Books are probably my favorite thing to give as a gift. Coffee table books, toddler board books, picture books, recipe books, best sellers–I don’t discriminate. Maybe it’s because I’m such a book nerd, but I think they are the quintessential gift and you can always find one for anyone on your Christmas list. I’ve put together a list of 25 great books to give as gifts broken up into 5 handy categories: Books for babies and young kids 1. Eric Carle sound book -All the classic quirky Eric Carle illustrations with tons of animal sounds for little ones to learn. 2. I Love You Stinky Face – It’s hard to pick one, but this is my very favorite bedtime story I’ve ever read to my kids. I have read it probably 500 times (that sounds dramatic but 365 days in a year and I’ve had kids for over 5 years so it might actually be a conservative figure, ha!). I have never tired of it. 3. The Snail and the Whale – Perfect length of a book and I just love how this rhyme flows. The story is adorable and it’s illustrated beautifully too. I can read again and again! 4. Goodnight Gorilla – My favorite part of this book is that it’s different every time you “read” it since there are so few words. I like to let toddlers tell the story or seek out different details in the pages. 5. Giraffes Can’t Dance – I am not exaggerating but I can recite this (somewhat long) book verbatim. I adore the story and the bright illustrations have held all three of my baby’s eyes while reading. Great message too! Educational picture books 6. Extinct – I’ve already devoured this after the kids went to bed (it’s a Christmas gift for this year) and it’s beautifully illustrated and really informative. Great gift for fans of “Wild Kratts” like my kids. 7. The Street Beneath My Feet – We have a similar book called Under Your Feet which probably has duplicate content or I’d jump on this. It has been in my cart though to gift to another family because of the rave reviews. It has a cool fold out feature and would be a great gift for any curious kid on your list! 8. A Rock is Lively – Another upcoming Christmas gift for my rock collecting boys and I know we’ll be getting more from this series that includes books on seeds, butterflies, and eggs. 9. Dinosaur Lady – Amazing history and illustrations any dinosaur-loving kid will appreciate and an especially great gift for those dinosaur-loving girls on your list. 10. Book of Bones – It’s in my cart currently, and looks so cool! This is one of those books I know I’ll enjoy as much as the kids. It’s striking and educational– my favorite combo in a picture book these days. Read aloud or first chapter books for older kids 11. The Wild Robot – We are currently on the sequel because when I finished this first one Sam literally had tears in his eyes. I don’t say that to deter you from the book (it’s not THAT sad) but just to demonstrate how invested he got in a read aloud novel at age 5. My English major heart was full seeing him impacted by literature. 12. EB White set – We have read 2/3 so far and even at age 3.5/4 and 5 these classics held their attention and were big hits. They talk about them often and I think it’s fun to read the oldies. No tears from the boys here but you better believe mama gets emotional about Charlotte. So good! 13. Little House on the Prairie set – Just a classic set for boys and girls alike. It’s one of my favorites to read and reread growing up–timeless. I’ve actually never read Farmer Boy but will read to the kids soon. 14. Matilda – After reading Roald Dahl’s The Witches and loving it, we are about to dive into more of his work and Matilda is up next. His books are a little on the wacky side and great to read aloud and get some laughs out of your listeners. 15. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Speaks for itself but no list is complete without HP! They grow with your child and the first one is good for read aloud starting around age 5 or read to themselves around age 9, depending on the kid. Coffee table books 16. Case Study Houses – The MCM/architecture fans on your list need this! I splurged on the ginormous version of this book with more text (it must weigh over 10 pounds) but the price is right for this shorted version that mainly includes photos. 17. Sacred Spaces – Gorgeous pictures and wide appeal for anyone left on your shopping list. I always appreciate a coffee table book and these some of the most amazing detailed photographs of churches all over the world. 18. Wise Trees – This is in my cart, it has almost all glowing 5 star reviews and looks like a book that won’t just collect dust on the table but will be cracked open to read often. 19. 1000 Record Covers – Love to gift this one because it’s great for a wide audience since it includes all genres of music. Looks great sitting out and guests will always want to thumb through. 20. The Art of Mixology – Perfect by your bar cart and actually has plenty of useful information. The cover has a classy look that fits in anywhere. Books for the adults on your list 21. The Things Our Father Saw – I’ve gifted this a few times and read for myself. It’s a really good read and especially great for children of veterans or history buffs. 22. The Home Edit Life – It’s all the rage right now! Any fan of the Netflix series will appreciate this colorful coffee table book. 23. From Crook to Cook – AKA The Snoop Dogg cookbook. I bought this for someone on my list this year already and have been scoping out recipes for myself. The next time someone asks you to share the recipe of a dish you made they may be surprised at your answer! 24. The Day the World Came to Town – This was my favorite book club read this year and is perfect for anyone on your list. It’s an uplifting and incredibly story that many people don’t know, about a day we’ll all never forget–9/11. 25. The Five Love Languages – I read this years ago and still reference it often when describing myself or considering others. It’s a classic–great gift for your spouse or yourself. Happy holiday shopping! You may also like: