Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, so if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission.
There are two types of people in this world – those who like surprises and those that do not. I do NOT like surprises, however I wanted to share four of the really cute ideas I’ve seen lately on how here are 4 ways to give the gift of reading in fun and thoughtful ways.

- Give a Book Subscription. I heard about Just the Right Book! on the Office Ladies podcast (episode 237) and thought the idea was so cool. You sign up for a subscription, fill out a questionnaire (aka reading profile) and then wait for the “just the right book” to show up in your mail box. There are subscriptions for Adults, Teen, Children and Baby. Options include Paperback vs. Hardback, and the duration choices are 4 months up to 12 months. There are countless positive reviews for the program. You can sign up for yourself or give it as a gift to someone else. Their website states that they have “one of the highest renewal rates in the subscription world”, which says a lot about their ability to pick good books for the recipient.
- Mystery Wrapped Books. Not mystery like Sherlock Holmes, but mystery like you don’t know what you’re in for. As the Giver, you need to know the recipient well to pull off this gift idea. You buy 12 books, and wrap all of them in plain paper and write one sentence or several key words on the front of the gift (i.e. Historical Fiction set in 1880’s England). I’ve even seen an example where the Giver assigns a month to each book, but that can be up to you. The recipient gets a new book to read each month and can decide which book to read when based on your sentence or key word description.
- Customized Book Gifts for Parties. I loved the sentiment of this gift idea. Everyone coming to the party brings their favorite book with a personal note written inside, maybe saying why he/she picked the book, or why he/she wanted to give this particular book to the recipient. This could also be a really cute idea for a baby shower where everyone brings their favorite baby / children’s book with a solid piece of parenting advice or encouragement written on the inside.
- Storyworth: a Personal Book Gift. Several years ago I asked my dad to make a Storyworth book for me for my birthday gift. Storyworth sends the “author” a question each week for a year (there are over 500 questions to choose from). You can also include pictures. At the end of the year, the book is completed, and hard copies can be ordered and printed. I love having my dad’s stories written down for me, as well as my kids, to read. It’s really special that these memories are captured so my dad’s story can be shared. My mom decided she wanted to make one as well, so I have a book for both of my parents. This could be a great idea to gift to your parents, or parents, to make for your children.
Which of these creative book gift ideas would you love to receive? Share your favorite ways to gift books in the comments!
Leave a Reply