Inside: Little bookworms love bookish gifts, whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or a special occasion. Check out our favorites, below!
*This post contains affiliate links, but none of these gift ideas are sponsored. They are simply products we love and want to share with our fans!
Toys, toys and more toys!
When the holidays roll around, it seems like my kids’ new toys — you know, the ones they HAD TO HAVE for the holidays — get discarded as quickly as they are opened.
With so many shiny new things competing for their attention, it’s virtually impossible for one game or gadget to stand out above any other.
Let’s be honest. Do your children really play with more than a few of those new gifts within a week or two after those gifts were given to them? If your little ones are anything like mine, the answer is a pretty resounding no. My six year old reverts back to throwing a football (or turning any object he finds in the house INTO a ball to toss around!), and my five year old inevitably turns back to his guitar and his Daniel Tiger trolley within an hour.
But here’s the deal. If you have a child who loves reading — or if you need a special gift for one — there are so many awesome bookish gifts out there that will be cherished by young book lovers.
So for your little bookworms of all ages, I’ve put together the perfect list of bookish gifts for avid readers. Celebrate and honor their love of stories with these unique presents — and say goodbye to the toys that will only end up cluttering your closets!
Enjoy!
RELATED: Looking for our favorite stories to add to your bookish gifts? Check out our awesome lists of all the best children’s books!
Little Bookworms: Bookish Gifts for Babies and Toddlers
Bookish Pajamas: There’s nothing cuter than a baby or toddler in pajamas that match his favorite book. I adore these Hungry Caterpillar PJs! Whether you give these as a standalone gift or pair them with The Very Hungry Caterpillar book, stuffed animal and an Eric Carle Alphabet Floor Puzzle, your little bookworm (and his parents) will love it!
The Wonderful Baby You Are: A Record of Baby’s First Year: If you want a bookish gift that will make the parents of a new baby swoon, check out this beautiful memory book to capture baby’s big moments from birth through five years old. While this is a gorgeous gift on its own, it’s made even more special with the actual picture book, The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin, and a matching growth chart!
Melissa and Doug Natural Play Book Tower: Little Learning Books: Oh, how we loved this se\ when my boys were toddlers! Each tower comes with ten chunky books that are just perfect for little fingers to explore. Simple words, vibrant pictures, and expertly sized to “read” or stack up high, these books make a perfect gift, whether alone or with the complementary Melissa and Doug Natural Play Blocks that depict shapes, colors, numbers, letters and animals!
TouchThinkLearn: ABC, by Xavier Deneux: The TouchThinkLearn books are, in my humble opinion, some of the best board books on the market. Pictured above is the ABC book, which features raised, die-cut piece to make this ABC book a tactile experience so different from the other alphabet books out there. The graphics are simple and bright, and this book so brilliantly engages children on both visual and sensory levels, creating a much more immersive way to learn ABCs. When paired with other a couple other books from the remarkable TouchThinkLearn series, such as Numbers, Colors, and my personal favorite, Wiggles, one kiddo will be gifted the most marvelous books for her library collection.
Read to Your Baby Every Day: 30 Classic Nursery Rhymes to Read Aloud, edited by Rachel Williams and illustrated by Chloe Giordano: Nursery Rhymes are pure magic when read aloud to children. They make for the perfect first stories, boost language development, and help your child fall in love with being read to each night. And be on the lookout – Read to Your Toddler Every Day will be out this March, complete with 20 folk tales to read aloud. These two together are perfection! Get Read to Your Baby now for a special little one, and then surprise her with Read to Your Toddler for another upcoming milestone or event!
Where the Wild Things Are bookish socks (and clothes!): If this wasn’t one of your favorite books from childhood (or to read with your own kids now!), pick it up and read it again tonight. And then think about how excited a new parent will be when gifted a package of all of this adorable attire paired with the book, Where the Wild Things Are. With options ranging from newborn clothes to onesies to an adorable shirt for mom to wear, this will undoubtedly result in big smiles!
Tickle Monster, by Josie Bissett and illustrated by Kevan Atteberry: When I think back to storytime when my boys were toddlers, I remember their squeals of laughter every time I grabbed this joyful book off the shelf and pulled on my tickle monster gloves. This kit is pure magic and a surefire way to help little kids fall in love with storytime.
Little Bookworms: Bookish Gifts for Kids!
