Most kids I know are pretty jazzed up for this time of year, anticipating their annual deluge of gifts from various holiday celebrations. While we try to teach kids that giving is the true meaning of the season, it’s hard to deny the excitement  of finding a pile of presents with their names on them. My daughter has already submitted her Christmas wish list to Santa with an alarming amount of gift ideas on it. Most of them are toys but I always sneak in a few books for my avid reader.

As a librarian, I’ve given out many recommendations to adults looking to buy a special book for the kids in their lives. So many parents appreciate the gift of books since kids today seem to accumulate toys and random cheap plastic things at an alarming rate. Parents also get tired of reading the same bedtime stories over and over again. Gifted books give everyone a break from the usual and help kids discover new titles they might enjoy.

If you have anyone under 2 in your life, you know finding gifts that are near-indestructible are key for that demographic. Board books are the way to go with the toddler set. These books are made out of sturdy cardboard, making it harder for little ones to rip anything while simultaneously making it easier for them to turn pages.  Every family probably has the standards in their home library already (The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown) so it’s a good idea to branch out to newer titles. Celebrated board book author Sandra Boynton has a new book out this year entitled Woodland Dance, a humorous bedtime story where animals play instruments and dance themselves off to bed. Dinosnores, another recent Boynton hit, a silly look at how dinosaurs get ready for bed.

Once kids get a little older and can sit for slightly longer stories, most families need a steady supply of picture books for reading. 2021 was a great year for picture books, starting with Aaron Slater, Illustrator, a new edition to the popular Questioneers series. This story follows Aaron, a young boy who struggles to read and write but figures out how to tell a story in his own unique way. Using dyslexia-friendly font, this book focuses on how the power of art can help kids cope with insecurities and challenges. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanne Ho is another story that celebrates self-discovery and acceptance. A young girl notices that while her eyes are different from her friends’, they connect her to her family and the stories of their culture. Beautiful illustrations and a gentle story that focuses on family make this book perfect to cuddle up with at the end of the day.

For kids who are just starting to read but aren’t ready for long novels, short chapter books with a few illustrations can make the transition to independent reading easier. The Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro incorporates cool STEM concepts with easy to understand vocabulary and attractive illustrations to entice emerging readers. Kids will find the stories engaging and want to try out the easy science experiments Zoey undertakes in each book.

Not every kid who loves fantasy is ready to start the Harry Potter series. Shorter fantasy books for kids can be hard to come by but Dragon in a Bag by Zetta Elliot fits the bill perfectly. Jaxon is forced to spend a long day with a crotchety old lady called Ma, who he assumes is his grandmother. Jaxon learns that Ma is not his real grandmother but is actually a witch! The two have fantastical adventures together while delivering dragons in a bag to a magical realm.

For slightly older kids, middle grade novel Ophie’s Ghosts branches into a spooky historical mystery. In 1922, Ophelia Harrison learns a disturbing fact: she can see ghosts. In order to help her struggling mother, Ophie gets a job as a maid in one of Pittsburgh’s grand manor houses and learns the secrets of its owner’s past. She strikes up a friendship with one spirit who helps her realize she might be able to help the ghosts trapped by Daffodil Manor’s past.

Teens who enjoy mysteries with a twist will appreciate Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. Daunis Fontaine has always had trouble fitting in, both as a biracial teen and an unenrolled Ojibwe tribe member. She hopes to start over at college but ends up witnessing a shocking murder and getting drawn into an investigation of a new lethal drug. While her search for the truth helps her reconcile her indigenous identity, it also exposes old secrets and starts to tear apart the only community she’s ever known.

Once you choose the book you’re going to give, it’s always good to personalize your gift with a special message or bookplate inside the front cover. I still love looking at books I received as a child and re-reading the messages from the folks who gave me those books. Top it off with a fun bookmark and you’ll have the perfect literary gift for that special child in your life.

Kate Tigue is the Head of Youth Services at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the December 16, 2021 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.