When it comes to finding the perfect gift, book lovers are seemingly easy to shop for: buy them a book and they are happy. However, it’s often a bit more complicated than that – what do they enjoy reading? How do they usually read? What books do they already own? This Christmas gift guide for book lovers will help you find the perfect present – whether it’s books or other bookish presents.
The holidays are fast approaching, but with local bookstores around and the speed of online delivery, there is still time to squeeze in some Christmas shopping. We are here to help you find just the right present for any book lover: from young to old, from self-proclaimed foodies to hopeless romantics. Happy shopping!
Bookish presents for the self-proclaimed foodie
Taste by Stanley Tucci
When it comes to book of the year, Stanley Tucci’s Taste could be a strong contender – read and loved by millions already, it has quickly amassed a cult following. Taste is an intimate and charming memoir of life in and out of the kitchen, and trust us when we say that it would be a welcome addition to any food-lover’s book collection.
Support the development of children’s literacy by purchasing through our affiliate partner Booktopia.
Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love
Yotam Ottolenghi is well-known in the food world not just for his recipes, but also his writing. His latest release, Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love, provides relaxed, flexible home cooking from Ottolenghi and his super team. It’s filled with super handy ideas for what to cook from what we already have, and for that reason alone it’s the perfect present not just for the foodies, but also for the time-poors!
Book stand
What’s one thing every cookbook user wishes they had? A book stand! Covered in flour head to toe, running back and forth between stovetop and bench, all foodies want is to simplify things: and a book stand does just that.
We love this beautiful antique brass one from Provincial Home Living.
Bookish presents for the hopeless romantic
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Don’t let the cover fool you: this is, according to author Christina Lauren, “contemporary romance's unicorn” – a book as romantic as it is brainy, as down-to-earth as it is escapist. Let the blurb speak for itself: “When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.” What more do you need?!
Get it in time for Christmas from Booktopia.
Book locket
Whether they’re water signs, enneagram 4s, or true INFP personalities (and even if they’re not) there is nothing that hopeless romantics love more than a thoughtful gift. A book locket complete with a personalised quote – perhaps a favourite of theirs from a book they love – will guarantee to have them smiling ear to ear.
Buy these beautiful book lockets on Etsy.
Candle
Who doesn’t love to cosy up with a good book, light a delightful candle, and sink off into another world on the couch? Candles are sold in abundance everywhere, but supporting a beautiful eco conscious small business as part of a Christmas present gives back to your community as well.
Check out these incredible soy candles hand-poured into reusable tumblers by LX Collection.
Bookish presents for the child in your life
Book scratch-off poster
How best to motivate a young person to read the classics, to take on more difficult novels, to get acquainted with the greats? Make it fun, of course! A scratch-off poster gives them the motivation to see all book covers in their glory – and who knows, they might grow to love some of your all-time favourites in the process.
Check out this 100 Essential Novels poster, or this 100 Kids Books Bucket List poster.
Listified! Britannica’s 300 Lists That Will Blow Your Mind
This encyclopaedia of facts is first-rate entertainment and a source of knowledge regardless of age. The 300 lists contained in Listified! are wide-ranging, and organised in eight themed chapters: space, nature, dinosaur times, animals, the body, being human, inventions and game changers – something interesting for everyone!
Personal library kit
The love of sharing books can be passed on even more easily with a personal library kit. By reviving old-fashioned library circulation techniques for fun, kids get to enjoy sharing their possessions without the fear of losing them.
Bookish presents for the hopeful adventurer
E-reader
The hopeful adventurer is probably just waiting for the opportune moment to set off, ready to take the world in their stride – which is hard to do when you have heavy tomes weighing them down. The best present you can get for them is a lightweight e-reader. Luckily, you can get these from almost any JB Hi-Fi. We recommend the Kobo over the Kindle, as they support independent bookstores, with over 5 million titles to choose from.
This one is on sale at JB Hi-Fi.
Beyond Possible by Nimsdai Purja
That e-reader will need something to start its new owner off – and what’s better than an incredible, dazzling account of “Project Possible,” a Nepalese man and his team of climbers setting out to climb all 14 of the world's highest peaks in under 7 months.
Tote bag
Whether it’s an e-reader or a physical book you have to carry around, you will want a fitting vessel to hold it – a tote bag, known in bookish circles as the only acceptable form of carrier. They will hold everything and more, perfect for a day of adventures.
Support the voice of First Nations people by getting this beautiful Life Apparel tote bag.
