Around our house, the Christmas music has been playing since the beginning of November. And I’m not tired of it yet. There are songs I could listen to all year (looking at you “Go Tell It On the Mountain” and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”). There are other songs that I skip every time (I confess I’m not a fan of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”…and I’m not even a grandmother, lol).
And then there are the in-between songs. The ones I may or may not listen to, but either way, I just don’t quite “get” them. Like “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I mean, I understand the concept. What I don’t get is the gifts involved. What am I going to do with ten lords a-leaping or eight maids a-milking (I don’t even have any cows!)?
With that in mind, I decided to come up with my own, much more practical version of the song, with gifts perfect for the readers in your life (which includes yourself, of course!). Enjoy!
I’ll spare you the repetition and just include the gift for each day. :)
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An ereader under the tree
Whether it’s a Kindle, a Nook, or another kind of ereader, there’s nothing like being able to take your entire library with you wherever you go.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two reading gloves
I have two pairs of these gloves and I love them for typing, reading, and any activity where I need to use my fingers but also want warm hands (and I always want warm hands).
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Three special pens
Whether they want to take notes or write in their books (I wrote a whole post about that!), readers need pens too. Paper Mate InkJoy pens are my personal favorites. They’re simple, colorful, comfortable, and cheap. I may be personally responsible for keeping the company in business with how many I go through when I’m editing a book.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Four nerdy shirts
For the book nerd who isn’t afraid to show it, book shirts are some of my favorites. I especially love this one my husband bought me (and I confess to wearing it pretty much every weekend).
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Five bookish things
Okay, I realize this could really cover anything. Bookish socks? A bookish ornament? Maybe even book ends for all those books that don’t fit on the shelf. We have some really unique carved seahorse book ends, as well as a rabbit set that I love.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Six quotes and sayings
I love, love, love quotes from books. This one happens to be from one of my books.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Seven lights a-dimming
If you’re going to read at night, you need a light that’s bright enough to see—but not so bright it will hurt your eyes or keep your spouse awake. I’ve heard good things about the kind you wear around your neck. As a bonus, they won’t wreck your book pages.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eight stands a-tilting
All right, I know that sounds a little obscure, but stay with me here. Years ago, I bought a book “chair” that could hold my book upright and open while I was doing research for nonfiction books. It’s functional but nothing special. But now I want one of these. Doesn’t it look so perfect for holding your book or tablet on your lap?
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine glasses glancing
According to my eye doctor, I should expect to need reading glasses in the near future. I might just have to find a fun pair when I do.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten bookmarks keeping
We are bookmark collectors in our house. But that doesn’t mean we don’t need more. I really love how durable this one looks—and it has one of my favorite verses.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven keyboards typing
Some tablets are great not only for reading books but also for checking emails, taking notes, or even writing books. And a Bluetooth keyboard makes all of that much easier. I don’t know what I would do without mine.
On the twelvth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve books upcoming
As a reader, one of my favorite gifts is always an Amazon gift card so I can buy all the books. (Ha! That would have to be one big gift card. But you know what I mean.) Or you can just go ahead and buy books you know your reader will love. I happen to know where you can find some by our Inspy authors. ;)
So there you have it! I’m not saying this rendition is going to become a hit song or anything—but hopefully it at least gave you some fun ideas for Christmas gifts that are a little more useful than two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
What about you: What’s the favorite readerly gift you’ve ever given or received? And since we’re talking about gifts, I’ll gift one randomly chosen person who comments by December 19 a $5 Amazon.com gift card. (Winners without an Amazon.com account will receive an ebook in lieu of the gift card.)
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
probably a book I was given in the 80’s. It was a historical book (Jeanette Oke’s When calls the heart) that actually got me back to reading. I have been given books for gifts from the time I was a kid but hadn’t had some for a bit and I wasn’t reading much but this book I started and couldn’t stop. It got my reading bug back.
Oh, that’s the best kind of gift! I’m so glad it led you to rediscover your love of reading!
