Gift Buying Guide for Book Lovers

If you are reading this, you probably like to read. Odds are that you know others that love to read, many of them on your holiday shopping list. Here is your holiday guide to shopping for bookworms. Of course if you are the bookworm you may want to print and leave this article somewhere strategically placed so someone else can shop for you.

People who love to read can be the easiest and the hardest to shop for at holiday time. The reason they are the easiest is, well, easy. They have a hobby that devotes entire stores to their chosen interest and with new books coming out every week as new budding authors emerge, the choices are endless. The problem is what exactly to get your book lover. What if they do not like a specific author, have read the book already, or the subject is no longer interesting to them? Here are a few tips to get you started on your holiday shopping.

A Book Light
This may seem like an obvious gift, but there are so many to choose from and so many uses for them, that this will always be a welcomed gift. Check your local book retailer for different colors, sizes and even ones that bend. Some book lights come with page holders and magnifying glasses to reduce the strain of eyes in the dark. Read the packaging carefully to make sure you purchase the right light. Some are designed for mass market paperbacks while others are designed for hardcover books. Book lights are great in the car for passengers on late night trips and on airplanes. Some lights are smaller than others for travel, but make sure they give off enough light. Also, read the packaging to see which light uses easy to find replacement bulbs, how many hours they last, and what type of batteries power the unit.

Magazine & Newspaper Subscriptions
If you love to read then you love to read all types of media. Magazines are available on any subject including up and coming authors, books and book reviews. Find the magazine for the month of December and then fill out the order card inside for a year's subscription. Take the magazine and use that as a stocking stuffer with a note attached telling your bookworm that a year's subscription will be coming each month. A bonus for you is that if your reader likes the gift, you can simply fill out the renewal card next year and shopping is that much easier. Newspaper subscriptions are another great idea. If your bookworm does not have time to sit down every day with a print edition of a paper, or does not live in a delivery area for a national paper, give an online subscription so that they can still enjoy their favorite paper with a few clicks of the mouse.

Journal & Pens
Many of us who love to read also love to write, even if it is just listing the books we read each year. Give a journal with plenty of blank pages to encourage your reader to write, and don't forget some fun pens to use as writing instruments. These will fit perfectly in any stocking. Pens now come in all colors and sizes. Some come with lights and cool toppers. Go to a stationary store and purchase a good, long lasting pen. Some places will even engrave the pen and put it in a neat little gift box.

Exotic Bookmarks / Personalized Bookmarks
Think about all the times have you used scrap paper from something lying around when you do not have a bookmark. It happens all the time in our house, probably because so many books are being read at once. Again, find a stationary store that carries extra special and personalized gifts to find great bookmarks. You can also head down to the local craft store and find supplies to design your own. You can also purchase a laminator relatively cheap and laminate them yourself for a professional look. These gifts will be used over and over, be very personal, and make a perfect gift from the heart. Bookmarks should be sturdy and laminated for long and repeated use.

Coffee Samplers
It is no secret that many book lovers also love coffee. In fact, places like Starbucks depend on it. Why not try a sampler of coffee to give the gift of exploration? Remember to keep in mind food allergies and whether or not they like caffeinated drinks or not. Many coffeehouses have holiday themed samplers that just need to be wrapped and given.

Backpacks & Tote Bags
Many readers will be reading more than one book at a time, or always carrying an extra back up book for when they finish one. Giving a tote bag (or backpack for guys) will alleviate the burden of lugging around books, especially hard cover books. Make sure there is an adjustable shoulder strap which is well padded so not to strain shoulders. If you have a secret Santa or gift exchange at work where opening several presents will be too time consuming, try putting a few of your favorite books, a book light, a magazine and bookmarks in the tote back and use that for your gift.

Soothing CD's
Background music can be great while curled up with a good book. Try to find music such as classical or instrumental music to keep on low volume. For people who love to read at coffeehouses might enjoy a portable CD player as well. If they already have one then consider a handy carry case to tote their new soothing CD's in.

Electronic Dictionary
No matter how much we read, we all come across words that we do not know the meaning of. An electronic dictionary is a great substitute for the bulky dictionary that takes up valuable shelf room. It also makes traveling easier. These little gems can be smaller than cell phones and generally use watch battery replacements.

Book Packages & Themes
Does your bookworm like to travel? What if you could take them to China, India and the Trans-Antarctic without them leaving their seat? This one requires research to make sure you do not buy duplicate books they already have, but find a theme such as travel and pick several different books by different authors to give as a gift. If you want to use the travel idea try books like "The Life Of Pi" by Yann Martel, The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd and Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Wrap your present in paper to explain the theme such as postcard paper or use a gift bag and instead of the traditional "To/From" tag, use a luggage tag.

Whichever gift(s) you chose you will find the perfect present for your bookworm!