The verses can be put on a small piece of cardstock and added it with the registry cards. A friend of mine used the wording below at her shower about 4 years ago & I absolutely loved the idea - I just asked her about it last week, so I figured I would share.
I want to be a bright child As smart as I can be. That is why I'm hoping My mommy & daddy 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 So very much.
Or replace the last paragraph with the following:
Please add your name and a note Then I'll know you've done your part. Some day I'll surely thank you From the bottom of my heart.
OR here is another:
Although cards are nice They're read once or twice Maybe three or four times at best A book is a treasure Forever and Forever So instead of a card To be put aside Please give the little baby A book with your name inside It will be read to our little tyke Before bed each night And we will thank you Forever and Forever!
Please add your name and a note Then I'll know you've done your part. Some day I'll surely thank you From the bottom of my heart.
The bolded part of this really rubs me the wrong way. It makes it seem like a mandatory responsibility and that if someone doesn't participate, it will look like they didn't "do their part."
(aside from that I think the demanding the book instead of card thing is tacky and annoying anyway...)
On one hand I think the bring a book idea is cute, but on the other, it is basically asking for 2 gifts. And there is a good chance you end up with several of the same books that are all written in so you can't take them back to get something different.
I am giving my niece a shower for her first child after he is born & since she has had one shower - there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby.
I wanted to give a Book Shower with the book as the gift and not the card. For this group of people, cost of gift could be a factor & books seemed a way for a large price range to choose This would not be asking for 2 gifts, just something that can always be treasured. Even multiple copies are useful for traveling & at grandparents' house. I was even going to include bookplates if people chose the add a note or they would be available at the shower. Any thoughts & wording on this?
I am giving my niece a shower for her first child after he is born & since she has had one shower - there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby.
I wanted to give a Book Shower with the book as the gift and not the card. For this group of people, cost of gift could be a factor & books seemed a way for a large price range to choose This would not be asking for 2 gifts, just something that can always be treasured. Even multiple copies are useful for traveling & at grandparents' house. I was even going to include bookplates if people chose the add a note or they would be available at the shower. Any thoughts & wording on this?
Yeah, you are still dictating to them what to bring, as opposed to a registry. A registry is not mandatory. These books are mandatory and that makes this idea very tacky. Some people above gave you some ideas, though, if you are dead set on demanding specific gifts from people.
Question, if she already had a shower how come you are giving her another one?
"there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will
be provided for this baby."
Then why are you throwing her a shower?
Go with her to get a library card. Then she'll have all the books she wants. That's my advice.
We played with some wording for a while on this one. I loved the book idea, but also didn't want it to sound like people had to bring something. We came up with this:
If you would like, in lieu of a card for baby and mother, please bring a child?s book with your thoughts in the cover.
I am giving my niece a shower for her first child after he is born & since she has had one shower - there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby.
I wanted to give a Book Shower with the book as the gift and not the card. For this group of people, cost of gift could be a factor & books seemed a way for a large price range to choose This would not be asking for 2 gifts, just something that can always be treasured. Even multiple copies are useful for traveling & at grandparents' house. I was even going to include bookplates if people chose the add a note or they would be available at the shower. Any thoughts & wording on this?
Yeah, you are still dictating to them what to bring, as opposed to a registry. A registry is not mandatory. These books are mandatory and that makes this idea very tacky. Some people above gave you some ideas, though, if you are dead set on demanding specific gifts from people.
Question, if she already had a shower how come you are giving her another one?
"there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby."
Then why are you throwing her a shower?
Go with her to get a library card. Then she'll have all the books she wants. That's my advice.
Seems like a lot of trouble to get some books for someone.
Love the library idea. Love the lesson it teaches in recycle and reuse, too.
The other idea I loved is yard sale book purchases. I love knowing that I'm buying a book another child has grown up with for my own child. There is a lesson in that.
I am giving my niece a shower for her first child after he is born & since she has had one shower - there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby.
