Bookish Gifts To Give This Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us and there's no better gift to give than a bookish one! Below is an awesome list of books that would make wonderful gifts for readers of all ages...

CHRISTMAS BOOKS 

Dasher 

How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever 

by Matt Tavares 

40 pages – Hardcover Picture Book 

Ages 4-8 

 From the celebrated creator of Red and Lulu comes the story of a brave little doe who meets Santa and changes Christmas forever. 

 Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life — one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It’s not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh — a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same. 

First Christmas Sweater (and the Sheep Who Changed Everything) 

by Ryan Tubridy and illustrated by Chris Judge 

Walker Books US 

144 pages – Hardcover Middle-Grade Novel 

Ages 7-10 

 In a buoyant story filled with ewe-morous puns, a multicolored sheep who loves Christmas inspires a seasonal ritual. 

 There are two things everyone knows about Hillary the sheep. One is that, unlike her typically hued friends, Hillary’s wool is all the colors of the rainbow. The other is that she adores everything about Christmas, especially Santa. So when word gets out that Mr. Claus is traveling across Ireland seeking the perfect sheep’s wool for a sweater to keep his belly warm, Hillary’s head begins to spin. Could her wool-dest dreams be about to come true? Featuring a news-loving starling named Didya, a jelly-bean-obsessed farmer, and a choir of Elvish Presley–singing elves, this sweetly comical tribute to the season will find its place among kid-pleasing holiday traditions. Already a bestseller in Ireland, it offers a welcome humorous spin on the holidays and a strong female protagonist. 

Little Robin’s Christmas 

by Jan Fearnley 

Nosy Crow 

32 pages – Hardcover Picture Book 

Ages 2-5 

  

One frosty evening, a week before Christmas, Little Robin prepares for the chilly nights to come by washing his seven warm knit vests. But as the days go by, he comes across lots of shivering animals and kindly offers them his vests to wear. By Christmas Eve, Little Robin is cold and alone with no vests left. That is, until a special someone arrives to reward his kindness in this heartwarming holiday tale about the gift of sharing. 

Maisy’s Christmas Party 

With 6 Festive Letters and Secret Surprises! 

by Lucy Cousins 

Candlewick Press 

32 pages – Novelty Book 

Ages 3-5 

  

You’ve got mail! When Maisy invites her friends to a holiday party, she receives several pull-out gifts that she’s happy to share with fans. 

  

The holidays are coming, and Maisy’s friends are thrilled to receive invitations to her party. It will be fun to play games, tell stories, sing carols, and eat treats! Dotty, Eddie, Cyril, Tallulah, and Charley all send thank-you notes to Maisy, each with a little something she might enjoy. And Maisy has something to give to her readers as well! 

Peppa Pig and the Christmas Play 

Candlewick Entertainment 

32 pages – Hardcover Picture Book 

Ages 2-5 

  

Peppa’s class is putting on a Christmas play. Will Santa arrive in time to see the show? 

  

Everyone in Peppa’s class is excited about the Christmas play. Wendy Wolf is going to be an elf, Peppa will be a Christmas fairy, and Suzy Sheep is going to be the Christmas nurse — just in case someone gets sick. Peppa knows Santa is very busy, but she still hopes he’ll come to watch the play. He said he would! Could a Christmas surprise be in store for Peppa and her friends? 

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Christmas Activity Book 

Candlewick Press 

32 pages – Trade Paperback 

Ages 3-7 

  

Inspired by the animated special based on a beloved classic, this treasure trove of activities, fun facts, and more than a hundred stickers is the perfect gift for a magical time of year. 

  

There’s so much to make, do, and discover in the countdown to Christmas! Whether kids like staying indoors to make crafts or stepping outside to explore, they’ll find plenty of ideas in this gem of a book. Would you like to create a wreath, design your own cards, or make a special cake for the birds? How about learning some seasonal jokes, looking for winter creatures, or completing a Christmas tree calendar with stickers? With easy-to-follow instructions, charming illustrations, and plenty of holiday spirit, this hands-on guide to making the most of the season will keep children entertained and inspired. 

