It can be a daunting task to pick the perfect book to gift to your little ones this Christmas. But I am here to save you the trouble with my ultimate guide to book gifts for kids.
Christmas is just around the corner and it’s that time of year when everyone needs help picking gifts for their loved ones. Among all the gifts that children love to receive be they toys, clothes or ornaments, you can add a book and keep it a tradition every year.
Why a book?
A book, I think is a timeless gift and carries sentimental value. As children grow up, their vision broadens and the way they look at the same story can vary. That’s the beauty of it.
That’s exactly the reason why a book is always a must-have Christmas present. All the other toys and clothes, the children will outgrow eventually.
Learn more about How to raise a reader
How do you pick a book?
There are a few tips to consider when picking a book for your child. When you go to a book store where there are thousands of children’s books, it can be really overwhelming if you do not have an exact idea what to pick for your child.
Ok. Do you pick it based on the cover? Yes, Sometimes
Is it enough? No !
It’s cliché enough, but do not pick a book by its cover (alone), I’d say. Spare another 2 minutes and follow these helpful tips.
My recommendations for book gifts for kids – (I have read all these to my kids)
For Babies and toddlers
- Find the duck at bedtime by Kate Nolan
- Flutter by, Butterfly by Peter Horacek
- ABC with goose by Laura Wall
- My Lake Baby by Rose Rossner
- Find out about things that go by Mandy Archer
- The very hungry caterpillar’s wild animal hide and seek by Eric Carle
- Charley Harper’s animal alphabet by Zoe Bourke
For pre-schoolers and up
- My first body book by Mathew Oldham
- Rainbow of emotions by Elena Ulyeva
- Early learning big book of Australian backyards by Kerry Kifzelman
- How does my garden grow by Gerda Muller
- Making up by Jan Ormerod
- I feel lonely: Why do I feel lonely today? by Kindersley Dorling
- I will always be older than you by Jane Godwin
- Where’s home, Daddy Bear by Nicola O’Byrne
- The barefoot book of children by Tessa Strickland
Book gifts for kids : General guidelines
BABIES AND TODDLERS
- Board books are preferred.(learnt it the hard way)
- Colourful or black and white illustrations( Black and white illustrations are especially for infants)
- Different textures to run their fingers on.
- There may be a mirror attached to the page.
- Nursery rhymes and bedtime stories
- Lift-the-flap and pop-up books
- Stories with repetitive words and rhyming words
- Less words and more pictures OR wordless picture books
Pre-schoolers and Older
- Simple stories with colourful illustrations of people, animals and natural beauty.
- Stories based on friendship, family, transition, adventure, inclusion and diversity.
How to pick the best book gifts for kids
- Yes, the front page catches one’s eye, but the moment you get hold of it, flip it over and read what’s on the back cover. Usually, you can get a gist of what’s inside.
- Next, run through the pages really quickly. You don’t have to read. The font size, images, word density on pages will give you a clear idea if it’s appropriate for your child’s age.
- Remember, not just the story, illustrations also play a big role especially for children. Because they can absorb so much by just looking at pictures or make up their own story just by scanning the pictures.
Colourful illustrations are always a win in my place. It portrays the storyline. If the story is about superheroes, you won’t see pictures of the natural world. A lot of illustrations and a variety of colours can never go wrong when it comes to kids’ books.
Ex: My daughter loves stories based on small towns and “Katie Morag” series is a big hit in our home as it has so many relaxing and soothing landscape illustrations of a small town. - My next move is the front page. Just have a glance at the Author’s name. May be it’s just me. But if the cover, illustrations and all other details are to my liking, I’d just grab the book without worrying too much about who the author is.
Having said that, if we read a really good book, I’d go hunt down all the other books written by that author.
For example, my daughter got the book,” I wish I had a pirate suit” by Pamela Allen when she was just 2 or so. We both instantly fell in love with that story.
Mind you, I didn’t know anything about the author back then. I went to the library to look for other books written by the same author and soon realized she is an award winning author and an phenomenon in Children’s Literature.
Needless to say, all her books proved to be worthy of her achievements and I felt fortunate to have found the gem of that book at first.
I have noticed kids are more intrigued by mythical creatures like unicorns, mermaids and pre-historic animals like dinosaurs and mammoths or things they don’t see every day like rocket ships, submarines, planets, sea creatures etc.
They seem to never get tired of these things. Just a small tip if you are wondering what will interest them 🙂
Moreover, Storylines based on friendships, inclusion, transition, emotions are ideal for improving social and emotional intelligence.
For example, when I was pregnant with my son, I read so many books to my daughter about the role of big sisters and how exciting it’s to be a big sister. It really did help her get ready for the big change that took place when the baby came.
Even up to this day, when there’s a fallout between them, reading such a story warms their hearts and helps them make up soon and get back to playing.
Getting a book as a Christmas present is like getting a small something that lives with your child forever. The stories they read, can inspire them, bringing out the best in them. It’s the type of gift you never grow out of, because a book can be enjoyed at any stage of life.
Sometimes you outgrow your story books, then one day look back at them just to find the little wonders you never could decipher as a child.
That’s why some of our favourite children’s books still have a special place in our hearts. The hidden gems inside them never fail to amaze us, even in our adult lives.
I hope every child gets to have at least one amazing book this Christmas that inspires and gives them so much joy. Because our children deserve to be happy and to carry something to cherish in their hearts for their later years. What else can do it other than a good book and a loving family?
Read my article on Christmas books to read aloud
Let us know what your child’s favourite books are 🙂
Wish You a Merry Christmas!
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