The arrival of the Christmas season brings a joy like no other. Built upon traditions—both those that belong to holiday festivities as a whole and those that belong to individual families—Christmas seems to blur the lines between past and present, reminding everyone who celebrates of their childhood, of days when the world seemed full of magic, wonder, love, and kindness aplenty. It truly is a magical time.
“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!”
– Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers
“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”
– Dale Evans
Gift giving is a chance to treat those in your life to something you know will make them happy. In this Literary Gift Guide, I aimed to find items that will satisfy readers who love things that are classically bookish–bookmarks, tea, mugs–as well as more unique and unexpected literary items. Whether for family, friends, or as a little treat for yourself, there’s something for every reader in this Literary Gift Guide.
“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.”
– Thomas S. Monson
“The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.”
Bookmarks
Leather Dragon Scale Bookmark | $22.00
This striking bookmark is made of genuine leather and features beautiful details including textured dragon scales, a Celtic knot, and a dragon all done by hand. Fantasy readers will surely love this.
Christmas Tree Holiday Window Bookmark | $4.95
This stunning bookmark captures the magic of Christmas in a glimpse through a window with such charm and coziness. While this is the most Christmas-inspired of her work, this artist’s other “Through the Window” designs are equally stunning and inviting. Take a look at the shop for more.
Midnight Readers Club Brass Bookmark | $10.90
This bookmark is perfect for readers who love to stay up late to finish a great book. When you slip this on the page, only the crescent moon is visible—a familiar companion for those late night readers.
Mugs
“We Lose Ourselves in Books” Mug | $12.82
This charming little illustration captures the magic of stepping through doorways only books can conjure. A perfect addition to any reader’s mug collection.
Though more of an investment than the average bookish mug, this Hobbit door mug is fantastically unique, striking, charming, and magical. It’s irresistible. If a little out of your budget, this Hobbit door design is also available as an ornament for $50.
Ornaments
A Christmas Carol Wooden Ornament | $7.31
This little wooden book ornament features a favorite quote from A Christmas Carol. Perfect for more than just the readers in your life, this ornament could be at home on any tree.
Miniature Poetry Book Ornament | $9+
This sweet little Christmas and winter poetry book ornament comes in a variety of colors and can be personalized.
Hobbit Hole Ornament | $19.99+
This 3D printed Hobbit hole ornament is for all the readers who wish they could spend a cozy evening in the Shire. It comes in choices of stained or unstained “wood” and is so detailed it looks as if you could open the door and slip right inside.
ACOTAR Night Court Ornament | $50.49
Buying for an ACOTAR fan? This Night Court ornament is lovely enough for even the dreamiest of dreamers. This design is also available as a mug.
Personalized Bookstack Ornament | $21.95
This ornament offers the unique experience of completely customizing the appearance of the woman and adding your own book titles to the spines of each book. Your custom bookmark can have up to ten books in the stack. This is such a fun, cute gift for a reader in your life.
Journals
Personalized Leather Journal | $32.99
This classic black and gold journal features lined pages and can be personalized on the front (where this photo has “Poetry” written).
Modern Classic Reading Journal | $22.21
Track your reading with this beautiful reading journal. Each new month features a quote from a classic novel and there is space for tracking goals, wishlists, new releases, and more.
This magical journal is the perfect place to keep track of reading, write story ideas down, or write anything at all. It’s simply enchanting.
Get Cozy
All the little things that make a perfect cozy night—comfy clothes, comfy blankets, hot baths, warm drinks, and sweet snacks.
Little Women Orchard House Blend Tea | $10.50
This tea blend is inspired by Little Women and Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. It’s a green tea with notes of honey and apple—delicious for sipping while revisiting the classic.
Bag End Hobbit Inspired Soap | $9
How beautiful is this Hobbit-inspired artisan soap? This pink lilac and and willow scented soap will surely have you feeling fresh and relaxed before a cozy night in.
In the Dark of the Night Fiction Bath Co. Box | $55
Fiction Bath Co.’s Winter Pamper Box is inspired by A Darker Shade of Magic, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Shadow and Bone, The Night Circus and other popular books that make one think of all that can happen in the dark of night. The box features a room and body mist, a candle, a perfume oil, a bath bomb, body lotion, a bar of soap, a bookmark, and an “In the Dark of the Night” instrumental playlist. There’s nothing more you could need for a cozy night.
Bake up a little bookish delight with these book cookie cutters. So cute, so sweet.
Mini Exotic Chocolate Bar Library | $25
Every cozy night in needs a little something sweet to snack on, and this unique chocolate bar library provides just the right amount of bookish charm to make it perfect.
