Monday, December 1, 2008

Gift Ideas from Books

For years, my literary cousin and I had Christmas gift exchanges that always had 1 gift that was book related. For this purpose, I went through some of my favorite books (Little Women and Little House) to see what the characters gave and/or received as gifts. So here's the list.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
house shoes, gloves, handkerchiefs, cologne, books, sheet music, drawing pencils, piano, snowman, fruit, flowers, afghan, picture, ribbon, ice cream, wrapper, silk dress, charm (for a bracelet, necklace, etc.), "ink bib," hard gingerbread, flannels

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
carved wooden bracket, read & whit knit mittens, peppermint candy, red mittens,m rag doll, apple studded with cloves, needle book (silk cover with flannel pages)

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
tin cup, peppermint candy, heart-shaped cake, penny, sweet potatoes

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
button string, candy, horses, popcorn balls, shawl, rag doll, mittens, muffler, fur cape & muff, Bible verse booklet, china dog, white china jewel box (tea pot on top)

By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
knit socks, silk tie, candy, apron, handkerchief, bed shoes, mittens, swan's down hood & coat, knitted wristlets

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
cross-stitched picture frame, knitted lace, hair receiver, suspenders, jumping jack toy, candy, dress, flannels, fine wool stockings, coat, hood, mittensd, silk shawl, shirts, cap, ABC book, Mother Goose book, yarn embroidery thread, turkey

Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
wool nubia, doll cradle (with sheets, pillow, and patchwork quilt), silver thimble, necktie, Tennyson's Poems, Stories of the Moorland, lace collar, handkerchiefs, ribbon

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
candy, oranges, gold bar pin

The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
candy, glassware, clock, undershirt

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
cap, muffler, horehound candy, mittens, oranges, dried figs, jack knife, locket, earrings, lace collars, lace mitts, leather wallet

If you're surprised by some of the items listed, I suggest you read the books. If you choose to give someone a gift inspired by a book (or their favorite book), I recommend writing out or typing up the passage from the book that goes along with it.

2 comments:

Abby said...

What a cool idea! Thanks for posting!

ttulizzy said...

Wow, I had never thought of this! How very awesome! Thanks!