Gift Guide for The Parent Who Loves Reading to Their Kids
on Nov 19, 2015, Updated Sep 14, 2020
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If you enjoy reading with your kiddos, this gift guide for children’s books is perfect for the holidays so you can continue learning together!
Gift Guide: Books to Read Aloud to Kids
I love reading to my kids. As I was pondering the kinds of gift guides I would share with you all this year, I just knew that I wanted to do a reading centered one. I saw a little picture on Facebook once of a bookstore front that had these words painted on the window: “There’s no app to replace your lap. Read to your kid!”
I LOVED it. It is so very true, and I know you fun parents and grandparents who enjoy my blog feel just the same way as I do. Happy reading, friends (and happy shopping).
1. Once Upon A Time: A Treasury of Fairy Tales (Amazon)
I’m a big fan of “collection” books. This book was gifted to me by my dear friend Katie Olmstead when my oldest was born. It’s one of my very favorite books. We have loved this book nearly to death, and it actually no longer has a front cover on it. This book has all kinds of classic fairy tales in it, the illustrations are varied and beautiful (lots of different art styles), and the story lengths are just perfect for bedtime — not too long and not too short. I also love hearing different versions of popular tales; it’s as much fun to read as it is to listen to!
Here are a few of the stories this book includes:
Cinderella
Little Red Riding Hood
Jack and the Beanstalk
Rumpelstiltskin
Thumbelina
The Ugly Duckling
Beauty and the Beast
Three Little Pigs
Puss in Boots
Hansel and Gretel
Plus lots more!
2. Treasury of Christmas Tales (Amazon)
I got this Christmas collection storybook from the library a few years ago and loved it so much that I had to get a copy of my own. It’s an older book and not as easy to find, but it’s well worth the hunt. I adore having seasonal stories to read to the kids. I keep this book stored in my Christmas decorations, so when we get things out it’s there waiting for us and feels new all over again. You will love it! Again, this book has great pictures, is fun to read, and the story lengths are just perfect for bedtime reading.
Here’s a list of the stories it includes:
A Christmas Carol
The Wishing Star
The Little Match Girl
The Christmas Mouse
Jingle Bells
The Magic Toy Shop
The Littlest Angel
The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Christmas Bear
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Nutcracker
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
The Tiny Elf
O Christmas Tree
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Little Drummer Boy
Christmas Carols
The Happy Snowman
Rudolph’s Adventure
3. Little House on the Prairie Box Set (Amazon)
I’m a big believer in reading chapter books to the little ones, even if they don’t understand everything. The Little House on the Prairie box set is one of our all-time favorites. The chapters are each a little story, so it’s easy to start and stop again without having to do a lot of remembering where you were. I really enjoy reading these out loud. The stories are told through Laura’s eyes, and she’s so fun at telling details and making you feel like you are right there with the Ingalls family. They are classics through and through. I think every family should have these books on their shelf. I actually didn’t read this series until I was about 25, so it’s a good read for just about anyone, not just the kids.
4. Puffin Classics Deluxe Collection Hardcover (Amazon)
I picked up this set for my kids last year, and we are still really enjoying them. The set I have has 10 hardbound books, and they come in rainbow order in a nice box set. So not only are they great books, but they look fabulous on the shelf. This set includes Black Beauty, Peter Pan, The Call of the Wild, The Wind in the Willows, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Secret Garden, Huckleberry Fin, and Anne of Green Gables. This set was just so full of classics that I had to get it for the kids for Christmas, and I am so glad that I did. Their dad read out loud The Adventures of Robin Hood, and I’m reading Black Beauty to them now.
5. Headlamp (Amazon)
Not a book but such a fun little thing to have. Headlamps would be a perfect little stocking stuffer for your readers. We love having reading parties in a tent, under the boys’ bunk beads, or in the closet with our headlamps on. Don’t ask me why, but reading with a little light on is so fun. This is a must-have for any family. Plus, they are really handy for more than reading in the closet, too!
6. Kantha Throw Blanket (Dignify)
Every good book needs a snuggly blanket to go along with it! I bought one of these beautiful hand-stitched blankets last year and I’m so glad that I did. Here’s how the company Dignify explains their blankets and what makes them so special.
“We sell premium quality, ethically made, fair trade kantha quilts. Call them whatever you want – kantha blankets, sari throws, “Indian blankets”, vintage sari kantha – all you need to know is: They are hand-stitched in Bangladesh from six layers of reclaimed sari cloth. The women who make them were previously living on the street, or working in sex work (often these go hand in hand), or in a vulnerable situation at risk of such.”
I don’t know if it is how the blanket is made, or my emotional ties to it, but it has some very serious good juju going on. It’s the blanket the kids always find, and it just feels like happiness and hope. I highly recommend these blankets and the company behind them. Did I mention how pretty they are?!
7. Wooden Train Track (Amazon)
When it isn’t bedtime and I’m just reading a chapter book out loud to the kids, I have found that it works best if they have a little something to keep their hands busy while I read. We love wooden train tracks, and they are often what the kids choose to get out while I read. They can play while I read for a solid hour. The wooden train sets are easy enough for them to put together on their own, too, and I don’t have to stop reading to help. We love the Brio brand.
8. Duplos (Amazon)
If we aren’t getting out train tracks we are reaching for the Duplos. Duplo blocks are chubby Legos that are just perfect for younger kids. We have plenty of the little Legos, but all of my kids still really love playing with this size of blocks. It is easier (and quicker) to get something built, but they are small enough that the kids still have a lot of creative freedom with them. I got a Duplo train set at a hardware store last year, and we love it. I’ve also had lots of luck buying assorted “lots” of these on Ebay.
9. Giant Sit On Whale (Land of Nod)
Who doesn’t need this?! I have actually never bought anything from Land of Nod, but I’m pretty obsessed with the site. They have so many neat things for kids! I thought this would be the perfect thing to lounge on and read. Isn’t it cute? A lady can dream, right?
10. Teepee (Land of Nod)
I can just imagine all of the hours of play that would center around this simple little fort. Bonus, it sure looks like they fold up and hid away pretty easily too. One day, one day.
This post was originally published in 2015, and has been updated in November 2019.
These are some of my favorite items that every parent who loves to read to their kids needs; I hope this gift guide for readers fills you with inspiration for your holiday list!
Melissa, what a sweet post! I love that you included a dignify blanket and I love even more how you describe your family using it!! We are also a huge book-reading family, and I think that the toys for the younger kids idea is genius. I also find that listening to an audio book (right now: Anne of Avonlea) is a way for my oldest daughter and I to enjoy sharing the “reading” experience, while I can sit and color or play cars with the littler ones.
Great guide!