The Children’s Book Holiday Gift Guide | 2017

The Children’s Book Review | December 1, 2017

TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas

Kids Books for Christmas Gifts and Beyond

Here are the books and bookish items that we think will make great gifts for all of the kids in your life. Beneath each image, you can find purchase links for each book and item. Check back daily as we update the list over the next 12 days (December 1 through December 12).

Day 1

Welcome to TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! This gift selection is perfect for all readers ages 5 to 100+. Even more specifically, it will be enjoyed by game players, anyone with wanderlust, and even reluctant readers. We’re huge fans of Where’s Waldo here at TCBR headquarters, and we just love this new collection of Waldo’s favorite adventures. Paired with the bendable toy figure, you can’t go wrong—and you can play with Where’s Waldo all year round … even after the Elf on the Shelf gets packed away. You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #WheresWaldo

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Where’s Waldo? Destination: Everywhere!

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Where’s Waldo? Bendable Toy Figure

Order This Now: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Day 2

It’s day 2 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! This gift selection is a must-have for all readers ages 4 to 11. No matter their nationality, heritage, interests, character, sense of humor, or maturity level, kids will eat this reading journal up—plus, it can be used by the gift giver for plenty more book suggestions for any other gift giving moment during the year. Readers will discover multiple books that they can find themselves in. It includes books that show, through great storytelling, how differences make us unique, but that under our differences we are quite similar—we all feel. It includes stories that showcase kindness, culture, and relationships. And plenty of books that prove reading is fun. The ultimate final list of 101 books is a combination of classic and contemporary picture books, beginning chapter books, graphic novels, and middle grade novels chosen for their powers to entice kids to wonder, laugh, cry, and almost always close the book with a smile. With so many amazing books to be discovered and read and far too many to list in one fun book, the 101 awesome books that were selected as the books to read before kids grow up have one collective message: Be kind, be brave, and make good choices. Remember the struggles of those that came before you. Always dream of the fantastical future ahead of you and those that come after you. Be true to yourself and, with every page you turn, live your life like an epic adventure. Read on! . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #101bookstoreadbeforeyougrowup

A post shared by The Children’s Book Review (@thechildrensbookreview) on Dec 2, 2017 at 8:01am PST

101 Books To Read Before You Grow Up

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Day 3

It’s day 3 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! This gift selection is a beautiful choice for both little and big kids, 2 and older. Both books are bright, colorful, and sturdy (great for little hands) and encourage fearless creativity (wonderful for any age). Whether you have a budding artist or a kiddo that struggles with perfectionism, readers will delight in discovering the beauty that can come out of making mistakes. Beautiful Oops is a book we have been enjoying for years and wish was in every child’s home library, and now there is the interactive version that kids are actually encouraged to draw and create in. Gift the books together with a set of markers, you can’t go wrong. . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #BeautifulOops #InteractiveBooks #FearlessCreativity #BuddingArtist #MakingMistakes #Perfectionism

A post shared by The Children’s Book Review (@thechildrensbookreview) on Dec 3, 2017 at 8:33am PST

Beautiful Oops!

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My Book of Beautiful Oops!: A Scribble it, Smear it, Fold it, Tear it Journal for Young Artists

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Day 4

It’s day 4 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! This gift book selection is your best bet for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. Get ready to inspire the master builders in your home with this cool compendium of LEGO creations. The pages are filled with amazing creations from one of the greatest builders in the world, Sean Kenney. From animals to robots to architecture to vehicles to people, each LEGO creation is a marvelous piece of art that will have readers pouring over the pages for a long time—as will all of the behind-the-scenes tidbits of what it takes to be a true master builder. The only thing you’ll need to make sure of is that you have some extra bricks on hand—this book shows that you can build anything you put your mind to, and true LEGO enthusiasts will feel empowered to do just that. . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #BuildingAmazingCreations #LEGO #LEGOCreations #LEGObuilding #LEGOBricks #LEGOArt #BuildingBlocks #BuildingBricks #LEGOBook #SeanKenney

