I realize it’s a tad too early for Christmas and Hanukkah talk, at least by about 3 days. Day after Halloween, right? When the stores start building their holiday displays, and the lights on the houses start to go up. Seems like it gets earlier and earlier every year.

But this year? This year, I will be prepared. I’ve been shopping throughout the year, making detailed lists of who will get what, and from whom. Pea will be busy making a new portfolio of her artwork for her “artsy fartsy” grandmother, GiGi. And little pinch pots for her other grandmother, who collects everything under the sun, and therefore always needs sweet little spots to place her collections.

And I’ve been looking for clever and inexpensive stocking stuffers for the girls. New crayons, some candy, all of the obvious ones. But then I want some exciting additions to this year’s stockings. Things that are unexpected. Things that will send little minds into creative overdrive.

So when I came across these little “Bare Books” from Sons & Daughters, I just knew they were going to be perfect for Pea. She’s so into books, and stories, and drawing. And “writing.” Little more than a series of scribbles on a page, it is, to me, the beginnings of words. Written words. And so these little blank books, just waiting for her “story” to be penciled in, are nothing short of brilliantly perfect for her Christmas stocking this year. And the books are hardcover. The possibilities are endless, with these little gems. And at $3.50 a pop, you can stock up and stick them in your gift closet for future events, or have your child paint watercolors on each page, and give it to a grandparent as a gift. Or write a story, complete with illustrations, for a favorite teacher. Or you can write the story of your child’s life, thus far, for your baby.

And take some time to poke around on the Sons & Daughters website. They have really, really fantastic things…