The Tree That’s Meant To Be 

By Yuval Zommer 

32 pages 

Doubleday 

A heartfelt, gorgeous Christmas picture book that's destined to become a holiday classic - about a crooked little fir tree and a powerful message about love and embracing what makes you different.  A small fir is left all alone after the other trees near it in the forest are chosen by families as Christmas trees. But when the forest animals gather around the lonely little tree to cheer it up and celebrate the season, it finds the warmth of the holidays in the heart of a cold, snowy forest.  This is a charming and classic-feeling holiday story with a heartfelt message about celebrating our differences and sticking by our friends. Families will love reading it together and talking about kindness, generosity, and the true meaning of Christmas. 

There’s An Elf in Your Book 

By Tom Fletcher 

Illustrated by Greg Abbott 

32 pages 

Random House 

Ho, ho, ho! There's an elf in this Christmas picture book by bestselling children's author, YouTube star, and musician Tom Fletcher!  Do you have what it takes to make Santa's Nice List? An elf is here to test you in Tom Fletcher's newest participatory read-aloud. Don't let the elf trick you into being naughty! Just follow his instructions to sing a Christmas carol, clap, burp... Hey, wait a second! Children will be delighted to participate in this satisfying holiday tale.  Tom Fletcher has again paired up with illustrator Greg Abbott to create a creature that readers will want to keep playing with! He's one of Britain's bestselling children's authors and the creator of the successful West End theatrical show The Christmasaurus, and his videos have been viewed tens of millions of times all over the world. 

Junie B. Jones Deluxe Holiday Edition: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.) 

By Barbara Park 

Illustrated by Denise Brunkus 

144 pages 

Random House 

Add an extra helping of cheer to your holidays with this gorgeous storybook gift edition of the New York Times bestselling Junie B. Jones holiday favorite--now for the first time with full-color art! Just right for gifts and read-alouds!  

Ho, ho... uh-oh! Laugh yourself silly with the world's funniest kid! It's holiday time, and Room One is doing lots of fun things to celebrate. Like making elf costumes! And singing joyful songs! Only, how can Junie B. enjoy the festivities when Tattletale May keeps ruining her holiday glee? And here is the worst part. When everyone picks names for Secret Santa, Junie B. gets Tattletale you-know-who! It's enough to fizzle the holiday fun! Unless... is a Secret Santa gift Junie B.'s chance to give May exactly what she deserves? Or will Junie B. and May find their holiday spirit and finally bring peace and goodwill to Room One? Find out in this gorgeously illustrated, full-color edition of the laugh-out-loud holiday, family, and classroom favorite--the perfect read-aloud for the holidays or all year long!  With over 65 million books sold, Barbara Park's New York Times bestselling Junie B. Jones books are beloved in classrooms and have been keeping kids and their grown-ups laughing--and reading--for more than twenty-five years. 

GREAT BOOKISH HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR ALL AGES 

100 First Words 

illustrated by Edward Underwood 

Nosy Crow 

14 pages - Board Book 

Ages 0 – 3 

  

With easy-to-lift card flaps on each spread, this stylish first word book is sure to hit the mark with little ones as they learn all sorts of new animals and objects. A clean layout grouped by theme features one hundred essential words and simple illustrations to help toddlers understand them. 

Alphabet Street 

by Jonathan Emmett and illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius 

Nosy Crow 

26 pages – Board Book 

Ages 2-5 

  

There’s so much to discover in this ingenious book! Read the funny rhyming text, lift the flaps, and learn the letters of the alphabet. And when you’re finished, flip the book and have fun with the play scene on the reverse! The fun format and signature bold artwork from Ingela P. Arrhenius makes this a great choice for learning ABCs and imaginative play. 

Black Beauty 

by Anna Sewell and illustrated by Christian Birmingham 

Candlewick Press 

240 pages  - Hardcover Illustrated 

Ages 10 and up 

  

Over fifty stunning illustrations from acclaimed artist Christian Birmingham bring this treasured classic new life. 

  

When Black Beauty was born one sweet spring day, he could not have imagined the life ahead of him. Following his mother’s advice to do his work with a good will, he enjoys the adventures of country and city life, makes new friends, and suffers from the cruelty and greed of his human masters. Beauty faces each challenge with bravery and kindness — and then a chance encounter with an old friend brings him the greatest joy of all. Anna Sewell’s classic horse story has captivated generations of readers since it was first published 140 years ago. This enchanting edition features the full unabridged text and Christian Birmingham’s gorgeous color and black-and-white illustrations depicting Beauty’s nineteenth-century world. 

