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Baby Showers
mcdev
member
Book Instead of Card Wording?
mcdev
member
in Baby Showers
I'm sure this has been posted a million times, but the SEARCH function isn't working. ?Do any of you have a cute way to word in the invitation to bring a children's book in lieu of a card? ?TIA!
Claire Avery born at 32 weeks on 10/25/06
Keira Leigh born at 27 weeks on 4/29/08
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Book Instead of Card Wording?
Please instead of a card give me yet 1 more gift because I am greedy and would like everything!
Just sayin'
After 7 years trying to concieve, 3 failed IUIs and 2 failed IVFs, my third IVF was a success!
My Christmas baby turned into a turkey bird! Dillon Richard was born at 34 weeks, 5 days on November 28, 2009 after 10 weeks on bedrest for preeclampsia.
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v705/arriinthere/PJ/?action=view
It is also a board to share opinions, I shared with you mine. Sorry we don't agree on the tackiness level of this. I have seen it done before, but like money trees, having guests address their own thank you envelopes, etc, it does not mean it is any less tacky.
Now throw on those big girl panties and take it like a woman...
After 7 years trying to concieve, 3 failed IUIs and 2 failed IVFs, my third IVF was a success!
My Christmas baby turned into a turkey bird! Dillon Richard was born at 34 weeks, 5 days on November 28, 2009 after 10 weeks on bedrest for preeclampsia.
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v705/arriinthere/PJ/?action=view
I think it's a great idea. Most greeting cards are 3.99 = price of a paperback. I don't have the exact wording, but i've seen it said like "In lieu of a greeting card, please consider donating a book to help start Baby Smith's library." and they enclosed a book plate with the shower invite. I've never found it to be tacky and shows that the family values reading.
I think it's a really cute idea and would like my shower hostess to use it as well- but don't feel comfortable suggesting it to them (I'll just save it for when I host a shower).
There's a little poem I've seen on cardstock inside of an invite that goes like this:
I want to be a bright child
As smart as I can be.
That is why I'm hoping
My mom will read to me.
If you plan to bring a card
Please take another look.
I would like to learn my ABC's
From your favorite storybook
Please sign your name
As your personal touch.
Baby (last name) thanks you
Beary, beary much.
Anytime I get a note like that in the invite, I purposely buy a card.
I'm usually one to stick with proper etiquette but the book instead of a card thing I don't see a problem with. It is not like the guest is forking out any extra money since I don't know of many cards that are less than $1 (at the $ store) and most are much more than that. You can find a book at the $ store for that amount and sometimes 2 for a dollar.
I do think it is difficult to "write" a sentiment in the book since the card would be to the mother-to-be not the baby and if you wrote that in a book it would sound weird. KWIM?
I can't take credit for any of this... but I've saved a lot of info along that way:
Although cards are nice with their sentiment
and prayer,
They're read once or twice then tucked away
with care.
A book is a treasure, words and pictures unite
Read over and over to teach and delight.
So instead of a card for Baby and
mother,
Please give a child's book with your thoughts in the cover.
Your book will be cherished; God will watch from above,
When it's read they will remember your
kindness and love.
We can't wait to see you at the shower
When (mom-to-be's name) will be the woman of the hour
We have one request we hope isn't too hard
Please sign your name to a book instead of a card
Then mom and dad will be ready when the baby arrives
To read to their darling for the rest of their lives
As (Mother-to-be's name) due date is coming near,
We're inviting friends and family dear.
To choose a favorite story or fairy tale
That you would like Baby ________ to hear.
Instead of a card, please let (mother-to-be's name)look,
At your special choice of a book,
and then to Baby _________ she will read
With all the love a newborn will need.
So with a personal touch, please choose a book
And in it then your name do put.
It need not cost more than a card
Just pick a favorite, it shouldn't be hard.
I want to be a bright child
As smart as I can be.
That is why I'm hoping
My mom will read to me.
If you plan to bring a card
Please take another look,
I would like to learn my ABC's
From your favorite storybook.
Please sign your name
As your personal touch.
Baby ________ thanks you
Beary, beary much.
Just one last request, and we hope it's not hard
Please bring baby a book in place of a card
By signing your book, we will remember and share
Your special gift, even when you're not there!
