Can I help you guys finish up a little bit of your last minute book shopping, if you’re still doing some?
Here’s a rundown of the books I wrapped for my niblings today, in case you’re looking for some books for the young people in your life.
For my 8-yr-old, fact obsessed, recently graduated to chapter books nephew, we’ve got Highest Mountain, Smallest Star, by Kate Baker, ill by Page Tsou. With its historical scientific illustrations vibe & it’s plethora of facts, I admit it took me longest to wrap this one up, because I just kept turning the page and reading more and more interesting things. I particularly enjoyed the timeline pages, like these, which compared all of known history to a calendar year, and showed how literally the last second of New Year’s Eve is when most of mankind’s greatest achievements would’ve occurred, but also, every page is just chock full of A+ illustrations. He’s also getting National Geographic’s Rocks & Minerals Sticker Activity Book (because his mom has gotten him into crystals, and I also bought him a geode kit that National Geographic makes) & the next two books in the Alvin Ho series (Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects & Other Man-Made Catastrophes & Allergic to Camping, Hiking, & Other Natural Disasters), because I bought him the first three for his birthday in September, and he’s already told me that he’s almost done with them. LeUyen Pham is one of my personal favorite illustrators, so I’m excited that he’s liking them so far: The Alvin Ho books are hilarious, and have a slightly older Clementine/slightly younger Wimpy Kid vibe, IMO .
For a family friend’s six month old, I’ve got Yum, Yum Baby by Rosalee Wren, Illustrations by Kat Uno, and Babies Love Puppies, a Lift the Flap book by Scarlett Wing. The puppy book is because it is adorable, and so is every Instagram picture her mom posts of her and their 2 year old lab. Yum, Yum Baby is both informative & topical, because her mom is a nutritionist by trade, and the smiling food illustrations are too cute.
My youngest nephew & niece (almost 6 and 3.5, respectively) will be sharing a copy of Tom Fletcher’s There’s A Dragon in Your Book, as we’re currently reading There’s an Elf in Your Book as our Christmas Facetime read, and they love it. I love this series too, as they’re all participatory kind of stories: Don’t get tricked into being naughty by the Christmas Elf; Help the Dragon put out the fire in this book by blowing on it, or turning the pages as quickly as you can, that kind of thing. Always on the lookout for books that keep kids entertained & engaged with whatever it is we’re reading, especially since we’re reading long distance right now, and sometimes that’s extra tough. Plus, there’s one for all occasions, which is one of my favorite things when it comes to series for kids: All the littles in my life ask if there’s “a birthday/Valentine’s Day/Halloween/Etc book’ in whichever series we happen to be reading at the time. My nephew is also getting a Lego Build Christmas Fun book, which comes with activities for him to do & Legos, two of his favorite things… give that kid a Lego maze and he’d probably be happy forever. My niece is getting My Best Friend is A Unicorn by Rachael MacLean, which is another Lift the Flap book, combining two of HER favorite things, surprises and unicorns.
My twelve year old nephew (I have been blessed w/and abundance of nephews, as you may have noticed), is getting Science Comics: Dogs: From Predator to Protector by Andy Hirsch, a non-fiction comic book about dogs. He got a dog over the summer, and is over the moon about it, so I figured this was a good way to get him to read something he might not otherwise look at. We’ve previously read Science Comics: Wild Weather, so I know it’s a format that he’s comfortable with, and it’s his main interest right now, so I think he’s going to love it. He’s also into spooky things so he’s getting a book about cryptids, but that hasn’t come yet, so I can’t give you a review of it just yet.
Also not yet ready for review are my eldest three niblings books, as they are all old enough that pre-reading their stuff takes longer than when I’m sitting on the floor wrapping them up. But! This review helps me hit my cannonball, and I hope it helps give you guys some ideas if you’re still looking for some. (And if you want more ideas for any age of kiddo in your life, feel free to hit me up, in the comments here, or any time.)