Gifting Books for Children

I recently had the opportunity to go shopping for some picture books for a new baby.  It was so fun browsing through some of my old favourites.  I tried to go beyond the normal baby books as I figured this family might have a good collection of books already.  If you are looking for a book for a new baby or a Christmas gift for a young child the ones below are sure to please.  If you need any other suggestions please feel free to reach out and I'd be happy to recommend something.

My first choice was I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  This is my ultimate gift giving book.  I will gift in place of a card with a personalized message inside.  I have gifted this book for so many occasions and it's also timeless - I've gifted it to babies, young adults headed to college and adults.  I love this book.  I swear when I worked at Indigo the sales of this book had to have gone way up because I recommended it to anyone that was gifting.  Might just be my all time favourite book.  Ever!

The Book with No Pictures by B J Novak.  Yes, that's B J Novak the guy that played Ryan from The Office aka my all time favourite TV show.  This book is hilarious.  When I read it to kids I play it off as really boring but they quickly figure out this book is all fun.  Try saying Boo Boo Butt to a room full of grade 3 students and that library isn't so quiet anymore.

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney is another great choice.  I fell in love with Llama Llama books while reading them to my own kids.  Who doesn't love saying the word LLama?  Also, they are so cute!  As a knitter - they make great yarn too.  This is a fun story to read before bed.

Press Here by Herve Tullet is an amazing interactive story.  It's a book a child can really grow with and there are so many conversation points on each page.  Start with pointing out the different colours.  Move to counting the dots.  The story can feel like magic turning each page.

Sky Color by Peter H Reynolds is a book I think about often.  It's about a young girl that wants to paint the sky but she doesn't have a blue crayon.  Every time I see the sky with reds and purples I think of this book.  Also, I highly recommend every single one of Peter H Reynolds books.  They are all amazing.

Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery

 

Otherwise Engaged begins with Shannon checking out a wedding venue for her mom's, Cindy, upcoming wedding.  When they bump into another mother/daughter (Ava/Victoria) duo looking for a venue for a birthday party.   After a moment it's very clear that there is something going on between the two moms that neither daughter understands.  After an awkward amount of time has passed Ava explains that she was always supposed to adopt Shannon but Cindy changed her mind at the last minute.  This obviously brings up a lot of feelings and questions.

Victoria has always known she was adopted.  She's the maid's daughter.  What she's never understood is why her mother doesn't seem to love her.  Why they've never got along.  Victoria has made it her life's mission to do the opposite of what would please her wealthy mother.  Instead of college she became a stunt woman but secretly she's writing a manuscript.

Shannon has a wonderful relationship with her mom, Cindy.  If anything maybe a little too close.  They dress the same and celebrate their birthdays together.  It's quite shocking to think her mom once thought about not keeping her.

The story unravels with each woman coming to terms with their life choices and the daughters dealing with the emotional impact of it all.

Otherwise Engaged is a really good story and a unique plot that I hadn't read before.  There's a scene near the end that I can't say too much about but I don't think I'd be so dismissive and forgiving about.  The only other thing I thought was a bit strange as there is really no presence in the story of Cindy's fiance.  He's not crucial to the story line but I thought he could have been brought into a few scenes similar to Shannon's fiance.

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

 

A Merry Little Lie is the story of a group of women coming together for Christmas.  First, there's Becky, she's nervous about coming home because she thinks she made a fool of herself at her twin sister's recent wedding.  She's barely spoken to her since the wedding and how is she going to make it through the holidays without making a fool of herself.  Rosie, the other twin, is newly married to Declan.  They only just got married and they've already hit a rough patch.  How will they keep up the charade that their marriage is perfect for days in front of her parents and grandparents scrutiny.

Also, the twins brother, James, has an announcement to make this holiday and he said to plan a party and have champagne ready.  He must be engaged they all think.  He's bringing his new girlfriend Hailey home for the holiday.  Then there's Jennifer their mother.  She's been trying so hard to make this the most perfect Christmas for everyone but especially for Hailey, as she grew up in an orphanage and never had a real Christmas before.  She's also worried about everyone including her newly retired husband. 

A Merry Little Lie is probably my favourite Christmas book I've read so far this year.  I could not put this book down.  There was so much going on that I was constantly wanting to know how this was all going to unravel.  This is not a predictable Hallmark story.  I've only read one other Sarah Morgan book but I have a couple others on my shelf and I think I'll have to check out more because I really enjoyed this story.

Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer

 

Jill is at the end of her rope.  She's working at a high end arcade in LA when she dreams about writing movies.  Every call from her agent has so much hope and every call ends a little more hopelessly.  The most recent call her agent says she's got one last change to make it - write a heartfelt movie (basically our equivalent to a Hallmark movie.  But with zero love life happening how is she supposed to be inspired to write about love and Christmas.  She gave up on both of those years ago when her and her boyfriend broke up on Christmas Eve three years ago.

