If you are a bookworm, regardless of how young or how old, Christmas is always a big bonanza for your growing book collection!

When friends and relatives know your likes, dislikes, and interests, it is much easier for them to choose books for you. If you would rather give the person a gift certificate to buy a book of their choice, that works too and takes the headaches out of shopping for teens and those who are hard to please.

There are many great bookstores in Bermuda and with some you don?t even have to leave home to order a book, providing you know what you are looking for.

Say for example that you are a business executive and are planning a trip to France but you just don?t have time to go to the store and choose a French travel book and a language book with helpful phrases.

You can go online to the and they will get it for you and you can collect it at a convenient time. They will contact you by email if they have the book in stock or custom order it for you for pick-up within about four to five working days. You can also do it the old fashioned way by telephone.

The most progressive book stores in Hamilton are probably the Phoenix Store?s Bookmart on Reid Street ? also the Island?s largest bookstore. on Bermudiana Road is great too because you can make selections via email. Another alternative, both for books and magazines, is the Washington Mall Magazines on the lower level. on Queen Street is a tranquil place for books for the whole family. All four Hamilton book stores have a varied selection both fiction and non-fiction. , located on Water Street, St. George?s, is the only bookstore east of Hamilton with a wide selection of Bermuda books and books from England. The friendly owner, Gill White, is clever for doing book searches and special orders for customers.

Other great places to find books in St. George?s are as they have many that are perfect for children or adults at great prices. Some of the topics are Bible stories, animal stories, and classic fairy tales. Additionally , on Water Street, has an excellent selection of Bermuda books by Scott Stallard, Graeme Outerbridge and numerous other local authors.

I particularly liked ?A Birdwatching Guide to Bermuda? by A. Dobson for $23.95 and ?Setting Sail for the New Millennium? by Ian MacDonald Smith for $55.

If you have time to browse, open on Thursday and Saturday mornings from 9 am to noon, take at look at their impressive book selection. Ann Douglas Ross, the manager, and her volunteers have done a great job building customised shelving. The books are very organised, neatly categorised, attractive and sell for very reasonable prices. Their location is 53 Devon Springs Road, across from St. Brendan?s. also has several books on Bermuda?s botanicals.