The Mesa Public Library wants to help you check off your holiday shopping list with, well, more lists.

Give them a suggestion and their librarians will make a customized reading list for the bookworm in your life.  

“Everybody has somebody on their shopping list that is just impossible to buy for, so we’re hoping to be able to provide something that is very custom and very personal that doesn’t require a big outlay of cash,” said Librarian Cherise Mead.

“What’s fun is that you give somebody this list of books they can come in and borrow those books for free and every time they’re reading hopefully they’ll be thinking about you.”

Librarians are happy to make lists based on genres, memories or event Instagram profiles. They’ve made lists for lovers of squirrels, gingerbread and books set in Ireland.

“Don’t be afraid to be too specific, we’ ll have a lot of fun putting it together,” Mead said.

Anyone who lives in Maricopa County can get a Mesa Library card and request a reading list.

If you want your list done in time for Christmas, make your request by Dec. 19.

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Mead’s been a librarian for five years, but first volunteered at her local library as a teenager. Here’s a few of her favorite reads from 2018 and what she enjoyed about them. 

"How to be a Good Creature: A Memoir in 13 Animals," by Sy Montgomery:

MEAD: A must-read for animal lovers! In 13 chapters (each one about a different animal and lesson), Sy Montgomery tells us who she is and what she's learned through the stories of the animals who have profoundly touched her life.

"Meg," by Steve Alten:

MEAD: I read this (and subsequent books in the series) following the release of the movies. It’s action packed, a little silly, and a whole lot of fun—think Michael Crichton circa Jurassic Park. You learn about megalodons, sure, but more importantly you hold your breath while they stalk their prey!
 
"Teeth: Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America," by Mary Otto:

MEAD: Once in a while a book comes along that profoundly shifts the way you think about the world, and this book did that for me. Otto covers the history of modern dentistry, how oral health came to exist so thoroughly outside of the rest of the healthcare field, and the current state of oral care in this country. Dental history isn’t something most people would seek out, but this was truly compelling.  

Did you know KJZZ has a book club? Find out more here.