Updated on: Feb 17, 2024
A baby shower is a momentous occasion for any expecting family. For those with bookish passions, why not have it transfer over into a party celebrating your little one(s). Storybooks help to transport everyone who reads them to new realms and locations. A book themed baby shower would be great for opening the pages into the new addition to the family. Here’s a great list of ideas to include in your party, ranging from decoration ideas and food inspiration to games and activities to plan for your guests! We hope this list inspires you to create the best storybook baby shower ever and helps you make your special party one that will never be forgotten.
Book Themed Baby Shower Decorations
1. Book Garland
A cute and bright festive little book garland can bring some light and festive fun to the room. Hang it across a doorway or the location where many pictures will be taken. It can also be a DIY project using some twine and little journals that you can make yourself or use some of your favorite small and thin books.
2. Book Centerpiece
A simple and cute centerpiece can be getting a couple of books and setting them on the table and putting small vases with some fresh cut flowers on top of them. This still ties the storybook theme, while adding the fresh aroma of the flowers and also creating the magical vibe that plants can bring into a space. The books can be ones already found in your library or ones that can be found while thrifting, same with the vases! Buying fresh-cut flowers aren’t the cheapest, but you can find a local florist that will create an arrangement that satisfies all of your dreams or even get some fake ones from your local craft store.
3. Book Page Wreath
Image this, a wreath created from pages of a book hanging at the entryway into the baby shower. It can even then be used as wall decor for the baby’s room after the event. It’s a great talking point and sets the tone of the party for guests as soon as they enter.
4. Book Posters
Posters can be used for multi-use purposes too. For the party, you can hang them around the room to add some dimension and create some talking points. Let’s be real, who doesn’t like talking about their favorite books when they were a child? After the event, they’ll make some great decor either in the baby’s room or in a home office.
5. Balloons
Want to bring some pops of color to the room? Balloons are a great addition. Either string them up in a balloon garland around the event area or just have them hanging around the room for some visually appealing decor.
Book Themed Baby Shower Favors
6. Coloring Books
Coloring books allow everyone’s inner child to roam free. There is always the option for adult coloring books or stick with a good ole’ fashioned one with characters from storybooks. There’s even the option to have both and allow your guests to choose which one they prefer.
7. Book Worms
A sweet and tasty little treat for all who attend. Take some gummy worms and either place them in a plastic baggy or jar for your guests to take and keep with them after the party has ended. You can even place them on a spread with a small nameplate.
8. Mini Journals
Mini journals can be helpful for one of the games that are mentioned below and just as a small favor to give to your guests. The journals are on-brand for the book theme and are a fun takeaway that guests can utilize for whatever they please.
9. Bookmarks
It’s a simple and cute giveaway since everyone could use a bookmark. They’re the easiest thing to lose and if your guests are book lovers like you are they will appreciate the gesture.
10. Favor Bags
Get some favors bags in solid colors or a book themed one and insert some of your favorite candy, baby trinkets, and anything else you feel. You could even place some of the above favors in each favor bag for your guests.
Book Themed Baby Shower Activities
11. Children’s Book Quiz
Quiz your guests on their knowledge of well-known children's books and see who really knows their literature. It's a quick and simple game to get the party started. You can even give away your favorite children’s books as prizes.
12. Guess the Kisses
Based on the story “The Kissing Hand” get a jar and fill it with red heart-shaped papers. Have guests take a small card and write how many hearts they think are in the jar and place it in a box. The guest who guesses the correct (or close to correct) amount wins a storybook or other prize of your choosing. You can either buy the hearts or create your own by cutting up paper.
13. Signature Guest Book
A fun and easy way to keep track of everyone who came is through a guest book. Use your favorite children's book (a popular one used is “Guess How Much I Love You”) and have guests sign their names and a little note for the baby. It’s a fun activity that everyone can do.
