For kids under the age of 12, I have a very strict gift-giving rule: any gift I give must not use batteries or plug in. Legos are great, but not Lego video games, and books are great, but not e-readers. In fact, books are my favorite gifts to give, and this year, there are so many new books from so many popular series, I’m pre-ordering them all to give as holiday gifts! If you love giving books as gifts, especially to kids, here’s a list of 7 great new kid’s books you can pre-order for Christmas…
1 Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems
Price: $12.14 at amazon.com
Release date: September 28, 2010
This is hands-down my daughter’s favorite series of booksthough she loves everything Mo Willems writes, including the popular “Pigeon” books. The “Knuffle Bunny” books tell the story of young Trixie and her favorite toy, a plushie green bunny. In the first, she loses him while on errands with her daddy. In the second, she accidentally swaps bunnies with a girl in her pre-k. I can’t wait… I mean, my daughter can’t wait, to see what happens to Knuffle and Trixie in the next book!
2 We Are in a Book! (an Elephant and Piggie Book)by Mo Willems
Price: $8.99 at amazon.com
Release date: September 14, 2010
This is the next book in another great series by Mo Willems, featuring two best friends, Elephant and Piggie. These books are easy readers, perfect for kids 3 to 6. I love the adorable characters and the lessons the books teach about sharing, honesty, and just having fun will be relevant to every kid who reads them. What sets these books apart is the humor… they’re so wicked funny, you’ll laugh along too!
3 Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer
Price: $12.14 at amazon.com
Release date: September 28, 2010
The first “Olivia” book is a children’s classic, illustrated in black and white with touches of red. As the series grows, Falconer adds more color. I wonder how much color will be in this, the latest book in the series? It looks like it might be full color. Hmm. Will the fact that Olivia now has her own series on Nick Jr. make a difference in the story-telling? My daughter and I hope not… we can’t wait to see!
4 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
Price: $7.67 at amazon.com
Release date: November 9, 2010
The “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books are for kids who are slightly older, especially for boys, though girls will enjoy them, too. They tell the story of scrawny, semi-unpopular Greg, who lives with his two brothers and parents, goes to junior high, and spends his days trying to stay out of trouble, and recording everything in his journals with clever and hilarious stick figure drawings.
5 Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique
Price: $12.14 at amazon.com
Release date: October 12, 2010
Fancy Nancy is wildly popular with younger girls, and to be honest, I like her, too. She’s not perfect, but is very sweet and of course, very fashionable! The illustrations are gorgeous and the stories are usually very cute… I hope this book will be the same!
6 Fancy Nancy: My Family History
Price: $3.99 at amazon.com
Release date: October 12, 2010
This new Fancy Nancy is an “I Can Read” book, perfect for little girls who are just starting to read. The character is the same, the plots are similar, but the reading is easier. My daughter is six and loves Fancy Nancy… but this may be a little too easy for her, so it’s going to my neighbor instead!
7 Magic Tree House #44: a Ghost Tale for Christmas Time
Price: $7.79 at amazon.com
Release date: September 14, 2010
The “Magic Treehouse” books are for slightly older kids, old enough for chapter books. They’re also a little scary in some places, and this one looks like it might be, too. It’s perfect for giving as a Christmas gift, but if you’re not sure if it’s too frightening for younger kids, read a few pages to get a feel for it.
With so many new books coming out just before the holidays, it’s going to be hard to only choose a few! Luckily, I know a lot of little kids so I’m pre-ordering them all! And to be honest, I can’t wait to read the Knuffle Bunny and Olivia books myself! Which of these do you think you’ll give as gifts this holiday season, and to which little kid? Or is there another popular kid’s book coming out you can tell me about? Please let me know!