Looking for the best books to gift kids? This gift guide is full of the best books for kids that make exceptionally wonderful presents. Included in this list are additional gift ideas to pair with each book.
What are the best books to gift kids?
Let’s give a big round of applause to the idea of gifting books to kids.
There are so many incredible books out there that go beyond just being “a book”—they can become a “full-on gift” that any child will love to receive. Finding these unique, interesting books can elevate gift-giving to something that lasts with kids a lifetime.
Every holiday or birthday, I make it a point to add an exciting new book to my kids’ collection—whether it’s one for deep exploration, one that introduces a new concept, or one that offers experiences with topics they wouldn’t normally encounter in day-to-day life.
Why gifting books is absolutely necessary
Our kids don’t have encyclopedias like we used to. Our generation—parents and grandparents—grew up with encyclopedias to explore, paging through them to discover fascinating facts on topics we hadn’t even thought about.
How do our children find and access random information? How do our children “stumble” onto knowledge without asking for our help getting online? Or asking us to search for them? Or asking Alexa for the answer?
Of course it’s great to help a child find an answer by hopping online. But that experience is often limited to a specific fact—once the answer is found, the search ends. And just like that, the learning stops.
We need to encourage “stumble upon learning.”
With encyclopedias and other large reference books, we (as children) could turn to a random page and learn random facts. Our children can’t turn to a random page of the Internet and find random facts (at least they shouldn’t…).
Books that make “stumble upon learning” possible
Filling your home library with great non-fiction books gives kids the chance to discover new knowledge without looking for something specific.
They can learn about a naked mole rat from an animal book.
They can understand zeppelins were an early part of air travel in a transportation book.
They can see how other families live across the world in atlas and family-life books.
Without these books to browse through, kids can only learn more about what they already know. We want them to explore beyond that – non-fiction books are the gateway.
What kind of books are the best to gift kids?
Most of the books I recommend are non-fiction, filled with actual photographs of real things. Some may include elements of fiction or drawings, but I’ve kept those to only the best—the ones that still encourage “stumble upon” learning.
These aren’t narrative-driven books. These books rely on labels and captions, making them accessible to even the youngest children. A child can glean information from these books years before they’re able to read full sentences.
Many of the books on my list have been in our home since my kids were toddlers. Their worn spines tell a story of love, curiosity, and countless hours of exploration.
These are the best “flip through” books, and you’ll find yourself reaching for them too—especially when those dinner-time questions like “what’s a weasel?” come up. Instead of grabbing your phone, just flip open a book and discover the answer together.
Looking for a different kind of parenting book?
Check out “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” for advice from tabies to big kids
Remember that books and topics do not have genders
Books are for all kids.
Every child deserves access to information, and every child should have the opportunity to explore any topic that interests them. Knowledge shouldn’t be categorized by gender, and access to learning must be equal.
Instead of letting gender dictate what books to buy, focus on the child’s interests or what’s missing from your home library. If you don’t have any animal books, get one. If there’s nothing about transportation, add it to the shelf. If your child shows interest in dinosaurs, find them a book that dives into that subject.
The truth is, you can’t fully know a child’s interests until they’ve been given the chance to explore a variety of topics. Books are a powerful stepping stone to discovering lifelong passions, and it’d be a shame to miss that passion by wrongly assuming a book is only for one gender of child.
JUMP – The Best Books to Gift Kids
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The Animal Book
This Animal Book is the most referenced book in our house. My 7 year old got it for her 3rd birthday. It’s so well-loved that the binding is finally failing. Ah, the sign of a loved book.
Gifts to pair with this book:
- Small animal toys: a favorite at our house
- Set of animal puzzles: very classic set
Children’s Illustrated Atlas
I miss the days of homes having Encyclopedias and maps strewn about. This book is a great option and gives kids that chance to just wander through the world.
