Best Gift Books To Share This Christmas

It’s time for my Christmas gift guide! This year, I am starting with my recommendations for gift books. These were sent to me for consideration in the gift guide this year.

My kids love to read. Do they pick up books as often as I wished? No. They often read fan fiction online but it’s still reading and literacy, so there’s something to be said for that. Over the years with teens, I have learned to pick and choose my battles.

We keep bookshelves stocked full of books and we visit the library and use Kobo’s and other ereaders too. Books are some of my favourite gifts to give this season, or any time of the year really.

So, I thought I’d share a collection of gift books with you as part of my holiday gift guide this year.

My Favourite Kid’s Gift Books

This year I have a couple of gift books from a publisher that’s new to me. These are powerful reads for school aged children.

Survivors of the Holocaust, edited by Kath Shackleton, illustrated by Zane Whittingham

Who is this for? Your niece, nephew, son or daughter. I also feel like this one makes the perfect donation book to give to a school library.

Survivors of the Holocaust is a graphic novel that features the untold stories of six children and the harrowing tales of how they survived the Holocaust. This powerful book is a good opportunity to build some understanding of the Holocaust for kids who are around the age of ten.

Children’s Nonfiction—Graphic Novel ● Ages 10+ ● Sourcebooks Explore

● ISBN: 9781492688921 ● $19.99/HC

Via the Publisher blurb – >

In a time when people were ruthlessly persecuted and killed, some were able to make it through alive. Whether it was thanks to lucky twists of fate or the loving sacrifices of others, they lived to tell their stories, which serve as reminders to never allow such a tragedy to happen again.

These are the true stories of six children, in their own words, and how they survived one of the darkest times in human history.

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal.

Who is this one for? Your teen daughter, if they are 14 plus.

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight is a young adult fiction book that deals with racial tensions and a riot that breaks out at a football game. I started this one and couldn’t put it down, but my daughter, 15, was not having it. She has been carting this one back and forth to school every day so I have to sneak in my reading when I liberate it from her backpack. So far, she’s loving this because the main characters are high schoolers and it is topical, as well as age appropriate.

By Kimberly Jones, Gilly Segal

Young Adult fiction— ● Ages 13+ ● Sourcebooks Fire, $17.99

ISBN 9781492678892 ● 272 pages

In I’m Not Dying With You Tonight, Gilly’s debut novel co written with Kimberly Jones, a fight breaks out at a racially divided Atlanta high school football game, and Lena, who is black, and Campbell, who is white have to work together to escape a situation that quickly escalates into a riot…. Though Lena and Campbell barely know one another, they must rely on each other to try to survive the night

Adult Gift Books

There are three awesome DK Canada books on my list this year. DK Canada always makes the cut, because they have amazing educational books for all ages and they are always beautifully illustrated. So they make great gift books.

Whiskey – A Tasting Course

Who is this one for? Me, actually. My demographic women and men, over 35 plus. Your Dad, your sister, brother-in-law, Aunt or Uncle. Basically, if there’s a whiskey lover on your list this is perfect.

I’ve become obsessed with whiskey and its story in Canada, Ireland, Scotland and the prohibition too. Whiskey – A Tasting Course by Eddie Ludlow is a perfect gift book actually. I’d keep this one. Love this beauty of a book, which covers the history of the adult beverage and is destined to make you feel smarter about your own whiskey knowledge. Wow everyone with your whiskey smarts.

The best, most enjoyable, way to find out about whiskies is by drinking them. This truly hands-on handbook takes you on a tasting journey to discover your own personal whiskey style, and helps you to expand your horizons so you can find a world of new whiskies to enjoy. 

Food and Drink ● By Eddie Ludlow ● $32 ● DK Canada

ISBN: 9781465482396 ● 224 pages

Dreams

Who is Dreams for? Of all the gift books here, this is the one that I think is perfect for your sister, daughter or good friend. Basically, everyone is interested in dreams, right? Have a friend who tends to be into psychology, then this is the gift book that will be a hit under their tree.

Are you simply curious about dreams and what they mean? This book by Rosie March-Smith will turn you into a dream interpreter.

From the publisher – >

Explore the psychological function and meaning of dreams, and unlock their power for self-improvement. With interpretations of key dream images and themes, Dreams will show you how you can interpret and control your dreams to address issues and imbalances in your life, as well as improve your psychological wellbeing.

Find out how, when, and why we dream. Discover how to keep a dream diary, the significance of nightmares and recurring dreams, and the secrets of lucid dreams. Dream interpretation has been practiced around the world for millennia, and now you can learn how to decode your own dreams to find the deeply personal messages within.

Man-Made Wonders of the World by Dan Cruickshank

Who is this beautiful gift book for? Your Dad, maybe or brother-in-law, or Mom and Dad who travel and love history and architecture.

Man-made Wonders of the World by Dan Cruickshank is a substantial gift book that would be perfect for anyone who loves pretty things, or natural wonders or architecture and art. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Hoover Dam, these are some magnificent examples of man-made wonders of the world. Cruickshank takes readers on a continent by continent tour of how monuments like the Great Pyramids were made.

Coffee Table Gift Books ● Dan Cruickshank ● ISBN: 9781465482525

Published by ● DK Canada, ● 416 pages, ●$65 HB