Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas Gift Guide

Looking for gifts for the readers in your life?  You’ve come to the right place for bookish gifts for everyone on your list! We’ve got dozens of ideas for bookworms of every age.

This gift guide is divided into three sections:

  1. Gifts for the readers in your life
  2. Bookish stocking stuffers
  3. Gifts to pair with your favorite Waxwing book

Looking for Christmas reading recommendations? Those are here.

(Some links in this post are affiliate links. More on that here.)

Gifts for Readers

Literary Who’s Who Guessing Game

A childhood classic reimagined for avid readers? Yes, please! It’s like a “Guess Who” extravaganza filled with all your favorite literary characters.

Rory’s Story Cubes

If you have an aspiring author on your hands, these story cubes make for an excellent, creativity-boosting gift.

Stamp By Me Book Stamp or Embosser

This personalized stamp is a gorgeous way to make every book in your home library your very own. If you want a more subtle look, it can be made into an embosser, too!

Maestro Classics

My kids loved these stories set to music by the London Philharmonic. Maestro Classics are perfect for ages 4-12, and they’re now available as MP3 files so you can listen to them anywhere.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Socks

You better believe I have a pair of these for myself! Super-soft and so adorable, these are perfect for every caterpillar on your list.

Personal Library Kit

There’s nothing more fun than lending your favorite titles to the ones you love, and now you can be sure they make it back to your shelves. 😉

Yoto Mini

Screen-free audiobooks and story cards for kids on the go. Perfect for those long car rides during the holidays (don’t worry, it has a spot to plug in headphones!).

Bookplate Stickers

These adorable bookplate stickers are perfect for personalizing your collection of beautiful picture books.

Out of Print Tees and Sweatshirts

I own an embarrassing number of these shirts. If you’ve ever seen in me in person, chances are good you’ve seen me wearing one—they’re one of my favorite gifts to give.

Dixit Game

So many published authors have told me they love Dixit. A picture is worth a thousand words in this creative game.

Create-A-Story Cards

Melissa Sweet is one of my favorite picture book illustrators. These cards are created by her, and they’re another way to spark your child’s imagination and storytelling genius.

Richard Scarry’s Busy Day Game

Literary games are a hit for blossoming bookworms. This game is a favorite for kids under 7.

Literary “Litograph” Posters

I absolutely love these gorgeous posters based on books. There are dozens and dozens to choose from in all different sizes. They also have shirts and other gifts.

35 Boxed Book Sets for Kids of All Ages

Boxed sets make for lovely gifts. Here you’ll find 35 boxed book sets for anyone on your list, from toddlers to teens.

Picture Book Treasuries

Treasuries are an affordable way to introduce young readers to the best work of a wonderful author and/or illustrator. You’ll find some of our favorite picture book treasuries here.

Art from Breezy Brookshire

At RAR and Waxwing, we’re big fans of illustrators. Breezy Brookshire illustrated A Little More Beautiful, and we are crazy about her work. Check out Breezy’s shop where you’ll find beautiful posters and coloring pages.

Prints, Stickers and Cards from Astrid Sheckles

If you haven’t spent hours exploring Astrid’s work in Flora and the Jazzer’s, this is your invitation! Check out her Etsy shop where she shares more of her stunning illustrations in prints, stickers and cards.

Prints, Bookmarks, Maps and Pins from Joe Sutphin

Any fans of Little Pilgrim’s Progress or Little Christmas Carol in the house? Check out this link to his Etsy shop where you can grab tons of his truly gorgeous work.

Art from Eliza Wheeler

Eliza Wheeler is a longtime favorite illustrator here at RAR. She offers her whimsical work on everything from acrylic prints to shower curtains!

Prints from Sophie Blackall

Two-time Caldecott-Award-Winner Sophie Blackall has a fabulous Etsy shop that opens after Thanksgiving.

Stunning Maps from Elizabeth Wade

Elizabeth Wade is a master watercolor artist, and the maps she creates from the Bible and classic literature are sure to captivate every lucky recipient.

Narnia Bookends

A whimsical gift for the readers both young and young at heart. They are a little pricey but oh-so-very special.

Green “Librarian” Mug

Just like every great book, this beautiful mug has a surprise ending when you finish your warm drink of choice.