Gift ideas to pair with this book:
- Small globe: every home needs a globe
- Hug-A-Planet stuffy: a throwback stuffed globe
- World map puzzle: a fantastic map puzzle
5000 Awesome Facts
A great encyclopedia-like book full of interesting facts and topics for kids to learn about. It’s a great way to answer and find knowledge on all the various topics kids ask about.
Other books in this series:
Dinosaur! by the Smithsonian
Do you have a dinosaur kid on your gift list? This book is incredible and brings dinosaurs to life. You’ll also learn a lot from it as the adult… it’s that good.
Gift ideas to pair with this book:
- Dinosaur toys (these 9-inch ones are amazing)
- 48 piece dinosaur puzzle or this chunky dinosaur puzzle
- For ages 5+: Dinosaur Island logic game
National Parks of the U.S.A.
If you’re an American reader, this book is stunning. Such a beautiful walk through National Parks. We absolutely adore this book and the illustrations.
Gift ideas to pair with this book:
- National Parks Get Wild! game: my family’s favorite
- Jumbo Forest Animals: my daughter’s favorites
Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds
This is a beautiful book for budding botanists. The photos are stunning. This book has helped all my kids be better with plant identification (and having someone to look up plants they’re curious about).
Gift ideas to pair with this book:
- Flower press: I paired this exact book with a flower press last year to gift my daughter. It was perfect together.
- LEGO Flower Bouquet: This is best for ages 8+, but it’s gorgeous.
Guinness World Records 2024
Talk about a lot of random facts to learn: this was a favorite from my kids all year. We checked out the 2022 version from the library every other month until I broke down and bought it.
My First Cookbook
If you have a budding chef (5-8 years old) on your list, this cookbook is perfection (and the recipes are actually really good). For older chef’s (8-12 years old), see below.
Gift ideas to pair with this book:
- Kitchen knives for kids
- Kitchen timers (so helpful since my son can’t reach the oven clock)
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
This is the best kid cookbook for kids who really want to cook. There are recipes in this cookbook that my family eats regularly, like baked cod. There’s also lots of information on cooking techniques. This is the right call for kids 8-12.
Gift ideas to pair with this book:
- A good chef’s knife: this is very different than “kid knives.” It’s a big step up.
- Mini electric griddle: perfect for young chef’s to make pancakes, eggs, and cookies
The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia
Absolutely amazing book for kids to learn about “the arts.” This is such a great way to introduce really important and impactful work in a very visually appealing and easy way.
Birds of North America
My daughter loves birds, and can’t get enough of bird identification books. This one is great for kids living in North America, super good information but also easy to flip through and discover birds with.
Gifts to pair with this book:
- Window bird feeders: we love ours
- Bird coloring book
Usborne Big Book of Big Trains
This flap book unfolds twice as big and kids learn about trains on a GIANT scale. It’s really cool how large this book gets.
Other books in this series:
This is How We Do It
Such a cool book about families around the world – this is so beautifully done. This book was a catalyst for my children to start researching and considering how other families around the world live.
The Kid’s Book of the Elements
Talk about bringing chemistry to life. This is an EPIC flip through book where kids can stumble on the periodic table of elements. The photographs in this book are incredible.
Gifts to pair with this book:
- Chemistry kit (ages 8+)
- Pocket microscope or full size microscope to go with the science theme
The Ultimate Construction Site Book
I’ve never seen a book with more moveable parts or flaps. This book is so cool and we’ve flipped through (or bought as gifts) so many others.
Other books in “The Ultimate Book of…” series:
Greek Mythology
My oldest went deep into Greek Mythology this year thanks to the Greeking Out podcast. I picked up this large reference book so he’d have an easy way to look up difference Greek mythology characters and information.
Gifts to pair with this book:
Zoology
Yes, it’s another animal book. Can you have too many? This book has the most spectacular animal images. This is different than other animal books. Trust me.
Gifts to pair with this book:
- Jumbo animal sets: Fantastic for animal play
- Guess in 10: Card game using knowledge of animals
A Child’s Introduction to Art
Another option for introducing kids to works for art – I can’t stress enough how important it is to get things in front of children and let them build context, knowledge, and memories around them.
