Children’s books - do you give as a gift?

[fromheretothemoon]

The reason I ask is that I have been looking at threads for weeks for ideas for DC, and when posters list what their DC are getting for Christmas books are rarely mentioned in comparison to toys, electronics and clothing.

DS(5) loves books and yet he is not often given them as a gift for Christmas or birthday; sometimes we are asked for ideas and we emphasise how much he enjoys books but he will inevitably get toys which mostly are a 5-minute wonder.

Do people think books are a boring gift? I usually always include a book and toy when giving as parents usually say their kids have too many toys but maybe I’m a boring gift-giver?!

I've put loads of books on three year old DDs Christmas wishlist (in-laws like to have a list). You can never have too many. Especially not when your child is bilingual like my DD is.

Either her dad or me will go to the library with her once a week.

DD's favourite is Peter Rabbit. Mine is a beautiful edition of Winnie the Pooh that she got from a friend when she was born.

We don’t give books at Christmas very much. They usually buy books from the second hand shops and can easily buy them with their pocket money. If they want an expensive set they can get it for Christmas.

Also they get a lot of their books from the library.

I give books to children and adults for birthdays/Christmas. Tend to avoid the obvious like David Walliams so it's rarely a duplicate.

Ds and my nephews always give me a list of books they want for birthdays and christmases.

There again they also know that having a Mum/Aunty who is a bookworm comes in handy all year round when they mentioned a book they fancy!

I buy books for my kids. Birthday, Christmas and random times.
I also buy books for selected presents where I know it will be appreciated. I wouldnt give book to a party invite where I didnt know the family well.

I’ve taken to buying pyjamas and a book and maybe a bath bomb for friends’ children for Christmas. If they are younger, it is likely to be a book that my Ds enjoyed at that age. If they’re older, it’s likely to be a new paperback novel release, to minimise the risk that they’ve already read it.

My Dc have always been given books, not just by us but by friends and family, for christmas and birthdays. And we always buy books for their stockings and maybe more books to open downstairs, if the books are too big for stockings.

Yes.
Damn right I do!
Books are wonderful presents!

My children even now at the age of 17 and 18 are given books as part of their christmas gifts. I love receiving books as gifts and have given nieces and nephews books as gifts too.

At parents evenings Numerous teachers have said to us that they can tell that both our childre are avid readers due to the vocabulary used in essays. IMO books are important learning tools for all children.

I used to love getting books for Christmas!

I think because reading is seen as a "worthy" thing - people seem to buy their DC new books all the time, so perhaps they don't retain their "special" value. As a child I only got books when I spent my own money on them or for special occasions/gifts. Other than that I used the library. There was a rare occasion when a family member/friend would offload a load of second hand books on us knowing that we liked to read, that was always exciting! :)

I used to always buy my DS (12) books for birthday & christmas & at other times just because I saw a really good one - tbh as a small child he loved them as it was when we snuggled and I read to him & then him to me - now at 12 I would still buy & do but he isn't an avid reader.

That said I am 50+ & still love getting books but hardly anyone buys them for me so I buy for myself - you can never ever have too many books

I love books but sometimes worry about buying books for others- not knowing what they’ve got already, being unsure of their reading level are just two of the reasons I might not.

A good Christmas is when you get a pile of books. The Icelanders have a special word for it: Jolabokaflod (it translates as Christmas book flood).

As a family we give and receive lots of books at all holidays. Best possible present. We buy books all year round as well but are still happy to get lots as presents. We do have Amazon wishlists to ensure we get books we haven't read.

DD has always liked books, her Christmas and birthday lists are mainly books, it's a love she's passed on to her sons.

Yes I do for family where I know what they like/ are capable of reading, as a new born gift or if I know they like a specific author and there's a new release. I have bought book vouchers for friends children whom I know live to read but don't know what they like/have already. Dd1 is an avid reader and people often buy her books however we've found over the years that she has had lots of duplicates.

Books are a fantastic gift. A great opportunity for children to read something new and different. They might not be 100% right but this can be said for adults too.

I would buy a book for certain families but I know ones where they just wouldn't be appreciated or read. They're great if you know a child is a bookworm and will devour any book in front of them. But it feels like a bit of a virtue -signally type gift if you know the child isn't into books. My ex was an avid reader and always bought one of his sister's a book for presents as he thought she liked them. One birthday she commented "thanks Pete - trying to educate me, as usual!" I felt really sorry for him as he just thought she liked books like he did. Not everyone appreciates them.

DS has been asking for oi aardvark and oi platypus for his birthday

Family said no because he won't read them?!?

He'll spend more time with any given book than a plastic car etc 😒

I often contribute to those threads and I don't think I ever mention books as to me they are a forgone conclusion and an obvious choice.
I'll remember to put the obvious on next time. Nothing nicer than a book.

I buy books for my kids but seldom request them from others as its hard to ask for something they haven't read. And they may get it from the library in between me asking and Xmas. Although my neices came to stay this year and when I asked where their books were at bedtime they told me 'they don't read' (gasp!!!) - so.....book Ideas for 12 year old girls please.....

DD s amazon giftlist for family is currently all books

Mine get lots of books; they are really into them.
I also have got books for my niece and godson! Books are great!!

Mine get at least 1 book for birthdays and are getting 3 each in their Christmas stocking this year. A big treat if they’re good in town is choosing a new book in Waterstones!

Always. Never is there a birthday or Christmas without a book...at least one, usually several! At Christmas, they always get a book in their stocking and usually a set of books under the tree. And then sometimes books nice hardback non-fiction books too. But books are a lovely present and always well received by my children.

I love giving and receiving beautiful reference books, and book sets, ie Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss.