Book instead of Card at Shower?

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I am so not trying to start the debate about if people should/shouldn't do this or if it is tacky/not tacky!

I am attending a baby shower and the host wrote the little poem about a book instead of a card and included it is the shower invite.  I'm fine with bringing a book.

Those that did this or went to a shower that did this...

Did people use the book as their card or did they wrap it like an additional present?

Did most people give a card anyway even though it says "instead of a card..."

The practical side of me is afraid to write a message to baby inside the book (like they asked us to do) because what if three other people get them the same book?  I hate waste!  Anyone attach a little note inside the book somehow instead?

ParisLynn16

I would write inside the book. If they were to get more than 1, they could keep one in the house, one in the car, one at grandma's. That's what I would do.

RunningWife

I did this at my shower, and most guest brought a book AND a card. They wrote their message in the card, and just inscribed the book with their name.

However, IMO, if the request was to bring a book, I'd just do that and save you the $5 you'd spend on a card.

Honestly, I just recycled all the cards; I don't have a lot of space in my place and didn't want extra clutter lying around.

MrsFv20

I don't think its tacky at all, I love helping babies build their library. And I loved receiving books too! I will definitely say to include a gift receipt and not to write inside the book- I got 5, yes FIVE copies of Good Night Moon and also several duplicates of Dr. Seuss books. I appreciated all of them but I was very appreciative of the ones I was able to exchange for books that we didn't have yet.

5de5

I did not request books, but two of my SILs bought books, and then wrote inscriptions on large sticker like things (sort of like a name tag, but fancier). They didn't pull the backing off the sticker, so that if I had to exchange the books, I could stick the inscription on the book I exchanged it for.  I thought that option was really thoughtful.

OctoberBabyH

This is not tacky. We did this at my shower. The hostess brought a cute bookshelf to display the books on. It was a display shower. I even received personalized book plates for the inside covers. Her library is pretty full and I buy books for her a lot anyway, which I think is a GREAT thing

Brougham7-15-06

My friend did this for my shower, and most people gave a book and a card.

PaminNB

This is what my family did for my shower.  I would say about half of the people just wrote in the book and the other half had a card too.  I did get some books 2 even 3 times...and they were all inscribed. 

So I think what a pp suggested about writing on a nice label and not sticking it, is a good idea (or writing on a seperate paper and sticking it to the inside cover of the book with tape so that it could be removed if needed). 

I too hate waste...That is why I LOVED this idea; cards are kind of a waste and a book is such a nice gift.  I read to DS a lot!!!

juliane2004

I think it's a great idea. I wish my host did it for my shower. I did it for my sister's shower this past December. She never got any duplicate books, and got about 30 books. I love it.

missymo

I had this at my shower.  We only got one duplicate - but I felt lucky about that.  I ripped out the inscription the giver had put in it and gave the extra book to a friend.  I do understand what you mean though...I was worried about a lot of duplicates. 

As a giver, I would just make sure to pick a really special book that you don't think anyone else will give (for instance, don't do The Giving Tree - that is a standard fave), and then write in it.  If you are getting a popular book maybe just tuck a little note in the first page along with the G.R. 

mlc92404

i had some people write a note on a sticky note inside the book.

Cass04eb

Our shower was like this. There was a basket on the gift table where most of them were put. Almost everyone gave a card too though. We loved it! DS has so many books now. Almost all of them had messages written inside. We did get 2 or 3 duplicates, but you can always leave them at someone elses house that watches your LO often - parent's or IL's house. We liked having the notes. Whenever we read the stories we read the note inside too!