your fancy graphic design skills if you have them, or use the old classic standby of a photo.  A fancy library, perhaps.  Or a favored reading companion like your loved one's cat or dog.  Or - and I'm just spitballing here - your own face, so they'll always think of you when they read?

 Now I would be remiss not to include the old staple, the Amazon Kindle.  (If the person you're gifting for doesn't have one.  Or doesn't just use the kindle app on their phone - like me cough cough).  E-books are wonderful, especially for someone on the go who reads a lot who can't carry around a ton of books.  Or, for instance, for a mom, who has trouble holding a book and a baby (I was SO THANKFUL some nights for my phone so I could do something while nursing my baby or trying to get her to go to sleep!)

Something that I've frequently wished I had that I've never actually gotten around to buying is a book light.  This is super handy for when you're a passenger on a long car ride, or if you're in bed and can't reach your lamp.  This might not be the most personal gift, but it is useful, and I'm sure we all know at least one person who values usefulness and practicality more than fancy features.

So I'm a huge board game fan, and for any librarian who doesn't mind a little bit of taking the job home, why not try Ex Libris?  I really love this game, where you are a librarian in a fantasy town competing to be the master librarian by having the best collection.  It involves worker placement and alphabetization and the book names are fun and sometimes pleasantly punny.

 For the book lover who has too many books (or at least too many books to store on their shelves comfortably), a nice pair of bookends might make a great gift!  This set is pretty fancy looking, with a quill and inkpot on one side, and a candle on the other.

I can only imagine there's quite a bit of overlap in the categories "people who love books" and "people who love coziness," so a book-themed throw makes a great cuddly gift!  For a Harry Potter fan, try this Marauder's Map blanket so they can keep warm during their reading, or their trouble making.

Pins are very trendy right now - and they're super cute, too!  This sloth pin by boygirlparty is too adorable.  Perfect for the fan of pins, books, sloths - or all three!

We're all guilty of making occasionally being the tiniest bit superior, shall we say, and whether you want to proclaim this or just show how often beloved properties fall flat on the screen, this "The Book Was Better" pin by Punky Pins is the perfect way to do it.

For those huge tomes, the classics that seem insurmountable, or the thick volumes that make you shudder just thinking about them, try these cute bookends that look like mountains!  Maybe that will help them "climb" over their huge TBR pile.

Though this is kind of Christmas - or other decorative tree, I suppose - specific, for any bibliophiles celebrating Christmas this super cute ornament from Hallmark in the shape of a book might make a great gift.

 It has not escaped my attention that I could probably compile this list with only Harry Potter products, but please excuse my own childhood nostalgia and allow me this last indulgence.  For those who love the series and who know which house they'd belong in, try this HP house mug.  It might go great paired with some tea!

For those who like to keep track of their reading, try this scratch off poster of 100 classic books.  Each of the books has a really cool design, and there's gold foil you get to scratch off once you're read it!  A poster might not be ideal for everyone, but for the young bookworm, or maybe someone in a college dorm or apartment, this is a really cool gift idea.

This super cute skirt from ModCloth, in the color "library"?  Um, immediately "Add to Cart" please.  It can be hard to buy clothes as gifts since sizing can be so weird and fiddly sometimes, but if you know a bibliophile who's in the market for a new outfit, why not point them this way?

 Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a classic holiday tale, so why not celebrate that by getting the book as a pillow?  That's right, you can read the book on this pillow from Litographs.

One thing I've found as a book lover (and also, book hoarder, let's be honest) is that I can always use a good tote bag.  I like to carry a book around with me at all times, and they're great for grocery shopping too so you can avoid the flimsy plastic ones that break and are also not environmentally friendly.  So show off your book nerdery with this Great American Read tote bag from PBS!  I

So full disclosure: I own this mug.  So I can properly endorse it as A.) a functional mug and B.) a fun conversation starter for your literary friends. 

This Shakespeare Insult Mug lets you show off your favorite burns from the Bard while sipping some tea.  Enjoy insults such as: "the quintessence of dust" or "a boil; a plague sore". 






These are just a few ideas for your bookish friend or family member (or yourself!), but there are tons of others out there!  I had to come so some sort of arbitrary stopping point.  I know it's a little late to be finishing up any Christmas shopping if you celebrate the holiday, but it's always nice to have a few gift ideas in your back pocket for later.

Happy holidays, everyone!