13 Creative Ways to Ensure You’ll Get Books for Christmas

It used to be easy to get exactly what you wanted for Christmas. You wrote a letter to the North Pole, Santa read the letter, determined what was economically and practically feasible (“no, you can’t have a space pony”), then left it under the tree for you while you were sleeping. These days, it’s a little harder to make it known what you’d really prefer for presents. You don’t want to seem rude or ungrateful, but you’ve received enough pairs of Christmas socks to last you a lifetime. All you’ve ever really wanted for Christmas was a pile of books. Beautiful, thick, unread novels to enjoy by the fire, keeping you company throughout a cozy winter hibernation.
Short of writing a letter to Santa, how does one drop hints that a book is a far superior gift to anything else money can buy? If your friends and family need a little guidance as they shop for you this holiday, here are 13 creative ways to ensure you’ll get books for Christmas.
1. Sing Mariah Carey’s chart-topping Christmas hit from the 1990s’, “All I Want for Christmas is Books,” at the top of your lungs. All I want for Christmas, is boooooooks, baby!
2. Buy a book for a Yankee Christmas Swap. When it’s your turn, pick your own present or steal it from someone who already chose it.
3. Leave a note for Santa on your stocking that says, “Books, please!”
4. Buy a brand new bookshelf and put it right by the Christmas tree. They’ll get the hint.
5. Make book-shaped holiday cookies. Give them to all your family and friends.
6. Make book-shaped Christmas ornaments. Give them to all your family and friends.
7. Tell your friends that your favorite gift last year was the book they got you. When they say they didn’t get you a book, sigh dramatically and say, “No, I suppose you didn’t.”
8. Every time you see someone reading, read wistfully over their shoulder. Make sure your friends see the longing in your eyes.
9. Make literary references in all your holiday cards. “Seasons Greetings, Now is the winter of our discontent!” or “Winter is coming…Happy Holidays!”
10. Hang a book in your doorway instead of mistletoe. Any two people caught under the doorway together have to give you books.
11. Build a snowman reading a book in your front yard. Build giant snow books in your backyard.
12. Wrap all your presents for other people in the book review section of the newspaper. Highlight or circle relevant titles.
13. Use a photo of yourself reading in your annual holiday card.
Try these out on your friends and see if you don’t have a well-stocked bookshelf by the end of the year!
What books do you hope to get this Christmas?