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Building Amazing Creations

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Day 5

It’s day 5 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! Here’s a book to satisfy even the most curious minds—kids and adults ages 8 and up. Ever wondered about the different types of clouds you see in the sky? Or what about the anatomy of a bicycle? Can you get your head around all of the different time zones in our world? Interested in music notation or the phases of the moon? These are just a small amount of the questions and intrigues explored in A WORLD OF INFORMATION. Not only is this book good to look at, it is filled with loads of miscellaneous and fascinating information and infographics. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel smarter just by holding it in your hands, and that alone makes it a great gift. . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #CuriousMinds #Curiosities #GeneralKnowledge #Fascinating #FascinatingCommentary #AWorldOfInformation

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A World of Information

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Day 6

It’s day 6 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! If you’re looking for a stimulating and enjoyable reading experience that will stretch the brain muscles and prime a precocious toddler, then this is most certainly the book series you will want to gift. This new board book series has been designed to introduce basic concepts to wee ones. There are three books in this modern and crisply designed series and each of them are interactive, colorful, and engaging. . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #CuriousMinds #Think #ThinkShapes #Shapes #LearningShapes #BasicConcepts #EarlyEducation #primers #BoardBooks #LiftTheFlaps #ToddlerBooks #BooksForToddlers

A post shared by The Children’s Book Review (@thechildrensbookreview) on Dec 6, 2017 at 6:53am PST

Think Squares!

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Think Circles!

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Think Triangles!

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Day 7

It’s day 7 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! If you have a kiddo (age 10+) that is always ready to jump aboard the closest X-wing and head to a galaxy far, far away, then this kit and instructional book is just the gift you are looking for. The book contains illustrated assembly instructions to make 3 dioramas of classic scenes—including one that lights up with LED lights. The kit contains everything needed to build the paper-crafts, and the instructional book also contains 3 essays on each of the 3 scenes and how they were designed and filmed. Pair the book with one of the very cool Sphero app-enabled droids (BB-8 featured in this photo), and your Jedi’s mind is sure to be blown! . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #StarWars #BB8 #BB-8 #AppEnabledDroid #AppEnabled #Droid #StarWarsDroid #Droids #Sphero #BuildAScene #GalaxyFarFarAway #Papercraft #Diorama #Dioramas #CraftKits #CraftKit #ClassicStarWars #StarWarsScenes

A post shared by The Children’s Book Review (@thechildrensbookreview) on Dec 7, 2017 at 7:43am PST

Star Wars: Build a Scene: Build Papercraft Scenes from a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with Trainer and Force Band

Order This Now: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Day 8

It’s day 8 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! Todays gift idea is double-edge brilliance. These books can be paired nicely with either young foodies or picky eaters—ages 3-7. The books are actually interactive recipe books with all of the instructions to prepare a kid friendly meal: lift flaps, turn wheels, pull tabs … so fun! Try pizza, tacos, or pancakes. It’s a no-brainer, fun gift for any food lovers. Bonus: These books are a great way to encourage those persnickety eaters—getting involved in meal preparation is a wonderful way to get kids to try new foods. Wrap the books up with an apron, tie a chefs hat or wooden spoon on with a bow and, voila, you are all set! . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #Pizza #Tacos #RecipeBook #RecipeBooks #Cookbook #Cookbooks #KidsCookbooks #kidscookbook #cookinabook #yummy #nomnom

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Cook in a Book: Pizza

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Cook in a Book: Tacos

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Day 9

It’s day 9 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! If you have a Harry Potter fan or someone that collects books on your gift list, may we suggest these gorgeously illustrated Harry Potter books? Award-winning artist Jim Kay is working his way through the series illustrating each one, and the first 3 books are already available in full-color. Gift the first 3 in the series this holiday season and then gift the additional books each year as they release. . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #HarryPotter #HarryPotterBooks

A post shared by The Children’s Book Review (@thechildrensbookreview) on Dec 9, 2017 at 7:34pm PST

