Books are timeless gifts that never go out of style. In the spirit of shopping local this holiday season, we’re here to help you find the perfect book for everyone on your list. Four of the best bookstores in our area kindly shared their gift recommendations – each available at their store!
Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse
35 Maryland Ave, Annapolis, MD
At Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse, the early bird gets the bookworm. They open bright and early at 8 AM daily. Parking is free on Maryland Avenue and in the commercial zones downtown until 10:30 AM. So, why not start your morning with a cup of coffee from their own cozy coffee shop? Take advantage of perusing the shelves, nooks, and crannies before the shop gets busy.
“One of the best things about shopping at a local bookstore is interacting and conversing with the booksellers there—ask them for recommendations,” said Jinny Amundson, co-owner Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse.
Speaking of recommendations, here’s what Jinny shared:
Fiction
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Nonfiction
The Serviceberry Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Picture Book
Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise
Where to Hide A Star by Oliver Jeffers
Local Authors at Old Fox Books
You’ll find books by Annapolis authors such as Erika Robuck, Christina Harrington, Kate Myers, Michelle Douglas, and Jay Fleming.
“We also make sure to have some of our favorite ‘we claim em’ Chesapeake watershed authors on our shelf, too,” Jinny added. “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Laura Lippman, Sujata Massey, Kate Milford, Jason Reynolds, and Anne Tyler.”
And, these are just the writers still writing . . . Jinny reminds us that you can find books by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Frederick Douglass, Robert Anson Heinlein (a USNA grad), James Michener, Tom Clancy, John Barth, and Edgar Allan Poe on their shelves.
Last order of business: Don’t wait to order or buy that book you’ve got your eye on—popular titles often sell out mid-season. And, if you want to avoid Amazon (like the Scoop team), you can try Bookshop.org to support local bookstores.
Park Books & LitCoLab
555 Baltimore Annapolis BLVD. Severna Park, MD
Did you know you can order books online to ship or to pick up from Park Books & LitCoLab? Just make sure you order for any books not in the store by December 10 to ensure holiday delivery.
Fun fact: They ship books worldwide and display a large map in the children's section showing all their shipping destinations. Shipping typically costs about $6. If you'd like them to ship your holiday books, make sure you order by December 1.
Time-saving hack: Put a note in the comment section of your online order that you want books gift-wrapped. It’s always free! They'll wrap your gifts and have them ready for pick-up. If you’re shopping in-store, please allow extra time for gift wrapping during busy evenings and weekends.
Melody Wukitch, owner of Park Books, also wants us to know customers can get author signed copies. “We feature many signed books from authors near and far,” she said.
If you're unsure what to pick, Melody and her knowledgeable booksellers will have just the answer. Here are some suggestions:
Fiction
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Nonfiction
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
Framed by Grisham & McClosky
Why We Love Football by Joe Posnanski
The Anxious Generation by Haidt
Romance
Variation by Rebecca Yarros
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
Young Adult
Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Spectacular: A Caraval Holiday Novella by Stephanie Garber
Picture Book
Chicka Chicka HO, HO, HO by William Boniface
Grumpy Monkey Play All Day by Suzanne Lang
Night Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise
Middle Grade Fiction (ages 8-12yr)
Hot Mess: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Dog Man: Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey (Releases 12/3)
Unraveled 9.5 (Keeper of the Lost Cities) by Shannon Messenger (Releases 12/5)
Middle Grade Nonfiction (ages 8-12)
Norse Mythology: The Illustrated Edition by Neil Gaiman
Stars of the NBA by Kjartan Atli Kjartansson
Early readers/early chapter books
The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale
Bear and Bird by Jarvis
Peruse their digital holiday gift catalog for more ideas.
Beyond books, Park Books also sells bookmarks, totes, and stickers that make for great stocking stuffers. Moreover, they carry puzzles and puzzle accessories, games for the family, journals, mugs, and an array of unique candles.
Wyrd Bookstore
135 Mitchells Chance Rd, Edgewater, MD
This holiday season, let Wyrd Bookstore provide inspiration for your holiday gift giving. Their handmade Cratefuls are reusable gift baskets filled with books, mugs, tea, candles, journals, and other delights that are as unique as the people on your holiday list. They can also customize them for those on your list who are tricky to shop for.
Below are some of Wyrd’s favorite books to give as gifts. You can even special order them and get them gift-wrapped.
“Most of them are new this year, but since we love the used books on our shelves too, we included a few older titles that always make great gifts,” said Wyrd Bookstore Owner Amy Murphy.
Fiction
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Nonfiction
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Romance
The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: Deluxe Edition by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Young Adult
Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Picture Books
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Just the Right Gifts
The Little Frog's Guide to Self-Care: Affirmations, Self-Love and Life Lessons According to the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog by Maybell Eequay
The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks by André Darlington and Tenaya Darlington
Here are a few of Wyrd’s beloved Maryland authors, and a great first book to pick up by each:
The Secrets of the Little Greek Taverna by Erin Palmisano
Too Like the Lightning: Prose Poems to My Almost Loves by Teresa Spencer
Excavations by Kate Myers
The Tide and the Stars by Dylan Roche (Hi Scoop writer, Dylan!)
The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection by Jen Colbeck and Stacey Colino
Wandering Words
Cool concept, Wandering Words doesn’t actually have an address . . . The mobile bookstore regularly updates their website and Instagram (@wanderingwordsmd) about where they’ll wander.
Wandering Words Owner Kali O'Leary, recently told us, “I am hoping to work like a food truck where neighborhoods and events invite me.”
Two events coming up are the Wildberry Farm Vintage Christmas Market in Crownsville on December 7 and December 14, both from 2 to 6 PM.
With holidays in mind, Kali shared her book recommendations and advice: “Cozy up, grab a cup of hot chocolate, it’s time to read,” she said.
Holiday Romance
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Megan Quinn
Wreck the Hall by Tessa Bailey
The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evan’s
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Young Adult
Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne
Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds
Children’s Books
The Crayons Christmas by Drew Daywalt
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh by Mo Willems
How To Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace
Meet the Latkes by Alan Silbeberg
Eight Knights of Hanukkah by Leslie Kimmelman
Under the Radar Books
Last but not least, we asked each bookstore to name one book that’s flying under the radar but is a must read. Here’s what they picked.
Old Fox Books: Tove Jansson’s illustrated Alice in Wonderland—which finally got released in the USA. Jinny tells us, “the illustrations are lovely.”
Park Books: All Fours by Miranda July: for the reader who likes a book that is a bit edgy and will surprise them. Melody couldn’t resist sharing a second suggestion: James by Percival Everett. This narrative is from Jim’s POV from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Wyrd Bookstore: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. A delightful new entry in the mystery genre for Osman that’s funny, suspenseful, and cozy all at once. With memorable characters and witty dialogue, it’s perfect for mystery-lovers.
Wandering Words: All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. Kali describes this as part true crime, part coming of age. It’s heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time.
One final novel idea in closing. Gift cards are always a safe bet for gifts and are available at Old Fox Books, Park Books, and Wyrd. While Wandering Words doesn’t have gift cards yet, they plan to offer them in the future.
Happy Reading!