One small request that won't be too hard
Please bring a book instead of a card
Whether Cat in the Hat or Winnie the Pooh
You can sign the inside cover with a note from you
Baby will become very smart, if my advice you do heed
If we begin early, he'll soon love to read
We used this poem for my shower. We printed this out on the back of a label so that everyone could write a little message for the baby and then stick that on the book. People seemed to like this more than getting a card that lets face it, would be thrown out eventually. Not that I was looking, but we did see on the back of many of the books that they cost at most $2.00. Most baby related cards are much more than that.
In the last several years I've been invited to a number of showers that ask for books instead of cards and I LOVE the idea. It doesn't cost any extra - or it least it doesn't have to! I feel like it's a much better and more meaningful use of my money, in fact. I always feel like I'm wasting money on a card... And I love visiting the houses and reading to the child when they're a bit bigger and showing them the book that I gave them with my note inside.
I'm disappointed when this ISN'T suggested because then I feel like I have to buy a card.
The wording that was used was:
I want to be a bright child,
As smart as I can be.
That is why I am hoping
My Mom & Dad will read to me.
If you plan to bring a card
Please take another look
I would like to learn my ABCs
From your favorite storybook.
I think its a great idea and who says it has to be a brand new book? You can find new and used ones in good condition at yard sales and flea markets all the time. I thought of it as a wishing well but for a baby shower and I don't mind spending a little more for something sweet and special. I still gave a card too anyway. BTW, I wish there was some other rhyme or poem to ask for a book, without of "insted of a card".
Just saying your rude.
iv baby i get it you have plenty of money to buy books or just buy the grade later
Ironic--a woman who supports giving books and touts their benefits doesn't seem to have a grasp on the English language.
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.
I love the excuse to come up with a good poem:
Roses are red, violets are blue
I'm just not done asking from you
When you're shopping at the store, just pass by the cards
keep spending your money, it's really not hard.
Buy me a cheap book, doesn't matter the type
My mommy is buying into this new fangled hype.
Start thinking creative, start digging real deep
Look beyond stories that'll lull me to sleep
I know you think Dr Seuss is really quite swell
But Cathy and Sally and grandma does as well
So don't waste your money on some silly old card
I'll just sell the 10 identical copies of the books in my yard.
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.
Wow is right. Ballsox and krissyh, you're both b*tches plain and simple--since we're all being honest here and giving our opinions. Giving a book instead of a card is a fantastic idea. I hate throwing my money away on a $5 card when I can get a book for the same price. Yes, you can get new books for under $5. If you've ever bought books in your life, you know this is true. I bought a hardback book at Babies-R-Us for $4.99 for a baby shower. And no, it wasn't a flimsy, crappy book, it was "First 100 Words" with hard cardboard as pages.
Oh my goodness and guess what? If you don't like buying a card instead of a book, then don't do it! It's a request, NOT a demand. I can't believe how whiny and insulting people get over this measly $5! Are you really that cheap?
It has nothing to do with how much money a card costs versus a book. It's not the amount of money you spend on a gift, it's the thought that goes into the gift that counts.
What makes this new trend tacky is that you are specifying what kind of gift your guests should buy which is in very poor taste. Your guests are grown women and are smart enough to purchase their own thoughtful gifts without your help.
And before you say "If they don't want to do it, they don't have to," no, they don't. But most will because they don't want to be the only one not to follow along. Just because women do it doesn't make it any less tacky.
If the idea of building your child's library is important to you, then register for books or even let a friend throw you a Baby's Library Shower. Or if friends/family ask what you need, tell them you want to build up the baby's library.
However, the guests at your shower should be the ones to decide what kind of gift they bring. You may not tell them or even politely ask them to bring you something specific. Because then, it really isn't a gift anymore.
Or buy your own damn books. It's not your friends and family's responsibility to provide everything you want for your child.
Loling at the AEs. If you don't have the balls to say what you're saying under your real ID, then I give what you have to say absolutely zero weight.
I'm just waiting for someone to start asking if it's ok to registery for school supplies or a service that supplies bag lunches for when their kids start school.
Or maybe something where you can prepay for little Johnny's school lunch for X days! Or his soccer uniform! I envision a honeymoon-registry type deal, lol.
Oh damn. Did I waste my weekly logical post on AEs? I should know better than that.
Logic tends to be wasted a lot here, don't feel bad.
People saying it is tacky and rude to ask for a book instead of a card is ridiculous. The whole concept of a shower should be considered greedy then. Think about it, it's called a shower because you are throwing a party for people to "shower" you with presents.
