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When I was growing up, books were everywhere. Bookcases were overflowing, bedside tables were piled high and every gift-giving holiday came with a guarantee that there would be books to unwrap.
A love of reading is the greatest gift my mother ever gave me and it’s one I work every day to pass along to my own young children. Reading has uplifted me, transported me during dark times and made me laugh and cry at the same time. Reading helps us not only better understand the world around us but better understand ourselves. There’s nothing I love more than getting lost in someone else’s world.
In the same way my mother always gave me and my sister books on special occasions, I love to do the same. Ever since I had kids, I’m constantly buying presents for birthday parties and oftentimes, I’ll opt for a book over more plastic junk that most kids don’t need.
These are my top 12 best books to gift to kids:
1. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
I’m a huge fan of all of Julia Donaldson’s work. The Gruffalo is a fan favorite in our house but The Snail and the Whale is truly, truly special. It’s the story of a tiny snail who realizes how big an impact he can have on the world, despite his small size. It’s a story that moves me every time I read it and teaches children that nothing is impossible, though it may seem so at first glance. Buy here.
2. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers is so, so good because it strikes a rare, beautiful balance between grand perspective and tender intimacy. It’s written as a guide for a newborn but it manages to speak to all of us (adults included) about what matters: how the Earth works, our place in it and how we might choose to treat one another. The tone is warm and gently humorous and Jeffers doesn’t shy away from complexity (space, time, the limits of what we know). But he never loses sight of reassuring truths, like kindness and connection. It’s a book that gives both kids and grown-ups something to hold onto: wonder, compassion, and a sense of shared responsibility for this planet we all call home. Buy here.
3. Moon! Earth’s Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty
Moon! Earth’s Best Friend is a gem of a picture book that turns science into a warm, lively friendship. Told from the moon’s point of view, it gives the moon a voice, personable, proud and a bit cheeky, so readers see Earth and space through a relationship, not just facts. I love how McAnulty weaves scientific concepts (gravity, phases, tides, eclipses, moon formation) into the narrative so casually that kids learn without feeling like they’re in class. Above all, it works as a bridge: it gives young readers both the delight of a story and a foundation of curiosity about space and Earth. Buy here.
4. The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
This is a classic and for good reason. The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne combines gentle adventures, timeless wisdom and lovable characters in a way that’s both comforting and rich. The stories of Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and the rest are full of kindness, curiosity and simple truths that resonate deeply, about friendship, bravery and acceptance. The original illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard bring the Hundred Acre Wood to life with warmth and charm, and the prose is gentle but clever, offering enough depth that children can grow with the stories. I love to gift children this book because it’s one that will hopefully become more treasured over time. Buy here.
5. My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza
I discovered this gem in my daughter’s preschool library a couple of years ago. I was not expecting the very funny plot and storytelling. I ordered a copy as soon as I got home and it became an instant hit with my kids. Whenever I pick this book up to read, we all start laughing before we’ve even read the first page. It’s the story of a little pig who outsmarts all the predators in the forest where he lives and his clever tactics are truly funny. This one’s a winner for sure. Buy here.
6. The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
My daughter absolutely loves this book, mostly because the adult reading it to her is forced to say all kinds of ridiculous words and make even weirder sounds. This book, which, as its name reveals, has no pictures, is such a crowd-pleaser because it lands so high on the silly scale. Buy here.
7. Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack by Lynley Dodd
One of my cousins from London gave this book to my son when he was just a toddler and it was an instant favorite thanks to the sweet story and rhythmic, rhyming text. Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack captures the essence of friendship and determination. In this story, the playful and persistent duckling, Zachary Quack, seeks to befriend Hairy Maclary, who’s just trying to take a nap. The story combined with the expressive illustrations make this book a joy for young readers, fostering themes of perseverance and the value of unexpected friendships. Buy here.
8. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
A reader recommended this book as the perfect Christmastime read and it was a spot-on suggestion. It’s a delightful holiday classic that celebrates the joy of giving and the unexpected ways kindness can spread. The story begins with a grand Christmas tree arriving at Mr. Willowby’s mansion, only to be too tall for his parlor. Undeterred, he has the top cut off and gives it to his maid, who then does the same, passing it along to others, including a gardener, a bear and a family of mice. Each recipient finds joy in their new tree, no matter how small, illustrating that one person’s excess can become another’s treasure. This is one book we read as a family over and over during the holiday season. Buy here.
9. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
This is one of my all-time favourite books for kids. The underlying message is about the importance and value of failure along the road to success. Written by Andrea Beaty and part of The Questioneers book series, including Ada Twist, Scientist and Iggy Peck, Architect, this book features Rosie, a young girl who dreams of becoming an engineer but struggles with fear of failure. Through her inventions and mistakes, she learns that failure is just another step toward success. With its playful (and brilliant!) rhymes, engaging illustrations and empowering message, this book encourages children, especially girls, to embrace their ideas, take risks and keep trying. It’s an inspiring reminder that imagination and determination can lead to amazing discoveries. Buy here.
10. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
I have gifted this book to a few little ones who have been apprehensive about starting school. This sweet story is about a young raccoon who doesn’t want to leave his mother to go to school. His clever mama comes up with a wonderful solution: The kissing hand. She plants kisses in the young raccoon’s hand so that he can carry her love around with him all day. I used this little trick with both of my little ones when they were starting preschool and kindergarten and it was so helpful; not just for them but for me, too. Buy here.
11. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
This was a life-changing read for me and the gateway to the wonderful world of Lucy Maud Montgomery and all her characters. My mom read this book to me, a few chapters at a time, on dark fall evenings after school and the experience is among some of my happiest memories. I just couldn’t stop thinking about Anne and couldn’t wait to get home from school to pick up where we’d left off the night before. Through Anne’s adventures, her mistakes, her dreams and her boundless curiosity, readers learn about friendship, forgiveness and finding joy in everyday life. Montgomery’s writing is rich and vivid, painting a world that feels simultaneously real and magical, and Anne’s emotional honesty helps young readers see that it’s okay to be different, to feel deeply and to grow through challenges. It’s a story that inspires empathy, creativity and a lifelong love of reading. Buy here.
12. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Wild Robot was released in 2016 but I didn’t discover it until 2024. When I first saw movie posters advertising the film, I had no frame of reference. But my sister casually mentioned one day that it was supposed to be really good (she hadn’t read the book or seen the movie either at that point), so I picked up the book, thinking I could read it to my son before we saw the movie. Like Anne of Green Gables was to me and my mother, The Wild Robot became that for me and my son. WHAT. A. READ. I was blown away by the story, the juxtaposition of nature and technology, the heart and humor and the deep, sometimes existential questions that my son (only 8 at the time) and I were forced to confront while reading, leading to some of the most interesting and beautiful conversations we’ve ever had. To say that this book is a must-read is an absolute understatement. It was the best book I read in 2024 and a re-read with my son is very near in our future. FYI: The other two books in the series (The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects) are also excellent, though the first is the best. Buy here.