Here is the alternative bookworm gift-giving guide for this season. Unique vintage clothes, innovative accessories, and the newest home decor.
Are you looking for the fresh-new bookish gifts but are disappointed with seeing the same old products on search pages of Amazon, Etsy, or Redbubble?
Online stores tend to show you the items that have been popular in the past, with many ratings and reviews. The biggest problem with these products is that they are not new – and definitely not unique.
The booklover you want to gift deserves more than just a popular, mainstream product found on a first page of Etsy or Amazon. You don’t want to gift just one more “just one more chapter” t-shirt,” do you?
We have spent well over 20 hours to find less obvious, less popular, but equally interesting gifts for booknerds. You will be amazed to discover what we have found on the 10th or 20th search results page on Amazon!
To avoid seeing featured and recommended items on Amazon, Etsy, or Redbubble, we have been using complex search terms combined with less obvious sort options. All this to find the gifts that you would not find yourself on a first page of search results for “literary gift” or “bookish gift.”
On the list, you will find exceptional non-book gifts for modern bookworms: vintage t-shirts, the newest multi-functional reading lights, home decor items, tote bags, and the latest discovery – bookshelf decorations, big and small.
Also, some items were designed by our own team. They are easy to spot: they are inspired by vintage typography or book title page design from the 18th century.
There is one exception in this list: a product that is well-known and desired by thousands of modern booklovers already: the 5th-generation Kindle Paperwhite.
22 non-book gifts for modern bookworms – holiday guide
1. Desk reading lamp with USB charging port and pen holder
Our pick: Best multi-purpose reading lamp
If you are looking for a reading light for your home library, take a look at the newest innovation – the desk lamp that combines three helpful features.
First, it’s a fully fledged LED lamp, with three colors (warm, day, and natural light), and each of them comes with three brightness levels.
Secondly, the lamp offers a convenient USB charging module. Thanks to that, you can recharge your smartphone without the need to look for a charger.
Finally, this modern, sleek, flexible design offers a pen holder large enough to store also other desk accessories.
Our score: 7.5/10
2. “Book Lovers Day Every Day” fitted scoop t-shirt
You can celebrate the love for books 365 days a year, not only during World Book Day, Read a Book Day, Book Lovers Day, Buy a Book Day, or Read in a Bathtub Day.
This vintage-style design features the text: “Celebrate Book Lovers Day every day – enjoy 24/7.” It’s available on a fitted scoop t-shirt (scoop neck, cap sleeves, and fitted cut), and over 80 clothes, home decor items, and personal accessories.
Other artworks in the same series include Library Lovers Day and Coffee Lovers Day, to name a few.
3. Book necklace
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best.
This bookish silver necklace shows a miniature 3-dimensional book entitled “Book.” What else a book lover would need?
The necklace comes with an 18-inch sterling silver cable chain, and will arrive in a gift box.
4. Lap desk with sliding lid
Our pick: Most functional gift for bookworms
We have explored the category of lap desks to find the one that would fit suit avid booklovers the most.
And here it is! From Rossie Home comes a lap desk that puts together numerous helpful features. The base is soft and tapered for the convenient use on your laps. There is a handle so that you can easily carry the desk with you.
And finally, there is a sliding lid that reveals several storage compartments, smaller and bigger: for a laptop, books or tablets, small accessories, or pens.
The solid design of this alternative solution to a bed table is made to support tasks of all kinds, whether you use it for homework, creative activities, or watching shows on your tablet.
– Producer’s description
Our score: 8.2/10
5. “Miniature Astronauts” bookshelf decoration
These cool miniature astronauts are meant to help start your children a cosmic adventure with books.
You can get either a single spaceman or a team of three in different positions. Each one is painted in white and gold, being a great decoration of a kid’s bookshelf or desk.
6. “Read More, Aim Higher” water bottle
An uncommon typographic artwork that reads from bottom to top. Because when you read books, you will be able to aim higher and achieve more.
This stainless-steel bottle holds 20 oz (590 ml) and comes with a leakproof cap. The design is available on over 70 items, including clothes, home decor, mugs, and stationery.