Everyone gets excited to "shower" you with gifts because they WANT to help out and get you what you want and need for the baby. Who ever thinks it's tacky or not right to ask for a book are the real greed mongers because they are too stingy and selfish to spend $4.99 on a book for their friend's/family member's child.
I think everyone is missing the point of the shower.... I think it's a great idea, especially since it is obviously NOT mandatory. For my shower, we added a raffle drawing for everyone who did bring a book and the person who won the raffle got a prize. It made another shower game out of it all.
If you are throwing a shower for yourself, then yes, having a shower is considered greedy. The shower is also a gift given to you from someone else.
All we are saying is don't dictate the gifts given to you. Whether that gift is $4.99 or $499.00, it's the same thing, just because something is less expensive doesn't make it less polite to say "give me, give me".
How, per se, would you tell someone that dictating exactly what you want your guests to bring you is tacky as hell, more kindly?
"Dear Madam,
Perhaps you need a reminder that, while you may think otherwise, the world does not actually revolve around you. Your guests are being perfectly generous on their own and do not need you to dictate every last detail of their gift-giving. If you would like books for your child, I respectfully insist you either register for them, sign up for a library card or buy them yourself. While your friends and family may not say it to your overly hormonal face, telling them to buy you more stuff on top of the gifts they are already purchasing is tacky as hell.
With much more respect than you're showing your guests,
BallSox"
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but doesn't having a "registry" in turn specify what you are asking your guests to purchase as a gift??
A registry is a list of things you would like and that you intend on purchasing no matter what. If people would like to pick something from that list, they can, if they want to buy you something else, they can do that to. A registry is not a demand to other people.
I buy almost all of my cards at the dollar store. They are always very cute and are 2 for $1. And it's asking for yet another gift.
As new moms, we aren't supposed to be planning our showers. The shower hostess is. If you are asked for your opinion on something for your shower, by all means give it, but don't plan your own. That's tackier than asking for additional gifts.
Wow, I really can't believe how callous some of the posters on this message board are. The original poster asked for a poem, not opinions on whether it was "tacky as hell" or not. I am fortunate, I have several friends and family members who went in on planning a beautiful shower for me in January. They included a similar poem in the invites for guests. If anyone is that offended or horrified, I hope they stay home because I certainly wouldn't want people there to celebrate my son's impending arrival who can only think how uncouth it was to have a silly little poem included in the invitation. People buying cards purposely because the invite asked for a book? That in my opinion is tacky.
For those saying throwing your own shower would be tacky...it may be out of the norm but if a woman has to go this route, perhaps she doesn't have anyone with the means to plan this JOYOUS event for her. Really, I can't believe how cynical people can be. The mock poem, although witty was rude. The original poster responded that she certainly would not be back to this site and I can't say that I blame her. Personally when I attend a baby shower I automatically purchase a book in lieu of a card; I think as previously mentioned that it will be cherished much longer than a card. I hope that this January people are not quite as judgmental at my shower as they are on this website and if the hostesses "greed" enrich my son's life by providing books for him, Hell I'm not going to complain.
To paraphrase an annoying song:
"This is the thread that just won't end.."
Register for books if you want people to buy them. Don't be greedy and expect a gift on top of a gift. See the other 10billion posts on this topic to see why.
seriously, you dug through 6 months of posts to dig THIS up?
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.
So much for love and understanding. Are we not all adults here? Isn't this a safe place for questions and answers and concerns? So some are more creative than others, so what?
I think asking for a book instead of a card is a great idea. I work at an independent bookstore in Metro Detroit. I can tell you personally that childrens' books really are not expensive. They are the same price as a card from Meijer, unless you go to the dollar store, then depending on the dollar store you might be spending more or less than your one dollar.
Basically, it depends on your perspective. Buy a book and write a note, or don't. Buy a card that has all your feelings written inside lined with a silly amount of glitter and a piece of ribbon that doesn't express anything personal from you. Or don't. Create your own card. Write your own book. Or don't.
There really is no need to get all finicky about who's cheap and tacky here, ladies. If it works for you and what you want, awesome. If not, no worries, because its not my problem.
Want, don't want. Do, don't do. Mommies and Ladies don't have to be rude. It's childish. Honestly.
Mom? Since when did you own a bookstore?
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.