My middle son frequently gives me Amazon gift cards because he knows how much I love to read! He also knows I have a Kindle and I can buy the books I want.
I think my first Kindle. I remember viewing it very suspiciously and wondering if I would ever use it. Weren’t paper books the only real way to read?
Now I can’t imagine life without a Kindle.
Haha! I remember getting my first Kindle too–I had bought one for my husband at the exact same time he gave me mine. :)
This is an awesome post! I love getting bookmarks as gifts as well as Amazon gift cards and gift cards to my local bookstore.
You can never have too many bookmarks–or too many gift cards to buy books!
I received a Kindle for Christmas one year and I love it!
Kindles make such a great gift! It’s like giving someone a whole library–that’s portable!
Gift cards to my local book store.
Nothing beats an excuse to go book shopping!
Love this!! My favorite readerly gift is what spurred me to where I am now. After taking a long reading hiatus while my kids were little, my hubby bought me an iPad mini. The first thing I downloaded was the kindle app, and shortly after I discovered Kindle Unlimited. That led to much binge reading and eventually becoming a writer, so… 😍
That’s awesome! I love that God used one gift like that to completely change your life. And I’m sure you (and your hubby) had no idea that would happen when he gave it to you!
My favorite is any autographed book I won from an author. They are treasures on my bookshelves.
Autographed books are so special! And trust me, it’s special to the authors too, to know that someone wants a book they’ve signed on their bookshelves. :)
I received my Kindle for a Christmas gift one year! I now LOVE it!!! It came in so handy when taking Mom to her doctor appointments!!
Yes! It’s such a blessing to be able to have your books with you wherever you go. And you never have to worry about bringing a second book, in case you finish the first one…because they’re all at your fingertips!
I definitely loved getting an ereader, typing glass, that exact same shirt, and more!
Lol! It’s too funny that we have the same shirt. We’ll have to wear them on the same day sometime!
My favorite readerly gift was my first Kindle. I’m on my 3rd one now. I absolutely ebooks!!
Me too! As much as I still love having print books on my shelves, nothing beats the convenience of an ebook!
I love those gloves, I may have to put some on my Christmas list this year!
Friends and family all know a book is always a great present choice for me. I can remember when I was younger my grandmother bought me the set of Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House books (I still have them!), I was so happy and I can still remember the smell and feel of the lovely new books no one had ever read before.
The gloves are totally worth it! I don’t know what I would do without them (besides have cold hands, lol). I remember getting the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as a child as well–and I still have them too!
What a fun post! I found many items that I’d love to get as a gift.
Oh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
A kindle I got a few Christmass ago books that I don’t have in paper back I read on my kindle I would rather have paperbacks .
I know a lot of people still prefer paperbacks–and there is definitely something fun about unwrapping them! But it’s handy to have a Kindle too! Best of both worlds. :)
Yah I am not a fan about that song with grandma either. I remember when my kids came home from school singing that song. It really grated on me. so I prayed about it and finally in the evening after dinner and chores the two kiddos and I had a talk about the song. basically, did they really understand the lyrics. I knew that they loved their grandmother and asked what if their beloved grandma was that grandma in the song. at first they tried to say it was all pretend, but I asked my question different ways and they finally started to cry. oh goodness. I let them cry and held them and when they were done, they knew what the song was saying and really didnt like it. have not heard that from them again. of course I talked to my mom about it afterwards and when they went to spend the weekend with her, she encouraged them to sing songs that were happy and pleasing to Jesus. thanks for sharing all of your gift ideas. I love the way you did it.
Thanks, Lori! It’s hard sometimes to see the harm in things, and I do understand that the song is meant to be in jest–and yet, it’s just one of those songs I don’t need to hear. It sounds like your kids got the message too. Sometimes those are hard conversations to have, but they really can make our relationships stronger too.
I always enjoy getting books for Christmas. I’ve also gotten a really nice book light one year that I enjoy too.
