QuickList: Best Book Gifts for Kids (2008 Edition)

Happy Hanukkah!  Merry Christmas! Kwanzaa Tidings to you and yours!  

You know what makes an awesome present?  A really awesome book.  Okay, and a Wii Fit.  But if you’re looking for something more economical to get the kids in your life, here are some good picks: 

For the itty bitty tiny ones:

Tana Hoban Board Books (White on Black, Black on White, Who Are They)   Infants love high contrast images.  Plus- they’re drool resistant.  

Margaret Miller’s Look Baby Books  Did you know babies gaze longer at faces than other images?

For the toddlers:

The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O Zelinsky   You simply can’t go wrong with a book that you can sing aloud.  

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger   Beautiful illustrations, cool die cuts, simple text, and concepts that will grow with a toddler as she becomes a preschooler.  

For the Preschool Set:

I’m Not Cute!  and I’m Not Scared by Jonathan Allen   Baby Owl is HUGE!  And SCARY!  He is NOT cute!  No way!  Uh, uh.  

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea   For the sweet love of jellybeans!  If you haven’t already read this book, go out now to your local library or bookstore and peruse a copy.  You shall not be disappointed.  And if you are, well, we simply cannot be friends.  

For the beginning reader:

ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE!   From the genius who brought us the Pigeon and Knuffle Bunny.  Need I say more?  

For the elementary school-aged:

Babymouse, Owly, Bone, Amelia Rules!, Amulet, Jellaby , Mouse Guard  (some great graphic novels to get ya’ started.  You could get them all and make a graphic novel basket!)

Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper (super cute series for girls)

 Journal of a Cardboard Genius by Frank Asch (funny series for boys)

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look (this might be my favorite book of the year!)

 Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (simply hilarious.  If they’ve already read all three, the journal makes a nice gift)

For tweens, teens, and advanced readers:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (laugh-out-loud funny, moving, and relatable) 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (scary sci-fi distopian tale)

And now I put the question to you, fellow children’s librarians, teachers, moms, and lovers of kidlit: what are your favorite books to give as gifts?  (Either for this year or all-time?)