There's something special about finding a book under the Christmas tree. The stories we share with the kids in our lives have the opportunity to teach them important values like kindness and generosity, and can influence them for many years. Below are some of our favorite books to give and receive, perfect for readers of many ages.
This holiday season will be unique again. Shipping across all industries will be challenging this year. We encourage you to shop early. From now through Christmas*, get free shipping and 25% off all purchases with code BBHOLIDAY21 at check-out.
You have what it takes to change the world! In this inspiring picture book, parenting author and podcaster Cindy Wang Brandt speaks to every child who sees injustice in the world, revealing that they already have inside themselves everything they need to make big, transformative change in the world—just as they are. You don't need to wait until you grow up. You don't even need any special skills. Kids who are loud, kids who are quiet, kids who make art, kids who are good at math, kids with lots of energy, kids who are good listeners—all kids have what it takes to make a difference.
Age range: 5-8 years
Throughout history, people have picked up their pens and wielded their words—transforming their lives, their communities, and beyond. Now it's your turn! Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, Mightier Than the Sword connects over forty inspiring biographies with life-changing writing activities and tips, showing readers just how much their own words can make a difference. These richly illustrated stories of inspiring speechmakers, scientists, explorers, authors, poets, activists, and even other kids and young adults will engage and encourage young people to pay attention to their world, to honor their own ideas and dreams, and to embrace the transformative power of words to bring good to the world.
Age range: 9-13 years
It was going to be the best Christmas ever because Little Mole had found the perfect gift for Mama: the biggest mushroom he had ever seen. But on his way home, Little Mole encounters other woodland friends in need. Though it pains him to do so, Little Mole shares pieces of his mushroom with each friend he meets until there's not much left. Little Mole fears Christmas is ruined, but ultimately, he discovers that his gift was bigger than he ever imagined.
Age range: 3-8 years
Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life
It can be scary to create something. Before you can even work on your craft, you have to face down the fear of messing up or looking silly, the perfectionism that keeps you from even starting, and the negative voices inside your head that say you don't have anything valuable to offer.
Well, you do have something to offer! Being creative is a right, and in this book, National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr will help you get started. Her advice and encouragement are paired with exercises to help you face down your fears, let go of expectations, stop comparing yourself to others, and make your art with courage. Courageous Creativity will empower readers to express themselves with self-confidence, bravery, and joy.
Age range: 9-18 years
Bella wants to find out what she's good at. But she quits everything she (barely) tries because she's a disaster at it. When she decides to learn how to bake with her wise old abuela, her first attempt at dulce de leche frosting looks like scaly cocodrilo skin. She must learn it's okay to try again or she won't be good at anything. Peppered with Spanish vocabulary and set in an intergenerational Latinx home, Bella's Recipe for Success will show all kids the value of practicing to learn a new skill, and that it's okay to make mistakes along the way.
Age range: 5-8 years
Fly, Girl, Fly! Shaesta Waiz Soars around the World
Shaesta Waiz, a refugee from Afghanistan, dreamed of doing great things. But she had some obstacles to overcome first: leave a refugee camp, make a new life in America, be the first in her family to go to college, and overcome her fear of flying. At the age of thirty, Shaesta was the youngest woman and the first from Afghanistan to circumnavigate the globe by herself in a single-engine aircraft. Fly, Girl, Fly! tells her incredible story and encourages all kids, especially young girls, to pursue their dreams and follow their heart.
Age range: 3-8 years
Late at night, with her children tucked into bed and her husband away on business, Anne Dudley Bradstreet composed poems by candlelight. Puritan women in the 1600s weren't allowed to be writers. But when the world learned about Anne's poetry, even she was astonished by what happened next. This charmingly illustrated picture book tells the inspiring story of how a Puritan woman overcame the obstacles facing women of her era to become one of the most famous poets in history. A gifted writer of deep faith, Anne Bradstreet blazed a trail for the rights of women to study, write, and achieve.
Age range: 5-8 years
When Charley goes to the playground and sees Emma, a girl with limb differences who gets around in a wheelchair, he doesn't know how to react at first. But after he and Emma start talking, he learns that different isn't bad, sad, or strange—different is just different, and different is great! When Charley Met Emma will help kids think about disability, kindness, and how to behave when they meet someone who is different from them.
Age range: 3-8 years
All kids have the power to advocate for themselves and others. Emma has limb differences, but different isn't bad, sad, or strange. It's just different! But when some accessibility problems get in the way at the local art museum, it ruins the fun of a class trip . . . and then Emma's friend Charley makes things even worse! In the middle of a really bad day, Emma has to call upon her sense of inner awesome to stand up for herself and teach everyone a lesson about the transformative power of feeling awesome in your own skin.
Age range: 3-8 years
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings
Especially after a difficult year and a half, many kids (and adults!) find themselves experiencing big feelings. In The Boy with Big, Big Feelings, meet a boy with feelings so big that they glow from his cheeks, spill out of his eyes, and jump up and down on his chest. When a loud truck drives by, he cries. When he hears a joke, he bursts with joy. When his loved ones are having a hard day, he feels their emotions as if they were his own. The boy tries to cope by stuffing down his feelings, but with a little help and artistic inspiration, the boy realizes his feelings are something to be celebrated.
Age range: 3-8 years
The Girl with Big, Big Questions
"Why can't people live on the moon?"
"Can I be president when I grow up?"
"What makes a person good?"
These are just some of the questions that bubble forth from one little girl with twinkling eyes and a curious mind. When the girl finds that her big questions make some people uncomfortable, she stops asking. But then she learns that her questions can solve problems and that asking questions is how we learn and grow. The Girl with Big, Big Questions celebrates the spirit of curiosity and the joy of learning. A lively picture book about a persistent girl and her quest for knowledge.
Age range: 5-8 years
The Star in the Christmas Play
All of the savanna animals are excited to audition for the school Christmas play, except Raffi the giraffe. He's too tall to play baby Jesus, or Joseph, or even a stable animal. He feels discouraged, until he realizes that he's just the right size to play a very important part. This endearing Christmas tale is perfect for kids who are still learning to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Age range: 3-8 years
Click here to view all of our 2021 holiday gift guides.
To browse all of our books and resources, visit beamingbooks.com.
*For orders received after November 12, we cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas. If you'd still like to receive the discount and free shipping after this date, download this PDF to let your loved one know a gift is on its way.
