Wow, December already! List-making time if ever there was one. So, what’s on your bookish gift-list this holiday season? I’d love to know. And so would other readers, as we all scramble to get organized for the holidays.
As for the lists I am making, here’s one from me to you: 20+ gift ideas for the boys in your lives. Some of these books are newbies, hiding in my closet as I write, waiting to be wrapped and put under our Christmas tree in a few weeks (shhh). Others are off-the-beaten-path finds or golden oldies – all well-loved gifts I’ve given kids of different ages over the years. Enjoy, forward, and also, do share in the comment section: I can’t wait to see what’s on your bookish gift-list as well.
1. Amazing Machines: Truckload of Fun by Tony Mitten and Ant Parker. Great books for boys who love planes, trains, automobiles and all moving machines in between. Alliterative titles (Amazing Airplanes, Roaring Rockets, Terrific Trains, etc.) open to colorful illustrations and catchy, rhyming texts that are so fun to read aloud. With 10 books in the set, you will not be stuck reading the same one every night. 2-5 yrs.
2. Fire Truck by Peter Sis. Matt, a little boy who dreams of firetrucks constantly, finds he’s turned into a firetruck himself one day. In this new incarnation, he races around the house doing the heroic things that firefighters do, until the aroma of pancakes on the griddle reminds him of breakfast. With creative illustrations and foldouts, Fire Truck is a wonderful little board book for a fire-truck phase. 2-6 yrs
3. Corduroy by Don Freeman. This gentle tale of a department store teddybear waiting for his forever home is a classic for good reason. We loved it for its simple text, gentle and expressive illustrations, and the heartwarming ending, in which Corduroy is accepted with open arms, flaws and all. 2-6 yrs
4. The Crazy Crawler Crane and Other Very Short Truck Stories by Mittie Cuetara. This book is out of print, but if you can snag a used copy, then do it in a jiffy. The condition won’t matter too much, as you’re going to end up reading it until it is ragged anyway. Whimsical, cartoon panel illustrations and rhyming couplets about misbehaving trucks of all kinds make for a fun and action-filled read. Perfect read-together books for zany grandparent-grandkid duos. 3-6 yrs.
5. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman. In this 1996 Caldecott Medal Winner, Officer Buckle’s dull presentations on school safety are enlivened by the antics of his new partner, a police dog named Gloria. This classic book will be loved by kids who like their bedtime tales with a good dose of humor and enjoy animal shenanigans . 3-8 yrs
6. Harry the Dirty Dog Treasury by Gene Zion
. Who can resist Harry, the lovable mutt who enjoys rooting around in the dirt, but hates bathing so much that he even hides his scrubbing brush? Harry gets into other adventures as well in this treasury of three stories. Each story, with its simple illustrations and text, is sure to charm both listener and reader. 3-8 yrs.
7. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. This story, of a toddler inventing a magical world around him with his purple crayon, is a wonderful homage to the creativity and imagination of children. Let’s ensure that this book gets passed on from generation to generation. 3-8 yrs
8. Elmer by David McKee. McKee’s tale about a patchwork elephant, celebrates individuality in the herd. Vibrant illustrations and an endearing story make this a deserved favorite. Throw in the patchwork stuffed-animal toy if your giftee likes to cuddle with his storybook characters. 4-8 yrs
9. Home by Jeannie Baker. An unusual book to recommend on a blog about reading, Home is a book without any words. But Baker’s collaged illustrations speak volumes. Page after page, your child and you can explore the intricate artwork, invent narratives about the family that is portrayed, and discuss the messages about the power of community and the circle of life. Confession: I remember that my husband would choke up every time he “read” this with our boys. 4-8 yrs
10. Drawing Books (Dragons, Robots, Oceans, Ancient Egypt, Bugs, Dinosaurs, Christmas, Halloween, Farms) by Ralph Masiello. I’ll always be grateful to our school for organizing a visit from Ralph Masiello. At the time, we were in a phase of frequent turmoil over artistic visions that could not quite be realized on paper by our then 4-5 year old. Many evenings were being spent in frustrated howls and trashed artwork! With step-by-step instructions that broke down the illustration process, Masiello helped show my boys that little-by-little, they could build artwork that achieved some semblance of their ideas. Dinosaurs, dragons, robots, Halloween…Masiello covers them all in his books. My kids reference these books even today when making birthday cards or doing some down-time art. 5-11 yrs
11. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Lin skillfully interweaves gorgeous illustrations and Chinese folklore to tell the tale of a young peasant girl, Minli, who bravely sets out solve her family’s challenges. Minli encounters a number of magical creatures, and befriends a dragon who becomes a companion on her journey. The book has won wide acclaim. It was an elementary classroom read-aloud at our school, and got an enthusiastic thumbs up in our home. 8-12 yrs
