For all of your holiday shopping needs, here are 150 Ways to Give a Book, grouped by (approximate) age. They are all MotherReader-approved titles — i.e., Good Books. There are a lot more choices for younger kids, as that’s the group we adult most fear disappointing with giving “only” a book. And picture books are my specialty. After the book and gift selections, I’ve also included ways to wrap a book, and book-themed gifts to include for a variety of ages. There are new 2011 titles mixed in with older ones — though there aren’t many classics, as I’ve tried to select books that kids would be less likely to have on their shelves. So no Harry Potter.
Sometimes I choose the hardback when the paperback is also available, so check if that is important to you. I’ve also linked to the fun extras through Amazon, for example, to save you shopping time, and because I get some small credit for your purchases through the Amazon Associates program. But know that you can find cheaper alternatives for some small things — paints, pens, journals, etc. — at a local discount store. On the other hand, doing all your purchases online and having them sent to your door is priceless.
Multi-Age
- Give an experience like a trip to a zoo, aquarium, museum, aviary, arena, or city. Put the passes, tickets, or homemade gift certificate with a relevant book to make it feel more tangible.
- Take a road trip to a state or national park with Could You? Would You? or Ask Me so you can use the driving time to ask each other the interesting questions from the book.
- Give a book with a movie theater gift card to see the upcoming film.
- Give a book with a gift card to rent the movie. Include a box of microwave popcorn.
- Give One Hen — How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference with a loan to Kiva or a donation to Heifer International to buy chicks. For more charity and book matches, look to this list from Abby the Librarian.
- Pair any book with another book from the bargain section, maybe something silly or crafty or gimmicky.
- Pair a detective book with a magnifying glass.
- Match poetry books with word beads or magnetic poetry.
- Pair a picture book with a related stuffed animal.
- Give an interesting, insightful book with a restaurant gift card and a date to discuss the book together over a meal.
- Honor the book enthusiast with necklace along with a new title.
- Give the category-defying book People by artist Blexbolex to… anyone, really.
Picture Books
- Learn letters with ABC, Baby Me! board book or The Sleepy Little Alphabet and letter links.
- Or work with numbers with Zero and magnetic numbers.
- Give Jeremy Draws a Monster with a pack of fat crayons and a stack of copy paper from an office supply store.
- Or go with Art and Max or Blue Chicken with a paint set.
- Pair The Curious Garden with gardening tools and seeds.
- It’s almost dessert when you give The Cow Loves Cookies with a cookie counting game.
- Get moving with Dancing Feet with Fisher Price: Disco Dance Party CD.
- Keep up the music giving Drum City with an old-time tin drum.
- What else can go with Monkey With A Tool Belt and the newer Monkey With A Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem but a tool belt?
- Pair Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of the Girl Who Floated) with a kite.
- Give Bats at the Ballgame with a bat and ball. You can throw in a coupon book for practice sessions.
- Take a bedtime book like Little Owl’s Night, A Bedtime for Bear or At Night and add a night light.
- Or choose Sweet Moon Baby: An Adoption Tale or Moon Dreams with glow-in-the-dark moon and stars — or go high tech with this Moon in my Room.
- Pair Bubble Trouble with touchable bubbles.
- Ballet dancers will love Brontorina or Miss Tutu’s Star with a fancy tutu or two… two.
- Give little superheroes SuperHero ABC along with a superhero cape.
- Encourage a future Iron Chef by giving Oscar and the Very Hungry Dragon with a cooking set.
- Silliness ensues with Pigs to the Rescue and the Pass the Pigs game.
- Take it outside with Chalk with 3-D sidewalk chalk.
- Pair Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site or Building with Dad with toy construction vehicles.
- Give Yuck! That’s Not a Monster! with the Moody Monsters Memory Game.
- Who can resist that match-up of Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek with Lincoln Logs?
- Give your little dragon-lover Hush Little Dragon or Guess What I Found in Dragon Wood with a cute dragon.
- Is there a doctor in the house? There will be with picture book Doctor Ted along with a doctor kit.
- Future firefighter instead? Give Firefighter Ted along with Firefighters A to Z and firefighter gear.
- Pair picture book stunner How I Learned Geography with an inflatable globe.
- What else can go with Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum other than gum — and perhaps an early apology to the parents.
- Cat lovers can enjoy picture books I Don’t Want a Cool Cat, Katie Loves the Kittens, and Won Ton with a cat card game.
- Or let the dogs out with Dogs, Charlie the Ranch Dog, and If You Give a Dog a Donut and dog themed dominoes.
- Inspire young builders with Iggy Peck, Architect and a building set.
- Nature lovers will enjoy Birdsongs along with a guidebook like Backyard Birds and some binoculars.
- For more nature, pair Butterfly Tree with a butterfly garden kit.
- Give your favorite girly-girl Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy with dress-up jewelry and/or a fancy poodle.
- Give your rough little boy Pirates Don’t Change Diapers along with genuine pirate gear.
- Take sweet picture book Lissy’s Friends and pair it with an origami kit.
- Make a perfect pairing with Elsie’s Bird and a singing bird music box.
- Picture books The Zoo or Pssst! would be perfect with a zoo animal collection or game.
- Or head down to the Farm, adding a Lace and Trace Farm Set.
For the complete list check out the Motherreader blog