The Tooth Fairy Kit: When my six year old lost his first tooth, I had this kit on hand. The look on his face when I gave it to him was pure joy. This fabulous kit contains a beautiful story telling kids how the tooth fairy came to be, a star plush the perfect size to hold teeth safely under a pillow (and to hold notes and treasure from the tooth fairy!), and a keepsake journal for recording the story of each of your child’s lost teeth. I am in love!!! For any child who is waiting to lose his first tooth, The Tooth Fairy Kit makes a magical gift!
KidArtLit — The Art Kit Meets Story Time: As far as book boxes and monthly subscriptions go, I’ve seen them all. And the KidArtLit box is my absolute favorite. Each month, the box is expertly curated and contains one fabulous picture book in combination with process-based art activities. There’s little to no mess, easy to follow instructions, and supplies for two kids to share to complete the low-frustration projects together. This box creates amazing family experiences, and I can’t rave about it enough. This is one of my favorite bookish gifts that lasts for as many months as you wish to give!
Kabook Personalized Children’s Books: You guys! My big one got one of these personalized books last year and it was amazing. Though the company offers many different stories, Wanted! is so much fun as it tells the story of the one and only child who can save a kingdom from a terrible fate. The problem? The child is no where to be found! What makes this book so special is the fact that it includes a picture of your child that is faded to look like it’s part of an ancient scroll, together with fun details about him too. So things like favorite foods, best friends and the like are all incorporated into the book as the kingdom searches for your kiddo, the story’s hero! Another option, perfect for the holidays, is called The List, about Santa’s naughty and nice list. Will your little one will make the cut?
Loom Journals: If you have a kiddo who is introspective and loves writing, being with and learning about family, this journal is breathtaking. Fostering connections between parents and their children, the Loom Journal is a beautifully designed book that encourages both parents and their kids to communicate, express themselves, and connect freely. Complete with writing prompts and affirmations, this journal will undoubtedly become an heirloom, creating meaningful conversation, memories and experiences. This is a treasure!
What You Do Matters Boxed Set, by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom: This beautiful boxed set contains three of our all time favorite books (which also happen to be New York Times Best Sellers): What Do You Do With An Idea, What Do You Do With a Problem, and What Do You Do With a Chance. Each book is more stunning, and more thought provoking, than the last, challenging children to think about how they will respond to various situations and encouraging growth mindset, perseverance, and confidence. These books are absolute treasures and must haves for every child’s book collection.
Baby Noomie Pajamas: I absolutely adore this brand of pajamas that I discovered earlier this year. They are so soft and comfy, made of 100% pima cotton, and even cooler is that the designs are hand drawn by moms! There are so many different designs, and pairing them with a matching book makes for such a fun gift! For little dinosaur lovers, we love this dinosaur two piece set, and you can pair them with awesome dino books like Pop-Up Dinosaurs and Don’t Forget Dexter. Another fun option? This panda two piece set, together with some of my favorite books to teach kids manners, Please, Mr. Panda, Thank You, Mr. Panda, and I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda!
The Dictionary of Difficult Words, by Jane Solomon and illustrated by Louise Lockhart: If you know a child who loves words and trivia, he will fall in love with this fun and witty dictionary of 400 difficult words. Each word in the book is difficult to spell and even harder to pronounce, and it will totally mesmerize budding wordsmiths — and make for a perfect family trivia night. This book rocks!
Ordinary People Change The World Gift Set: There’s no debating it – my own children and my students absolutely love Brad Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World books. If you want to talk to your kids about what makes a hero, or if you know someone who loves nonfiction stories and learning about remarkable historical figures, these books are a must. This particular set features four books (Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks and Albert Einstein), and we also love the Strong Girls Gift Set (Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Jane Goodall and Sacagawea).
And Then.. Story Starters: These beautiful cards are so much fun and make for a great gift! Whether playing with friends or with family, your child will be prompted by a story starter on the card. Each card ends with the words “and then…” — and then your little one’s imagination will set soar! These imaginative prompts and illustrations are great for prompting self-expression and creativity, and the stories children come up with as a result of these prompts are simply brilliant. My students love these!
Neck Book Light: I don’t know what it is about these neck book lights, but kids think they are so cool. After all, when you give this to a child you’re basically telling him that he can stay up after “lights out” to read! Is there anything better? In various colors, these make such a fun addition to a stack of books!
Write On: My Story Journal: If you need a gift for a young writer, this story journal, paired with some awesome colored pencils or a set of great pens, makes for a fabulous present. This great journal helps kids create their own stories through child-friendly fun, wit, and vibrant illustrations. From narratives to song lyrics to comics, Write On is equal parts fun and unique, teaching kids everything from writing with detail to crafting engaging hooks in a brilliantly creative way!
