Question: Do you need an excuse to get together with old friends for a glass of wine and a few laughs? Answer: Nope, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one anyway! Hosting a book share party is a great way to score some new literature for your little one, as well as a means to unloading some of those older, not-so-favorite books that your baby just doesn’t show much interest in.  It’s simple, really.

Create a Guest List: First, decide whether or not you want the kiddos in attendance. If you think you’ll have guests that won’t be able to find a sitter/send baby to Grandma’s/leave baby with Daddy, then you might want to make it a baby-friendly soiree. Otherwise, a Mommy’s-Only approach is a guaranteed good time. If you have a few good friends with young-ish children, you can keep it between the bunch of you, but if your contacts list is relatively baby-free, think about branching out a bit to find some attendees. The gym, the job, or the park around the corner can all be great places to find some mamas that might want to attend. The guest list can be as long as you’d like it, just consider this: if the younglings will be tagging along, a shorter roster might be better than a longer one.   

Send Out the Invites: Invitations are always a great way to express creativity. Try fashioning some mock-books, making construction paper covers and including the party details inside. If you’re not one for handmade crafts, or you flat out just don’t have the time, then traditional store bought invitations will do perfectly fine, as well as making it known via email, Facebook, Twitter or wherever your friends may be! On the invitations, be sure to include the only rule: two books per attendee! The books need not be brand new, just in decent condition. The point of the party is saving money by trading off old books for new-to-your-baby books, so make certain your guests are aware that gently-used is just fine! Also be sure to include whether or not you want your guests to bring a dish or anything of that nature.

Prepare for the Party: This is an easy party to plan for. If your guests are bringing food pot-luck style, then you’re pretty much golden, just grab some plates, cups and utensils. If not, something light and easy will surely be suitable, whether it be sandwiches or just snacks. A party isn’t a party without some drinks, so chill a couple bottles of wine or break out your favorite margarita recipe (virgin or not, depending upon your preferences) and prepare to enjoy.

…and Enjoy: The trade can be facilitated a few different ways. You can give each book a Post-It with a number, and draw raffle tickets with corresponding numbers, or you can do a Round Robin-type tradeoff, where the first person selects a book, then the second person chooses a book, and decides whether or not she wants to trade it for the first person’s book. Subsequently, the third person picks a book and decides whether or not she wants to trade it for the first or second person’s book, and so on. However you do it, you will surely have scored some new and interesting literature for your baby, having a great time in the process. Eat, drink, chat, enjoy!