7. “The Movie vs. the Book” poster
From Echo Literary Arts comes an art print that would be a great wall decor in your kids’ room
Does the movie ever cover the depth and excitement of the book? This inspiring, nautical poster shows the answer!
The artwork is available in four sizes, from 8 × 10 to 24 × 36 inches. You can have it printed on plain paper or laminated. You can also order it with a frame.
8. Long-battery, hands-free reading light
Our pick: Best hands-free reading light
neck reading lights are usually large and ugly, but this new one combines flexible design with minimalist, Apple-like design.
The gooseneck arm is lightweight and flexible, making it easy to fold the light to a compact size. The arm is covered with a soft silicone, for added comfort.
The light comes with three color temperatures (warm, natural, and cool) and you can also adjust the brightness freely to the level that suits you the most.
The rechargeable battery will last up to 6-8 hours of continuous use, and the USB-C port will let you recharge it in less than 1.5 hours.
Our score: 7.5/10
9. Reclining gaming and reading chair
From Ergomaster comes a 360-degree swivel chair that’s perfect for long reading sessions.
This comfortable, futuristic chair features adjustable backrest that can be set at four different positions. A sturdy frame can stand up to 300 lbs (135 kg), while linen fabric and thick, tufted cushioning help ensure lasting comfort.
The chair is available in six colors. Besides Black, you can choose Brown, Blue, or Pink.
10. “Sitting Robot” steampunk bookshelf lamp
Are you investigating options for decorating your bookshelf and give it an even more magical feel?
Take a look at a vintage decorative lamp created from industrial water pipes to resemble a sad robot, with its head being a round lamp (fit for E26 bulb).
A perfect place for such a creative piece of home decor is an edge of a bookshelf in a living room.
The robot is 13 in (33 cm) high, and heavy enough to be used as a bookend. Other postures are also available.
11. “Fictionist” baseball cap
Fictionist – a writer of fiction; especially novelist. The definition and phonetic notation come from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The definition is accompanied by a phonetic notation and comes in a vintage style design.
You can get the design on a baseball cap – structured, medium-to-high-profile crown with curved bill and firm inner lining. Dad hat and over 70 other products are also offered with the same artwork.
The series of literary terms also includes “polymath,” “crackerjack,” “litterateur,” “omnilegent,” or “inenarrable.”
12. LED light portal bookends
From K132 Store comes a pair of cool 3D-printed bookends that are equipped with LED lamps and are shaped to resemble a portal crossing.
The portal entry bookend shines in blue, the other one is warm orange (shown on the photo). Each one has an individual power switch, and is powered by two CR2032 batteries (four in total). The batteries are included.
This is an absolutely innovative gift for a booklover. No one else in the entire world on this side of the portal offers LED portal bookends.
13. Flexible book light and bookmark in one
You’ve probably seen lots of book light already, but this new one has an exceptional feature – it’s extremely thin. Therefore, you will be able to use it as a bookmark as well.
The light is only 9 mm thick, including the clip that you use to attach the light to the cover of a book or an e-reader.
The silicone brackets are 360-degree rotatable. There are four levels of brightness, and the light works up to 4 hours on a single charge with the highest brightness. You can recharge it via USB, and it will take less than 30 minutes.
14. “Life Is Lighter with a Heavy Bookshelf” tote bag
The artwork features an original book quote by Piotr Kowalczyk: “Life is lighter with a heavy bookshelf.” The design is inspired by 17th and 18th century book title pages, using a classic Baskerville serif typeface.
This lightweight tote bag measures 15.25 × 15.75 inches (38.5 × 40 cm). The artwork is printed on one side. The cotton straps are 21-inch (53 cm) long.
The design is a part of a Vintage Book Quotes series. All artworks are available on over 80 products in a four-color scheme: beige, sky blue, stone gray, and chocolate brown.
15. “Book Nook” bookshelf insert
Here is another creative idea to decorate a bookshelf. This product has just been revealed on Amazon, so it doesn’t even have reviews. However, it’s so cool we couldn’t resist adding it to the overview.
