Shopping for a Gift this Holiday Season? How About a Book?

It always happens: there are a handful of people on your Holiday gift list that Have Everything.  Those are the ones you don’t know what to buy or what to give. Another designer vase seems boring. Clothing is out of the question. You know a pen-and-pencil set is passé.  Nobody needs yet another glove-and-scarf set.

Those are the people who are crossed off your list last. They’re the ones who are the (un) happy recipients of the 4:45pm-on-Holiday-Eve mad dash to the mall. They’re the ones who end up with a gift bought at the convenience store.

But this year, smart you, you’re going to give books. You head to the bookstore and….

You’re overwhelmed.

Let me make it easy for you with some do’s and don’ts at the bookstore.

DO

1.)    Know the preferences of your giftee. Is it a boy or girl, man or woman, and what age? Does he like airplanes? Does she crochet?  What TV shows does he watch? Is she a magazine reader? All those things will help point toward the right gift.

2.)    Look around for a minute on your own. Yes, you’re busy, but a bookstore is like a gigantic treasure closet. You never know what kinds of gems you’ll find by looking.  You might even find a gift for someone else by poking around.

3.)    Consider introducing your giftee to something you like.  It gives you an opportunity to connect after the holiday.

4.)    Think of things that go with books. A stuffed animal is always a big hit when a child snuggles up for read-aloud. Bookmarks are always welcome (who reads a book in one sitting?). Magnifying glasses are great for anybody. Give a map with a travel book. Give a puzzle book with a puzzle dictionary. Give gaming cards with a new gaming book.

5.)    Ask – NICELY – for help if you’re completely stymied. The people who work at the bookstore are so very happy to talk about books and they have hundreds (if not thousands) of great suggestions.

6.)    Remember to ask for a gift receipt. Many bookstores have tightened their return policies. Give your giftee an “out”.

DO NOT

1.)    Be rude. It’s just not jolly, you know? Likewise, put the cell phone away when      you’re at the check-out. Keep your common decency in the forefront. Put things back if you don’t want them. Throw away your trash in the proper place. Stop muttering about how long the line is, and wait your turn. Bonus points if you start writing your check out early. Yes, you’re tired of shopping, but why make this season any harder than it should be?

2.)    Head directly to the bargain section. Those books are often a year or two old or more; chances are, your giftee has already read / considered / discarded the book in question.  Plus, if they have to return the book, they’ll think you’re a cheapskate.

3.)    Expect the booksellers to mind-read. They don’t know what your giftee likes.

Help them out. Give them clues. There are books and magazines that will entice even the most reluctant reader. Take advantage of the bookseller’s expertise.

4.)    Don’t, for heaven’s sake, say, “There was a book on the shelf over here last year and it had a blue cover and it was by some guy from Minneapolis… do you have that book?”  Trust me: the bookseller is going to roll her eyes. There are over 250,000 books printed each year around the country. Keep that in mind before you ask the impossible.

5.)    Use the bookstore as a babysitter. Your kids are MORE THAN welcome at the bookstore, but with supervision. Yes, it’s tempting to leave them to read and play while you shop, but don’t. Just. Don’t.    

6.)    Be a Grinch. A bookstore is a happy place. Giving the perfect gift is supposed to be fun. The holidays are jolly, remember? If all else fails, grab a magazine for yourself, ask for a gift certificate and GO HOME, happy in the knowledge that you can cross off another name on your holiday list.

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