Mother’s Day 2021 Bookish Gift Guide

Are you, like me, always stumped for a gift for your mom? Especially for Mother’s Day 2021? How do we give proper thanks to the woman who gave us life?

This year, like last, makes it hard for many of us to spend Mother’s Day with our moms. But that doesn’t mean we should forget the day altogether. We have to find a way to give her something she would like, right?

Here are a few ideas I found and may get for my mother this year, and maybe a few myself. I hope you can find something here for your special mom.

Books

Duh! What else would you expect from me, right? But hear me out! Does your mom have a favorite author or series? See if they have a new book that came out late last year or earlier this year. I know my mom loves Nora Roberts and her alter-ego, J.D. Robb. I could always use Goodreads or Amazon to see if there’s a new book. I could also check out someplace like Thriftbooks or Bookdepository to see if there are any copies of books my mom may be missing from her collection.

Another book option is a biography or memoir of her favorite author. Again, using Nora Roberts as an example, did you know a book called The Official Nora Roberts Companion exists? It was published in 2003, but it contains an introduction by Nora Roberts herself. There is also a book called Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles, about a woman who loves Nora Roberts’s books so much her family thinks she has unrealistic expectations about love.

Book Subscription Box

What is a Book Subscription Box? It’s a box you can order for various lengths; some offer single gift boxes, others up to a year-long subscription in which you pay monthly or quarterly. The contents of the boxes are generally a surprise, though some offer hints to the upcoming book. Each box typically contains one book and 3-4 goodies. Each box is different in pricing and contents. Also, verify that it ships to your location, as not all do.

Here’s a list of some subscription boxes I’ve heard great things about

• Hello Lovely Box: this box caters to romance readers and has other various items available
• Belle Book Box: this one has two sizes of boxes (Belle, which has 2-3 books, or Beast, which has 5-7 books)
• Unplugged Book Box: this box has both a YA option and an Adult option; all books are general fiction
• OwlCrate: this box is focused more on YA books, but it also has middle-grade books
• Once Up a Book Club: you get a recently released book, and 3-5 items related to the book are wrapped and marked as to what page they should be opened on.

Tote Bag

What reader wouldn’t like a tote bag to carry their books in? If it has bookish stuff on it, even better. It could be a quote from a favorite author or book. Or it could just have some books printed on it. Many of the subscription boxes posted above also have individual items listed for sale, so you could check those out.

Some great places to find customized tote bags are:

• Etsy: you can find a seller near you and maybe even get the bag more customized than they have listed
• Zazzle: support an independent artist or create your own design
• Redbubble: support an independent artist

Cozy Stuff

What kind of cozy stuff? Does your mom have a special place to read? A spot where she curls up with her book and gets lost in a different world? What could make that space even cozier? Pillows? Blanket? Reading socks? A good light? You can find many cozy things on the sites for the subscription boxes and totes listed above. Here are a few other ideas for you from Amazon.

Treats to Enjoy While Reading

I’m not sure about your mom, but I know I enjoy having a drink handy and maybe a snack while reading. Especially if it’s one of those books that you just can’t put down. Does your mom drink tea or coffee? Does she like sweet or salty snacks?

• Simply Bookish Co. has a wonderful collection of loose-leaf teas inspired by YA and classic literature characters.
• In beccaslittleboutique, an Etsy shop, you will find an assortment of loose-leaf teas and coffee with a literary and bookish theme.
• PRETZELPHORIA is a Pennsylvania-based pretzel company that has sweet and salty snacks

Gift Cards

Still not sure what to get, Mom? Unsure of her tastes? Do you know where she likes to get her books? If so, you can always give her a gift card. Many even offer a digital version, so if you are a procrastinator (like me) or in a different part of the country (or world, like me), you can still send her a gift. See, that’s a good thing, right?

• The Book Outlet offers digital gift cards; just be sure you are ordering from the proper site as they have a Canadian site and a US site. Their gift cards are only good for the site they are purchased from.
• Thriftbooks offers a digital gift card starting at $25.
• Bookshop.org offers digital gift cards starting at $10, and every purchase from their site sends money to a local bookshop. This site only works if you are in the US.
• Amazon is another place to get gift cards. Again, you have to purchase the gift card from the site the user will use. If they are in Canada, use (dot) ca. If they are in the US, use (dom) com.

Time to Read

When in doubt, offer to do chores around the house so Mom has the time to read. One thing most book lovers want is more time to read. Maybe you could make a homemade coupon book, allowing Mom some time to read. Check these out for some ideas:

• rewardcharts4kids
• ThoughtCo

Mother’s Day is coming soon. Make sure to take the time to let your mom (or mother figure) know how much you care! Happy Mother’s Day 2021!