It’s back for 2026. The Book Bag Poetry Christmas Gift Guide.

Let’s boost some poets and presses, give fellow poetics some gift ideas and maybe find some hidden gems.

This year, I’ve made it even easier to share your recommendations. All you need to do is complete the form below and I’ll compile the list which will be shared in late November. (NB: A google account is required to use the form.)

Submit Your Christmas Gift Recommendations Here

If you aren’t able to use google, please send an email with the following to: thebookbag25@gmail.com with Christmas Gift Guide 2026 as the subject.

• The title of the Book, Gift or Subscription
• The Poet’s Name
• Name of the Press
• Your First Name
• Why this would make a great Christmas Gift?
• A link to where it can be purchased (if available)
• A photo of the book cover.

This is a great opportunity to help others in the poetry community to maybe get some ideas of what poetic gifts they’d like. A book of poems is always more welcome than a generic pair of socks.

Can we make this years list longer and quirkier than last years?

Don’t take too long to think about it, the form will close on October 16th.

To quote Emily Dickinson, “If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry.”

I look forward to seeing your recommendations. I ho-ho-hope there’s plenty!

Paul

---

With the festive season fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of poetry collections, pamphlets and anthologies that would make excellent Christmas gifts.

To do that, I’m calling on the book bag readers to offer some advice to each other.

 What I would like from you is the title, author or editor and press with a couple of lines as to why you think a particular book will make an excellent Christmas gift as well as a photograph of the cover.

I will then select and compile these into a list and share at the end of November. This is a great way to boost poets and presses alike as well as giving gift ideas to your fellow poetics.

To quote Shelley ‘Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.’ Why would you not want to share that?

How to send the information: Send an email with the subject ‘The Christmas List’ to thebookbag25@gmail.com before 23:59 on 21st November 2025.

Please attach the image of the cover as png or jpg file formats.

I Ho Ho Hope to read your recommendations soon!

---

Stay Poetic,

Paul

Featured Image: Photo by freestocks on Unsplash