13 Bookish Gifts for the Bibliophiles in Your Life

Looking for a gift for a book lover? It can be tough shopping for that person who basically aspires to live in the library of Beast’s castle, but we’ve found there are some creative ideas out there.

With the help of our own resident bibliophile, we’ve rounded up some of the best bookish things for the bookish peeps in your life — from unique books to accessories for readers of all sorts.

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Much like the books that people love so much, there’s a lot that can go into the right bookish gift selection. For our list, we focused on the following key areas: creativity. practicality. budget.

• Creativity. The book lover in your life no doubt adores a unique take on things. Was there a good amount of thought that went into this gift? Does it have an interesting angle and personality to it? Is it memorable? If the answers to these questions were “yes,” we added the gift to our list.
• Practicality. What’s just as satisfying as a solid book connection to a gift? Usability. Whether it can be used to educate more than one person or enhance the overall reading experience, each of these gifts can be put to good use.
• Budget. If anyone knows that a charming and thoughtful gift doesn’t have to break the bank, it’s book lovers. We chose some satisfying options that are high in quality and affordability.

Let’s crack these open and have a look.

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• Price: $

If you want to diversify your reading list, or encourage someone else to do the same, then this illustrated guide champions the voices of historically marginalized bookstores, book people, artists, and authors from many backgrounds and cultures.

The book is both a visual feast and an important collection of recommendations. You’ll never again need to ask “what should I read next?” and you’ll certainly be inspired to read outside your comfort zone.

• Price: $$

Books will travel — but let’s protect those books when they’re tossed in a tote, purse, or backpack. We’ve been following Book Beau since they started and are still in love with the products they make.

Padded book sleeves are their main thing, and now they’re available with zipper closures and water-resistant fabric, too. They come in all kinds of patterns and will protect your fave reads from crushed pages and bent covers.

• Price: $$

Know any bookish friends or family who enjoy baking or cooking? This magical cookbook has you covered, with recipes inspired by Harry Potter, Tolkien, Star Wars, classic fairy tales, Shakespeare, Disney characters, movie faves, and more.

Just think, you could start the day with Shire Seed Cakes, snack on Three Little Pigs in a Blanket for lunch (inspired by “Shrek”), dine on Dagobah Root Leaf Stew in the evening, and finish your day with Salem’s Black Cat Cocktail. Or a butterbeer, if that’s more your style.

• Price: $$

Ready to be transported to the March family home? This edition of the beloved classic story brings a whole new element to the reading experience. It contains the full text AND envelope pockets tucked throughout (gasp!) containing replicas of all 17 significant letters, newspaper clippings, etc. from the story.

We found these detailed, folded letters to be immensely transportive while rereading this fave. Fans of the book and films, as well as letter writers and collectors of vintage curiosities, will love this keepsake.

• Price: $$$

This one’s for folks who love rearranging their home library as much as they love reading. Custom book jackets can create an extra special look on any shelf. Juniper Books has been creating these for 20 years and their shop is loaded with many collections to choose from.

Whether you want a new look for your fantasy series or a conversation starter like their Maya Angelou set, they’ve got something for every bibliophile to take their #Shelfie game to the next level.

• Price: $

Advent calendars aren’t just for kids. Harry Potter fans of all ages will enjoy opening an envelope each day for the 25 days leading up to Christmas — each with a special surprise in it.

There are more than 40 keepsakes tucked inside, from mini booklets and coasters to a keychain and coloring cards. And while this calendar captures the magic from the films, we think many fans of the books (who are often fans of the films) will enjoy this just as much as first years enjoy their chocolate frogs.

• Price: $$

Does your gift recipient like a total surprise? There are many shops on Etsy that offer a “blind date with a book” option. You pick the genre, and they’ll send a classically wrapped (usually in brown paper with string) book that might just turn out to be a new favorite.

The only thing revealed is typically the genre and maybe one or two aspects or traits of the story underneath the wrapping.

• Price: $

Candles = cozy. And bookish candles are like cozy times 10. Smells Like Books has a collection of more than 40 bookish scents. They’re vegan and cruelty-free and are also free of phthalates, paraffin, synthetic fragrance, and colorants.

Why no colors? Their site mentions, it’s so they can “keep them free of benzene, toluene, and other volatile organic compounds.” The clean, modern look reminds us of the fresh pages of a book.

• Price: $

Care for some quotes while sipping your English Breakfast? Novel Teas contains 25 English Breakfast tea bags, each tagged with a literary quote from authors around the world.

You’ll find quotes from the literary greats like C.S. Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, and Alice Hoffman. Pair it with this tea and book lovers spoon.

• Price: $$

If you could use something to help the kiddos (and parents) talk about the hard stuff, give this series a shot. A Kids Book About has a collection of more than 50 titles that tackle major topics like empathy, racism, anxiety, emotions, climate change, gender, immigration, gratitude, shame, and many more.

These books can help educate and empower your children, help you feel empowered to discuss these topics, and maybe even learn with them. Most are recommended for ages 5 and up, but some are for ages 6 and up. They also have board books for younger children. The best seller bundle is a great place to get started.

• Price: $$

This infinity scarf has more than fifty 5-star reviews on the Storiarts website, and we can see why. It’s made of super soft cotton in the United States and features Dr. Maya Angelou’s glorious poetry — the complete text of modern classic “Still I Rise.” It also features Storiarts’ original hand-drawn artwork.

The blue text and illustrations against the cream color is ultra-pretty and flattering on just about anyone. Plus, every Storiarts purchase helps fight illiteracy! And if this one doesn’t quite hit the spot, they have many other literary scarves to choose from.

• Price: $$

This bamboo bathtub tray has 4.6 out of 5 stars and more than 1,300 ratings. It’s extendable to fit a variety of tubs and has three tilting angles for watching movies or reading.

There’s plenty of space for a book or e-reader, phone, soap, wine glass, or candles. It has pretty much everything needed to turn a bath into a relaxing reading spa.

• Price: $$

Has the book lover in your life personalized their most treasured copies yet? A custom book embosser is a sleek way to signify ownership of a book, especially for people who tend to lend books out often. And it’s a bit easier than using book plates or ink stamps.

Just gently press the corner of a page between the embosser and presto, you have an embossed, raised design. Stamp Boss (with more than 12,000 positive reviews on Etsy) offers stamps that look like they belong to favorite characters, or one’s that are entirely your own design.

Finding the right gift for your dear bibliophile can be a tough but gratifying experience. The right mix of creativity and practicality usually makes for some solid options, at the very least. And any of the picks above should point you in the direction for a literary-level win with that special person.