By setting up a book swap as your party event, you can avoid receiving heaps of plastic toy presents and all the packaging containing them (cardboard and plastic and those annoying twist ties holding everything). The benefits of this type of party are clear – no huge pile of presents to store: no packaging to throw away or recycle, no thank you notes to write, and every child takes home a few books instead of a goodie bag full of candy and more plastic junk. The host and guests can feel that they are not contributing (that day) to the huge amount of consumer stuff in the world and you can sleep easier at night knowing that you didn't increase the demand for plastic polymers (that day).

It's easy to have a book swap. We suggest that the book swap be structured so that the birthday child gets a few books and that each party guest receives a few books. Some families suggest giving the birthday child a few presents as well as a token gesture after the party has ended.

Here are some simple ideas for a great book swap. The party invitation asks that instead of a present, each guest should bring three wrapped books, used books, from their collection of books. If you have a party with kids of the same age, this works especially well. Most families have books to spare. Those who don't can always stop by a thrift store and make a modest purchase. The host should also wrap some extra books to guarantee that each child gets a present at the event. When guests arrive, these books are placed in the gift area. Then the party goes on as usual. At the end of the party, each guest chooses a different package of books as their goodie bag.

Emily Bazelon wrote about her book swap trials in an enlightening article about this practice on Slate. It's an interesting article about the changing landscape of gift-giving at children's birthday parties.