Books are always a great gift! Or book accessories. My kids have gone through a number of book lights over the years, but I’m thinking one of those neck wrap ones might work well for them!
This was a fun post! One of my favorite gifts that I received was a box full of Lori Wick books. It was so exciting to open and see the books I was given.
The only thing better than getting one book is getting a box full of them! :)
What a fun post! There are several of these gifts I’d love receiving. I always enjoy getting Amazon gift cards so I can pick out some books. When I had a hand operation a few years ago, my husband bought me one of those padded book/tablet holders. It’s been so useful. I use it often even though my hand has healed now.
Oh, I’m glad to know the padded book/tablet holder works well for you! I admit that I’m eyeing one up now. :) Gift cards are the best too!
I was given my first Kindle about a decade ago and it totally changed my reading habits because I was never without books again. Since then I’ve given many people the same gift to encourage them to read more.
Yes! Once you have one, you just can’t go back! I love that you’ve shared your love of Kindles by giving them as gifts too!
The best thing I bought myself as a gift was a 24 month Kindle Unlimited gift subscription. You can buy yourself or others (I’m in the Us) a 6, 12, or 24 month gift subscription. If you buy yourself a Kindle Unlimited gift subscription, you will have to contact Amazon on the day you schedule it to start so the correct amount will be deducted from your payment method all at once. There is no hassle from Amazon but their computer system does not automatically recognize that humans buy themselves gift subscriptions. You can use an Amazon card to pay for it and it’s nonrefundable. Last year, I bought a 24 month Kindle Unlimited gift subscription for $151.71 which works out to $6.32 a month versus the regular price of $9.99 plus tax a month.
Along with using the free website http://www.Ereaderiq.com (US and UK) I track Kindle book price drops. The website allows you to track by title (you set the price) or author. The website notifies you when a title on your watch list has dropped to the desired sale price. Both tips help my book budget a lot if an ebook is not available from the library.
A Kindle Unlimited subscription would be a great gift! Thanks for sharing that idea! I love sights that share book sales too. :)
You can not use an Amazon gift card Toto pay a Kindle Unlimited gift subscription. Sorry for forgetting to,type not
That’s helpful to know, thank you!
Many, many years ago my daughter gave me a mouse shaped bookmark. It is still my favorite. The mouse has lost his eyes, whiskers and bow, but still makes me smile. A treasure.
That’s so fun! Sometimes treasures that are worn are the best kind because of the memories.
My husband normally gets me an Amazon gift card so I can purchase the books that I enjoy. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
He’s a smart man! Amazon gift cards are so much fun to spend on books. :)
I received a Kindle for books only one year. Another year, I received an iPad where I can also load with books on different apps.
Those are both great! I started out with a Kindle but after that died, I switched over to an iPad and I think the Kindle app was the first thing I put on it. :)
Great list, Valerie! I think they are all fun and practical gifts! My personal favorites are an eReader and Amazon gift card! Third would be the iPad pillow that I use to hold my Kindle when I need my hands free to do other things. It has really come in handy! (It’s made similarly to the one you show here.)
Thanks for the suggestions and for the chance to win a prize. Merry Christmas!
Glad you enjoyed the list! It’s good to know the tablet/book holders like this work well. I may have to add one to my wish list! :)
gift cards
Absolutely! It’s so much fun to get to pick what you want and know it’s already paid for. :)
My favorite gifts were ones my children made or picked out for me.
Aww, sweet gifts from kiddos are always the best!
Super cute post!
Thanks, Laurie! 🥰
Hi Val! As far back as I can remember I always got books of some sort as gifts for Christmas. The ones I remember the most were the Bible commentaries & Dictionary from Momma and Daddy the Christmas after coming back to the Lord. I still use them regularly. I had the habit of giving them books as gifts too. Thanks for bringing back memories of special Christmas times.
I hope you, Josh & the kids have a very special Christmas season!