A hooded blanket with a bookish design? There’s no better gift for a reader. Snuggle up and settle down with a good book in this blanket, and you’ll be set for the night.
Literary Experiences and Book Boxes
12 Days of Christmas Bookish Advent Calendar | $85
Surprise a reader (or yourself!) with 12 little bookish gifts for the 12 days of Christmas. This advent calendar includes general bookish themed gifts with only a few Christmas-themed items, so you can enjoy them all year long.
Tea & Tales Book of the Month Fantasy Book Box | $29+
Receive a new fantasy book, tea, and bookish swag that matches the book choice each month with Tea & Tales Book of the Month. You can even add some chocolate to your box. And, really, who wouldn’t?
Books and Literary Accessories
ReboundBookshop Leather Books $132+
Looking to really wow someone with a bookish gift this year? How about a rebound version of one of their favorites? ReboundBookshop has tons of stunning designs for numerous books. You can even create a custom design for the reader you have in mind.
Personalized TBR Book Basket | $23.08
Readers are always running out of space to keep their books. With this personalized book basket, they’ll have that little extra bit of space they’re always needing while also organizing their TBR. Check out this shop for more versions of this book basket.
Inject a little literary flare into your (or a friend’s) life with these wallets designed to look like books. With tons of classic novels to choose from and such beautiful designs, there’s sure to be something for the book lover on your list.
Know a reader who likes to collect little curiosities? Take a look at this absurdly detailed, incredibly impressive Christmas pop-up book. Know someone who likes to craft? Even better, they offer a pop-up book kit for you to put this design together yourself.
If your reader really likes to get crafty, this book nook could be perfect. After building one of these incredibly detailed and stunning book nooks, it can be displayed it on your bookshelf. They fit seamlessly between books and add a bit of irresistible bookish magic and atmosphere to your shelf.
Personalized Book Locket | $28.21+
This sweet book locket can be personalized with initials or flower designs. Each locket can hold two photos and comes with a special message folded inside to look like the pages of a book. Such a lovely gift for a loved one.
These wise owl bookplates are quintessentially bookish–who wouldn’t love them? They come in a set of 30 and can be personalized.
For Writers
Plot Thickener Card Game for Writers | $12.75
Looking for a unique gift for the writer you know? Plot Thickener certainly is that. This deck of cards can be used to play 2 card games or as 110 writing prompts that will inspire new stories and help defeat writer’s block in a unique, fun way.
The Writer Tarot Card Sweatshirt | $15.29+
Cuddle up and get comfy for a writing session in this cute writing-inspired sweatshirt.
Work In Progress Notebook | $18
This WIP notebook is designed to help writers delve into and sort out their novels with questions that help them get from brainstorming ideas to nailing plotting and story progression.
Gift your writer friends this candle to light while they spin new tales. With a tobacco and caramel scent, it will create the perfect cozy atmosphere to inspire creativity.
Charities
“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.”
“Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first.”
Pajama Program believes in the power of bedtime routines for children and aims to provide pajamas, books, and resources to parents and caregivers for children in uncertain circumstances so that they too can have good nights that lead to great days. Donate here.
First Book distributes books and educational resources to children in low income communities all around the world. In their 30 years history, First Book has given over 225 million books and educational resources to those in need. Consider giving to their Give a Million campaign to help reach the goal of giving 1 million books to children who need them this holiday season. Look out for “Match Days” throughout the season where First Book friends and partners will match every donation. Donate here.
Litworld aims to increase literacy around the world and encourages creativity in children. By focusing on the importance of reading aloud and writing, LitWorld teaches children creative expression and instills in them that their voice matters. Donate here.
Room to Read focuses on literacy and gender equality in education in low income communities around the world, encouraging reading and helping support girls through secondary school. Donate here.
Reading Partners works with under-resourced schools and focuses on encouraging and supporting struggling young readers by providing individualized one-on-one reading assistance to help children read at grade level by fourth grade. According to their website, “Students reading below grade level in third grade are four times as likely as their peers to drop out of school before earning their diploma.” $100 funds reading support packets for two students and their families for an entire year. In the past year, 82% K-2 Reading Partners students and 77% of all Reading Partner students met or exceeded their primary literacy growth goal. Donate here.
Help Santa this holiday season by ‘adopting’ one of his letters from some of the many children and families who send them his way. Send kind responses and give the gifts or necessities asked for in the letters to take a little off Santa’s plate while helping children who need a little extra joy this season.
What caught your eye from this year’s Literary Gift Guide?