Have you ever wondered which books to give your family and friends during the holidays? Are you curious which books a book blogger gives away at Christmas time? I decided to share my Christmas shopping list this year so you could see which books I loved enough to give to my family and friends. When deciding which books to give, I consult my list of favorite books, look for award winning books, and try to think of the individual tastes of the recipients.
So here it is, my secret shopping list that I usually keep all to myself. Here’s hoping that Miss K (and my husband) doesn’t see this before the big day!
Books to Give a Baby or Toddler
Can You Say It, Too? Arf! Arf! Board book by Nosy Crow, illustrated by Sebastien Braun (Illustrator)
There is a whole series of Can You Say It, Too board books by Nosy Crow and they are all adorable. They are fantastic books to give the baby or toddler in your life. They have big flaps, bright colors, and cute illustrations. All things that tiny readers love.
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Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
Every child’s library needs the original touch and feel book. Give this book to new babies or young toddlers. I have received this book twice as a gift (the first one was eventually eaten by one of my kids), and it has been well loved both times!
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Books to Give a 5-8 Year Old
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
This book isn’t just for girls. Boys love it too. It’s about a princess that switches to her secret identity as a ninja to save her kingdom from a monster. There are two books in the series so far with a third coming out in February.
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The Original Sticker by Numbers Book by Joanna Webster
I bought the Animals version for my own daughter for Christmas last year and she went wild for it. If you have a child that likes creating things, whether it’s artwork or LEGOs, this is a gift that will keep those curious little fingers occupied for hours at a time.
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Books to Give an 8-12 Year Old
Three Pickled Herrings (Wings & Co Book 2) by Sally Gardner, illustrated by David Roberts
I gave Miss K the first book in this series one year for Christmas and we read it together. It was a huge hit! She’s been asking for the second book ever since.
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Animal Planet Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia by Animal Planet
This book is GORGEOUS! Kids that like animals (pretty much any kid) will love this book. It’s enormous, too. There is so much information inside about every animal you can think of, and even some you can’t. This is a book that will make any kid’s Christmas extra special.
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Books to Give a Teen
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
This book took the title of Best Debut Author in the Goodreads Best Books of 2015 competition with over 46,000 votes. That’s huge. Plus, this series has been super popular with teens. It also has some major cross-over appeal for adults, so if you’re looking to get yourself a little something…
Don’t forget to check out the sequel (The Glass Sword) while you’re at it.
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Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Speaking of cross-over appeal…
If you love fantasy, then you’ll want to check out the Throne of Glass series from Sarah J. Maas. It’s violent and intense, so it’s not right for every teen, but most teens and young adults in the 16-20 age range would love this series. Word of caution here—the books get more graphic/explicit as they go along. While the series starts out YA, it’s definitely morphed into an adult series by book 5 (Empire of Storms).
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Books to Give a Book Club Buddy
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
I have read this book several times and have loved it each time. I also chose it when it was my turn to recommend a book club book. If you are looking for a genuine read full of laughs, tears, and a new side to the WWII story, then this is the perfect book to give as a gift.
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Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
I put this book on my own wishlist for Christmas and gave it away in my book club’s book exchange. It also came in third in the Nonfiction category in the Goodreads Best Books of 2015 awards. Apparently, this book will change the way you see yourself and your creative endeavors.
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Books to Give Your Mom
A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade
If your mom is like mine, she likes romance. And when it comes to romance, you can’t go wrong with a Becky Wade novel. Her books are a favorite among Christian romance readers for their great characters, believable story lines, and sigh-inducing romance.
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The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime by Ree Drummond
The other thing my mom likes to do is cook read cookbooks. She collects them like gemstones and loves leafing through them to find new recipes and ideas. She also has this obsession with old-fashioned things, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and making everything from scratch, so this is the perfect choice for her.
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Books to Give Your Husband
American Sniper by Chris Kyle
My husband LOVES this book. He’s read it a few times and talked nonstop about it for weeks afterward. And now that the movie is out, there is a good chance your man will want to read this one.
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The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
My husband hasn’t read this book, but I have. My friends have. Their husbands have. I keep giving it to people because it has some fantastic ideas. At the very least, it’s a fun read that could give you/your husband something to think about.
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What are your favorite books to give for Christmas?
Pingback: My Bookish Wishlist - Batch of Books on December 9, 2015
3 COMMENTS
Amy // Sunlit Pages
9 years agoSo many good books on this list! That stickers-by-numbers one looks like something my kids would love. Also, my mom sounds exactly like your mom, and I don’t think she knows about Becky Wade’s books–someone new for her to try!
Dena at Batch of Books
9 years ago AUTHORI had to introduce my mom to Becky Wade too. She’s hooked on her books now. 🙂
I’m so excited to give the stickers by numbers book to my kids. They love activity books like that and all those stickers = SO MUCH FUN!