With the holiday season right around the corner, I may be stating the obvious — but, a great way to get kids to read is to give them books as presents. This is something that we have done for our own kids, and it’s actually a legacy passed down from my parents who gave me books for presents as a child. (Books weren’t our only presents, but the holiday season always included a gift of a book, or two.)
While books might not seem exciting enough to be a gift to some people, I guess that I was enough of a bookworm to really look forward to getting books at the holidays. (Come to think of it, relatives still give me books as gifts and I still look forward to receiving them.)
I can remember being questioned by some acquaintances when we bought our then infant daughter some books.
“Why are you getting those?” They asked. “It will be years before she can read them.” (Little did they realize that we would read to her almost every night for several years.)
If presented the right way, I think books can be an exciting gift for most children. Here are some gift book suggestions, based on age.
- For Babies and Toddlers. Look for sturdy board books or washable cloth books that can be wiped off or laundered.
- For Older Toddlers and Preschoolers. Look for picture books. Many picture books now come as a boxed set with a plush animal. I see nothing wrong with that.
- For Preschoolers and Early Elementary. Look for longer picture books, or easy readers that they can read themselves. My kids enjoyed receiving books that included a cassette tape recording of the story.
- For Elementary Children. Look for classic children’s tales as well as books based on popular culture (such as movie or TV characters). This is a good time to introduce nonfiction books such as biographies and informative books about history or science. You can also get books that contain instructions for crafts or games.
- For Junior High Children. There are many novels and book series geared towards young adults. There are also longer classics that can be read. Junior high kids may continue to enjoy biographies and other nonfiction books.
- For High School Children. At this age, most children can read adult classic and popular books. (Be sure to check books carefully to see that the material is appropriate for the child.)
This is part one of a two part series. Next week I’ll list some specific suggestions under each age grouping.
Do you give books as gifts? Why, or why not? What were your favorites as a child?
Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
11 responses so far ↓
1 James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises // Oct 3, 2007 at
When you read to a child every night (two stories, in my case), let me say that you can honestly never have enough books.
Unless, of course, you like reading The Fat Cat a million times, alternating the other million with The King, The Mice and The Cheese.
2 Helen Ginger // Oct 3, 2007 at
I, too, give books as presents. They’re my favorite things to give, especially if I can get them autographed or choose ones that I know for sure the recipients will like. I’ve learned to try to read them first, though. Made the mistake once of giving a book to someone, only to find out later that it definitely was not the kind of book he would like.
3 Renae // Oct 3, 2007 at
I give books as gifts frequently. They don’t get broken or require batteries. However, at my house a few have been chewed. 🙂
Reading carries with it a lasting memory.
4 Steve M // Oct 3, 2007 at
Books as gifts are always great. My little ones are obsessed with Hairy Mclary and also the Wiggles
5 Laura // Oct 4, 2007 at
Hi James, Helen, Renae, and Steve M.!
It’s nice to know that I’m not the only bookworm in blogosphere.
😉
6 Harry // Oct 4, 2007 at
I thought I was the only one to give books as gifts to kids anymore. I knew James’ daughters would appreciate them, I found his youngest a great book on dragons last year. The one thing I like that seems to be the trend now is the marketing with children’s books. Each book has a stuffed animal that goes along with the book. They make great gift sets and encourages the child to make up their own stories when they play. I know I would have loved this when I was a kid.
Of course I approach children’s books from a purely graphics point of view. I look for ones with exceptional illustrations. One of my favorites is “The Weaving Of A Dream” by Marilee Heyer. It’s a story based on a Chinese fairy tale with some fantastic illustrations.
7 Laura // Oct 4, 2007 at
Hi Harry!
I agree that the marketing of children’s books has gotten much better. I don’t remember that there were very many “book and stuffed animal” sets around when I was little.
It’s interesting that you approach children’s books from a graphics point of view. I have held onto some of my kid’s picture books, even though they are past that stage, because I love some of the pictures.
8 Harry // Oct 5, 2007 at
Well, Laura, I started out as an illustrator when I graduated college and while I am a writer, I’ll always be a visual artist first. I think the only book I have from my childhood is a well loved copy of “The New Golden Treasury Of Natural History” by Bertha Morris Parker (second edition 1971). You have no idea how many hours I spent leafing through this book, admiring the drawings of just about every animal, plant, fossil, and mineral in it. I swear, I was ahead of my time as far as the fascination for dinosaurs and wolves were concerned. This book is what made me want to become an illustrator in the first place, specifically doing wildlife or archaeological illustrations.
I think that’s the beauty of books, you never know what kind of interest a book will spark in a young mind and where it will take the child further down the road.
9 lornadoone // Oct 5, 2007 at
The number one gift that I’m most likely to bring to a baby shower is a book (or a few books)! You can never start too early. In fact, we’re starting to put together a nursery for the little one we’re expecting in January, and I’ve gone through and found the books I’ve been carrying around with me for about 30 years, knowing that someday they would belong to my child.
Also, one of the best moments I had when meeting my goddaughter/niece for the first time was having her tiny little body lay on my chest while I read her The Lorax.
10 Laura // Oct 9, 2007 at
Hi Harry! My kids are both artistic. So are both of my brothers and my mother-in-law. Somehow, the artistic gene totally bypassed me. That doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy art – I do! In fact, visiting an art gallery is pretty high up on my list of favorite things to do.
Hi Lornadoone!
It sounds like you’ll be passing your love of reading on to your own little one as well as to your niece. One of my favorite things to share with my children is the books that I enjoyed when I was their age.
11 Six Sources of Writing Inspiration : WritingThoughts // Feb 22, 2011 at
[…] made this post all about the importance of reading for writers and others, but I’ve been on that soapbox […]