By Shandley McMurray
Tis the season to find the perfect gift for every litte one on your list. Instead of infiltrating their play rooms with another plastic toy destined for the bin, why not give them the best present of all this year – the gift of imagination. Here are a few of our favorites for kids of every age.
Age 0 to 3
I Want My Potty: A Little Princess Story by Tony Ross, Random House Inc.
No one likes to wear diapers, especially the little princess. And while she doesn’t like the Royal potty at first, she eventually learns to love it – when she can get to it in time, that is.
What Can a Crane Pick Up? By Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Random House Children’s Books
A fun and beautifully illustrated rhyming book, your kids will beg to have you read this to them again and again. From pipes and bricks to cows, ferris wheels and even business men in suits, they’ll be sure to laugh at the funny things a crane can pick up.
Age 4 to 8
Julia Donaldson
It’s hard to go wrong when presenting kids with a book by Julia Donaldson. In addition to their fantastic illustrations by the talented Axel Scheffler, the rhyming prose and witty stories weaved by this queen of children’s lit are sure to please every tot on your list this year. Here are a few of our faves:
Tabby McTat, The Musical Cat by Julia Donaldson, Scholastic
A tale of adventure and love, this story follows the life of Tabby McTat, a cat who sings (well, miaows actually) with a Busker named Fred. One day, when performing one of their acts, Fred chased thieves who had stolen his coins. The two friends are separated. Will they ever find each other again?
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, Scholastic
Stick Man goes out for a jog one morning only to be mistaken for a plain old stick by a dog. This fun tale follows Stick Man’s many encounters with people mistaking him for everything from a flag mast to a cricket bat and finally, a stick for the fire. All he wants is to get home to his family tree. But don’t worry, a special someone has better plans for him this Christmas.
A Gold Star for Zog by Julia Donaldson, Scholastic
A very eager student in his dragon school, Zog dreams of earning a gold star amongst his peers. Poor Zog is a clutzy, accident-prone dragon with a kind heart who attracts the help of a mysterious girl after his many training mishaps. Perhaps she can help him to earn the praise he’s been looking for at school.
The house that wanted a family by Susan Spence Daniel, Inspiring Voices
This is a charming, touching story of a house that sat vacant for ages, waiting for the perfect family to move into it. One day, just when the house was about to give up hope, a wonderful thing happened – a family moved in and made it a home.
This is not my hat by Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press
The latest book from the author of the best-selling I want my hat back, this adorable book isabout a small fish wearing a blue hat that fits him perfectly. Since the hat was not originally his, this little fish may have trouble (in the form of a very big fish) following behind him.
Age 6 to 8
Magic Treehouse #44: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time by Mary Pope Osborne, Random House Books for Young Readers
This time, The Magic Tree House takes Jack and Annie to the Victorian times in foggy London. Their mission: to help famed author Charles Dickens. After Dickens rescues the duo from being thrown in jail, they discover the secrets that haunt him. They’ll need lots of magic, and the help of a few ghosts, to help the infamous story-teller.
Jake and the Magic Telescope: Treasure of Mango Island by Sarah-Jayne Reseigh, Bryler Publications
Jake has always loved adventure. So it’s no surprise that he sets off in his schooner Sea Mist to search for treasure on the mythical Mango Island. Armed with a magic telescope and his trusty shipmate Sidney the seagull, Jake meets a bunch of interesting friends along the way (including Daphne the dolphin, Pete the parrot and Wilfred the whale). These friends help Jake to protect his newly acquired treasure from a mean pirate named Melvin.
Age 8 +
Infinity Ring: Book One A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner, Scholastic
This addictive time-travel story leaves you craving the next installment for answers to its many loose ends. Luckily, another six books are on their way. Dak and Sera, the protagonists, travel through time with the help of the infinity ring they find at the beginning of the book. The ring leads them to a war between the Historians, a secret society trying to keep history in its place and the SQ, a wicked society that is trying to change the past. As Dak’s parents become lost during their time travel, the two heroes must look for them while also trying to help the Historians return history to its natural state. When kids have finished Book One and are begging for more, don’t despair. There’s a whole slew of online adventures to keep them occupied while they await the next installment.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Knopf Books for Young Readers
This New York Time best-seller is a perfect gift for children this Christmas. Written initially from the view of August (Auggie) Pullman, a boy starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep, Auggie was born with a horrible facial deformity that makes it hard to be accepted by other kids. As the story progresses, we hear from Auggie’s sister, boyfriend and others in the community who all struggle to be sympathetic and accepting of a wonderful boy who was born to stand out.
Age 11 to 13
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Scholastic
A fast-paced read, this action-packed novel is filled with Medieval adventures. Civil war is on the horizon as the deceitful nobleman Conner decides to find someone to impersonate the king’s long-lost son so he can take over the throne. He forces Sage and three other orphans to compete for the role of the son, threatening them with death if they don’t obey him. Sage is wary of Connor but is still determined to beat out the other orphans in the competition. Young readers are sure to be on the edge of their seats when reading this tale.
Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie, Candlewick Press
Matt’s life has gone downhill since he heard about the death of his brother, T.J., who was killed in Iraq. Getting in trouble at school and at home, Matt can’t stop thinking about his brother and wanting to find answers that will help him to make sense of his death. His search for information, however, leads him to revelations about T.J. that make him realize he may not have known his brother as well as he thought. Matt’s new discoveries help him to become a stronger person, able to finally take charge of his own life.
