Pages and Presents
How to be extra when giving books as presents
When I’m feeling a little extra, I don’t just buy someone a book, but I also buy presents that correspond with moments in the book, designed to be opened while reading.
I give the present along with a pile of presents, all carefully wrapped and labeled with a page number. When the reader reaches a particular page, they get to open the corresponding gift. Naturally, each present relates to events in the book.
A book to read: THE WITCH’S KEY by Sarra Cannon
This Christmas, I’ll be gifting my daughter a copy of The Witch’s Key by Sarra Cannon. Even though I’m not really into fantasy or witchy stories, I’m obsessed with Sarra Cannon’s writer productivity and planning YouTube channel.
Check out Sarra’s Heart Breathings channel here, especially if you are interested in indie publishing or love notebooks and planner supplies.
A couple of months ago, my ten-year-old daughter overheard a video of Sarra discussing one of her books. My daughter, very much a fantasy fan, immediately perked up. Next thing I knew, she had stolen away with my laptop and was busily listening to Sarra read one of her stories aloud to the internet. A superfan was born.
For Christmas, I gifted her The Witch’s Key, along with several presents.
When the main character got lost in the dark, my daughter opened a flashlight. When the virtues of peanut butter and chocolate were discussed in the book, my kid received a sleeve of Resse’s candy. Every fifty pages or so she had a new present to open. There was a pencil case, a fancy mirror, a box of crystals, and a case of dried lavender.
Another book to read: THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT by Misa Sugiura
This book is a history teacher’s dream.
This Time Will Be Different features seventeen-year-old CJ who is happy to work in her aunt’s flower shop and avoid her mom’s plans for her future. In the book:
the flower shop is losing money (important historical backstory: Her grandfather was forced to sell the shop for pennies before the family was interned during WWII)
her best friend wants to date Brynn (important historical backstory: Brynn outed the best friend in middle school, unbeknownst to the best friend)
there is a guy…(there is an spoiler-y backstory. Also, the guy is part of a history club so he’s full of delightful stories)
CJ’s mom works for Mr. McAllister (important historical backstory: her school is named after his racist grandfather)
Basically, history confronts CJ at every turn. Personal history, family history, US history, SO MUCH HISTORY. Naturally, I gifted this book to a history teacher.
Page 10: CJ puts on her favorite vintage Cap’t Crunch shirt
Page 42: CJ eats delicious pasta.
Page 62 features the story about how her grandparents were forced to sell their flower shop (along with everything else they owned) for pennies before being interned by the US government during WWII. The book ENEMY CHILD is a great present after reading this page.
Page 125, CJ and her luuuve interest sneak into a country club to steal pinecones for a floral arrangement. The scene involves rain, a ladder, a backpack stuck under a chain fence, and some bumbling security guards. The scene hilarious and sweet and must be commemorated with pinecones.
On Page 136 there is a heated argument over Ruffles and Sun Chips.
Page 172: Postcards of Northern California scenes where the characters are hanging out.
Page 299: One of the guys in the book is President of the history club and always wears delightful shirts the the “Don’t Make Me Repeat Myself - History” shirt pictured below.
A lesson to teach: More Pages and Presents!
As a high school teacher, I can hardly buy all 120 of my students presents as I read them a book. But if I taught upper elementary school1, I’d totally read THE NIGHT DIARY to my students and buy the following presents:
Page 3: After reading about how Nisha gets and decorates her diary, I’d distribute notebooks and decorating supplies to my students so they can each decorate their own notebook, just like Nisha did in the book.
Page 45: After reading about Gandhi, I’d have a student open up a present for the class: A picture book about Gandhi! Maybe this one.
Page 67: After reading about the party at Nisha’s house, I’d bring in some daal and dip for snacking.
Page 91: After reading about the formal divide between Pakistan and India, I’d have a student open up another present for the class: A map of Pakistan and India for the classroom wall.
Page 149: After reading about Nisha’s hardships, I’d consider bring a donation jar into the classroom so students can donate to Save The Children
Page 207: After reading about the beautiful things Nisha’s uncle tells her via his chalkboard, I’d gift each student some package of chalk. Then we’d head outside and write compliments out on the sidewalk.
A place to explore: My family’s traditional stops in the day leading up to opening those Christmas presents
I’m all about free holiday experiences. Here in the Seattle area, that means the Snowflake Lane parade, Gingerbread Houses in downtown hotels, and a quiet little arboretum in Everett.
Snowflake Lane: This free nightly parade takes place between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th Streets every night at 7 pm. It’s a bit of an ordeal trying to find parking, claiming your parade spot, and battling the mall traffic, but the girls love it so we go every year. This year, one of my daughter’s cheer coaches danced in the parade, so it was special to see her.
Downtown Gingerbread Creations: For the past 30 years, the Sheraton Grand Seattle hotel has paired Sheraton chefs with local architecture firms to craft 6ft-tall gingerbread structures of city skylines and fantasy-inspired scenes.
Wintertide Lights at Everett Arboretum and Gardens: While the activities above are all-day extravaganzas, this closer-to-home arboretum is just a quiet little walk through lighted trees. Nothing fancy, just a nice quiet tradition.
Tip for holiday places: Go a couple of days AFTER Christmas. Way less crowded.
Happy reading, gifting, teaching, and exploring this week! I’ll see you all next Sunday.
If you purchase any of the books through the Bookshop link provided, thank you! I get a dollar or two with each purchase. Thanks for supporting me AND your local independent bookstore!
and had lots of money
You are amazing! What an awesome idea, to link gifts with page numbers. Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Ok-next year’s gifting plan for readers!!❤️ Love it!