Classify book gifts for kids as no-brainers. Buy them early, stash them away, and you’ll be so happy when you need a present “right now.”
Here are some great ideas to stuff their stockings with, if not their brains.
“Goodnight iPad”: Yes, a board book parody in the style of the Margaret Wise Brown classic, “Goodnight Moon.” The little bunny characters are tech-crazed and the old lady in the rocking chair is overwhelmed by the “bings, bongs and beeps of e-mails and tweets.” By Ann Droyd, a cheeky pseudonym for David Milgrim ($ 14.95, all ages).
“OMG Pancakes!” pretty much says it all. Little mouths will gobble up green alligators, bees in their hive, puppy dog faces and unicorns, all captured in pancakes and brought to life by the magic of natural food coloring and squeeze bottles. Perfect for snow days and sleepovers ($20, all ages).
“SpongeBob’s Kitchen Mission Cookbook” offers a primer on vegetable parfaits, healthy egg dishes and whole wheat pizzas ($16.99, all ages).
“Wonder Struck”: In the style of “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” Brian Selznick’s newest mystery alternates two stories focused on the American Museum of Natural History in New York. One, that of a boy struck deaf, is told in words. The other, of a girl named Rose who lived 50 years earlier, is told in pictures ($29.99, ages 9 to 12).
“The Hunger Games”: A cloth-cover collector’s edition of the runaway best-seller by Suzanne Collins in a gifty slipcase ($30, ages, 12 and up).
“My Name is Mina”: David Almond’s prequel to his “Skellig” from 1998. The new book focuses on the girl who lives next to Michael, the narrator of “Skellig” who finds a mysterious man in his garage ($15.99, ages 10 and up).
“Dork Diaries Box Set”: First three books in the heavily illustrated Rachel Renee Russell series chronicling the not-so-fabulous life of middle-schooler Nikki Maxwell. Good for reluctant readers or more enthusiastic ones just growing into the age range ($38.97, ages 9 to 12).
“The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories”: Collection of seven original stories written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss. Originally published in magazines in 1950-51 but never in book form. Looking to impress the parents, much? ($15, ages 6 to 9).
“The Betsy-Tacy Treasury”: The first four books of the Maud Hart Lovelace classic series in highly portable trade paperback. Bonus material at end includes photos of the real people on which the series is based, and details on the life of author and illustrator Lois Lenski ($15.99, ages 4 to 8).
“Steampunk!”: Beautiful new anthology from 14 writers in the quirky science fiction-fantasy and very ’80s genre of steampunk. Edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant. These are, as the book’s subtitle notes, “fantastically rich and strange stories” ($22.99, young adult).
“T is for Titanic”: In time for the 100th anniversary next year of the sinking of the luxury liner. Co-authored and well researched by husband-and-wife team Debbie and Michael Shoulders ($17.95, ages 6 to 10).
Prices given are the list prices for hardcover books. Most can be found at online sites for much cheaper.
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