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    Home » Blog » Reading with Kids

    Baby Shower Gift Basket for Book Lovers

    Published: Apr 22, 2010 · Modified: May 3, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A photo collage shows a baby shower gift basket filled with books and three matching book themed baby onesies.

    This baby shower gift basket is a unique baby shower gift that is especially perfect for book club members to give friends who are expecting.

    A basket of books to start a young girl's home library.

    My completely fantastic book club ladies surprised me with the best baby shower gift basket for Little Pea at our last book club meeting before my daughter arrived.

    I can't think of a gift more appropriate from them than the one that they chose--a starter library for Little Pea.

    Each woman from the club chose the chapter book that inspired her love of reading as a young girl and they filled a basket with copies of their choices.

    I was thrilled to see several titles I remember loving myself mixed in with a few I hadn't heard of before. Isn't that just the best part about being in a book club??

    It just so happens that as soon as I knew I was pregnant, I had already started to set aside my childhood favorites for the girls and this wisely chosen gift was the perfect fit.

    Jump to:
    • Why This is the Best Baby Shower Gift
    • Materials You Need
    • How to Wrap the Books
    • How to Choose the Books
    • Books to Give as Gifts
    • Holiday Themed Gift Basket
    • Baptism Gift Basket
    • Book Quotes to Use for the Gift Card
    • Book Themed Baby Onesies
    • Baby Shower Tips
    • 💬 Comments

    Why This is the Best Baby Shower Gift

    Let me give you a piece of advice as a parent who is further down the road on the childhood journey . . .

    At a baby shower, new moms will receive countless adorable onesies and things that their precious newborn is going to outgrow within just a few months.

    Baby shower gifts that recognize that sweet little baby is going to grow into a bigger child and provides things that parents can enjoy and use later are the true gifts.

    I tucked this gift basket away for safe keeping in my daughter's nursery. In just a blink of an eye it seemed she was suddenly big enough to start pulling the books down off the shelf to read.

    With each title we enjoyed together or she read on her own, I smiled as I remembered the sweet book club friends who knew these days would come.

    Materials You Need

    To make your own baby shower gift basket like mine, all you need is:

    • A practical basket that can double as a diaper holder or storage in a nursery.
    • Everyone supporting the gift should add one or two books to the pile.
    • A decorative picture frame
    • A sweet printable with book quotes to fill the frame
    • Reading-themed onesies with matching tees for any older siblings

    How to Wrap the Books

    This is the best part of a gift basket! No wrapping required.

    My friends used colorful tissue paper to fill the bottom of the basket and hold the books in a nice presentation.

    They tucked in the picture frame and onesies to help fill in the open spaces between books.

    A basket of books to start a young girl's home library. There is a framed printable of book quotes in the basket and two pink onesies sitting on the table in front.

    You could try to find a large gift bag or wrap the entire basket in clear cellophane, but honestly just stick a pretty bow on the front and you can call it good!

    How to Choose the Books

    Each book inside the basket was carefully chosen by one of the members in my book club as the book that sparked her love of reading.

    I loved that they were personally recommended and cherished titles each member remembered from her girlhood days. You can see the list of the books for girls they chose right here.

    You could also ask that every gift basket contributor choose one book on this theme:

    • A classic children's literature gift basket: Examples could include Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, etc.
    • A modern best seller gift basket: Ask guests to stalk the current best sellers in various late elementary/middle grade genres.
    • A read aloud gift basket: Books that are specifically meant to be enjoyed together with the child.
    • A picture book gift basket: Start the family library off right with plenty of picture books.

    Books to Give as Gifts

    Whether the baby shower is for a baby boy or a baby girl, I've pulled together three great book lists to help get you started:

    • A photo collage shows several best classic books for kids.
      18 Classic Books for Kids Every Home Needs
    • A photo collage shows several popular chapter books for girls.
      10 Essential Chapter Books for Girls
    • A photo collage shows several chapter books for boys.
      10 Essential Chapter Books for Boys

    If you prefer to start a Read Aloud Books Gift basket, you may also enjoy these excellent book lists:

    • A row of great read aloud books are on the living room mantle.
      Read Aloud Books for 9-Year-Olds
    • A photo collage of book covers that are good to read aloud to 8 year olds.
      Read Aloud Books Your 8-Year-Old Won't Be Able to Put Down

    Holiday Themed Gift Basket

    If your baby shower or the baby's due date falls closely around a holiday, consider making an extra-special themed holiday book basket:

    • A pink and red basket with a felt heart has a Valentine's board book inside and sits on a stack of pink and red books.
      30 Best Valentine's Day Books for Kids
    • A photo collage of picture books for St. Patrick's Day.
      St. Patrick's Day Books for Kids
    • A photo collage shows the picture book covers of 4 bunny books for kids.
      Kids Easter Books About Bunnies
    • A photo collage of several lovely fall picture books to read aloud to kids.
      Gorgeous Fall Books for Kids
    • A collage of Halloween picture books for reading out loud to kids.
      Delightful Halloween Books for Kids
    • Collage of four book covers: Christmas Stories, The Christmas Pig, The Vanderbeeks of 141st Street, and A Christmas Carol.
      12 Best Christmas Read Aloud Books

    Baptism Gift Basket

    A book gift basket would also make an amazing baptism gift for a baby. Any of the themes above would be special, but these would be especially appropriate:

    • A collage shows the covers of several First Communion books for kids.
      Fantastic Books for First Communion
    • Collage of four book covers: Song of the Stars, Three Wise Kings, The Legend of the Poinsettia, and The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree.
      22 Powerful Christmas Books for Advent
    • A collage shows several picture book covers for Easter books for kids.
      Best Christian Easter Books for Kids

    Book Quotes to Use for the Gift Card

    My book club friends printed these quotes on a sweet 8 x 10 decorative page and framed it for me to keep in the nursery.