Hi Deb! Aww, I’m so glad you enjoyed the trip back to memories of Christmas past. :) Books are always one of my favorite gifts to give the kids. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well!
I love your 12 Days of Christmas. And I love giving and getting books. Every Christmas I get my grandkids books as one of their gifts.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I agree that books are some of the best gifts to give–and to receive! :)
I was on a trip so didn’t get to read this until today. I love your re-write of the song! I’ve always wanted books for Christmas, but my family finally got frustrated that I usually already had the book they got me :-) Now Amazon gift cards are a great way to go.
Lol! That’s the hard part about buying books for an avid reader! Good thing there are gift cards to solve that problem. :)
This was so fun!! I’d want the gift card to buy more books, for sure! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Can’t go wrong with a gift card! Merry Christmas!
My favorite gifts are always books. I love having a copy of every book I’ve ever read. My dream would be to have a Beauty and the Beast style library!
Oh, me too! Beast has the most amazing library! :)
Love getting Amazon gift cards so I can order more books for my tablet! I was always a person who wanted the feel of a book in my hand but since I bought my tablet that’s the only way I read!! Love it!!
I love my tablet too! Especially since I can get so many more books that way!
My favorite readerly gift received was my Kindle reader. That was several years ago and I still love it. Unique bookmarks are fun to give and receive also.
Yes, I got my first Kindle as a gift too, and I loved it! Bookmarks are fun to have too–even if most of your books are digital. :)
I think getting a gift certificate from my local bookshop is among my favorite readerly gifts that I’ve received.
Local bookstores can be so great to shop at! Especially when you have a gift card. :)
One of my best bookish Christmas gifts, I just received the other day. It is a wooden bookmark with a dove cut-out in it. It is lightweight and pretty and unusual. I love it. It came in a Christmas card from an author.
Oh wow! That sounds beautiful!
My absolute FAVORITE “reader” gift is something called a “LightWedge” which is an LED reading light. Here’s the description:
Imagine a pane of bright, even light illuminating only the page you are reading. That’s the idea behind LightWedge. No glare, no stray light to disturb others. Just rest it on the page and read.
.
– Elegently simple design. Thin and lightweight, easy to handle and pack. Weighs on 8.5 oz. with batteries.
– Eye-friendly LED illumination. No bulbs to burn out in the middle of a great story. Ever.
– 40 hours of light on four AAA batteries. That’s like 7 coast-to-coast flights. (Batteries not included.)
– Holds the page flat. Doubles as a bookmark and conversation starter.
– Distortion-free, optical-grade acrylic lens reflects LED light onto the page, not into your eyes. It only looks like magic.
Wish I could show a picture, but I have several (one is paper back sized, the rest are big enough to use on a regular sized book) that I first gave to our kids for Christmas one year. Turn the light on and read w/o disturbing others; turn it off and leave it in the book to mark your place. I still use mine (I think it’s over 30 years old). Only have to replace the batteries periodically. Best gift EVER! ;-)
This sounds so neat! I’m going to have to look for one! I think my kids would like them too.
My favorite gift was my Kindle. When we travel, I don’t need to take a stack of books, I can just use Kindle Unlimited or download other books from Amazon. It’s also wonderful because when using it I can read in bed without a light disturbing my husband.
A whole library in your hands at all times! Can’t beat that!
I love my kindle but really love holding a real book to read. I can remember the very first book I read that I realized where you can go in a book.
All the possibilities to travel and learn through those pages.
Best gifts ever.
Agreed! In any form, books are the best gifts!
I received an ereader for Christmas one year and I’ve enjoyed it to this day. Love your 12 days of Christmas!
Ereaders are great gifts! Glad you enjoyed the song!
I received a Kindle for a gift one year. I think it’s one of the originals.
I had the original Kindle too! Loved it!
The most bookish Christmas gift was a Kindle my husband got me 11 years ago. I am now on my 4th one. My current wish list item to ask for is Amazon gift cards to keep the Kindle loaded!
