Easy Things To Craft And Sell To Book Lovers
National Book Lovers’ Day is fast approaching on August 9th, and with it comes the opportunity to create some gorgeous things to craft and sell, which book lovers will find hard to resist. In order to create a range of products which will truly catch the imagination of the book worms amongst us, it might help to understand a little of what lies behind the enduring appeal of books and reading.
A reading habit often starts in childhood, although sometimes it is as an adult that an individual discovers the rich depths and wild flights of imagination which can be discovered of books.
Most would agree that it’s important for children to read a range of literature, starting with picture books, through to a few classics in the teen years. However, it’s not just about passing exams that reading is good. It is through the pages of a book that we are both able to enter someone else’s world and see a reflection of ourselves and our own experiences. Through well-penned descriptions and exciting stories, we are able to travel the world, increasing our understanding and appreciation of cultures different from our own. We are also able to travel back through history and gain new insights into our current times through the lens of historical fiction.
Starting with picture books, children begin to learn language and concepts which will reinforce or add to their everyday life experiences. Although children are often expected to “move on” from picture books when their decoding skills allow, these can in fact remain a great source of delight for years. They allow a whole story to be told in one sitting, and the illustrations can be captivating in themselves: a picture gallery in our laps. Well-written and illustrated picture books can become family favourites, bringing back memories of past seasons of life.
Most children move on to easy readers. While this is good for their reading skills, and it is wonderful to see a child curled up in an easy chair, totally absorbed in a book, it’s still important to read to our children at this stage. We will always be able to read at least a level above that which their own decoding skills will allow, thus ensuring that rich language and a broad spread of concepts, genres and stories continue to fill their minds. For children who are dyslexic and struggle with reading, reading aloud is especially important. It is interesting to note that as adults, these children can have just as good, if not better, an understanding and use of language, than their non dyslexic contemporaries simply because they have listened to stories with excellent language and a wide range of concepts for much longer.
For a family who reads aloud, the benefits go far beyond the direct advantages of the content itself. It builds relationships, creates memories and can go towards building a shared culture with characters, concepts and even jokes in common. Reading aloud is often a great springboard for discussion, and many a good conversation can be had over a shared book. Combining a good read aloud with some delicious snacks and drinks will add to the power the story has to build connections and make memories.
If adults have had these foundations of reading in their formative years, they are likely to be avid readers. Some will veer towards nonfiction, while others enjoy immersing themselves in an exciting or character-rich story. While many read on Kindles, book sales still continue, and a screen simply can’t compare with the feel and smell of turning the pages of a freshly bought book. As hobbies go, reading is relatively low-cost, especially if there is a good library nearby. Rummaging through secondhand bookshops and charity shops is always enticing for book lovers, with many a bargain to be found.
Books can also be read while curled up on the sofa, while lying on a rug in the garden, while sitting on the beach … in fact, just about anywhere. This adds to the range of things to craft and sell for book lovers.
Bookish folk really love reading, and anything which will enhance this truly delightful hobby will be appreciated. Bookmarks may seem obvious, but if you have several books on the go, you will need several bookmarks. A handcrafted, totally unique bookmark will make a much-appreciated gift as it will remind the reader of the occasion on which they bought it, or the person who gifted it to them. Bookmarks can be made of card, but can also be felted, embroidered or even crafted out of a soft metal. For a book squirrel, a pair of bookends will make a beautiful and useful gift to help keep the growing home library in order. A robust tote bag with a book motif will always come in handy for library trips, and a small pencil case to go with it is useful when it comes to scribbling down the next book on the “to read” list.
Readers are often writers too, and a beautiful journal is always a cherished gift. Thinking more broadly, you might consider marketing cosy blankets to snuggle up in on a cold day with a good book, or a comfy cushion with a bookish theme for a favourite reading chair. On a similar thread, if you are a potter, what about a special mug for that hot cup of tea when settling down with a good book. Or you could combine with crafting friends and put together a bookish gift box, a mug, a selection of tea bags, a bookmark and a scented candle. Or maybe a journal, a bookmark and a pencil case. There are a number of things to buy and sell as National Book Lovers’ Day approaches, so let your own imagination run wild, have fun and let your creative juices flow!