Jingle Books, Jingle Books — Gifting Books

Jingle Books, Jingle Books — Gift a Book Today! 

Jingle books, jingle books! Okay, let’s talk gifts and reading and books and gifts. Every year I struggle to find the perfect gift. I adore giving thoughtful, meaningful gifts to show the people I love how much they mean to me and L.O.V. E. LOVE to give books as gifts but I know many (especially my niece and nephews) are expecting it.

Obviously Aunt Karen is going to gift books, duh!

And then, in the excitement of Christmas morning, they usually get tossed aside in the paper ripping ritual because:

Look, look, LOOK KAREN!!!! I got the most awesome ninja turtle/ant man/video game/skis/didgeridoo-whatever and it’s so cool and awesome and you must look immediately!!!!!!! HOOOORRRAAAYYY!!!

After the frenzy is over and the breakfast waffles are eaten, we can usually settle down and read together which is ever so fun. In fact, my little Q-Bert loves books and we have a blast reading together. Last year I gave him Warning: Do Not Open This Book and it was a HIT! But…I am a selfish aunt and I want the immediate recognition that comes with ninja turtles. This year I have been thinking about changing things up a bit. Not to worry, they will still be getting books. (I cannot deny my librarian nature) But I have thought of a way to amp up the fun factor by pairing them with a little bit of awesome-sauce.
In the spirit of giving I present:

“MISS KAREN’S BOOK GIVING GUIDE OF SPLENDERFIOUS-NESS”

• Give the kid who loves all things shark the National Geographic Readers: Sharks and a chompy shark grabber.
• If there’s a little princess in your life, try Princess in Black with an awesome cape and/or twinkly tiara.
• I adore the book Extra Yarn and it would make a fabulously craft-a-licious gift with a kids scarf knitting kit.

• The Day the Crayons Quit with a box of beeswax crayons and a ream of copy paper.
• Try the book Flashlight paired with a flash light for fun nighttime adventures.
• The books Monkey Truck! or Monkey with a Tool Belt would be funny bundled with monkey nesting dolls or a monkey puppet (and a cool tool belt would be great).

• And for the science lovers in your life give Ada Twist Scientist or Iggy Peck Architect with a chemistry set or Legos/K’Nex.

Picture books are always fun with a cuddly friend.

• Owl Babies with a stuffed owl, The Day the Babies Crawled Away with a baby doll or even give Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site with a stuffed construction crane.

Older kids also like to cuddle so:

•  The One and Only Ivan with a stuffed gorilla, The Golden Compass with a stuffed wildcat or Ender’s Game with a stuffed Buggar.

Awesome.

Don’t limit yourselves to picture book gifts. You can make fabulous book gift pairs for older kids and teens too.

• Penelope Crumb is a favorite grade school chapter book of mine and it would make a great pair with some cute lip balm or a lightly scented perfume stick.
• Try the graphic novel Roller Girl with in-line skates or tickets to the roller derby. Experiences are always fun!!!
• The Hunted with a zombie nerf gun or a sardine can survival kit or even a DVD of World War Z.
• The “force” might suggest giving some Jedi Academy books and a Darth Vader bobble head.

• And if you are into irony give Beauty Queens with a small make-up kit or trendy Korean skin care products– my niece will be getting this from her awesome aunt Karen. 😀

• Give crafty teen books like Ductigami, Teens Cook, The Handmade Skateboard and The Robot Book with duct tape, an apron, mounting hardware and a box of odds & ends for robot construction.

It can be intimidating to select a book for someone so gift card options are always great and pair easily with awesome “container” type gifts.

• Wrap up an e-book gift certificate in an aluminum wallet or wristlet. Slip one in a pair of socks. Nestle one in a tin of homemade fudge.

Now wrapping a book in something useful sounds like loads of reading fun, right!?

• Roll a beach read in a towel
• Wrap a book in a scarf
• Slip a cookbook in a soup tureen and there you go with DEEE-LICIOUS!

You can also skip the book altogether and give a book-themed gift.

• One of these awesome scarves or tees (I’m dying for the Alice in Wonderland scarf!!)
• and try a charm bracelet for a Harry Potter fan here
• An up-cycled book purse
• Or just a beautiful Christmas ornament.

I’m telling you, go CRAZY this gift giving season and hand out those literary treasures to everyone. Have fun and be creative! You are only limited by your imagination (and your pocketbook).