Guess How Much I Love You 

25th Anniversary Slipcase Edition 

by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram 

Candlewick Press 

40 pages – Slipcase Hardcover Picture Book 

All Ages 

  

Beloved for a quarter of a century, the family classic receives a beautiful slipcase for this keepsake hardcover featuring a limited-edition giclée print. 

  

The story of Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare, who playfully vow a universe of affection, has enchanted millions of readers since its publication twenty-five years ago. Now, its enduring message of immeasurable love makes the ideal gift in a slipcased edition that includes an endearing print of the Nutbrown Hares suitable for framing. 

Jon Klassen’s Hat Box 

Boxed set of Picture Books 

Candlewick Press 

ages 4-8 

  

Hold on to all of your hats at once for this special collection of Jon Klassen’s celebrated hat trilogy. 

  

The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. A fish has stolen a hat; will he get away with it? Two turtles have found one hat, but the hat looks good on both of them. . . . Jon Klassen’s deliciously deadpan hat tales continue to surprise and delight readers of all ages, and they are all now available in one impeccably designed boxed set along with a free frameable print. Included are: 

  

I Want My Hat Back 

This Is Not My Hat 

We Found a Hat 

The Little Snowplow Wishes for Snow 

by Lora Koehler and illustrated by Jake Parker 

Candlewick Press 

40 pages – Ages 3-7 

  

The plucky little hero of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Little Snowplow returns in a story about wishing, waiting, and the magic of a first snowfall. 

  

The little snowplow loves his job on the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, but the work he loves best is plowing snow. Throughout the year, he wishes for snow to come, but winter begins without a single flake in sight. As the weeks pass and the little snowplow’s birthday approaches, he starts to wonder whether it will snow at all. Will the little snowplow’s birthday dreams come true? 

Paper World: Planet Earth 

by Bomboland 

Big Picture Press 

30 pages – Hardcover Picture Book 

Ages 8-12 

  

This guide to our planet shows paper being engineered like never before. 

  

Paper World: Planet Earth uses ingenious paper cutouts to reveal the amazing details of our planet, from bubbling volcanoes to rushing rivers to the boiling hot interior of the Earth. With detailed art by studio Bomboland, a fact-filled text, and flaps and die-cuts on every spread, this one-of-a-kind novelty book will appeal to readers of all ages. 

The Raymie Nightngale Three-Book Collection 

by Kate DiCamillo 

3 book boxed set 

Ages 10 and up 

  

Kate DiCamillo’s sequence of novels about the Three Rancheros is now complete — and with this beautiful hardcover boxed set, readers can savor all three. 

  

First came Raymie Nightingale, the “triumphant and necessary book”* that would become a National Book Award Finalist. Then followed the tender Louisiana’s Way Home, featuring “one of DiCamillo’s most singular and arresting creations” (The New York Times Book Review) and marking the first time the two-time Newbery Medalist had revisited the world of one of her novels. And finally, the much-hoped-for third novel, Beverly, Right Here, awaits its rapt audience. Here, the entire trilogy of novels — the perfect gift for both longtime fans and new devotees — is available in a beautifully designed set. Included are hardcover editions of: 

  

Raymie Nightingale 

Louisiana’s Way Home 

Beverly, Right Here 

Where’s Waldo? Double Trouble at the Museum 

The Ultimate Spot the Difference Book 

by Martin Handford 

Candlewick Press 

32 pages - Hardcover Picture Book 

Ages 5-9 

  

Maybe you’re good at spotting Waldo. But can you spot the difference? Head to the museum, where even the sharpest eyes are seeing double. 

  

Waldo is wandering through the museum, where there are some devilishly difficult differences to decipher. Finding Waldo and his buddies is hard enough, but who can spot the minutiae that separate one Egyptian tablet from another? The dastardly details that make two maritime scenes unalike? The itty-bitty discrepancies between the vintage books and scrolls? With more than five hundred differences to be delineated, this brand-new spin on the art of spotting Waldo will have fans of all ages lining up to take a look. 

**I received copies of the title above for review/feature purposes. All thoughts, opinions, reviews are my own.