The holidays are right around the corner and children are already eager to receive presents. Toys, clothes, and games are fun to unwrap, but sometimes books are overlooked! Don’t let books be forgotten this holiday season. Books are a magical present to gift to children.
What makes a book magical and memorable for a child? It could be the texture of the book cover and pages, the vivid illustrations, or the enchantment and thrill of the story. It could be a delightful combination of all three!
Often the books we collect as children stay with us for years. I still keep a stowed-away box of my treasured books from childhood. I’m hopeful these beautiful books will be read by my future children.
One of the ten books listed below just might be your family’s next beloved book:
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman
Can T. rexes give hugs? Their arms are so little! Especially if you’re a teeny tiny T. rex. Join the lovable main character T. Rex in this friendship adventure about how a hug can cheer up a pal. Ages 3-5
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan
Read to your children about the values of persistence, hard work, and community found in this story. Discover what happens to our protagonist when she receives an unwanted lemon tree for her birthday, instead of the tech gadgets she desired. The outcome just may surprise you. Ages 3-7
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Add kindness and tolerance to your child’s value system with this witty book guide. “Here We Are…” has received several honors, praise, and awards for best book and bestseller. This guide will exhibit Earth’s beauty, uniqueness, and diversity. It’s simply a must-have for all parents. Ages 3-7
We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines
Based on the authentic family we know and love from HGTV’s Fixer Upper, this family shares its tales and values absorbed from gardening. Growing a bountiful garden has its obstacles including ravenous rabbits, wicked insects, and simple “death by over-hydration.” You will not want to miss what the Gaines family has shared. Ages 4-8
Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse
A heat wave has blanketed an urban neighborhood. Sidewalks blistering and flowers parched, our narrator Tessie frolics in a rain dance with her friends. Read on to live the author’s picturesque interpretations about the fresh rain striking the city. Ages 4-8
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman
Perfect for parents keen on STEM content, this book illustrates the largest numbers in the universe. From “thirty-seven billion rabbits” to “three trillion trees”, your young reader will appreciate the exploration of this data. Ages 4-8
Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz
Lean into the history of mining with this emotive, touching, and treasured story. Adult and children readers alike will take to heart the stark contrast of a radiant seaside day and underground darkness. Ages 5-9
A Different Pond by Bao Phi
Open children’s hearts to what it’s like to have to fish for food, not recreation. This heartfelt story shares the author’s relationship between himself and his father, writing about what it was like to wake early to be able to put food on the table. Ages 6-8
Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr
Nim is a young girl living on an island with her father and animal friends. When her father sails off for a three-day trip and disaster is near, Nim must demonstrate courage and strength like never before. Pre-teens will enjoy this enthralling island survival story. Ages 9-12
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Coyote and her father travel across the nation in an old school bus. When Coyote finds out that her hometown park, which she has special ties to, is being demolished, she crafts a complicated plan to get her father to drive thousands of miles back to Washington State before it’s too late. An intricate and shocking coming of age story for pre-teens. Ages 9-12
