Not sure what to gift your favorite book lover for the holidays? Look no further. These bookish gifts are fun for the whole family. Items are listed in suggested age order, youngest to oldest.
BUGTASTIC BINGO: A GAME FOR ALL AGES, by Yuval Zommer, Thames & Hudson, Oct. 15, 2024, Puzzle, $24.95 (ages 4 and up)
Bugtastic Bingo brings to life 48 bugs that will make you squirm, squeal, and scream in this family game by Yuval Zommer.
Butterfly, ladybug, spider—what’s your favorite bug to spot in the garden? A classic family game is brought to life through the art of Yuval Zommer as children, families, and even adults immerse themselves in the bizarre world of insects and bugs, eagerly waiting to yell out BINGO!
Open the box to discover a game board, eight double-sided player cards, 150 counters, and 48 bug tokens. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson
This charming game is easy enough for little ones, but still enjoyable for an older audience, making it perfect for families of all age ranges. An instruction booklet that features fun facts about bugs is also included. It arrives in a sturdy box with a pullout drawer.
INVISIBLE THINGS FEELINGS FLASH CARDS, 
by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller, Chronicle Books, Oct. 1, 2024, Flash Cards, $14.99 (ages 4-6)
From the creators of the New York Times bestseller Invisible Things, these imaginative flash cards offer countless playful ways for kids to explore and express their emotions.
What Invisible Things will you discover today? These feelings flash cards introduce 19 different personified emotions—plus 1 blank make-your-own card to personalize. Each durable card features a wacky illustration of an Invisible Thing on one side and a fun description on the reverse.
With a bold palette and a delightful sense of humor, this card set invites kids and caregivers to look past the visible and talk about the many Invisible Things we all experience every day. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
I love anything that promotes social emotional learning. These sturdy cards fit the bill. And though they’re for ages 4-6, older kids will still relate.
CHRONICLE BOOKS KIDQUEST – THE GAME WHERE KIDS FIND OUT WHAT GROWN-UPS WERE LIKE AS KIDS! Chronicle Books, Oct. 29, 2024 (ages 5 and up)
With KidQuest, kids take charge and ask adults questions about what it was like to be a kid. Topics are diverse and lend themselves to conversation, growth, and laughter.
After asking hundreds of questions to get to know what his parents and grandparents were like when they were kids.
KidQuest helps kids connect and learn from adults with humor, depth, and, most importantly, fun. With cards covering so many topics—how to make friends, save money, deal with fears, thrive at school, nurture health, understand relationships and emotions, and more—there are opportunities to facilitate open communication and trust. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
I brought this game on our family’s last camping trip of the season, and my 10-year-old loved it. It prompted bigger conversations, and lots of laughter. This is a great option for families.
THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF WOULD YOU RATHER QUESTIONS: 1001 FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHALLENGES FOR KIDS, TEENS AND ADULTS, by Kimberly McLeod, Page Street Kids, Oct. 22, 2024, Paperback, $10 (ages 8-11)
Get ready for hours of fun pondering impossible choices with this ultimate collection of knee-slapping, exciting and thought-provoking questions. There are no wrong answers, so you can debate mind-boggling scenarios all day long. With handy categories like Eww, Make Believe, Animals, Food and more, you can stick to a section everyone enjoys or skip around to mix it up. These 1,001 epic questions are the perfect break from devices that allows you to learn more about your family and friends―especially on car rides, during long waits, at the dinner table and more! —Synopsis provided by Page Street Kids
This is another activity that came with my family on our last camping trip of the season. It’s a great conversation starter and had us laughing.
THAMES & HUDSON THE ODYSSEY IN 1000 PIECES: A STORYTELLING JIGSAW PUZZLE, by Daisy Dunn, illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors, Thames & Hudson, Oct. 15, 2024, Puzzle, $24.95 (ages 10 and up)
Homer’s Odyssey, predating the invention of writing in ancient Greece, is revived in this 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Encounter the one-eyed Cyclops, who feasts on the flesh of men; bewitching women, who charm with songs and spells; and meddling gods and goddesses, who shape the hero’s fate.
