When we were little we used to get books for each other's birthdays as well: We each had a series of books that we got the next part of on all four of our birthdays and one on Christmas as well. Then there was a different series of books that we just got the next part of on our own birthdays (and possibly Christmas as well, I can quite remember now.) There was yet another series of books that we would get the next part of between the four of us only at Christmas, and then be told to sit on the sofa and read that to each other while Mum made the Christmas dinner. I still think a birthday when I don't get a new book to read is a let-down. My sister and I have worked out a system where we are responsible for making sure the other gets at least one book for Christmas and birthdays, after one sad year where I admittedly got books, but not ones to read all the way through, instead being of the reference-variety. The one year she had found a non-book present that she really wanted to give me for my birthday she warned me and so that I could make arrangements with Mum to provide the I-want-to-read-it-right-now book. :-)