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My new favorite gift to receive is a book that has been chosen for me by someone who loves me. My students do this for me all the time! They hear of books they think I’d like, or they have read a book they love and want to share the story with me. I have a shelf of books at home with handwritten notes in the front pages from students about why they want me to read this story. What a treasure! Nothing shows love more than telling someone they thought of you. You were considered.
So, I have started the tradition of gifting stories to my loved ones with a note that says, “Here is a story that reminds me of you because…” It really causes me to think about them specifically and what I appreciate about them. With that in mind, here are some recommendations for wonderful stories to gift this holiday season.
Picture Book:
Built to Last by Min Le and illustrated by Dan Santat
I am a sucker for anything Dan Santat. He is a phenomenal illustrator and tells stories through his pictures.
According to the publisher, two kids build entire worlds out of blocks, cardboard and imagination, from boats attacked by a sea creature to a castle crumbling into the ocean. And they don’t mind when these creations break apart and CRASH to the floor. In fact, they think it’s pretty funny! Every time a creation falls apart, they pick up the pieces and keep building bigger and better.
But when their latest masterpiece tumbles down in spectacular fashion, the boys aren’t laughing anymore. Have these two friends reached their breaking point?
Middle Grade:
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
This book is everywhere! The story is spectacular, and it has been flying off of my shelves. Life changes forever when he finds out about Archipelago, a group of unmarked islands that house magical creatures. On the same day, he meets a girl named Mal, who is on the run. The two team up for a crazy adventure and search for clues behind the island’s weakening magic.
Young Adult:
So, This Is Christmas by Tracy Andreen
My students are absolutely loving romance novels right now. I have heard good things about this one and added it to my own list!
According to the publisher, when Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. Christmas hasn’t changed much in her sixteen years.
But, instead, she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated and her archnemesis got a job working at her grandmother’s inn. And she certainly didn’t expect to find the boy she may or may not have tricked into believing that Christmas was an idyllic holiday paradise on her grandmother’s doorstep.
It’s up to Finley to make sure he gets the Christmas he was promised. This is Finley’s Christmas. It’s about home and family and friends and finding her place, and, along the way, she also finds the best Christmas present of all: love.
Adult:
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
These books are really cute cozy romance stories. They are definitely in the adult category, so I don’t recommend gifting these books to any teens.
According to the publisher, Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate, since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.
Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And, most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.
After a run-in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.
Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media; it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.
But, somehow, fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and, as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questioning why she refused help in the first place…
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