Land of Oz Minky Blanket

Now you can literally wrap yourself up in your favorite stories! This Etsy shop has mapped blankets from many classics. I might just have to collect them all.

Reading Pillow

The coziest gift to keep the reader who keeps saying, “just one more chapter” comfortable for hours on end. Now you can stay up with your favorite stories all night long.

Book Lamp

This lamp is fully chargeable so you can move it from place to place, lighting up your room with a soft glow.

Brambly Hedge Winter Story Puzzle

Now you can really pore over Jill Barklem’s incredible illustrations in this gorgeous 1000 piece puzzle.

Jane Austen Puzzle

Just hand me a cup of cocoa and push play on Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version, of course). I’ll see you all in the New Year. 🥰

Tea Towels from Little Things Studio

Add a little bookish delight to the kitchen. How sweet would a collection of these tea towels be for your favorite baker?

Cozy Christmas Butter Blanket

These blankets from Geometry are so soft, so light, so cozy . . . absolutely perfect for curling up by the fire with your favorite winter read.

Stocking Stuffers

This section is chock-full of stocking stuffers that will help your new readers gain confidence in their reading abilities and your older readers to stay engaged during family read-aloud time. You’ll be able to pull out most of these gifts when it’s read-aloud (or audiobook) time, so that your kids will listen longer and better.

If you’re interested in finding out more about how many kids listen better when their hands are busy, listen to this episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast.

Thinking Putty

My older kids love this stuff. Thinking putty keeps their hands as busy as bees while they listen to me read aloud.

Clip-on Amber Book Light

Book lights are especially handy for kids who share a bedroom. These are rechargeable, clip on easily and they emit an amber light that’s gentle on the eyes.

Book Darts

Once you and your kids start using these to mark your favorite passages in books, you’ll never go back. Reusable and absolutely one of my favorite things in the universe. Recommended for ages 8+.

Carrot Top Paper Shop Bookmarks

Jenny Williams has a lovely assortment of hand-drawn bookmarks and other gifts featuring our favorite literary heroines, like Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, Jo March, Scout Finch, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and others.

Pressed Flower Bookmarks

For those who love books AND nature, these pressed flower bookmarks from Page Petal feature flowers that represent some of our very favorite characters.

i-Clip Magnetic Bookmarks

Choose from dozens of styles of these magnetic bookmarks. What’s your child’s thing? Cupcakes? Paris? Unicorns? Owls? Sloths? Skulls? Cats? Robots? There’s a set for that!

Punchkin Book Plushies

These darling stuffies from Punchkin give new meaning to the phrase, “snuggle up with a book”!

Waterproof Book Pouch

These lined book pouches have saved the day a time or two at my house. Perfect for keeping their favorite titles safe from rogue water bottles and sticky hands.

Personalized Book Thumb

Book thumbs are amazing for holding the pages of a book open with less effort, and they are especially awesome for holding a picture book open while reading aloud! This one can be personalized with your reader’s name.

Literary Blend Teas

Each one of these literary-inspired teas is as delicious as it is beautiful. And everyone knows nothing goes better with a story than a hot cup of tea.

Reading Timer

This super simple timer has dozens of uses, but perhaps the best one is for ten minutes of “Mommy-time”?

FingerFocus Highlighter

Tracking can be super tricky for new readers, so this little finger-focus highlighter is just the thing to help train their eyes to follow the lines on a page.

Guided Reading Strips

For older readers focusing on smaller text, these highlighting strips can help with fluency and tracking as they graduate to longer stories.

Paint By Sticker Books

My 8-and-ups really enjoyed these challenging and engaging books. There are several themes to choose from.

Water Wow!

These paint-with-water books kept my little ones busy for a surprising amount of time. The best part is: no mess. These flip books are reusable and are perfect for read-aloud time.

Usborne Sticker Books

There’s no end to these sticker books, so poke around until you find one on a topic that interests your child. The stickers are reusable, so these can be pulled out time and time again.

Giant Coloring Pads

My kids loved watercoloring on Melissa & Doug Jumbo Coloring Pads. Toss a set of watercolor paints into your child’s stocking, and add a jumbo coloring pad to keep them busy during your next read-aloud.

Friendly Loom Weaving Kit

Older kiddos will love this tried-and-true potholder weaving kit. It’s a classic for a reason!

