One of my favorite things about this little corner of the internet is getting to share the wonderful things my friends are doing, and today’s post is an especially sweet one. My friend Katie recently launched It’s Your Story Gifts, a new small business creating beautifully curated reading gifts for young readers.
Katie is a former elementary and middle grade reading teacher, so this new venture feels especially perfect for her. It’s Your Story Gifts is designed primarily for chapter book readers ages 9 to 12, with three different reading levels to choose from and all sorts of ways to make the gift feel personal to the child receiving it.
And y’all, I was an avid reader and a big dreamer as a little girl, and I can only imagine what it would have felt like to receive something like this in the mail. It would have been an absolute treasure chest to me.
The Signature Book Box
Katie sent me one of her Signature Book Boxes so I could experience it for myself, and truthfully, unboxing it as a grown woman wasn’t all that different. The whole thing just radiated happiness and joy. Every time I thought I had reached the bottom of the box, there was something else tucked inside.
At the heart of the box is one of Katie’s Original Dressed Up Books. The actual book title is kept a surprise, but you choose the genre and reading level. Current genre options include fantasy, friends and family, action and adventure, mystery, spooky and paranormal, animals, sports, classics and historical fiction. You can also tell Katie about the child receiving it, including the occasion, favorite colors and anything else that might help her curate the gift.
Surrounding the book are all sorts of bookish goodies. The Signature Book Box includes a mini journal, reading-themed tumbler and accessories, plush headband, bead bracelet, embellished book tote and at least three additional surprises. Some of the contents intentionally vary from box to box, which makes the whole experience even more fun.
Mine was absolutely stuffed. There were bookmarks, pens and highlighters, a journal, bracelet, headband, adorable tote, tumbler and one little surprise after another. But even more than the amount inside, I was struck by how thoughtfully everything had been put together. It was so clear that this wasn’t simply a collection of things tossed into a box. It had been prepared with such care.
More Than a Book
I think that is what I love most about Katie’s idea. She has taken the simple gift of a book and turned it into an entire experience.
And while this would certainly make a precious birthday or Christmas gift, I actually think some of the sweetest reasons to send one have nothing to do with a traditional gift-giving occasion. Send one to say, “I’m thinking about you.” Send one to a child going through something difficult who could use a happy surprise on the doorstep. Send one to celebrate an accomplishment, a great report card, a big performance or a goal reached. Send one before a trip, at the beginning of summer or simply because you know a child who would love it. Sometimes the gifts we remember most are the ones we weren’t expecting.
It’s Your Story Gifts has Signature Book Boxes like the one Katie sent me, along with Original Dressed Up Books, themed boxes and plenty of fun reading extras. And Katie is already dreaming up what comes next. She is currently working on two new themed boxes, including a Write Your Story Graphic Novel Book Box and an Old School Gamer Book Box featuring graphic novels and vintage games. I especially love that these will add some more gender-neutral choices to the collection and give her even more ways to reach different kinds of readers.
Katie also hopes to continue expanding the collection as the business grows, including adding more options geared toward boys and perhaps eventually gifts for younger readers. I think she has only scratched the surface of what she can do with this idea.
You can browse everything at It’s Your Story Gifts, and you can see the exact Signature Book Box Katie sent me.
And because Katie is just as generous as she is creative, we have something fun planned for later this week! She is giving one Dixie Delights reader an Original Dressed Up Book of their own. I’ll share all of the giveaway details on Instagram on Thursday, so stay tuned!
I am so proud of my friend for taking something she loves and putting it out into the world. Starting something new takes courage, and this one feels especially meant for Katie. I cannot wait to see where she takes it.
Katie gifted me the Signature Book Box featured in this post. There was no payment for this post, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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