.png)
As in past years (2021, 2022), I present to you a book gift guide. This is more a record of the books I’m gifting in the 2024 holiday season than anything else, but if you still need a few presents and have a bookstore nearby, I heartily recommend each and every title herein. Not all books are new this year – I’ve added the year of publication in parentheses if this matters to you. And if you (or your child) are someone I give to… look away, lest you be spoiled!
Board books for babies (ages 0-2):
Picture books for littles (ages 3-5):
Cat Family Christmas: A Lift-the-Flap Advent Book by Lucy Brownridge, illustrated by Eunyoung Soo (2022) – I love an advent calendar, and lift-the-flap books are reliably popular with little ones. Also, a cat family at Christmas?! Automatic win.
Tis the Season: A Lift-the-Flap Advent Calendar Full of Christmas Poems illustrated by Richard Jones (2024) – I already had my eye on advent books, so when this one came across my feed this year I put it on my shopping list. Love the art style, and with festive poems, it’s bound to be a perennial favorite!
A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dave Chihuly by Sharon Mentyka, illustrated by Shelley Couvillion (2024) – This title “is a celebration of color, light, glass, and Dale Chihuly’s enormous contribution to the field of glassmaking and art.”
We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang (2024) – This funny, clever, and gorgeously-illustrated picture book is one of my favorites this year. It celebrates the kindness of humans, too, which is a great message for any season.
Books for early readers (ages 6-7):
Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi, translated by Kids Can Press (2024) – This “slice of life story is understated, beautiful, and delightfully charming. It’s going in every holiday stocking this winter!” DELIGHTFUL.
Mayor Good Boy by Dave Scheidt and Miranda Harmon (2021) – I haven’t read this one myself, but this first in a graphic novel series comes HIGHLY recommended by one of my niblings (yes, I have gifted this one before!!).
Science Comics: Crows by Kyla Vanderklugt (2020) – A good choice for the reader who likes nonfiction, this title is a highly-rated entry in the Science Comics series. Can’t wait to be bombarded with crow facts. :)
Slightly older elementary school kids (ages 8-12):
Forces of Destiny by Elsa Charretier, Jody Houser, Delilah S. Dawson, Beth Revis, Devin Grayson, and Pierrick Colin, illustrated by Arianna Florean, Eva Widermann, Valentina Pinto, and Nicoletta Baldari (2018) – I’ve been hanging onto this book until the recipient was the right age! It’s a slim graphic novel volume on Star Wars’ heroines, and I’m sure it’ll thrill this kiddo.
Squire & Knight by Scott Chantler (2023) – For a young reader who appreciates a strong dose of humor and chivalry in their reading.
The Night Mother Vol. 1 by Jeremy Lambert, illustrated by Alexa Sharpe (2024) – A full-color, gorgeously-illustrated series-starter of a graphic novel volume that brings together: clocks, a girl who can hear the dead, and a ripping adventure story.
Grace Needs Space! by Benjamin A. Wilgus, illustrated by Rii Abrego (2023) – I read this graphic novel right before wrapping it up, and it’s so adorable I could just squish it. Abrego’s (of The Sprite and the Gardener fame) illustrations are incredible – Grace’s eyes especially are something special, and evoke lots of authentic pre-teen emotion.
Tiffany’s Griffon by Magnolia Porter Siddell, illustrated by Maddi Gonzalez (2024) – A fantastical middle grade graphic novel about a girl who desperately wants to be the star of a story, but ends up as the sidekick.
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus (2021) – The only non-graphic novel for this category, this middle grade historical fiction set in Britain during WWII has Narnia and found-family vibes.
Graphic novels for the teen crowd (ages 13-18):
Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix (2024) – Speaking of Narnia, are you curious about author C.S. Lewis and his famous fantasy author friend Tolkien? If so, this book is perfect for you. Great for ages 13+ – it also has strong adult crossover appeal.
Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest by Isabel Greenberg (2024) – Know any teens into witchy tales, folklore, and/or Arthurian myths? This retelling is appropriately gruesome, and has the potential to engage both reluctant and enthusiastic readers alike.
For adults:
The Jinn-Bot of Shanti-Port by Samit Basu (2023) – I saw this one pitched as having Murderbot and mystery vibes. I need to get a copy for myself, too!
Toward Eternity by Anton Hur (2024) – Hur is the translator of several well-regarded books, and this is their sci-fi debut with notes on AI and climate.
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illustrations by John Burgoyne (2024) – The author of Braiding Sweetgrass is back with a short book on natural reciprocity.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024) – From my review at Orange Blossom Ordinary, this story about a time-traveling, doomed Arctic explorer “is hugely entertaining and thoughtful, then casually devastating, and ends on a note of hopeful ambiguity – a most enjoyable science fiction reading experience.”
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood (2024) – On the full moon, a mysterious coffee shop appears, staffed by cats who solve problems by serving patrons delicious food! What’s not to love?
Butter by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton (2024) – Billed as a killer mystery for foodies, and an international bestseller at that!
Not books, but gifts you can find in a bookstore (links to Barnes & Noble):
2025 Art Page-A-Day Gallery Calendar – Art, every day of the year!
What books are you gifting this year?
No comments:
Post a Comment