Beeswax Candle Making Kit

There’s nothing as lovely as the smell of natural beeswax, and this kit allows you to make candles in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Learn to Knit Kit

They’ll be knitting hats and scarves before you know it with these easy-to-follow illustrated instructions.

No-Sew Quilt Kit

For those of us with a little less hand-eye coordination, this knot-tying quilt kit is the perfect way to create a soft quilt that’s totally frustration-free.

Cozy Blue Embroidery Kits

Fantastic for older kiddos and adults who love sitting down to work on something intricate and lovely.

Petit Collage Sticker Activity Sets

These fold-out scenes come with over 100 detailed stickers and are the perfect way to engage the imaginations of kids 3 and up.

Color-in Tablecloth

The “kids table” is much more fun when you can color all over the tablecloth. A great addition to your holiday festivities.

Waxwing Books Accessories

Want to give a Waxwing book to a reader in your life? Check out this list of items to pair with each book and make Christmas that much more bookish and fun!

A Little More Beautiful

My very first picture book, inspired by something Jeanne Birdsall (yes, THAT Jeanne Birdsall) said to me during a walk through her neighborhood in Northampton.

Mini-Greenhouse and Flower Growing Kit

Give a gift that leaves the world a little more beautiful. Kids can use this simple kit to grow their own plants and flowers, (relatively) mess-free.

Fabric Flower Crafting Kit

This fabric flower kit is perfect for the little florist in your life.

While Everyone Is Sleeping

I hope this gorgeous picture book illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard will become a bedtime favorite!

Chasing Fireflies Game

A glow-in-the-dark game of seek and find that can be played inside or outside! Now you can catch fireflies all year long.

Cozy Moon Pajamas

Super-soft and perfect for bedtime stories, these adorable pj’s will make you want to stay and snuggle a little longer. Just five more minutes?

Because Barbara

My first picture book biography! This one tells the story of one of the world’s greatest picture book illustrators, Barbara Cooney, and is illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen.

Kalour Colored Pencil Set

A huge set of vibrant colored pencils, worthy of Barbara herself.

Heavyweight Paper Sketchbook

Perfectly sized for a small backpack or tote bag, this sketchbook is full of lovely, thick paper that’s perfect for art on the go.

Dear Duck, Please Come!

Writing this book was probably the most fun I’ve ever had. Charles Santoso’s illustrations do more than bring it to life—they give it heart. Am I allowed to have a favorite book from those I’ve written? If I am, this is it.

Plush Velvet Duck Stuffie

Need a buddy while you search high and low? This guy is just right for cuddling.

Woodland Creature Stationery

Your little writer can send letters back and forth between friends with this adorable set of forest animal stationery.

Beyond Mulberry Glen

 I loved this book so much, I published it as the first middle grade release from Waxwing Books! This hope-filled fantasy novel tells the story of Lydia Green, who has to face shifting library shelves, a creeping darkness, and the forest Tenebrae to bring light to her world. Read it aloud with the whole family.

Origami Set

Your listeners can create their own beautiful origami creatures while you read Beyond Mulberry Glen aloud.

Dragonfly Lantern

This stunning lantern is the perfect way to remind your readers that they have the power to push back the dark.

Painting Wonder

It’s no secret that I LOVE a good picture book biography, and this is one of my very favorites! Gorgeously illustrated and beautifully told, Katie Wray Schon has created a wonderful tribute to Pauline Baynes, who created illustrations of Middle Earth and Narnia that will forever be etched in our hearts.

Travel Watercolor Set

42 colors that fit into the palm of your hand! This set comes with brushes you can pre-fill with water so you can paint whenever inspiration strikes.

Chronicles of Narnia Coloring Book

This official coloring book from The Chronicles of Narnia is full of the original illustrations by Pauline Baynes.

Flora and the Jazzers

A Cinderella-like animal story set in the 1920s for readers with a song in their heart, written and illustrated by Astrid Sheckels.

Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone

Sing loud and make Flora proud! This mic has about a dozen uses from recording your lovely songs to acting as a regular bluetooth speaker. Turn up the tunes and belt it out!

Wooden Musical Instruments Set

Strike up the band! This lovely wooden instrument set includes 9 different ways to make beautiful music . . . or just delightful noise.

Give the Gift of Read-Aloud Revival Premium