What do you give as gifts for young readers? (Besides books, of course!) Here’s a whole list of gift ideas for the young readers in your life.
In this episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, you’ll hear:
- Great gift ideas for babies through teens
- Ideas beyond books – games, book accessories, puzzles, posters, shirts and more
- Ways to help kids make books their own, and begin to identify as readers
Scroll down the page to see the gift guide!
Click that play button below to hear the podcast:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Links from this episode:
- RAR #75: Delightful, Simple Reading Journals for Kids
- RAR Bonus Episode: Melissa Sweet on the One and Only E.B. White
Gift Guide:
(some links are affiliate links)
Mighty Bright Book Light
Book lights are essential for kids who share a bedroom with siblings. Each of my kids over 5 has a booklight clipped to the side of their bed. These hammerhead-shaped Mighty Brights are our current favorite. Because we don’t actually expect them to go to sleep when we send them to bed, do we? ;)
Personal Library Kit
Forget the kids– I bet you want one of these for yourself, don’t you? :)
Maestro Classics
My kids love these stories set to music (played by none other than the London Philharmonic). We have over a dozen of these and haven’t been disappointed yet. Available on CD or mp3. Use the code SARAH to get 17% off plus FREE shipping! Check out Maestro Classics here.
Bookplates
Help your kids make books their own with these darling bookplates.
Book Darts
Once you start using these to mark your favorite passages in books, you’ll never go back to your old ways. These lightweight metal book darts can keep track of your favorite parts of the books your kids read without crimping the pages. They’re reusable and absolutely one of my favorite things in the universe. And that’s no lie.
Bookmarks from Carrot Top Paper Shop
Have a daughter who loves her literary heroines? Jenny Williams has a lovely assortment of bookmarks featuring heroines like Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, Jo March, Scout Finch, Flannery O’Connor, Hermione Granger, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and others. These bookmarks are perfect handmade gift to tuck into a Christmas stocking or tie onto any gift.
Out of Print Clothing tee shirts
We own an embarrassing number of shirts from Out of Print in our house– and we love every single one! From Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel (pictured on my twins here) to Goodnight Moon, Harry the Dirty Dog, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Call of the Wild, and many many others, you won’t have a hard time choosing something for everyone in the Out of Print Shop.
Custom Bookplate Stamp
A customized alternative to bookplates, these lovely stamps can feature anyone’s name.
Book Puzzles
The only thing as satisfying as reading on a cold wintry afternoon is doing a book puzzle on a cold wintry afternoon! You’ll find lots of options online, but I’ve selected a few of my own favorites below. Try playing an audio book while putting together a puzzle as a family. You’ll be hooked!
You can find puzzles for your favorite bookish people of all ages– from the tiniest tots to the eldest among us! I’ve chosen a few of my favorites for you here– you may be able to find other great ones, too.
Pictured here:
- Eric Carle Alphabet Floor Puzzle
- Beatrix Potter Floor Puzzle
- Goodnight Moon Floor Puzzle
- Readers Paradise 1000 piece puzzle
- Old Book Store 1000 piece puzzle
- Classic Picture Books 300 piece puzzle
Rory’s Story Cubes
Young readers are often young writers, as well. If you have an aspiring author on your hands, these Story Cubes can make for an excellent gift. Let the fun begin!
eeBoo Create-A-Story Cards
Melissa Sweet is one of my favorite picture book illustrators. These cards are created by her, as well, and they’re another way to spark your child’s imagination and storytelling genius.
Anne of Green Gables Gift Set from Carrot Top Paper Shop
Got a teen or tween who loves Anne of Green Gables? Then you’re in luck. :)
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site Matching Game
This game gets a lot of use in our home with kids under 7. If you have littles who love the picture book, they’ll likely enjoy this matching game, as well.
Deluxe Baker Street Board Game
We haven’t played this one yet, but it just might possibly be showing up beneath our tree this year. Got any Sherlock Holmes lovers in your house? Then it’s time to get them on the case.
Litographs Posters
I absolutely love these gorgeous posters based on books. There are dozens and dozens to choose from in all different sizes. I’ve got the Corduroy one behind my desk at home. They’re elegant enough for the main part of your house, and perfect for your child’s bedroom or the schoolroom, as well.