I wanted to give a Book Shower with the book as the gift and not the card. For this group of people, cost of gift could be a factor & books seemed a way for a large price range to choose This would not be asking for 2 gifts, just something that can always be treasured. Even multiple copies are useful for traveling & at grandparents' house. I was even going to include bookplates if people chose the add a note or they would be available at the shower. Any thoughts & wording on this?
Yeah, you are still dictating to them what to bring, as opposed to a registry. A registry is not mandatory. These books are mandatory and that makes this idea very tacky. Some people above gave you some ideas, though, if you are dead set on demanding specific gifts from people.
I don't think adding the book poem to an invite is "dictating." It's merely a suggestion just like the non-mandatory registry...people will buy whatever they want anyway and if they don't want to buy a book they won't. Cards are such a waste of money and although a book is more expensive, it's something that will be kept and used over and over. Heck, they can choose between a book OR something from the registry - no one said they have to get both. I think it's a great idea.
Re: bring a book instead of card wording?
No cards--Books only!
kthxbai
Here is a cute one:
From Peter Rabbit to Mother Goose
Good Night Moon and Dr. Seuss
Curious Gearoge and Winnie the Pooh
Eloise and Babar, too.
In lieu of a card, please bring
your favorite childhood classic.
Let's build a library for baby "your last name"
that will be fantastic!
The verses can be put on a small piece of cardstock and added it with the registry cards. A friend of mine used the wording below at her shower about 4 years ago & I absolutely loved the idea - I just asked her about it last week, so I figured I would share.
I want to be a bright child
As smart as I can be.
That is why I'm hoping
My mommy & daddy 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
So very much.
Or replace the last paragraph with the following:
Please add your name and a note
Then I'll know you've done your part.
Some day I'll surely thank you
From the bottom of my heart.
OR here is another:
Although cards are nice
They're read once or twice
Maybe three or four times at best
A book is a treasure
Forever and Forever
So instead of a card
To be put aside
Please give the little baby
A book with your name inside
It will be read to our little tyke
Before bed each night
And we will thank you
Forever and Forever!
The bolded part of this really rubs me the wrong way. It makes it seem like a mandatory responsibility and that if someone doesn't participate, it will look like they didn't "do their part."
(aside from that I think the demanding the book instead of card thing is tacky and annoying anyway...)
I am giving my niece a shower for her first child after he is born & since she has had one shower - there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby.
I wanted to give a Book Shower with the book as the gift and not the card. For this group of people, cost of gift could be a factor & books seemed a way for a large price range to choose This would not be asking for 2 gifts, just something that can always be treasured. Even multiple copies are useful for traveling & at grandparents' house. I was even going to include bookplates if people chose the add a note or they would be available at the shower. Any thoughts & wording on this?
Yeah, you are still dictating to them what to bring, as opposed to a registry. A registry is not mandatory. These books are mandatory and that makes this idea very tacky. Some people above gave you some ideas, though, if you are dead set on demanding specific gifts from people.
Question, if she already had a shower how come you are giving her another one?
"there literally is nothing that anyone can give them that has not been or will be provided for this baby."
Then why are you throwing her a shower?
Go with her to get a library card. Then she'll have all the books she wants. That's my advice.
We played with some wording for a while on this one. I loved the book idea, but also didn't want it to sound like people had to bring something. We came up with this:
If you would like, in lieu of a
card for baby and mother,
please bring a child?s book
with your thoughts in the cover.
Seems like a lot of trouble to get some books for someone.
Love the library idea. Love the lesson it teaches in recycle and reuse, too.
The other idea I loved is yard sale book purchases. I love knowing that I'm buying a book another child has grown up with for my own child. There is a lesson in that.
I don't think adding the book poem to an invite is "dictating." It's merely a suggestion just like the non-mandatory registry...people will buy whatever they want anyway and if they don't want to buy a book they won't. Cards are such a waste of money and although a book is more expensive, it's something that will be kept and used over and over. Heck, they can choose between a book OR something from the registry - no one said they have to get both. I think it's a great idea.