Holiday Gift Guide 2023: Child(ish) Reads

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!

To research this post, I spent a solid 90 minutes in Barnes & Noble. I like to think I’m on top of my #booktok game, so it was really nice to physically see the books, browse and find new titles.

Newborns and Infants

The most effective way to create a reader, and coincidentally encourage academic success, is to read aloud together. This counts for even the baby years. Board books are the go-to and obviously the most durable. Books with bright colors or high contrast are great for visual development as well

For this year, I’m adding the Block Book series. These are a great combo of board and pop up books. They come in 15 different themes, so you’re also introducing vocabulary.

I also loved The Making of Butterflies, a beautifully illustrated board book from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi. As children’s books are diversifying and exploring more social environments and identities, this is a way to introduce important authors and stories at an early age.

Toddlers and Preschoolers

This year’s picture book trends focus on self-identity and representation. Pair that with last year’s titles that also brought in a new wave of emotional recognition and emotional intelligence. So we have a lot of great books on talking through feelings, understanding different types of families and cultures, and deeper exploration into the natural world.

My picks for Picture Books are:

Just Because by Matthew McConaughey and Renee Kurilla. I loved that the book talks about contradicting feelings. Being scared but still being brave. Being proud but also tired. It normalizes that kids can have a full range of emotions to explore, and that our lives aren’t always black and white.

Clovis Keeps His Cool by Katelyn Aronson and Eve Farb. Clovis is literally a bull in a China shop and it’s adorable. Clovis talks about reasons why he loses his temper and ways he was taught to keep his cool, even when there are bullies. Cute, useful, great for boys.

What the Road Said by Cleo Wade. A great poem/picture book on resilience and leadership. This is great for older kids as well. I love that the book shows we always have options and possibilities to move forward, even when we make mistakes or choose a different path. I also love the feeling of openness and discovery you get from the story.

I Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Mericle Harper. This is a cute book about shape recognition and drawing. Great for visual learning and the story gives a great narrative on how simple shapes and our imagination work together.

Elementary and Early Readers

This age has proven tricky for me. My kindergarteners are on Reading Level 1, almost 2, but not quite chapter books yet. They also have established the characters they love: Princess in Black, Pinkalicious, Pigeon, and anything with unicorns.

Like we said last year, an easy gift option for this age is going to be with a character or series they are already into. If they are into Harry Potter, Super Mario, The Bad Guys, Junie B. Jones, etc., there are already a ton of options.

A nice boost for that is pairing a beloved character with an activity. At the bookstore, I found a small box of Pinkalicious phonics readers. A lot of characters have I Can Read Level 1 and 2 editions, so you can practice reading and sight words with characters they’re excited to read about. Activity books and coloring books also help kids practice prewriting skills, fine motor development, and creativity. I even found a sticker book that went with First 100 Animals, an option good for toddlers.

A standout was Don’t Let Pigeon Finish This Activity Book by Mo Willems. This takes the standard activity/coloring book to the next level.

I also found Wild and Free Book Club by Ainsley Arment. This is an activity book for parents and kids to make classic stories come alive. Think a Lord of the Rings LARPing party for kids who actually read the book. The book gives immersive activities and crafts to pair with Children’s Lit classics, like Charlotte’s Web, Robin Hood, and Tom Sawyer.

Also being a Millennial parent, there are some other great books that spoke to me as well. I snagged this new Gilmore Girls picture book. I’ve already gotten the books with Clueless and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’ve also gifted the books from Friends and The Office. Full Disclosure: These books are more for you and not your kids, but let’s think of it as bonding across generations.

Another top book that pulled on my heartstrings was Zilot & Other Important Rhymes
by Bob Odenkirk and Erin Odenkirk. This is probably the closest anyone has gotten to Shel Silverstein in a very long time. Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalks Ends are solidly perennial favorites.

Finally, a new book category that came from my daughter are drawing books. This is a good age to introduce drawing instruction. Kids learn to take their time, follow directions, and exercise motor planning and fine motor skills. Since my kid is a unicorn fan as mentioned, I got her The Big Book of Super Cute Things to Draw.

All of the linked items can also be found on our Child(ish) Advice Holiday Gift Guide Amazon List.
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