Supherhero Floating Bookshelf
Who can resist this? Let your child feature his favorite books with this superhero floating bookshelf.
35 Boxed Book Sets for Kids of all Ages
Boxed sets make for lovely gifts– find 35 fabulous boxed book sets for anyone on your list, from toddlers to teens.
Picture Book Treasuries
Don’t want to go the boxed set route? Treasuries are an affordable way to introduce young readers to the best work of a wonderful author and/or illustrator. My favorite dozen picture book treasuries are listed here.
Anything to keep kids’ hands busy while you read aloud (see the whole list here!)
We’ve got a whole list of what your kids can do while you read aloud… and anything from this list would make a great gift for under the tree! You’ll find ideas for toddlers to teens, so don’t miss it. See the whole list here.
Got other favorite gifts for young readers you want to tell us about? Let us know in the comments!
I love this list! That book light looks perfect as ours never light up enough of the page at once! Esp. for picture books. We got the book darts after listening to the reading journals master class. One suggestion might be the scholastic storybook treasure DVDs. We often watch these on road trips. Turn on the subtitles and your kids can read along!
Love this idea so much, Betsy!
Just ran over and picked these up! I had no idea they existed! SO COOL! Thank you for the suggestion!
We love these for our 2 and 3 year old
I’m looking for sound-limiting headphones for my 7 year old (Her 4 year old brother finds her audiobook choices too scary)
I found these kid-sized headphones on Amazon. I like that they have an option to turn off the sound limiting if you’re in a noisy place (like an airplane).
MEE audio KidJamz KJ25P Safe Listening Headphones for Kids with Volume-Limiting Technology and Built-In Microphone and Remote https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716JBT73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_CjFOKaz1fZi8x
Fantastic list. Thank you so much for another wonderful curation.
Sarah, you and your team really outdid yourselves on this! What a timely and fantastic collection of quality gifts for young and old. Congratulations and thank you so much for helping cross off items from those Christmas lists staring us in the face!
Hey Sarah! Thank you for the gift ideas! I fell in love with something over at out of print, and tried using your link, but it didn’t work for the $5 off. This is probably user error on my end, but I wanted to check with you to see if I did something wrong.
BTW… You are wonderful! :)
I just contacted the store, the link is not working, and their IT team is working on it. :) Very wonderful customer service, I must say. Thank you Sarah, I never would have found this awesome store without you!
Great list! I just bought several of the bookmarks as gifts for my CC tutors!
And my Christmas shopping is now almost complete. :)
Please offer shipping to Canada! I’ve wanted the RAR mug and library bags forever!
My mother gave me a book embosser when I was a young girl. I loved it! I’ve searched on Amazon, but getting mixed reviews. I would love suggestions for a good quality one for my daughter!
Try Etsy. I bought one for my husband a few years ago. I can’t remember which shop but I remember there being some good options!
Fantastic lost – thank you!
Fantastic list – thank you!
Great and Unique ideas here! Any recommendations for
Christmas Books to be given as gifts?
A tradition I started was purchasing a new Christmas themed book to open Christmas Eve. I now have a large collection and these books only come out for the Christmas Season to be enjoyed and then packed away again till next Christmas. The kids really look forward to seeing their favorites each year.
We do the same thing every Christmas Eve (along with a new pair of pajamas.) It has been a wonderful way to build up our Christmas book collection and the kids look forward to every year. Perhaps Sarah or other readers can recommend some Christmas books as I am looking for some new ones for this year.
We do new jammies on St Nicolas Day! This year it’s matching dragon pajamas. :)
My favorite Christmas book gift to give is the legend of the candy cane with a box of candy canes. It has been loved by many children in my world
The newest version of Legend of the Candy Came looks sweet. Apple Tree Christmas and Christmas Tree Ship have been favorites for us this year.
We’ve loved the classic ‘Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus!’
https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Virginia-There-Santa-Claus/dp/0062001736/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510687158&sr=1-2&keywords=yes+virginia+there+is+a+santa+claus
I suppose it depends on whether or not Santa Claus is part of your Christmas, but it is a lovely story with gorgeous illustrations!
