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Give Books by Katherine Sokolowski
When I was growing up I always looked forward to Christmas. Of course I looked forward to traditions we shared, food we made, and family I saw – but I really was excited about the gifts. (Just being honest here!) And although my gifts evolved over time, the gift I received from our close family friends Vel & Wick never changed, they always gave us books.
Each year Vel, a retired elementary school principal, would start early. Thinking about the recipient and their interests and pondering what book to buy us. Sometimes it was a classic that she felt we should read; sometimes it was a current book she had just discovered. Whatever the title was, I was always anxious to receive it. Inside Vel would inscribe our name, hers and Wicks, the year, and a short message. These were treasures, many of which I still have.
When I became an adult and started purchasing gifts for my younger family members, I looked to Vel as my gift-giving role model. Some years I’ve only purchased books for the “kids”. More and more, I purchase books for everyone on my list. I firmly believe that many of us have plenty of “stuff”, but we never have enough books.
When Chris and I first had our oldest son, Luke, books immediately became part of our gift giving tradition. I would deliberate over what was the perfect book for the first Christmas, the second, and the third when he became a big brother. Books line their shelves from the holidays gone by. Picking up a book that has been given, I am transported to that time and those memories. My boys have fully embraced this tradition as well. Each year they give me lists of the many books they would love to get on Christmas morning.
This year I asked my cousins – ages 17 and twins that are 15 – did they want a gift card somewhere else? The three of them looked at me incredulously, they were waiting for this year’s books. I wasn’t allowed to change the game plan.
And so my Christmas shopping has been relatively easy. Below is a quick slide show of some of the books I’m giving as gifts this year. What am I really giving? I’m giving the gift of letting yourself get lost in a book, or – as Donalyn Miller has said – the gift of finding yourself in a book. And what could be better than that.
And if you are looking for a gift – check out Matthew Cordell’s blog – he has some wonderful offers if you are giving HELLO! HELLO! as a holiday gift. His offer ends on Saturday December 1st.
What books are you giving this year? Share in the comments – we can all use more suggestions!
Katherine Sokolowski has taught for fourteen years and currently teaches fifth grade. She is passionate about reading both in her classroom and also with her two sons. When not recommending books to strangers in the library or the bookstore, Katherine can be found writing at her blog: http://readwriteandreflect.blogspot.com/. You can find her on Twitter as @katsok.
Nerdy Book Club 
Great reminder Katherine! I plan to give lots of books (Wonder and The One and Only Ivan to name a few.) I also put a ton on my own Christmas list 🙂
Gigi – Two of my absolute favorite books this year! 🙂
As the literacy coach in my district I am requesting the PTO purchase Wonder for all of the 5th and 6th grade teachers, and A Warrior’s Heart for the 7th and 8th grade classes. (Which I have also purchased for my nephew; like many of you book giving has become expected of me by all the children in the family.) I would love some suggestions for the younger grade teachers. I have recently been assigned PreK-3, in addition to the 4-8 classes I’ve worked with in previous years. I have much less familiarity with those levels. Thanks!
I don`t have a ton of people to buy for, but I give books (or gift cards for book stores) every year. I also ignore the `toy` in Toy Drive and give books, so kids who may otherwise go without can find a little joy between the covers of a book.
This year, I`m giving copies of my own book (of course, now that I have one to give!) among my favorites like BOY + BOT, THE UNWANTEDS, THE FALSE PRINCE, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, FERDINAND and many, many others!
What an absolutely terrific list! 🙂 And I love that you give one for the toy drive.
Books have always been a part of my holiday giving and receiving as well. Growing up in a family of seven children, my mom made a grid so she could make things fair and one of those columns was always “books”. My children always receive books (or sometimes magazines subscriptions) as gifts and I think it’s a great gift for parents to give classrooms in lieu of teacher gifts or birthday treats. The gift that keeps on giving!
Barb, I so agree. I love when parents give books for our classroom library or a gift card to the bookstore for Christmas. The perfect gift.
This is a lovely reminder of how book giving is such a special tradition. We give a beautiful holiday/winter themed picture book to our children every Christmas Eve along with a new pair of pjs. They get dressed in their new pajamas and I read the picture book to them in front of the fireplace. I also love the gift of books when a baby is born. My favourite gifts were board books and picture books that were favourites of the gift givers. Passing on that love of literature and family favourites between families is very meaningful.
