to ask for book tokens for a January birthday party?

[fourunder5]

We're inviting the whole class and I can't face 30+ random pieces of plastic to find homes for

Would it be cheeky to put a carefully-worded request for book tokens? How do I word it?

Help, it's like the wedding etiquette crap all over again!

In the same situation with my kid and a friend who had a joint party for the whole class just after xmas, we asked if the parents would donate the present money to the class to buy something special chosen by the teacher that would be used by all and by subsequent classes. Surprisingly, out of 24 kids, 18 parents donated and they made over £100! And everyone thought it was a brilliant idea