Mothers the world over will open their new e-readers for the first time over this Mother’s Day weekend, which comes as no surprise since the Kindle has been the number one selling item and number wish-listed item for over two years, and that’s just on Amazon.com. With an astounding variety of features to choose from among the e-readers on the market, not to mention the multitude of giftable accessories and e-gift certificates to be had for those Moms who have already taken advantage of the e-book world, all things digital literary make the perfect gift.
But once the wrapping paper is off and the unit is powered up, Mom may need a little help in putting the e-reader to use. Barnes and Noble’s NookBook store boasts a helpful “Flying off the Shelves” tab to highlight not just the e-book titles currently swimming around the various nationwide bestsellers’ lists, but also the books that their customers are making popular. The Sony EbookStore is a little more streamlined and a little less flashy, making it even easier for a new e-reader owner to quickly find a great book.
KoboBooks.com keeps a running, full-color header of popular books across the top of its site, ready for Mom to download with a click, while Amazon.com has set aside an entire section of the Kindle store for Mother’s Day-themed e-books, over 200 in all, in addition to all of the usual suspects in helping a Kindle owner download instantly via the Whispernet.
Remember that those mothers who already own and enjoy an e-reader device can always use an accessory that will enhance their device of choice. Everything from covers to attachable lights to car chargers to magnifying screens are available for the specific e-readers currently on the market, with many aftermarket companies offering compatible and artistic function.
For the long-distance mom relationship, an e-gift certificate specific to the device that she already owns or is receiving this year adds a little more personal touch than just a plain gift card. It arrives via an email account and is instantly usable from her computer, but also tells her that you know her interests, even if you can’t see her as often as you like. A gift account with a legitimate e-reader lending library will also go a long way towards making sure the device doesn’t gather dust.
Whether Mom has been a longtime digital publishing guru or will be excitedly opening her first e-reader this year, the fun doesn’t stop with this one gift. Keep her in e-ink throughout the year and you’ll make sure her e-reader is the best gift she’s ever received.
The entire staff at Good e-Reader would like to wish all of the Moms out there a very Happy Mothers Day!
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.