It’s a book insert – it has the size of a book so that you can place it between the books on the bookshelf in a kids’ or living room. And it’s a stunning little diorama showing a little alley with a little bookshelf – a little reading nook among other books!
The realistic setting of the scene restores perfectly the miniature world in the book nook, allowing you to feel the charm and wonder of the miniature world.
And, yes, it’s equipped with a little LED light to instantly create a magic of reading.
16. “Magical Objects of the Wizarding World” poster
A brilliant gift idea for a Harry Potter fan in your life. The poster was designed by Pop Chart Lab in cooperation with Pottermore, and is a magical tour of arcane Harry Potter artifacts: from the practical self-stirring cauldron to the legendary Sword of Gryffindor.
This official Pottermore merchandise is finally available on Amazon. The poster is printed on a high-quality 100 lb archival stock and comes rolled up in a durable test tube. The size is 16 × 20 inches.
17. “1984” zipper wallet
Celebrate one of the most prized novels of the 20th century, 1984 by George Orwell, with this handy faux leather zip around purse.
The wallet features an iconic 1984 book cover design. On the back, you will find a famous quote: “Big brother is watching you” – a clever warning to everyone who would want to take over the wallet from you.
The wallet is handmade from vegan faux leather, and measures approximately 5.5 × 3.75 in (14 x 9.5 cm). Other wallets with classic book covers are also available in the Well-Read Company store on Etsy.
18. Kindle Paperwhite 5 with warm light
Our pick: Best gift for ebook lovers
This year, there is no better gift for an ebook lover than the latest Kindle Paperwhite e-reader.
Amazon’s brand-new Kindle sports a bigger 6.8-inch e-paper display, which is about 13% larger than in the previous-generation model.
Most importantly, the new Paperwhite features adjustable warm light. In the evening, you can switch from blue light to a warmer tone to reduce eye strain and minimize the negative effect on sleep.
Other benefits include USB-C port for faster charging and data transfer, battery life prolonged to 10 weeks, and slim, waterproof design.
Our score: 7.7/10
19. “I Love My Kindle” throw pillow
Modern booklovers love both ebooks and print books. There is no need to choose. The vintage-style text says: “I love my Kindle just as much as I love my print books.”
The pillow is available in four sizes, from 16 × 16 in to 26 × 26 in. You can order a cover, and optionally with an insert.
Variants for the lovers of Kobo and Nook e-readers are also offered.
20. Foldable book and textbook holder
Here is a metal book holder that’s both lightweight and functional. It will work with a paper book, textbook, or cookbook. You can also use it as a tablet stand.
The stand offers six reading positions that you can fix by using the notches in the middle part. You can fold the holder completely so that you can take it to the library or camping.
It’s made of a premium stainless iron, and is painted in one of over twenty bright colors, including Lime Green, Book Brown, Morandi Pink, and Army Green.
21. “On My Way to the Bookshop” classic t-shirt
A vintage design from Geek Updated store shows two things that some booknerds love the most: bikes and visiting bookshops. “Every day I go to the bookshop is a happy day!”
The design is available on over 70 merch items, including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and tote bags.
There is also a variant with a text “On my way to the library.” Available in either light or dark color variants.
22. Tablet stand and book holder in one
Our pick: Best gift for booklovers this year
From Ugreen comes the newest accessory that is a perfect gift for modern-day booklovers.
It’s a specially designed pillow that’s incredibly lightweight and functional. Officially, it’s a tablet pillow stand, but it actually combines four benefits:
- Tablet and e-reader stand – with three grooves, you can place your device at different angles, and enjoy your favorite movies and books hands-free.
- Book holder – you can use your print book as well – the grooves are deep enough to hold and keep in place an opened paper book.
- Portable pillow – this unique design is foldable. Thanks to that, you can use it as a travel pillow.
- Accessory organizer – the pillow features handy pockets at the back side. They are perfect for cables, earphones, or chargers.
The pillow is a perfect stand for uneven surfaces, such as bed, sofa, or tent. It’s made of premium materials. It’s soft and cozy, but on the other side, difficult to deform.
Our score: 8.0/10
Interested in lists and tips for modern bookworms? Keep exploring:
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