Great Children’s Books for Late Shoppers
By Holly E. Newton
Are you still looking for that perfect gift for Christmas? Have you put off buying gifts to the last minute? Well, look no further because I have a list full of variety of gift giving books that will put your anxieties to rest.
First, here is a compilation of extraordinary stories selected by Avi. Best Shorts: Favorite Short Stories for Sharing has some of the most interesting and varied stories written by award winning kids' authors for 10 years old through adult. The first story, “Rogue Wave,” by Theodore Taylor, will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
A brother and sister encounter a disaster when their boat is capsized after being hit by a giant wave. What takes place in these short 16 pages is exciting and terrifying, making this story a perfect read-aloud. There are also stories that are mystical, frightening, magical, humorous and courageous. The famous illustrator, Chris Raschka, has drawn a picture at the beginning of each story. Avi, along with Katherine Paterson, wrote their thoughts about the importance of short stories, which are found at the beginning and end of the book. Here at last is a book that will motivate, create, invigorate and entertain young minds waiting for their own story to tell!
Sometimes, books are packaged to create an ultimate gift. Moongirl, by Henry Selick, is a large picture book that has a DVD that goes right along with this unique fantasy. Peter Chan drew the illustrations, and Courtney Booker, digitally colored the pictures making this unusual story a great read for ages 5 and up.
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Now,
how about a cookbook for those youngsters looking for a yummy read?
Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook, by Georgeanne Brennan, and photographed by Frankie Frankeny, is a delectable concoction inspired from those hilarious
stories by the famous Dr. Seuss himself. Try the tantalizing Flapjack
Flapper’s Flapjacks, inspired from the story Oh Say Can You Say?
— or how about an after-school snack of Nupboard’s
Nuggets, inspired from There’s a Wocket in My Pocket. All ages are sure to enjoy
baking and eating these tasty treats!
Board games seem to be the forgotten fun activity, and yet they can be a terrific and fun way to build family memories while improving reading and comprehension skills. Cranium has a new game to connect, or reconnect, with your family. Funfolio Family Edition is full of activities that you and your family can enjoy such as building a time capsule, writing your own movie scrip or creating a scavenger hunt. This is fun for all ages.
Are you looking for that fun activity book that will engage your toddler? Little, Brown Publishers has a unique finger puppet storybook: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Here is a brightly-colored glove that will hold the Velcro bears and Goldilocks that can also be placed inside the cloth-covered back page of the oversized board book. (There’s also The Three Pigs available as well.) This book is great fun!
How about a gift set that includes 5 CDs to go along with The Complete Adventures of Curious George, by Margret and H.A. Rey? This large picture book has all of the favorite stories about this lovable monkey along with 3 and 1/2 hours of story recordings, music and fun sound effects youngsters will truly enjoy!
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Now for three very
creative books for the 9-and-older child, Beatrix Potter: A Journal, by Beatrix Potter, is a most inventive
book! This large and beautifully bound book, published by Penguin,
has pockets and pouches that open, lavish paintings,
even maps that fold out. This will surely encourage the writer in
your youth!
Fairy-ailty: The Fashion Collection From the House of Ellwand, by David Ellwand and Eugenie Bird, and beautifully illustrated by David Downton, will enthrall and completely immerse your young dress designer. Here is a book so full of creative genius that it’s sure to spark or continue to ignite that interest in design, even if it’s for the fairest fairies of the land.
And last is a simple book, yet full of practical ideas for those last minute gifts. I Wanna Make Gifts, by Clea Hantman, and illustrated by Azadeh Houshyar, is full of unique and easy to make gifts that will make gift-giving more memorable especially because it was made — not purchased!