One of my favorites is Tonight You are My Baby in hardcover. It makes me tear up each time I read it. So lovely and touching. Beautiful illustrations too. One can read it and then quietly meditate and marvel at it’s meaning.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tonight-You-Are-My-Baby-Mary-s-Christmas-Gift/13920973
Some of my Favorites:
Memories of the Manger by M.M. Adams
B is for Bethlemen by Isabel Winer
The Animals First Christmas by Gaby Goldsack
Bear stays up for Christmas Christmas by Karma Wilson
The Very Best Christmas Present by Jim Razzi
B is for Bethlehem and Very Best Christmas Present didn’t start out as favorites of mine, but they grew on me, apparently a lot, because they are two of the ones that I wouldn’t do without with my fourth child.
We have a beautiful, old copy of the Night Before Christmas that we purchased at a used book store. Every year I take a pic of my daughters on Christmas Eve in their pjs reading the book. I glue the pic in the front cover. It’s so sweet to see their little faces growing up!
Thank you all for the wonderful book suggestions. There are so many amazing books–I’m going to have a hard time picking. Perhaps I will have to do one book per kid so I don’t think I can pick just one!
At least half of these things are in my cart! Can’t wait to shop more and hit purchase! Thanks for great suggestions!
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. Another great gift is a trip to a used bookstore and then a cup of hot cocoa. I recently did this with my oldest as just a one-on-one date and we had a wonderful time without spending very much money. It is something but she has already asked to do again and are middle is waiting patiently for his turn. It’s also a good way to reset during the constant movement of the holiday season.
Love that idea! Thanks for sharing. :)
Fabulous idea. We wrap a book and leave it at the end of the kids’ beds on Christmas Eve. No better way to wake up! I love showing even in the gifting how much a treasure books and reading are!
I am a grandmother with 6 GRANDkids who are book lovers ;-)
-have been looking for years to find items like these for gifts! I want one of EVERYTHING 😂
Thank you for gathering these ideas…
Awesome. :)
It would be such a sweet treat to be rewarded with a special gift if we purchased one item from each :)
just a suggestion ;)
What a fantastic list!! I’d never heard of Carrot Top Paper Shop, but scrolled through her Instagram feed and LOVED her items! Thank you so much for all of these great ideas!!
Blank books by Miller Pad and Paper make great gifts for anyone but especially those aspiring authors. Of course my 4 year old likes to “write” in her book and my 6 year old likes to draw in his.
Great idea!
This is so fabulous! Thanks for helping me make a Christmas list on my pinterest page for me and my kids!
Wow I love all of these so much! It’s hard to choose :) Thank you for the list.
Your gift list here made me think of the “Rabbit Ears Treasuries” Audio Stories:
https://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Treasury-Fables-Other-Stories/dp/0739336525/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SYR9EZS5QFCT7BF8074D
It’s difficult to get new copies, but the storytelling & music are really fun, and many were recorded by well-known actors. Some of the treasury sets include: Fables, American Folk Tales, Animal Stories (Kipling), Tales from Around the World.
Great ideas! I love ideas, so a few more came to mind to add to the list:
1) Unique book ends (actually, this might be better to have your kids make for an “older reader” ie, parent, grandparent, or teacher!)
2) Make a book nook reading corner for your favorite young reader! For about $12 you can make a special, cozy, personal space for your little reader by hanging a cheap sheer curtain around an extra large embroidery hoop, add ribbon decoration, and put a cozy fleece throw folded as a “floor,” hang a string of cheap Christmas lights for added whimsy, if desired.
3) An armchair pillow
4) Special blanket or cozy “wrap” for curling up to read
5) Purchase a map poster or put together a DIY map kit to map out your young reader’s favorite imaginary world (Narnia, Hundred Acre Woods, etc.)
6) Recipe book or DIY recipe collection related to your young reader’s favorite books (Little House Cook Book, Cook Me A Story, Anne of Green Gables Cookbook, etc.)
