How to Shop for Books for Mother's Day

Books are terrific gifts for any holiday, including Mother's Day. Cookbooks, self-help books, novels and even history books are all popular. Depending on what your mother likes to read, it should be relatively simple to shop for a few great books. Whether you go to a big chain store or a smaller local shop, you can find books on a wide range of topics, any of which she would enjoy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Find out what types of books your mother enjoys. Does she like to read mystery novels? Does she flip through photography books? Is she a fan of a particular fiction novelist? Ask her inconspicuously or find out from someone who knows (try dad).
2. Head out to stores that are offering sales for Mother's Day. Most big chains have great Mother's Day sales, or at least make it easy to find great books for moms during the holiday season.
3. Buy Mother's Day books early, even a month or more in advance. This carries a terrific advantage: if, for example, you are walking through a bookstore early and your mother mentions wanting a specific book, you can pick it up then and give it to her on Mother's Day. Chances are, your mom will be touched that you remembered.
4. Shop for books when the authors are around to autograph their works. Getting the latest novel signed by your mom's favorite author makes the gift doubly special.
5. Shop online at Amazon.com (see Resources below). Amazon.com has an extensive collection of books and novels and finding the book you want should be a snap. Regardless of where your mother resides in the country, you can order the book online and have it delivered.

Tips & Warnings

• Get a gift receipt for any books you shop for on Mother's Day. Gift receipts allow your mother to return any books that she doesn't want without having to worry about whether the book has gone on sale or not.
• Stick with a gift certificate to a bookstore near your mother, or one you know she loves. All of the big chain bookstores offer gift cards, as do a large number of smaller stores.
• Read reviews and get opinions before you shop for a book for Mother's Day. It's tough to tell what your mother would enjoy just by reading the synopsis.
• Avoid buying books that have any visible damage. Sometimes those have been returned to the store by other customers and even if they look pristine on the outside they might be missing pages or have other marks.