Mini-Edition: 2023 Curated Bookish Gifts & Giving

A freshly curated list of literacy-loving organizations and bookish small businesses that spread book joy

Greetings readers & writers,

Look, I know your inbox is full of EXTENDED BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY/OH WAIT CYBER WEEK deals and lingering #GivingTuesday requests and all kinds of demands on your time as we begin the break-neck descent into holiday retail season. So let’s take a breather together.

Hi! You’re here! It’s so good to see you. We’re halfway through the week already and I hope you’ve found a moment or two recently to experience something lovely, like a new song or a bit of warm sunshine. Have you read anything good lately? Ate something delicious perhaps?

I’m rounding out November with a lot of reading for writing groups, splurging on fuzzy sweaters, trimming up pottery gifts, and designing holiday cards. I’ve fallen in love with the gluten-free scones from Twist Bakery. And it took me more than a month to finish The Mimicking of Known Successes*, a romantic space-noir novella by Malka Older (which is more of a reflection on my attention span these days than Older’s writing (which was lovely, by the way)).

So with our frenetic attention spans in mind, I’ve carefully curated lists of organizations dedicated to children’s literacy and affordable bookish gifts just for you. There’s no timeline though, no desperate appeal. Just my firm belief that everyone deserves books and bookish joy in their lives, so I offer forth several ways to make that happen.

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Due to scheduling conflicts, we have to postpone our Book Marketing Now interview with authors K. & L. Onley. But be sure snag their brand new middle-grade novel, Savvy and Mars: The Right Wish to Wish* (black girl magic! friendship! Christmas adventure!) at your favorite bookstore or The Writer’s Loft Literary Extravaganza!

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#GivingTuesday (or any day): Getting books in the hands of kids

Boston Metrowest (aka local to me!)

• StoryStarters equips families and educators with strategies to develop young children’s anti-racist values and ability to disrupt racism in their daily lives, through books, resources, and community support. You can register as a participant (they have a sliding scale) or pay it forward. | Donate here

  {Full disclosure: I partially participated in the StoryStarters program in 2022!)

• Storytime Crafts is a grassroots non-profit with the goal of uniting Boston-area communities to promote inclusive childhood literacy opportunities, especially to underserved readers. It’s not exclusive to books — they’ve also distributed stuffed animals, literacy kits, and baby formula. | Donate here

National

• Kids Right to Read Project (National Coaltion Against Censorship) offers support, education, and direct advocacy to people facing book challenges or bans in schools and libraries and engages local activists in promoting the freedom to read. | Donate here

• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Dolly Parton is a national treasure. She partners with organizations across the country (and internationally!) to get free books in the hands of over a million kids every month. | Help Dolly Help Kids!

International

• The Library Project donates local language reading rooms, classroom libraries, and books to children and schools in rural Asia with the goal of promoting childhood literacy, inclusion, and world peace. | Donate here

• Room to Read helps children in historically low-income communities around the world to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, with an emphasis on girls’ education and leadership skills. | Donate here

Other favorite literary cause round-ups from yours truly:

• Literacy Organizations Making Stories Heard

• Groups Getting Books in the Hands of Readers

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Small business bookish gifts for your friends (or self!) for under $30

• New York Public Library Shop has a robust collection of books and bookish gifts at all price ranges, plus every purchase goes towards supporting the NYPL!

• Obvious State
  is a business I recommend every time; they do evocative, cerebral, black & white designs incorporating literary quotes (plus everything on their website is $30 or less!) I love their notebooks and art prints.

• The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild. I own more of their mugs than I care to admit; there’s a reason their fun and funky literary gifts are often stocked at indie bookstores! They also donate a portion of their proceeds to charity and many of their items (soap, candles, mints, t-shirts) are made in the US.

• Subscription to a speculative fiction literary magazine. These small magazines are still really hurting after Amazon pulled their Kindle Periodicals program. Most digital subscriptions or back issues are less than $30. Bring the fantastical to someone you love!

• Bumble & Birch makes charming (and affordable!) laser-cut wooden bookmarks, jewelry, notebooks, and more for writers, readers, and nature lovers.

• Bookshop.org gift cards* never go out of style. Let your giftee choose their own literary adventure (or one by a Book Marketing Now author!) while supporting indie bookstores at the same time.

I don’t own this one but wish I did! Artwork by Obvious State

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And just for giggles..

ellecordova

A post shared by @ellecordova

Stay warm and cozy, my friends!

~Allison

Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky
*Bookshop.org affiliate links. Proceeds go to a rotating list of book-related charities