Alison Morris

Book-Related Gifts That Say "Be Mine"
January 17, 2008

Is your sometime lover an all-the-time reader in possession of too many tomes? Are you in need of gifts that are non-book but book-related? If so, I'm here to help, with an assortment of suggestions that are less wordy and less weighty than actual books but still related to literature.

All of the items featured below were handcrafted by some talented person and come to you by way of Etsy, my #1 distraction and favorite online source for gifts. (For myself, that is. Almost everyone else in my life receives actual books.) Clicking on a photo below will take you to the vendor selling that item.

If the item you've clicked on is "SOLD OUT" by the time you get to it, fear not! Click on the "store" link beneath the seller's profile (on the right-hand side of the screen) to get to their main store page. You may find another (newer) listing for that same item elsewhere in their shop, and/or info. on how you can contact the seller to ask about an item's availability.

Don't see anything below that would strike your Valentine's fancy? Search the Etsy site for items with the keyword "reading" or "book" to see hundreds of items you're missing.

First, the perfect paper Valentine for your very best buds:

Forget "Nevermore." The raven on the card below is asking, "Will you be my Valentine?" -- a perfect choice for ornithologists and/or fans of Poe:

Make a memorable pass with this flirtatious card that features an old library lending card on the outside and, inside, the words "I'm checking you out!":

Show your green side with a bookmark like the one below (made from a recycled book spine):

Or show your red side with this one:

Your Valentine's walls might be better-dressed with prints like this one:

But then, nothing says love like a narwhal, so perhaps this print is more appropriate?

Or maybe your book lover needs yet ANOTHER totebag:

Show your tot some love with an "I chew books" onesie:

Are you perpetually late for very important dates? Apologize with this striking print of (who else) the White Rabbit:

After you've wrapped up that print, attach one of these Alice in Wonderland gift tags to it:

Give this entertaining t-shirt to your favorite Nancy Drew fan:

Maybe this simpler message is more your style?

When was the last time you saw a true book lovers' belt buckle?

Or a Pinky Pye change purse?

World travelers and/or Graeme Base fans (the open book = Animalia) would appreciate this print:

Your whale of a friend will love these bookplates:

Okay, so maybe I should've saved him for an Easter post, but who could resist this needle-felted Peter Rabbit?

Your hillbilly lover needs this magnet on their fridge:

This might be an inappropriate question, but when was the last time you got a golden Snitch?

Or a golden compass?

Or a sock in the kisser? (Give this one to your favorite comics-reading cutie.):

For the lover who prefers a more "practical" gift, how about these clever/handy bookREmarks ("a bookmark notebook for thoughtful readers"):

Maybe your Cupid can't afford to give checks... A Shel Silverstein checkbook cover ought to do:

I said I wasn't listing actual books, but I couldn't resist including this one, for that person who's last on your Valentine list, the lover who's no longer in your heart, or some person who is downright evil. Mrs. Coulter, this one's for you:

Posted by Alison Morris on January 17, 2008 | Comments (3)