When I was 8 years old my favorite present from Santa that year was a Webster’s Dictionary. Yeah. I know. I was that kind of kid, but let me run with this thought, okay?
So.
Dictionaries aside, BOOKS have always– and will always–be my favorite holiday present.
The year I got six brand new Trixie Beldon books I didn’t come out of my room for weeks on end.
The year Santa left the first four Nancy Drew Mysteries, I pretended to be sick when vacation was over so I didn’t have to go back to school. I wanted to stay home and just keep reading. My mother didn’t agree.
The year I graduated from college I gifted myself a set of Classics that included The Jane Austen novels, Gone With The Wind, and The Great Gatsby.
Needless to say, books are my go-to gift to get and give. When my daughter was small her “toy” pile was comprised of dolls and books. The older she got, the more books she received each year.
Giving a book as a gift – whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, a cookbook or a biography, means the person receiving the gift will have innumerable hours of reading pleasure. Flowers fade after a few days. Jewelry is nice, but aside from wedding rings, do you want to wear the same piece daily? Clothing is essential but how many of us really get pleasure out of an outfit after it is worn a few times?
Books can be read, re-read, re-appreciated, and re-evaluated. And they never get old. Paper may fade, but that’s the reason we have e-readers. Books impart wisdom and knowledge. Books can make you laugh, cry, get you angry, or make you happy. And books know no age limit to be gifted. You can give a baby a book that their parents will read to him/her, or you can give a senior citizen a book.
Books as gifts: it’s a good thing for the Holidays.
And (Shameless plug coming) if you’re looking for some books to give as gifts and your gift-ee is a romance reader, give them one of mine ( or more!!!) You can find them all here: My Books
Peggy Jaeger, Author 