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Reading Life · April 29, 2022

Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read

Finding the best gifts for kids who like to read (that aren’t books) can be challenging, especially if you aren’t a huge reader yourself. Happily, readers like me are more than happy to point you in the right direction (you’re welcome). We had a ton of fun cokmpiling this list and most of the items will work for kids and adults. We’ve separated the items into different categories including bookish apparel, subscriptions, accessories, and more. Strap in!


white girl reading - gifts for kids who love to read

25 Awesome Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read

Here are 25 different gifts for kids (and grown-ups) who love reading:

Bookish Clothing

Clothing is a great way to show off your personality and interests. In this section, we’ve highlighted our top picks for book shirts, skirts, and even socks to wear your bookish pride.

Book Shirt

Book Shirt - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on pippi post

These Pippi post shirts are some of the best I’ve ever seen. I love the fun sayings, the colors, and even the fit of the shirts. The shirt pictured is one of my favorites — while I love movies adapted from books, sometimes nothing beats the experience of reading a great book!


Book Skirts

Book Skirts - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on etsy

This book skirt is absolutely delightful to look at! I love the full skirt and library-inspired design. It comes as a standard 19″ long or 24″ long, and you can choose your desired length from the drop-down menu. You can also ask for a ribbon of a different color other than black.


Bookish Socks

Bookish Socks - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

Cozy times call for cozy socks with a bookish message. If you need to signal to loved ones that you’re in the middle of sacred reading time, these socks should do the job.


Personalized Book Tote 

Personalized Book Tote 
buy on etsy

Off to the library for some inexpensive reading? Grab this tote to lug around your finds. Just remember to return the books in good time!


Reading Nook, Decor, and Accessories

I never imagined I’d ever buy a book light or other reading accessories, but I’ve seen the light (pun intended). In this section, we’re sharing our top reading decor and accessories for a comfortable and cozy reading experience.

Book Light

Book Light - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

I own this book light and every day I’m grateful I bought it! Besides needing it to read from my old-school Kindle, it also comes in handy for daily tasks requiring focused lighting. The light is powerful and available in three different colors and brightness levels.


Cute Bookmark

cute bookmark for kids who like reading
cute bookmark
buy on amazon

I’m a huge fan of this adorable bookmark! Instead of boring sticky tabs or paper strips, motivate yourself with this fun bookmark.


Reading Pillow

Reading Pillow - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

Reading is a sport (yes, I said it) so you need to protect your child’s posture as they do it. This comfy hug of a pillow can support your kiddo’s back and stop them from slouching as they read or watch TV. The best part? It’s machine-washable.


Bookish Blanket 

Bookish Blanket 
buy on etsy

While I have called some books a warm hug in the past, sometimes you need a real blanket to keep you warm while you read. This hand-made blanket is also machine-washable.


Reading Fort

Reading Fort - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

Want to go a step further than the blankets? Try this 100% cotton fort. It comes with a mat and fairy lights. The mat is non-sleep and the fort works for reading, playing, or just hanging out.


Personalized Sign 

Personalized Sign 
buy on etsy

A personalized sign for your resident bookworm will give everyone a good chuckle and add some personality to their room. This one is available in multiple sizes and in metal and wood. You can also order a sticky version or one to hang in your bedroom.


Personal Library Kit

Personal Library Kit - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

This personal library kit screams book lover! If you or your kids have librarian dreams, this is a worthy purchase, It includes 20 self-adhesive pockets and checkout cards, a date stamp and inkpad, as well as a pencil.


Kids Kindle

Kids Kindle
buy on amazon

As a non-US resident with not-so-great access to books published abroad, my Kindle is my window to all the books I want to read. It’s a fantastic invention that makes it easier to read ebooks from the library and fly across the world with your entire library in your palm. The kids Kindle (I did a whole post about the kids Kindle) is the same as the adult Kindle but comes with no ads and the purchase includes the Kindle, 1 year of Amazon Kids+, a kid-friendly cover, and 2-year worry-free guarantee.


Reading Journal

Reading Journal - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

Reading journals are more fun to use than basic reading logs. This journal is for kids as young as 5 or 6 who love reading. It comes with pages of suggested titles to read with your kids (including Caldecott medal winners and such). There are also pages to record every book read and kids get to tear off the perforated corner of each page to “feed the bookworm” after they’ve read.


Book Cart

Book cart
buy on amazon

Have an overflowing shelf of books? Can’t get your kids to reshelve books they’ve read? Or just need a mini shelf to fit in your small space? Try a book cart! This one is easy to assemble and made from plastic and stainless steel. Its dimensions are 8.66″D x 15.75″W x 25.96″H.


Picture Book Caddy

Picture book caddy - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on etsy

Nursery shelves are the cutest and many of them are designed to hold picture books. But if your kids are old enough to have non-nursery rooms, but still read picture books, this picture book caddy may be just what they need. It’s handmade from wood and has the sweetest cloud-shaped design.


Desktop Bookshelves

Desktop bookshelves
buy on amazon

Desktop bookshelves are another innovative invention for book lovers in small spaces. This is one of our favorites and is available in multiple colors, including black if you prefer.


Bookends

Bookends - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on etsy

We have an entire list of bookends for kids and adults, and this is one of our top recommendations. It’s perfect for nurseries and for kids who love animals.


Yoto Player

Yoto Player
buy on amazon

The Yoto Player has become a kid favorite for listening to music and audiobooks. It’s a great screen-free way for kids to enjoy child-appropriate music, podcasts, and other audio media. You’ll need to buy Yoto cards which you can insert into the player to listen to your desired media.


