Before we jump into sharing an update on last weekend’s first book-hiding adventure of the new year, we’re here to remind you that we’re currently raising money to fund book-hiding this year – and we need your help! Once we hit our $10K goal, anyone who donated $100 or more to the fundraiser will be entered to win a fun Tome Gnome tote full of goodies (including some signed books from one of TTG’s founding board members) 😉 You can donate at the link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/hiding-books-in-2025

And we’re super excited to announce that this year we’re launching a new monthly “Community Kindness Sponsorship,” which helps offset the cost of the extra 15 books we hide after scavenger hunt weekend every month (the “random act of kindness” books!). And even more exciting is that we kicked off this program with a sponsorship from our phenomenal friends at Stacks Book Club🥰♥️📚 We are so grateful to Lizzy and Crispin for their support in creating a bookish community rooted in kindness – and creating a beautiful and welcoming space for readers in NW Tucson. So, please send some gratitude their way!

Do you know someone who might be interested in partnering with us as a Community Kindness Sponsor in 2025 ($250 for one month)? Please send us an email (tucsontomegnome[at]gmail.com)! We have a few months still available!

Thank you!!! Now onward to the book-hiding wrap-up:

Happy 41st book giveaway! To celebrate the start of 2025, last weekend we hid 30 copies of The Change by Kirsten Miller. This book was the perfect read for January, especially at this moment when so much is changing in our broader culture and reality… (and NOT changing for the better).

If you’re new here and didn’t get a chance to find a book last Sunday, some of our amazing guest gnomes will be hiding an additional 15 books of this month’s selection (on top of the 30) around Tucson over the next week or two. So keep your eyes peeled, as 15 more copies of The Change will be hidden around town! We do not post any hint photos of these books, as they are truly meant to be a random act of kindness for those who happen upon them. Yay for random bookish joy and delight!

AND THE JANUARY FUN ISN’T OVER YET! This weekend (Sunday, January 26), we’ll be hiding more books in collaboration with the amazing team at Pine Reads Review! Pine Reads Review is an online children’s and young adult literature publication run by University of Arizona undergraduates in Tucson, Arizona. They are committed to showcasing a combination of debut, diverse, and established authors.

Through our partnership with them, we’ll be hiding 12 copies of Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo all around the University of Arizona campus. It should be a beautiful morning to explore campus and maybe find a hidden tome!

Like January’s pick, our selection in February will be topical and appropriate for the changing times… (have we piqued your interest again?). So keep an eye out here, on Instagram, and on our Facebook page for updates 🙂