14. Create a Story
Test out your guests’ creativity by having them create and illustrate their own stories. Get a few blank journals and have guests either work together or solo to write and draw their own story. Then you can keep the stories at the end to read to the baby and place it in their own little library. Allow them to use an assortment of art tools to bring their stories to life
15. Dress the Baby
A fun game for all is to blindfold guests and place a baby doll in front of them. Ask them to dress up the doll to the best of their ability. It's fun for everyone playing and for those watching.
Book Themed Food Ideas
16. Book Themed Cookies
There are a few options on how you can create this sweet treat. Stick with your standard chocolate chip cookie and place them all on a decorative tray or jar and label them after “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” or decorate your own cookies after books that you love. Get a book cookie cutter or bookmark one and decorate them on your own or you can get them from a local cookie artist.
17. Very Hungry Caterpillar Spread
This can be done with the fruit that the caterpillar ate on skewers and the rest as a spread across the table. Another option is to just have all the food as a spread and let people pick and choose just like the caterpillar. For food you don’t want that the caterpillar did eat, you can say that the caterpillar ate it all and didn't leave some for everyone else. Use the book as a nameplate for the guests who don’t understand the spread.
18. Blueberry Crisp Jars
Create your own personal blueberry crisps in mini mason jars for your guests to grab and eat. Layer them with the graham cracker crust on the bottom and the blueberry inside on top. Based on the book “Blueberries for Sal,” it's a creative and sweet treat for everyone to enjoy.
19. Green Eggs and Ham Sliders
Named after a famous Dr. Seuss book and a creative snack for all. Take your everyday eggs and dye them green, add a few slices of ham, then arrange them on some slider buns and you have an adorable treat for everyone to enjoy. You can even use cocktail picks to hold them all together. When arranging them you can use the book as a nameplate.
20. Stone Soup
Create your own version of stone soup for guests to enjoy. Based on the book Stone Soup by Ann McGovern, this treat is enjoyable all times of the year, especially around the fall/winter. Either make it yourself or have a guest that you trust to make it and get the Stone Soup experience. Even serve them in personal soup mugs for guests to take home and have as a remembrance of the event.
Book Themed Baby Shower Party Supplies
21. Cupcake Toppers
An adorable decor just to tie everything together. Grab your favorite cupcakes and place them on top of them and have them match the theme and vibe of the event. These toppers can be after your favorite books or just a general book theme.
22. Plates
You’re going to need plates at some point, especially with all the book snacks you’ll have around the event. A simple or festive plate gets the job done.
23. Utensils
These can be grabbed and then placed around the food tables for guests to grab and go. Place the utensils in some vases for a creative way to display them.
Oriental Trading
24. Table Covers
Depending on if you know what the gender of the baby is you can go with blue or pink table covers. If you want to keep things neutral you can go with a white or beige-colored table cover. There is also the option to go with your favorite color, it is your baby shower.
Oriental Trading
25. Napkins
With every event come the messes that are bound to happen. There are multiple options to go with depending on the event. Either solid colored napkins or one with a book image to match the event.
Book Themed Baby Shower Invitations
26. Library Card
Have your guests get their own library card as you invite them into your personal library for the event.
27. Bring a Book
Let each invite request that guests bring a book for the baby and allow them to gain an understanding as to what the theme will be.
28. Once Upon A Time
For those who love a good fairytale, this invite card gets the job done and looks great while doing it.
29. A New Chapter
Have a cute and simple invite alerting your future guests of the new chapter in your book.
30. Woodland Animals
Most children's books incorporate cute woodland creatures, why not continue that trend with your invitations.
Book Themed Baby Shower: Conclusion
Plan the book themed baby shower of your dreams! Whether you’re struggling with coming up with ideas or themes, Easy Event Planning is here to help. We aim to make your event planning easy. If help is needed with checklists, budget planning, or gift ideas, we can help with that too.
Written by Hannah Lindenberg and Amanda Fort; Contributor: Mariah Haines