When Jill's mother calls wishing she'd come back home for Christmas she really can't come up with any excuse not to.  But once home trying to avoid family, ex-boyfriends, past crushes and her old best friend is enough to push her to drink way more than she's used to.  Jill soon finds herself past out on a Santa Claus sleigh setup in a park.  When she wakes up she finds herself in the middle of a heartfelt movie of her own.  What's the lesson she's supposed to learn here in this new world and how the heck is she supposed to get back to real life?

Christmas People is a fun Christmas read with great characters and in true Hallmark fashion - a happy ending.  I typically don't like books with aspects of the book that don't seem real enough but with Christmas books I can tolerate a little make believe.  But I liked the way the story unfolded that despite her being in a Hallmark movie there was still a great story line.  If you are a Hallmark lover like me be sure to pick this one up.  Also, I loved the cover.

You Make it Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan

 

Yes, it's October and I'm in full Christmas reading spirit already.  I think Hallmark movies are starting this week.  Christmas eve is about 10 weeks away.  I'm in the holiday spirit and this book sure helped the mood.  

You Make it Feel Like Christmas mostly takes place over the week of Christmas holidays.  Maise is excited to spend holidays with family and friends.  They've got all the traditional fun planned and even better her brother's husband's best friend just bought a Christmas tree farm and that's where they are all staying.

The only thing bringing Maise's Christmas spirit down is her mom who's always on her to go back to college.  Her mom thinks her photography job isn't a real job even though Maise is very good at her job and her mom can't convince her she's not.  Also, Maise's just discovered the guy she had a one night stand with a few months ago is her host's brother! 

Maise quickly discovers her one night stand is no other than Nick King - a famous hockey player and that he had a very good excuse for leaving before she woke up that morning - his mother passed away.  Maybe she's willing to give him a second look after all.  

I know romantic hockey novels are a big thing right now and if you enjoy that style you will definitely like this novel.  I really enjoyed the story despite not being a hockey lover.  Despite the Christmas title the whole novel doesn't take place over Christmas and I think this story could be enjoyed any season.

The Christmas Cure by Kristine Winters

 

Dr Libby Monroe lives in Toronto and is an emergency room doctor.  She has an extremely busy life and often forgets to check voicemails, respond to messages and never has time to call home to her parents or sister Amelia.  It's been a year since she's broken up with her boyfriend Austin, a plastic surgeon.  Libby has plans to head south for Christmas alone when her mother falls and breaks her ankle she is forced to head back to her home town, Harmony Hills.  

It doesn't take long before she meets Liam who seems absolutely perfect.  But after a Christmas wish comes true Libby ends up in Christmas past.  After getting settled back into the past Libby has a goal to alter the future and enjoys a wonderful Christmas in Harmony Hills in the meantime.

The Christmas Cure is a perfect novel for someone looking for a happy ending and enjoys a Hallmark story.  I personally loved the story and really loved how the author wrapped up the ending.  If you love Christmas novels this is definitely one to pick up to get in the spirit.

Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay

 

Julia McKay, also known as Marissa Stapley, is quickly becoming one of my new favourite authors no matter what genre she's writing in.  As you may not know, some authors write in multiple genres and then use pen names so they aren't judged by their other novels.  For example if someone is known for writing fantasy novels and then wants to write romance someone might be hesitant to pick up the title because they know their author for their other work.  Marissa Stapley's novels aren't drastic of a difference and I would say you might enjoy all her books.  I certainly have enjoyed all her novels that I have read.

Christmas at the Ranch reminds me of a winter version of Carley Fortune's novels.  The story starts in Toronto where Emory is working out at the gym and suddenly sees her father on television.  Not an unusual thing to see her father on tv - he's a wealthy businessman that is often in the news.  But this time the news isn't good news and she is just learning that her father has been arrested.

Shocked and upset Emory races out of the gym and just drives.  She needs to get away.  When she finally comes to her senses she realizes she's driven to the beautiful town of Evergreen.  It's a week before Christmas and the beginning of a blizzard. 

Emory has been to Evergreen before.  When she was 18 her parents rented a mansion to throw a large Christmas bash for all their friends.  Not really Emory's style she spends most of the time reading in her room.  But she's drawn out of the mansion when she hears noises and stumbles across 18 year old Tate. 

Christmas at the Ranch unravels in alternating chapters with the story of their quick 18 year old romance and now meeting again 10 years later.  Why did Emory drive to Greenwood?

The story takes place over the week before Christmas.  Christmas at the Ranch definitely has some Hallmark vibes to it but it's not a full blown Christmas story for sure.  I read it in September and I swear I felt the chill of the blizzard.