If you’re interested in Christmas specific books, you can read some of my recommendations in this Books for the Season post, or in Christmas II. This December I’m focusing on picture books about giving, with shorter descriptions and adding a “what I’m reading” section at the end. As you shop for and make gifts for the ones you love this season, I hope these books get you in the spirit. And if you’re looking for a special middle grade book about the superpower of friendship, please consider my most recent middle grade The Minor Miracle (book two coming May 6, 2025!)
And now, for books about giving:
The Helping Sweater by Rachel Más Davidson
A girl’s favorite sweater begins to unravel, but when she realizes the yarn she loses benefits others, from fixing a nest or making a friendship bracelet to stitching together a bully’s pants, she continues to share yarn until her sweater is entirely gone. Luckily, someone gifts her a new sweater and when it snags, she knows just what to do.
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka
Two girls share one pair of sandals while living in a refugee camp, taking turns wearing them every other day until the day one of the girls gets to go to America. It’s a sweet story about the gift of friendship, and how something as small as a sandal can be a most precious gift.
The Library by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
What to do when you spend a lifetime collecting books, until they climb the walls and block the doors? Donate them, of course! Donations totally count as gifts. Love the rhyming text and illustrations that capture the perfect moments of the story and I love this author/illustrator duo.
Mr. Nick’s Knitting by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Dee Huxley
Every morning Mr. Nick and Mrs. Jolley ride the train into the city, looking out the windows and knitting side by side, until the day Mrs. Jolley doesn’t show up. She’s sick and sad, stuck in a white, boring hospital room until Mr. Nick brings her a blanket he knitted. Each square is a scene from out the train window, the perfect gift to lift her spirits.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas
You can’t go wrong with this author illustrator pair. A young boy lives next door to an old people’s home, and he knows them all. When he finds out Miss Nancy has lost her memory, he asks all the residents what a memory is, and then gathers things that are warm, old, sad, happy and precious. They end up working in unexpected, sweet ways to help Miss Nancy remember.
What I’m reading:
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, illustrated by Wallace West
If you’ve got a middle grade reader in your life, I highly recommend this fun read. Super short chapters, lots of illustrations, mystery and a quirky world where robot dogs coexist with regular dogs. Lots of heart and humor and a super happy ending, told from the POV of a three-legged shelter dog.
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga
Love the friendship, the mystery, the turtle who’s seen it all and finds a way to communicate, and the art museum setting. This is a fast-paced and fun read.
What a delightful list! I'm adding "The Helping Sweater" to our next library haul!