Dog Man: The Supa Epic Collection, by Dav Pilkey: You guys. If you have a reader who is anywhere from first through third grade, this collection is basically the best ever. Kids young and old, both boys and girls, are totally obsessed with this series, and they fly off the shelves in our library as soon as they are returned. This series is SO much fun, perfect for all readers, and — most importantly — will make your kids crack up. I already have this collection wrapped and ready to go for my first grader for Hanukkah!
Little Bookworms: Bookish Gifts for Big Kids and Tweens
Harry Potter, The Illustrated Collection, by J.K. Rowling and illustrated by Jim Kay: If you have to buy a gift for a Harry Potter lover, run, don’t walk to the nearest store (or just click!) to purchase this stunningly illustrated collection of the first three books in the Harry Potter series. This gorgeous set has oversized pages, each of which contains colored illustrations, and each volume also has a ribbon book mark to hold your spot. This is a perfect gift for Harry Potter fans old and young alike, and I can’t wait to get this set for my own kids when they are old enough to discover the Harry Potter magic!
Harry Potter: Exploring Hogwarts, An Illustrated Guide, by Jody Revenson: If your kids love the Harry Potter movies in addition to the books, this is a super cool guide that explores the iconic locations found in the Harry Potter films. Interactive elements reveal key movie scenes, making this such a fun gift for those who love watching Harry Potter come alive on the big screen!
Personal Library Kit: If you know a kid who is obsessed with his or her book collection but also enjoys sharing her books with friends, this personal library kit is fabulous! Watch kids become masters of their own libraries by giving them a fun and easy way to keep track of the books they loan out to their buddies. I wish I had this when I was a kid!
Children’s Puffin Classics Set: Every young book lover should have this classic, 10-book set in his or her collection. I swoon every time I see this collection on a kid’s bookshelf, knowing that this set will be cherished for years to come, and possibly even passed down when this book lover has kids of her own. The textured hardcovers make this collection timeless, and it is a perfect gift to celebrate a special holiday, birthday or momentous occasion.
Custom Library Stamp: Another item I WISHED I had when I was a kid! These customizable stamps are just perfect for young readers, providing them with a special way to mark and claim those wonderful books in her collection. With all of their books uniquely stamped, she’ll have confidence her books will always get returned when she loans them out — and they make it much easier to remind book borrowers who special stories belong to.
Kindle: For the tween who has books coming out of his ears, why not simplify things for him (and make his backpack a lot lighter!) by gifting him with a kindle? Not only can all of his books be stored and read on one small device, but he can even borrow books from the library through his device. There’s nothing better than a kindle that lets you keep your entire book collection in your bag! While I prefer actual books, kindles are amazing for the book loving kid who is constantly on the go!
Blank Comic Book for Kids: Graphic novels have taken the world by storm, and kids can’t get enough of this awesome format. Let your tween readers be the stars of their own graphic novels with this blank book that provides nothing but the templates necessary for children to craft their own comics!
Bookish Pop Socket: Why not let your tween book lover show off her love for reading with a bookish pop socket for her phone? Confession – I have this one and I love it! If you need a gift for a child who loves books as much as their iphone, a collection of book pop sockets rocks! In addition to the one featured above, we also love these two: just one more chapter! and book nerd! They make great stocking stuffers!
Graphic Novel Collections: As I said above, graphic novel collection are all the rage these days. And these two sets, The Baby-Sitters Club Books 1-7 by Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan, and Smile, Sisters, Guts: The Box Set by Raina Telgemeier, are fantastic. Kids love them, they hook all kinds of readers, and they are pure fun. These are must haves for your tweens!
Story Slam: This is another great storytelling game for preteens to play with friends or family. It allows you to tell stories collaboratively or competitively, and it’s perfect for Friday night game night! If you need a gift for a budding author, this one can’t be beat! This one box contains fodder for a hundreds of stories, and the game can be played for hours each time. No story will ever be the same!
Kate Spade Canvas Book Tote: Canvas totes are all the rage these days, and this awesome canvas book tote makes a great bag for your mature reader for school, the library, or even for stocking up on snacks at Trader Joes. We adore this bookish pattern!
All the Cool Kids Are Reading T-shirt: Ok, so I’m obsessed with this shirt and bought one for myself… and my kids. I just love it so much. Enough said!
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