Give the Child in Your Life the Gift of Reading this Holiday Season

When I was a kid, going to the book fair at school was one of my favorite things. There was so much to explore in the pages of all those books, and I loved the feel of a new book in my hand. This holiday season, you can help pass on the joys of reading to the younger generation by giving them a new book!

Depending on the child's age, you may opt for a picture book, something they can read themselves, or even a chapter book if they are a teen. Whatever the case, here are some favorite books to get you started!

You can get them a Christmastime favorite like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss. You may have read this yourself as a child, and reading together can be a great shared memory!

Another favorite Christmas book for the youngest readers is the Caldecott-winning "The Snowy Day." This helps little ones to playfully explore the first snowfall of the year.

For more Christmas-themed books that your little ones are sure to love, Country Living explores the 30 Best Christmas Books of All Time to Read with Your Kids.

If you are looking for books that don't follow the Christmas theme, there are plenty of other great books for you to explore!

One of my daughter's favorite books growing up was "Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gagg. This is a fun, award-winning book that is a timeless classic. Even though it was written in 1952, kids still love this book today. After all, who wouldn't want to have millions of cats?

My younger daughter's favorite bedtime book to read is the "101 Dalmatians." This is a well-known, classic story, too. Little kids can enjoy reading about the 101 Dalmatians just as much today as we did in childhood!

If you want a list of the best Classic Children's Books broken down by age group, you can check out this awesome list of 100 best classic children's books for all ages from Pan MacMillian, which has the books broken down perfectly by age group for easy browsing.

In addition, you can always look for books by independent authors as well. You can find many of these available on Amazon, too.

I love the Help Series by Megan Llorente, which teaches kids prosocial values, and the importance of asking for help when they are struggling. Megan has a Christmas book out as well, so you can enjoy this with your littlest reader.

Books for Teens

If you are shopping for teens this holiday season, books can still make a great gift to give them. There is nothing better than escaping to your room with a book at the end of a long day. Studies show that reading before bed instead of watching TV is also more relaxing, so it is a win-win when your teen enjoys a book.

In recent years, some of the series that have been popular with teens include Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Divergent and Twilight.

For a look at all the books that are trending with teens this year, you can check out Brightly's list of The Best YA Books of 2023.

When I was a teen, Little Women was one of my favorite books. Although the issues facing Jo and her sisters weren't the same as the girls in my day, there is a timeless quality of sisterhood and love that makes this story a classic that has stood the test of time.

If you check out Goodreads, they have compiled a list of the Best Classic Books for Teens, where you can find other timeless favorites. If you are a reader yourself, you may have read many of these when you were young as well.

When my oldest was growing up, some of her favorites were the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the Geronimo Stilten books. If you need something for a young teen, these are both great choices for the Middle School age.

No matter which books you choose, remember, teaching a child the love of reading is a priceless gift! Sharing books with our children is a great way to teach them a love of learning, and to inspire their imaginations! When we read with them, it also helps to build an important relationship as well.

I hope these books help to inspire you for this holiday season, and provide you and your little ones with great reading all year long!