Baby Shower Gift Basket for Book Lovers
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.
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
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.
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:
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If you prefer to start a Read Aloud Books Gift basket, you may also enjoy these excellent book lists:
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:
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:
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.
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!
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.
Love all of these awesome titles! I have to add The Boxcar Children to the list, though. I loved it!
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!
There are so many great books. The newest is what if? Teaching children confidence
I would add The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye and the first Boxcar Children's book.
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!!
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.
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!
What a wonderful and thoughtful gift/idea! Those are great selections. I would've added: The Little House series, Anne of Green Gables, Mandy, The Last of Great Wangdoodles, and The Chronicles of Narnia 🙂
My dad read "The Paperbag Princess" to me as a child. I LOVED it, I have copies for my children as well, I recently had a baby girl and we've already read it...
I'm a little older and would add, Black Beauty, Beautiful Joe, and the Black Stallion Series.
I would add Bed Time Bible Stories
Not a chapter book but Each Peach Pear Plum is a must.
I know this is old but I just found you on pinterest. I see that one of my favorite books growing up is not represented and it needs to be represented. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine was so important to my childhood. I probably have read it a few hundred times over the years. It's one of those twist on the Cinderella story. Ella is strong, smart, and kind but she's also very stubborn. She's a great real role model.
I would have added Little House on the Prairie, Black Beauty, and Classic Winnie the Pooh. Also a custom library of rubber stamp with her name to make sure all those wonderful books find their way back to her.
What books and items would you recommend for a boys basket?
That's a great question, Belva! I don't have sons, but the ladies that put this basket together for me do. Sounds like a "Part 2" post is in order! Thanks for the idea.
Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Narnia Series. And maybe a board book so the little one can start reading from this special basket. Also maybe one leveled reader for the same reason.
http://www.nancytillman.com/books/crown/
Nancy Tillman has some amazing children's books.
Anne of Green Gables.. loved those books
I loved Eric Carle "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and Shel Silversteen "Where the sidewalk ends". Were my two favorite books as a little girl. Love the idea!!
I would of added Little Women.. of course!!
I think this is the most amazing baby gift! What a wonderful idea, I can't wait to be invited to a baby shower.
I would have added The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
the Trumpet of The Swan
Little Women
and definatly for the younger years all of the "The Bear Snores On" series by Karma Wilson....They are wonderful, and they are books that I LOVE to read to my children!