Gifts to pair with this book:
- Deluxe art set: My daughter still uses this kit from Christmas 2021
- Spiral-bound sketch pad
Don’t miss my entire gift guide dedicated just to the best art supplies to give as gifts.
Picturepedia
This book lives up to its name: an encyclopedia on every page. You need something kids can stumble through to find random learning? This is it.
My First Encyclopedia
Exactly as it sounds: this book is a GREAT first encyclopedia for kids and a great place for them to find random information.
Space!
It’s another great title from DK Smithsonian. I cannot recommend this enough for budding astronomers, but also – it’s just great for any child. Outer space is magical in childhood (and adulthood).
Gifts to pair with this book:
- Outer space puzzle: this is a favorite
- Astronaut costume for dress-up play
- Telescope: I know it’s a big gift, but it’s awesome
Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs
I love these “…first big books” from National Geographic – they give kids so much great information. This big book was the first we owned (and then we bought most of the series over the years).
Other books in the “First Big Book of…” series:
Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls
A best selling book about important women in history – this is the most text heavy book on the list but it’s still a beautiful one for kids to look through. It also (wink) makes for great bedtime stories.
First Big Book of Why
Okay, it’s another “First Big Book” but this one is more general information for kids, and leads to the discovery of a lot of fun facts. I had to give it it’s own “billing” on the list.
Honorable Mentions
The “Honorable Mentions” list are for the best books for kids that don’t necessarily allow them to stumble upon learning BUT do make great gifts and hold kid attention spans.
My kids adore these books and would have a revolt if I didn’t include them here. Each has given my family hours upon hours of entertainment.
I Spy
We love our I Spy books! Even when kids can’t read the riddles, they can scan the pages and play with a friend or sibling. There’s even an I-Spy Game if you’re looking for extra fun to pair with this.
Where’s Waldo
How much did you love these books?! Where’s Waldo is a classic book to look through and so much fun once kids get the hang of it.
Super Deluxe Essential Handbook
Yes, I put a Pokemon book on this list but hear me out. If you have a child who is into Pokemon: this is THE BOOK they need for understanding and even stumbling upon characters.
This little book took my kids from “We like Pokemon on Netflix” to understanding the deep math, problem solving, and critical thinking created in this game.
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
This will forever be one of our family favorite books (and was also my brother and my favorite book 30 years ago…). There is a story line for this book – but so many fun pictures to look at.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of the books on this list have been in my home since my kids were infants and toddlers. I wanted books for them to discover. They won’t know to ask a question about marmots unless they stumble upon a picture. Don’t dismiss non-fiction books for even the youngest learners.
That’s personal to the family and the home environment. Remember that many of these books are available at the library and you can check them out first before deciding if you need to own them.
I do a seasonal book rotation based on holiday and time of year, but these books in the above list are year round favorites. One thing I do each month is move these books around the house. Seeing a book in a new spot suddenly sparks new interest.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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Megan Jenkins says
Susie – your kids are beyond these now, but I have a recommendation for you based on what my kids have ADORED the last few years. They are LIKE Where’s Waldo, but more involved, but they’re perfect for when kids cannot read yet but yet you want them to look at a book for more than 2 minutes. The series is called My Big Wimmelbook. Wimmelbooks start with a page that introduces you to a bunch of characters and then it tells you to find them and tell their story as you watch them on each page. Then, the following pages consist of large, very detailed thematic pages with lots going on where kids have to find the characters as well as tell what’s going on as the “story” progresses. Lots of different child themes from construction to school to animals. My kids adore them and ask for them to be gotten from the library over and over again.
Vanessa says
Do you have any recommendations of books for kids that are interested in architecture?
Susie says
Oooh I have a kid interested in architecture so let me go look around and get back to you!
Sarah Smith says
Love love love this list, it’s reminding me of how much I loved these style books as a kid.
And so true that you can’t get these too early, my 12 month old loves Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, we ‘read’ it daily at his request, can’t wait to add more of these to our library.