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: The Illustrated Edition

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition

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Day 10

It’s day 10 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! In case of a white Christmas, Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee is pure fun. Chris Van Dusen’s adventurous rhyme coupled with his lustrous and entertaining illustrations are a winner. And if you happen to be in the Southern Hemisphere or beaching it up somewhere warm this holiday season, there are two other Mr. Magee books that are equally as entertaining and gift worthy. Kids just love the sticky situations that this candid character finds himself. You can pair the books with something extra, just like the sweet pillowy mittens from Veyo Kids that you can spot in this image (they come in all different patterns from plain to pirates). . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #MrMagee #ChrisVanDusen #LearnToSKi #LearningToSki #Ski #Skiing #Mittens #GetOutAndPlay #VeyoKids

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Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

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A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee

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Veyo Mittens

Order This Now: Amazon | Veyo Kids

Day 11

It’s day 11 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! Do you want a gift that helps teach girls what it means to be beautiful? Stacy McAnulty’s picture book Beautiful is a gift of self-empowerment that can be given to every girl in your life—even an adult female that needs a little reminder of her own self-worth. The charismatic and colorful illustrations bring life to relatable text, showing girls of many wonderful skin colors having a blast in all kinds of settings: playing in mud, kicking soccer balls, doing science experiments, and even playing basketball in wheelchairs. The girls in this book are being themselves, no matter what their interests are, and loving every moment of it. If the message in this book is embraced, Beautiful is a gift that will keep giving for the rest of a girl’s life. Also featured in the image is a hair accessory for book lovers. It’s a #BUNTOPPERS hairpin featuring a girl with a book on her head. Book lovers unite! . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #Bookstagram #KidLit #Beautiful #SelfEmpowerment #GirlPower #Girls #PictureBook

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Beautiful

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Buntoppers

Order This Now: https://www.buntoppers.com

Day 12

It’s day 12 of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! If you love to give books for gifts, then you will love giving any of the beautiful Flora books by Molly Idle. The books are wordless and wonderful and filled with friendship, giggles, dance, and playfulness. The pages are interactive with creative flaps that allow the characters to blossom and the reader’s heart and mind to soar. Gift to dancers, best friends, and anyone that appreciates a truly good picture book. . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #KidLit #PictureBook #Flora #Flamingos #Penguins #Peacocks

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Flora and the Flamingo

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Flora and the Penguin

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Flora and the Peacocks

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Bonus days …

It’s a bonus day of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! If you are familiar with Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, then you probably have a little one that would really enjoy @sherririnker’s “turbo-charged read-aloud” The 12 Sleighs of Christmas. Elves, vehicles, and Santa. Oh, my! . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #kidlit #picturebooks #trucks #truck #construction #constructionzone #santa #christmasbooks #goodnight #goodnightgoodnightconstructionsite #12sleighsofchristmas #digger

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The 12 Sleighs of Christmas

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

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Mighty, Mighty Construction Site

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

It’s a bonus day of TCBR’s 12 Days of Bookmas! Love the classics? Raising a philologist? Got any budding designers on your holiday shopping list? Or maybe you just want a pretty looking bookshelf? These Pantone classics are totally on point and just what you’re looking for! . . . You can click the link in our bio to get purchase links and follow along with all 12 Days of gift ideas. #TCBRs12DaysOfBookmas #12DaysOfChristmas #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #GiftIdeas #GiftBooks #KidsBooks #KidLit #puffinpantone #puffinbooks #pantone #pantonegram #classics #classicbooks #classicliterature #literature #thesecretgarden #heidi #theadventuresoftomsawyer #anneofgreengables #thewizardofoz #treasureisland #rainbow #rainbows #rainbow🌈

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The Secret Garden

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Heidi

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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Anne of Green Gables

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The Wizard of Oz

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Treasure Island

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Children’s books make the best gifts! They are filled with magic, wonder, adventures, life lessons, and more. Tell us in the comment section below about all of the wonderful books you will be giving as gifts.