Looking for the coolest bookmark for new chapter book readers.

October 10, 2023 3:01 PM

I have a seven year old niece and a five year old daughter who are so.very.into.chapter.books. I want to get them personalized bookmarks that make them even more enthusiastic about reading. What is the best one you have ever found?

My initial ideas were - names on them are important, also growing up I loved hologram ones - but 20 years down the road I wonder if there are even cooler ones. They are both reading about unicorns and fairies and fantasy stuff so something in that realm would be cool. Thanks in advance for any ideas you have!

posted by openhearted to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

My favorite bookmark wasn't special in any way. Didn't have my name on it, was just regular old printed card stock. It was a closeup of Van Gogh's face from one of his self portraits. He just looked sad in a way I often felt but really didn't have words for, and I loved it and him. I kept that bookmark so tidy and pristine for YEARS. It was my very favorite beyond any of the much fancier ones I had.

So I would take the kids (separately, make it special time) to your favorite local independent bookstore you know has a selection and let them browse and choose a bookmark that's special to them. Don't question or pressure the choice by suggesting there are other, more interesting bookmarks (unless there's a difficulty making the choice, in which case you may offer your thoughts).
posted by phunniemee at 3:19 PM on October 10, 2023 [6 favorites]

Do they draw? You could get them to draw their own and have them printed. Then they could keep a few of each design and give the rest to their class. Lots of places that print advertising postcards will do an order of 25 or 50 bookmarks.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:24 PM on October 10, 2023

My most treasured bookmarks are from some of my favorite web comics that I printed out and laminated with self-adhesive laminating sheets.
posted by xedrik at 4:29 PM on October 10, 2023

A) Talk about what they are interested in, their favorite plant, character, their favorite thing to draw.

B) Give them some paper with oblong rectangles to draw in, and some prompts for things they can draw or write. Goal for what or why they want to read; favorite word; favorite letters; quote from a character; anything.

C) If they want a word or their name, you can, if they want, draw or print out a big fancy version in a cool font.

D) cut out, wrap around or tape to a stiff piece of cardboard, and laminate. They will love it, and it's a keepsake for their parents if/when they outgrow it.
posted by amtho at 6:12 PM on October 10, 2023

Best answer: I think Etsy is helpful here. Some bookmarks that I think are cool:

1) Embroidered monogram that fits over the corner of a page

2) Wire names

3) Magnetic cats. (This magnetic style comes in different characters—maybe you can find something they like.)

4) Pocket watercolor sheets that you paint yourself, with the paint wells that are right on the paper
posted by tinymegalo at 9:48 PM on October 10, 2023

Best answer: Some of the "MyBookmark-Shop" ones are cute, licensed properties like Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Hobbit, and more.
posted by kschang at 10:06 PM on October 10, 2023

Best answer: Not personalised, but... I bought several dozen woven bookmarks like these on a holiday in Turkey more than 10 years ago, and have been using them myself and giving them as mini-presents to people I love for no particular reason ever since.

My 5 and 8 year old each got one when we started reading "proper" books together, and they are still entranced by them. The intricacy of the design and the fact that they're a bona-fide grownup gift, the same as they see their parents using, makes them super special.

The cloth format also has the benefit of no risk of accidental creasing / crumpling / tearing. Barring loss in transit I figure there's a reasonable chance they'll still be using them when they're my age.
posted by protorp at 2:08 AM on October 11, 2023