Follow Odysseus’s journey using the accompanying concertina, exploring twenty key scenes. Daisy Dunn’s text will ignite new interest in one of the world’s oldest and greatest poems. Get ready for a modern take on this ancient masterpiece. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson
This has to be one of the cooler puzzles I’ve seen. Not only are the stylized illustrations stunning, but the accompanying story guide takes it over the top. The box is sturdy and features a pull-out drawer rather than a standard box. This is a fantastic option for fans of Greek myths or those who enjoy intricate puzzles. The puzzle pieces are quite small, making this a better choice for those ages 10 and up.
THE STORY OF ART IN 1000 PIECES: A NARRATIVE JIGSAW PUZZLE, By Susie Hodge, illustrated by Grace Helmer, Thames & Hudson, Oct. 15, 2024, Puzzle, $24.95 (ages 10 and up)
Embark on a captivating 1,000-piece journey through art history with this jigsaw puzzle. Trace the evolution of human expression from the first drawings to modern-day masterpieces.
New to art history and puzzled about where to start?
Try piecing together this beautifully illustrated timeline featuring fifty key moments in art history. This jigsaw traces the story of art, starting at Blombos Cave, the oldest known workshop where the first drawings were discovered. Step inside the studio of Artemisia Gentileschi, follow Sebastião Salgado documenting life in the Amazon, and uncover Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s vast Terracotta Army.
This is perfect for puzzlers who want a fun introduction to art history. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson
This amazing puzzle is both entertaining and educational. An included insert features information about the 50 pieces of art depicted in the puzzle. The box is sturdy and features a pull-out drawer rather than a standard box. This is an excellent option for art lovers.
HOW TO BE A COLOR WIZARD: FORAGE AND EXPERIMENT WITH NATURAL ART MAKING, by Jason Logan, MIT Kids Press, Sept. 10, 2024, Hardcover, $22.99 (ages 10 and up)
In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards—by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations.
In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild experiments that will delight your friends, intimidate your enemies, and turn you into a color wizard.
What colors might await in a leafy forest, a berry-stained back alley, a seaweedy beach, or even the dark corners of an ordinary fridge? With this book as a guide, curious young wizards can make natural confetti, unlock the hidden color power inside a leaf, and craft a paintbrush wand. They’ll brew magic potions from beets and acorn caps to produce their own colors, from the darkest black to the palest pink to invisible ink, then share their discoveries with friends, family, and the whole color-hungry human race. With whimsy and infectious enthusiasm, master ink maker Jason Logan explains the science of color while presenting “quests,” recipes, and hands-on activities using materials kids can find in their own homes and neighborhoods. Featuring both photographs and the author’s own gorgeous homemade-ink illustrations, How to Be a Color Wizard is an ideal blend of art and science—plus a little bit of magic. —Synopsis provided by MIT Kids Press
BOTANICUM POSTCARD BOX SET (Welcome to the Museum), by Kathy Willis and Katie Scott, Big Picture Press, Sept. 3, 2024, Postcards, $17.99
A beautiful postcard set companion to the stunningly curated Botanicum book.
This collection of fifty vibrant postcards features Katie Scott’s incredible illustrations of all things botanical. From the rarest orchid to the common pineapple, these beautiful postcards are perfect for sending to friends, gifting to loved ones, or pinning on your wall. —Synopsis provided by Big Picture Press
The postcards are gorgeous. So gorgeous that I actually framed one of the cards —pumpkin — and used it with our fall décor. These are awesome.
FUNGARIUM POSTCARD BOX SET (Welcome to the Museum), by Ester Gaya and Katie Scott, Big Picture Press, Sept. 3, 2024, Postcards, $17.99
A beautiful postcard set companion to the stunningly curated Fungarium book.
This collection of fifty stylish postcards features Katie Scott’s stunning illustrations of fungi. Vividly capturing the beauty and complexity of fungi, these postcards are perfect for sending to friends, gifting to loved ones, or pinning on your wall. —Synopsis provided by Big Picture Press
Like the Botanicum postcards, the Fungarium postcards are exquisite. They’d make a perfect gift for kids to send to family or grownups who love the natural world.
Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
