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Original poster

A book as a gift for a teacher who loves reading?

31 replies

Feteaccompli · 14/03/2026 19:38

My DD has been exceptionally well supported by the deputy head at her school this term (she is last year of primary) and DD wants to buy teacher a book to say thank you.

We don't know teacher that well but DD says she loves books. To me this is a minefield of a gift as we'll probably buy a book she's alreadybread or get it wrong!

However, DD really wants to do this so I'm looking for suggestions to guide her. I was thinking a special edition of a classic? Or maybe something new if it has rave reviews?

Open to all suggestions!

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Windywuss · 22/03/2026 21:12

We gave a book to a teacher who was leaving which was one we'd read and was about the teacher's subject and it was well received. I think for primary school, a homemade book mark would be beautiful. I would perhaps give a poetry book because people don't tend to buy them for themselves and they're lovely.

TheBitterBoy · 22/03/2026 21:05

Bookworm by Lucy Mangan

Mischance · 22/03/2026 20:52

Orbital by Samantha Harvey... won Booker prize so she may have read it.
The Land of Spices by Kate O'brien... and unusual gem.

theproudgeek · 22/03/2026 20:48

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 22/03/2026 20:39

For a teacher who encourages reading, how about Katherine Rundell’s “Why you should read children’s books (even though you are so old and wise)” - it’s only a fiver so you could also get her a book token for her own choice of book to go with it.

Seconding this suggestion.

gratefulmezze · 22/03/2026 20:41

Elements by John Boyne

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 22/03/2026 20:40

Or a fancy covered copy of her favourite book? You can get some beautiful classics.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 22/03/2026 20:39

For a teacher who encourages reading, how about Katherine Rundell’s “Why you should read children’s books (even though you are so old and wise)” - it’s only a fiver so you could also get her a book token for her own choice of book to go with it.

Blockednoses · 22/03/2026 09:50

MyTwoSense · 21/03/2026 22:57

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy is a fabulous book for gift giving.

I've always thought of this as a book for people who dont really like books?

RS1987 · 22/03/2026 07:00

Teacher here - I’d go for “Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me” by Kate Clancy or “Because of you, this is me” by Jaz Ampaw- Farr. Although the second one has some harrowing accounts of child abuse so maybe the first one.

Hellinnnnn · 22/03/2026 06:56

Personally, (book-loving ex-teacher), I’d go for a lovely edition of something excellent (Folio nice but expensive; Penguin has more affordable cloth-bound versions of lots of classics which are very attractive). With these you could choose something that maybe ornamental but could have a significance. Or a book token, and get your daughter to create a bookplate that the teacher can stick in. I would get generic book token over Waterstones then it can be used in independent bookshops too.
Avoid that Charlie McKesey book - as pp said, it’s saccharine plus she’s guaranteed to have it/have read it.

Piggywaspushed · 22/03/2026 06:55

I agree with a bookmark and a book token. Bookmarks are surprisingly hard to get!

The other suggestion might be a lovely version of a beloved children's book - but you'd need to know what the teacher loved.

I must say, as a teacher, books are the loveliest gifts I have in my possession and rarely given , but you would maybe have to of a bit of research.

SheilaFentiman · 22/03/2026 06:45

MyTwoSense · 21/03/2026 22:57

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy is a fabulous book for gift giving.

IMO, this book is saccharine nonsense!

Book with a gift receipt is fine. Does DD know anything else about her likes?

FleaDog · 21/03/2026 23:18

My dc did this... they chose their favourite books, wrote an inscritionand gave book to each of their teachers ... one staff member had justbhad a baby and dc wrote thatthey hoped thir dc would enjoy having it read to them as they had done..... they were appreciated by staff

BadlydoneHelen · 21/03/2026 23:15

Not the fox horse mole book! Not for someone who loves reading

ILoveFluffyDogsSoMuch · 21/03/2026 23:06

The only teacher gift we ever bought was a voucher for Waterstones. The teacher really helped my DD find her love for reading. She was an avid reader herself and already had so many books we didn't want to duplicate. She cried when she saw the gift. (I assume it was happiness).

MyTwoSense · 21/03/2026 22:57

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy is a fabulous book for gift giving.

caringcarer · 21/03/2026 22:55

DD could make a pretty book mark for her Deputy Head Teacher.

caringcarer · 21/03/2026 22:53

A book voucher so recipient can choose own book.

southchinasea · 21/03/2026 22:50

How about a surprise read from Mr B's emporium? You can choose a theme and they select eg an overlooked or an uplifting novel

MsAmerica · 21/03/2026 21:38

Feteaccompli · 14/03/2026 19:38

My DD has been exceptionally well supported by the deputy head at her school this term (she is last year of primary) and DD wants to buy teacher a book to say thank you.

We don't know teacher that well but DD says she loves books. To me this is a minefield of a gift as we'll probably buy a book she's alreadybread or get it wrong!

However, DD really wants to do this so I'm looking for suggestions to guide her. I was thinking a special edition of a classic? Or maybe something new if it has rave reviews?

Open to all suggestions!

Operate under the assumption that she will have read every good novel that you can think of.

With that in mind, choose either:
-Some great nonfiction book about teaching
-Some great reference book about literature

Steelworks · 17/03/2026 04:30

I’d go for a book token as well. Alternatively, in John Lewis and elsewhere, you can get embroidery or cross-stitch bookmark kits

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 15/03/2026 06:06

Blockednoses · 14/03/2026 21:33

Finding my Way by Malala Yousafzai is wonderful. It's her newish book and covers a joy of reading and the importance of girls education

It's such a wonderfully wise book and has also had me laughing a lot as well

That is a great suggestion!

DelphiniumBlue · 14/03/2026 22:10

I would go for something new, maybe Booker or some other prize nominee. Receipt in envelope so they can change it if they need to, and a little bookmark either way handwritten message from DD.