I, also, love to collect bookmarks. I even take junk mail that looks pretty and cut them to size to use as bookmarks.
Gift cards to keep the Kindle stocked are the perfect gift. :) I love the idea of cutting pretty junk mail into bookmarks!
I think my Kindle Fire was the best gift I received. I love how I can read books on it, check Email. do notes, Bible apps, etc. Multi-function all in one!
And I think that Book Holder is awesome! Never saw that before! May have to add it to my Wish List!
I had a Kindle Fire too, and it lasted a long time! I loved all I could do on it. I want one of those book holders now too! :)
I received the next three books in the Little House on the Prairie series one year for Christmas. Three books! I was so excited I cried! I look back on that now and chuckle, but then it was so special.
Aww, I love that! I still have my Little House books, and we’ve read them all with the kids. A gift that has lasted for generations! :)
I think it was probably when I got my first Kindle. It was one of the first ones and I loved it. I used it till I wore it out. Now I’m on another one that is almost worn out too. I guess that shows how much I love to read.
It’s a good sign when you used a Kindle until it dies! :)
Amazon gift cards.
Always a great gift!
My all-time favorite reading-centered gift was when I was given the entire Chronicles of Narnia for my 12th birthday. I loved those books and I read them over and over again.
That’s such a great series! Perfect gift!
I bought my book-loving aunt a small wooden sign that says “Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.” I can’t wait to give it to her for Christmas.
Aww, I’m sure she’ll love it!
Books are a favorite of mine but I really liked the gloves so now they are on my list .
Oh, I hope you get them! I love them!
I tend to make notes in my books when a portion strikes my fancy. One year my daughter gave me a set of dry highlighters. I thought (and still do) that they were amazing. They don’t bleed through even the thinnest papet!
I got some like that for my kids, and they love them too! I should have put that for one of the days. :)
When wewere first married, we had very little money. My husband, a non-reader, asked how much ch a paperback book cost. I told him. For Christmas he gave me a coupon book good for one paperback a month, for the year!
Aww, that’s so sweet! I love it!
Ooh I love those colourful Inkjoy Papermate pens! And what a fun list! Going to look at those grey gloves.
I’m using the Papermates to make edits on a book right now. The gloves are great too!
My favorite readerly gift was a book about Alfred Schweitzer and his humanitarian efforts and Nobel prize winner. It was given to me by Aunt Kay Anne who was a schoolteacher and believed in matching books to the child. This book reinforced my desire to become a nurse and with training, I did fulfill my dream.
What a special gift! It sounds like your aunt was a great gift giver!
My favorite gifts are vintage books to add to my collection.
I love browsing through vintage books! It always amazes me to open one and realize how many people have probably opened it before me.
Fun post! I would say Kindle :)
Kindles seem to be a favorite gift (including with me!).
My favorite reading gift was given me by my son som years ago. He gave me a Kindle and helped me starting to use it. It was a big surprise and a much too expensive gift from a boy his age, but what a loving gift!
That’s so sweet! Sounds like your son knows you well!
They are nice gifts and I love have all those Christmas gifts.i love 5 amazon.com gift because I love shopping on there. It would cool to get kindle for book for to all read on.
I agree! You can’t go wrong with a Kindle + gift cards to fill it with books. :)
Being the only female in a house full of males, my family always let me pick my own Christmas and birthday gift and br surprised once they present it to me on the day of. I remember watching a Kindle special on HSN and telling my husband ” that will make an awesome gift ” with a wink. Only to find, not one, but 2 Kindle eReader under the Christmas tree with my name on it. I was so happy I screamed like a little girl…lol
I’ve been in love with it ever since.
Lol! I love that you screamed like a little girl when you got your Kindles. Your family didn’t have to wonder if you liked that gift! :)
I think my favorite bookish gifts are books. :) Or gift cards for books. But I do think I might enjoy a book quote shirt.
Love your version of the song, by the way. :D
Books, books, and more books, right! :)
Merry Christmas! Love this!
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!