Reading Nook 

Reading nook - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

Yes to more reading spots. This is another shelving unit with seating. It can double as a reading nook for kids. Some reviewers said it took a while to put together, but they all agree that it’s super worth it, especially for younger kids and toddlers.


Book Subscription Box

Another kind of gift you can give your reader is a book subscription. We’ve highlighted three of the most popular ones.

Literati Kids

Literati Kids

Literati Kids delivers five books monthly. All you need to do is describe your kids’ reading preferences and they’ll handle the rest. You can try out the books for a week and send back those you don’t like.


Bookroo

Bookroo - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read

Bookroo offers book subscriptions for four age groups spanning ages 0-12. The books are expertly selected and subscribers get up to 47% off retail prices for the books they receive. With Bookroo, you can also read your selections electronically using Bookroo’s app.


Reading in Color Crate

Reading in Color Crate

Reading in Color Crate sends subscribers one middle grade and young adult book from an underrated POC author with a new theme every month, as well as a bookmark and a self-care item. The company sponsored our 2021 summer reading guide and I love the work they do.


Books

You know we’re all about the books! Not sure which ones to gift a kid? Check out our list of themed suggestions, books for kids by grade, and our graphic novels section. For my favorites, see:

  • 2020 favorites
  • 2021 favorites
  • My favorite tween audiobooks
  • Top books for tween girls
  • 100+ books for tween boys

Book Making Kit

Book Making Kit - Best Gifts for Kids Who Like to Read
buy on amazon

If your child wants to be a writer or make their own stories, this kit is a must-have. It includes ready-to-use cover template pages, story and illustration template pages, guide book & instructions, a set of color markers and a postage-paid envelope and order form


Personalized Library Stamp

Personalized Library Stamp
buy on etsy

Speaking of bookish dreams? Future librarians anyone? This stamp will help your kid leave their mark on their books in the best way possible.


There they are: 25 of the best gifts for kids who like to read! Which of these gifts would you love as a reader?

More Reading Life Posts

  • How to Start a Tween Book Club
  • How to Make Money Selling Children’s Books
  • Best Bookends for Kids

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25 Gifts for the Bookworm Child in Your Life

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✨how ‘bout a little virtual reality?✨

☀️ Addie has reluctantly moved across the country with her dad for his summer job in the virtual reality industry. He's working on research to use VR for therapeutic purposes, such as helping people cultivate empathy. Addie is not into VR, but that starts to change when she meets Matteo another kid on campus, and tries out VR on her own. Eventually, the two find a helpful use for VR that helps other people.

🥽 I loved the illustration style in this one and while I found the VR setting a bit disorienting, I appreciated the unique lens of the story. The graphic novel format works brilliantly for helping readers appreciate the power of VR. I think with text, it would have just been too much “world-building.” This is more engaging and exciting for kids.

🐢 Lo and Behold is a clever middle grade graphic novel about virtual reality, grief, and parental addiction. Readers who enjoy VR will love this one, but as the Author's Note mentions, it will also be a fantastic introduction for those who, like me, aren't familiar with it. A fun summer read with hints of serious themes.

#mglit #middlegrade #bookstagram
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❤️ I loved this book way more than I thought I would (from the synopsis). Ginny has such a great voice and she isn’t always the most likable character but she’s always real. I loved watching her grow throughout the story.

📍This sweet, unique young middle grade book made my heart grow and ache for Ginny and her family as they navigated a season of change. Features illustrations and a new geography fact in each chapter.

#amreading #mglit #middlegrade
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❤️ This sweet graphic novel for fans of Telgemeier is an ode to middle school, family, and finding your people.

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Which hyped books did you love? And which ones missed the mark for you?

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I loved this graphic memoir about the author’s time as a counselor at a camp for kids with cancer. It was my first time reading anything by this author and I totally get the appeal.

This one didn’t end up being as sad as I thought it would be but it was very moving, especially because Krosoczka shares newspaper clippings and pictures of one the families with whom he forged a particularly close relationship even until his college years.

If you’re looking for an engaging graphic memoir for older kids ages 11+ this is a great choice.

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This book! Brilliantly written, impressive characterization, and a plot so unexpected. It left me physically shaken (it's not feel-good), but it feels so necessary, so timely. A solid debut about the search for the great American Dream, familial sacrifices, and confronting our ugly inner selves -- all in less than 300 pages. 

You'll like this if you like:

Multiple perspectives (3 perspectives, 3rd person POV)
Character-driven stories
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☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️ Hi, new fol ☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️

Hi, new followers! It’s such a pleasure to have a few new faces around. I love finding new readers to follow on the gram. 

My name is Afoma and I run a book blog called Reading Middle Grade. I also run a Facebook Group and newsletter related to my blog. In my day job, I’m a freelance writer and editor, with a degree in medicine.

I’ve lived in three continents (born in Nigeria, med school in Ukraine and the Caribbean). I live in Nigeria now with my husband and many, many books 🤭 I love to cook and travel and run. This year, one of my goals is to become a better runner. I’m currently able to run 2K without stopping. 

Even though we don’t have traditional four seasons in Nigeria, the summer months are my favorite. From childhood, they were the one time when my overachieving, perfectionistic self could RELAX. And do nothing! And even now, I try to take time off in the summer to do nothing.

Some of favorite books this year have been LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU, THE LOST YEAR (I lived in Ukraine for 3 years, so this resonated with me!), and MAAME. 

Thank you so much for following my reading journey! Tell me something about yourself — hobbies, favorite books, anything! ❤️
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