Baby Shower Theme: Build Baby's Library

From board books to bath books to tales for tots, new parents will appreciate help in building a collection of books for baby to enjoy. In the invites, instruct guests to bring their childhood favorite and new classics.

The Invite: This charming invitation from Tiny Prints is covered in books — a fun, visual way to let guests know the shower’s theme. Just be sure to request they bring along their favorite baby books to the shower.

The Decor: For a quirky centerpiece, create stacks of baby board books. Top off each one with a simple pot of flowers. Write down a cherished childhood book title on a small card and glue to a wooden skewer and insert into each flower pot. Purchase a small bookcase from IKEA and decorate it with a simple, graphic design, such as ABC’s and 123’s. Have the bookcase at the shower and instruct guests to leave their books there — the mom-to-be will see her baby’s library grow right in front of her eyes.

The Cake: A cake shaped to resemble a stack of books would be a creative touch. Have a different childhood book title piped on the “spine” of each one. Alongside the cake, build a cupcake bookworm! Have an assortment of cupcakes, each frosted in a different color, making sure the lead one is decorated to resemble a smiling caterpillar face.

The Game: Mama-to-be might be familiar with her favorite childhood stories, but this is a good time to introduce her to the new classics. Prepare a handout of a mix of real children’s books and fake names and have everyone guess which is real and which is not. Pick up a few bookmarks to hand out as prizes.

The Favor: This adorable " Over the Moon" vintage bookmark from Bellissimo Favors, is a special way to thank guests for attending the shower. You can also pair it with personalized tea bags with a tag reading “to enjoy with your favorite book.”