Age-appropriate books make great Christmas gifts

By: 
Jan Jones

I’m right in the middle of a pretty good book, and I didn’t want to rush through it, so I decided to offer a few Christmas gift ideas. My suggestions always include books.

We all tend to “overgift” our kids and grandkids. We want to make their every wish come true, but sometimes that isn’t the best idea. I’ve heard people say, “My kids aren’t into books.” Even kids who are deep into video games or sports can enjoy books. The secret is selecting the right books. The following is a list of some of 2019’s best books for kids.

The littlest ones would enjoy the sweet, snuggly board book “If Animals Kissed Goodnight” by Ann Whitford Paul.

Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is another board book that follows a munching caterpillar on its journey to become a beautiful butterfly.

Along the way, children learn about the importance of growth and change. “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown is perfect for lulling a child to sleep. Kids love listening to the rhyming way the little boy says good night to everything in his room.

For those who follow along as you read, I suggest “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff. What happens when you give a mouse a cookie? He’ll ask for a glass of milk … and on and on. This fun progression story has been entertaining kids for 30 years now.

“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak is another great book that encourages children to let their imaginations soar.

Since tweens like books about their interests, I suggest “The Boy Who Never Gave Up” by Stephen Curry. When a boy is told that he doesn’t have what it takes to play basketball, he refuses to give up. The short guy became a high school star. The weak kid became a strong college player, and the one they all dismissed became an NBA superstar.

Kelly Barnhill’s award-winning “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” is a perfect balance of fantasy, folklore and coming of age.

“Dragons in a Bag” by Zetta Elliott introduces us to 9-year-old Jaxon, who has been left in the care of an eccentric old witch. Before he knows it, he is training as her new apprentice. His first task is to return three dragons to a magical world.

More advanced readers will probably like “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi. Set in West Africa, this book is steeped in the mythology and beliefs of that time and place. Young Zélie’s long dormant magic has rekindled impelling her to fight for her oppressed people and restore magic to her homeland.

The touching real story told in “Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father and Dealt with Family Addiction” by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is a good read for anyone of any age. In it, Krosoczka openly shares what it was like growing up with a single, drug-addicted mother who often only referred to him as “Hey Kiddo.” The things he reveals are heart-wrenching but show his amazing capacity to adapt, survive and thrive. In it we see how love, loyalty and compassion endure in the most challenging circumstances.

This is just a short list of great books. Some are classics and others are new, but all are worth considering as gifts. If you aren’t sure what would be good, just stop by your public library where they have an amazing selection to look through. You can always find something worthwhile from authors such as Shel Silverstein, Judy Bloom, Nicholas Sparks, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison or Stephen King, to name just a few.

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