7) Paper dolls of favorite book characters
8) Key props so your young reader can dress up and make a play from their favorite stories
9) Special, high-quality journal in which to write favorite quotes they come across while reading (I started one in middle school and still have it today – it’s literally traveled the world with me!). Don’t forget a beautiful pen(s) to go with it!
10) Some dollhouse miniatures to create a favorite scene from a favorite book
11) Pillow decorated in a way to remind them of a favorite book or character (eg, quote embroided or image)
12) Make a special calendar with quotes from their favorite characters
13) Give a trip to a place connected with their favorite books. When I was young our family went to a Heidi festival in New Glaraus, Wisconsin, a Laura Ingalls Wilder festival in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and a dream trip to Prince Edward Island. If favorite books aren’t conected with a real geographic location (or it’s too far away to visit), perhaps the author was from someplace closer by and there is a special museum or local festival remembering their works.
These are fantastic ideas!
Wow, these are dream-come-true gifts! Thank you for sparking my imagination!
Sarah, (or others) any help on Out of Print sizing? What size ladies tee for 5’4″ 125 lbs? Normally wear a size medium. Thanks!!
I’d order a large, then, Ann. They run a bit small, but they fit really well when you order up a size.
OOP runs true to size :)
http://www.lamplighter.net
Best books and audios for ages 4 and up!!!
What an awesome list!!! Thanks so much
Sarah,
My Amazon cart is full again! Great ideas- thank you!
Great, thanks,
Awesome list! Thank you!!! Just a note for those who have issues with insomnia. I have loved this amber rechargeable book light from Somnilight for reading at night or in the wee hours of the morning. There are 2 lights with low/high settings but I usually only use 1 light on the low setting and that’s enough to read most books.
https://www.amazon.com/SomniLight-Rechargeable-Amber-Book-Light/dp/B071XJZM5Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1510761716&sr=8-4&keywords=book+light+amber
Thank you! As a Mom who has been tasked with shopping for the kids from grandmother this is helpful. Many items here would meet the non twaddle standard of grandma and also be a appreciated gift for the grand kids. Thank you for a practical guide for the weary parent!
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1355732881
These book pillows are so cute too!
This edition of Peter Pan is amazing! My 7 yo is getting it this Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0062362224/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1510798588&sr=8-19&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=peter+pan+book&dpPl=1&dpID=51f-7KjjFeL&ref=plSrch
Check out the video presentation.
Thanks for the ideas! I especially liked the idea of bookplates, but wanted personalized ones. The workaround I found was to I edit some return address labels on Zazzle.com. Now each of my “big” kids are getting 150 themed stickers that say “This book belongs to: Their Name.” :):)
Hi Sarah,
My son is an avid reader & we tried the book darts as markers but became frustrated when they fell out – his books are highly mobile! We found the magnetic paperclips from the Container Store are very similar with great grip!
Happy holidays!
Jacque
We’ve really enjoyed the story cubes at our house. The “Authors” card game is something I thought my kids would like. I loved it growing up.
As the book aunt in my family, I love this podcast! I immediately ordered the boxed set of Anne of Green Gables for my 11 year old neice who “only reads the classics” and has bright red hair. I can’t wait to give it to her!
Another suggestion for reading books are authographed copies of books. Barnes and Noble has tried to have several titles available on Black Friday the past few years. Check local bookstores for author vistis. Here in Colorado we have The Tattered Cover that gets lots of great authors. It’s a nice touch to a book gift.
Oh my gosh! My daughter just turned 5 and few weeks ago and now she is seriously concerned that she is running our of time to decide which library she will work at when she grows up. haha That personal library kit will be PERFECT for her! I am sooo excited! Thank you for the great idea. She has made her own library set up here at home that is so cute, but this will just take her to the next level in her “career”. haha
This is so fun!! Thanks for all these great ideas!
What wonderful ideas! Thank you so much for helping us choose gifts for our kids that are enriching and fun!
I’m hoping for a cool set of book ends for Christmas. I think it’s the perfect gift for an avid reader!
I love this list so much! I just added some things to my Amazon “save for later” cart. :-) I’d love to see a Favorite Gifts for Moms list!