Carrie, we have a lot in common. I give books and PJs to my boys at Christmas. I always give books at baby showers. Start those kids out right!
Every year my boys look for the gift under the tree that they think will have the pair of snuggie pjs and a book. Over the years, it’s grown to be 2-3 books in that package! My boys are getting some of the books and ARCs I got at NCTE/ALAN. Haven’t decided all of the titles yet, but my 10yo is getting Cartboy, which is supposed to be good for kids who like the Wimpy Kid books. Ian, one of my 14yo twins, is going to get a book about something in the medical field. He has decided he much prefers nonfiction, so I’ll feed that love! Still deciding on other titles for folks. Thanks for the post!
Oooh – I don’t know Cartboy but I have a son who loves Wimpy Kid and plenty of students too. Will have to look at it. Thanks!
I’ll probably give some Babymouse. Typical.
So typical. 🙂
When we saw Jon Klassen, I was buying some Christmas gifts 🙂 I am a book-gifting “auntie” to many readers! This is a great post, Katherine. Your childhood traditions have become a part of who you are. You are honoring Vel and touching lives with the most powerful gift of all–the gift of story.
Thanks so much, Christy! Love that you are a book giving aunt too. 🙂
Great post! I’m giving every one of my students a copy of Charlotte’s Web, our touchstone text. I also plan on giving The One and Only Ivan to my teaching teammates and a couple of other colleagues. I love giving Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristoff; just have to figure out who I haven’t already given it to! My niece and nephew always used to roll their eyes and make snide comments about “another book from Aunt Allison”. Makes me sad for them, but I am undeterred.
Love your family traditions!
Charlotte’s Web is one of my all-time favorite books. Love that you are giving it to your students. And Ivan – love it.
Many on my list, the ‘toy’ drive at my grocery, family, friends, & at school too. Some of my choices are a book about the Curious George authors’ escape from Paris during WWII for my son, who loved Curious George as a little boy, Choice Words for the interns I work with, several books for the grandchildren, like Pete The Cat Saves Christmas, and that Seven series for my older grandson, & an adult biography about a man who is saved by a greyhound for my daughter because she loves greyhounds, and on and on. It’s such a fun thing to do, isn’t it? Great post Katherine!
Oh, I don’t know this one about the Curious George author – off to look it up. Thanks, Linda!
Books are always my gift of choice for holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations. I haven’t yet decided on all the titles I’m getting for my loved ones, but I wouldn’t post them here since my whole family reads this blog and the comments! I do have someone on my list who had never been there before. I have two titles on my shopping list for her – A Monster Calls and See You at Harry’s.
Ha! I’m hoping they don’t read it today, but if they do they have a preview. 🙂 And both books you mention I adore.
Last year, I bought #hatback for every niece and nephew in “picture book age.” I’m always the book aunt and I get most of my ideas from my Nerdy friends, award lists, and stuff I’ve read. I’ll be ordering books soon for the 13 nieces and nephews and 4 children of close friends. I suspect Klassen will again be on the list…
I love Klassen’s newest! So cool you got #hatback for them last year. Love that one.
Agreed! I take great pride in being the “book aunt” in my family. Another idea I heard from a teacher friend: both her kids get a whole box of books wrapped under the tree. There is something so decadent about that! As you can imagine, she has so much fun collecting special books all year to fill each child’s Christmas book box–and the kids LOVE the tradition. #growingnerdybookclubbers
Hmm. I really love that idea for the book box. Might need to steal that one. 🙂
The only thing that would be hard for me is waiting until Christmas! If I find the perfect book for someone in July, they’re getting it in July! 🙂
One of my favorite books to give as a gift for kids is Make Way For Ducklings. A Boston and general children’s book classic.
I LOVE that book. I was so excited to go to Boston for the first time and see where it actually happened. 🙂
Thanks for this great post! It reminded me of a relative I had growing up who always gave us books. I hadn’t thought of that in years, though I always appreciated her gifts. As for me, my holiday giving includes a number of books. My fellow fifth-grade teachers are receiving “Kavik the Wolf Dog,” a favorite book by Walt Morey (of “Gentle Ben” fame) that we never seem to have enough copies of for Book Club. Other gifts include, “May Bird” by Jodi Lynn Anderson, “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site” by Sherri Duskey Rinker, and Barbara Kingsolver’s “Pigs in Heaven.” Thanks again for the inspiration.