12. When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin. Based on the reception of the book above, Lin’s newest publication has made my gift-list this year. I haven’t read it throughly yet, but based on a quick flip-through, I can tell this is another magical tale of adventure that folds in Chinese folklore and stunning illustrations. It was 2016 a National Book Award finalist for Young People’s Literature. I can’t wait to see how it goes down. 8-12 yrs
13. Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides Collection: Maps and Geography; Greek Mythology; U.S. Presidents. I’ve reviewed this series extensively in another post. My boys and I are big fans of this trivia series, created by renowned Jeopardy-champion Ken Jennings. It is engagingly written and illustrated, celebrates learning and curiosity, and covers a wonderful range of topics (dinosaurs, outer space, ancient Egypt, etc). This boxset makes a wonderful gift, and is a great introduction to the whole series. 8-12 yrs
14. The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest―and Most Surprising―Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins. A gorgeous, coffee-table sized book, chock full of fascinating facts about the animal kingdom. Jenkins’ illustrates and inspires with his signature, cut-paper collages (think Eric Carle, but more detailed). Another great book for the home library collection. 9-12 yrs
15. The Iliad by Gillian Cross. Gillian Cross covers the origins and details of the Trojan War in simple prose while maintaining the integrity and complexity of the classic tale. This is a great retelling for the tween/teen set. Neil Packer’s meticulous illustrations (despite the slightly grotesque faces) make the book especially engaging. Readers will come to understand the significance of major and minor characters and the involvement and interference of the gods on both sides of the war. 9-13 yrs
16. The Odyssey by Gillian Cross. As with her take on The Iliad, Gillian Cross simplifies The Odyssey without dumbing-down in any way, and Neil Packer makes it page turner (and one for the home-library collection) with his beautifully-colored and detailed illustrations. Together these books make a readable and attractive coffee-table sized gift set. (Note that Cross does not shy away from the complexity and bloodiness of either tale.) 9-13 yrs
17. The Mysterious Benedict Society Complete Collection by Trenton Lee Stewart. Four extraordinarily gifted children are recruited to infiltrate a secret organization that is conspiring to dominate the world. The series is very well written, has a great plot, and revolves around four admirable protagonists. Stewart incorporates puzzles, mazes and codes for the reader to solve, creating a fascinating series for thinkers. 10-13 yrs
18. The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart. Given the success of the series above in our home, I’ve added Stewart’s latest to my gift-list for one of my kids. I’ve not read it yet, but here’s the synopsis: Reuben is a lonely parkour aficionado who roams his crumbling surroundings, getting up to many unsupervised adventures. During one misadventure, he finds an antique pocket-watch hidden inside a wall. The watch gives him special powers, but also makes him the target of menacing forces threatening his city. The book has received great reviews – I look forward to sharing our opinion with you after we’ve read it. 10-13 yrs
19. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson illustrated by Robert Ingpen (Sterling Illustrated Classics). Is your child ready for some of the classics, but unsure of taking the leap to dense texts? Here is a lovely, unabridged edition of Treasure Island, R.L. Stevenson’s tale of treasure, treachery and adventure on the high seas. The beautiful illustrations and larger format might make the transition easier and will definitely make for a great, read-together experience. 12-99 yrs
20. March (Trilogy Slipcase Set) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. The final installment of this trilogy just won the 2016 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. I’ve bought the set as a gift for my older son. In graphic novel form, the three books give a detailed and powerful account of the civil rights movement through the eyes of Congressman and Civil Rights leader John Lewis of Georgia. Lewis’ life story from sharecroppers’ son to activist, and his struggles during the movement are vividly brought to life. Note that the work does not shy away from the violence, cruelty and derogatory language of the era. Lewis’ story is intertwined with his attendance at President Obama’s 2008 inauguration. I was deeply moved and hope that my son will be too. 12-99 yrs
So many more suggestions, friends…but I’ll keep it to this for now. If you would like to browse more gifts ideas, here are some others I’ve suggested on BookishBoys: these awesome pop-up books, Brian Selznick’s genre-busters, creative activity books…and if you want something different, these magazine subscriptions. Again I can’t wait to hear your ideas as well.
Recent Comments