    Any of the quotes would also make a lovely addition to your card to help explain the gift:

    There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world.
    Love of books is the best of all.
    -Jacqueline Kennedy

    To learn to read is to light a fire;
    every syllable that is spilled out is a spark.
    - Victor Hugo

    There is more treasure in books than
    in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island.
    -Walt Disney

    Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.
    -Emilie Buchwald

    The greatest gift is a passion for reading.
    -Elizabeth Hardwick

    Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading,
    to make reading one of her deep and continuing needs, is good for her.
    - Maya Angelou

    The more you read, the more things you will know.
    The more you learn, the more places you'll go.
    - Dr. Seuss

    Book Themed Baby Onesies

    Since Little Pea was my second baby, my book club friends also included a matching onesie for the baby along with a t-shirt for my older daughter.

    It was such a thoughtful way to include both kids.

    4 baby onesies with book themes on the design.

    Each of these designs comes in over a dozen different onesie colors in all shades of pink, blue, green, grey, and black as well as various sizes from newborn to 24 months.

    I recommend choosing a size the baby can grow into so they can enjoy it as long as possible!

    • Future Bookworm Onesie
    • Silently Correcting Your Grammar Onesie
    • Elephant and Piggie Onesie
    • Dragons Love Books Onesie

    Baby Shower Tips

    If you're hosting a baby shower, this is a great gift idea to wrap the entire theme of the party around. But, to keep the guests happy you might also want to plan for a few of these super fun baby shower games!

    A photo collage shows a baby shower gift basket filled with books and three matching book themed baby onesies.

    More Reading with Kids

    • A stack of the Illustrated Harry Potter Books are on a shelf with a golden snitch sitting on top.
      Harry Potter Fan Club for Families
    • A photo collage shows 4 different covers of cookbooks for kids
      The Best Cookbooks for Kids 2024
    • A girl lays on a bed reading a book.
      You Want Smart Kids but Are You Doing This?
    • A stack of Halloween books with a pumpkin on top.
      8 Halloween Movies Based on Books {Not Too Scary}

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Elizabeth

      March 07, 2014 at 5:14 pm

      It's for a bit older, but my favorites were Island of the Blue Dolphins, Where the Red Fern Grows, Harriet the Spy, and the Westing Game.

      Reply
    2. Carolyn

      November 16, 2013 at 10:49 pm

      Love all of these awesome titles! I have to add The Boxcar Children to the list, though. I loved it!

      Reply
    3. Kristina

      November 08, 2013 at 9:25 am

      I found this post on Pinterest and I love this idea! My brother taught me how to read when I was 2 years old, and I quickly devoured picture books. When I got out of kindergarten, my mom started having me read the Harry potter books, and I fell in love with them! I had finished reading the entire series by third grade (I had to wait for some to come out). I think every library should have the Harry potter series for when each child is ready to start reading chapter books.

      I also loved the Little House on a Prairie books, Narnia, and, when I was
      Younger, the Bear Snores On books by karma Wilson. (I especially loved those books when my grandma read them to me 🙂 )

      Thanks for your inspiring post!

      Reply
    4. alicia b

      July 29, 2013 at 12:42 pm

      There are so many great books. The newest is what if? Teaching children confidence

      Reply
    5. Krista

      July 15, 2013 at 5:39 pm

      I would add The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye and the first Boxcar Children's book.

      Reply
    6. Christi

      April 23, 2013 at 6:42 pm

      I also know this is old...but someone above asked about books for boys. Some of the favorites in our family were Ferdinand the Bull and Love you Forever by Robert Munsch. I loved them as a little girl, but they are both boy centered. I love the idea of a starter library. So cute!!

      Reply
    7. Milissa

      March 23, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      I know this is old...but I LOVE books so much I can't help but comment. I always give a book with a new baby gift...and the kiddos in my life get books with other gifts for all gift giving occasions.

      I would add the Shel Silverstein books...Where the Sidewalk Ends and/or A Light in the Attic. Those poems are silly and fun and there is something in there for kids of all ages. I also like The Little Engine that Could and for boys (chapter book) Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing.

      Reply
    8. Madigan

      March 15, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      The Gumm Street Girls is a very interesting book! The book is pretty big but I read it in a few days because I simply couldn't put it down!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Trackbacks

    1. Read Aloud: Matilda by Roald Dahl - Peanut Blossom says:
      March 26, 2015 at 6:33 am

      […] club ladies gave me an amazing baby gift: a children’s book library starter. You can see the full post about it here but it is definitely one of my favorite baby gifts […]

      Reply
    2. starter library as a baby shower gift @ wish-upon-a-weddingwish-upon-a-wedding says:
      September 11, 2013 at 6:14 am

      […] Source: http://www.peanutblossom.com […]

      Reply

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