— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.There are few things more gratifying than that moment your child takes a real interest in reading to themselves. Early literacy is a magical time when the decoding of phonetics and the uncertainty of bigger concepts all come into focus and—suddenly—reading is no longer a chore to be tacked on at the end of homework but a genuinely fun and enjoyable pastime.
Whether you've got a reader on your hands—or you're just hoping to cultivate one—here are some of our favorite gifts for budding bookworms. If your child is already showing a love of books and is devouring them faster than you can keep up, congratulations! If you have a reader who is struggling, these ideas might get them excited about books and might nudge them onto a path of a lifelong love of reading.
1. A personalized book
Imagine being the protagonist of your own book!
Best for ages: 0 and up
Wonderbly has created an entire whole line of personalized kids' books that are exciting for kids to crack open and will engage young readers. Kids will get so excited about seeing their name in print. And Wonderbly focuses on social-emotional reading, so these are self-esteem-boosting and introspection-inspiring books that are just as feel good as they are entertaining.
Shop Wonderbly books starting at $34.99
2. A subscription box to expand their library
This subscription box sends each book gift-wrapped, making for a perfect distanced-gift.
Best for ages: 0 - 10
Once you have a reader on your hands, satisfy their insatiable thirst for new and exciting books with a monthly book subscription. Bookaroo delivers books every month that are age specific—with a picture book subscription for younger kids and a chapter book option for older ones.
Librarians tout this box for having some of the best book selections around. Each box comes with gift-wrapped books (so nice if you are giving this to a child who lives far away) and an info card that tells a bit about each title and gives thoughtful questions and conversation starters, to help your kid turn into the type of human who will be everyone’s first pick when they start a book club.
Get a book subscription box at Bookaroo starting at $16.99 a month
3. A book light for reading under the covers
A book light for reading under the covers.
Best for ages: 3 and up
It’s a rite of passage: sneaking the last few chapters of the book under the covers (and often oversleeping for school the next day). It’s really hard to blame them when we are all guilty of doing it ourselves. We encourage you to embrace it with this angler-fish inspired booklight, for when kids keep on reading deep into the midnight zone.
Get the Smoko booklight at Urban Outfitters for $12
4. For the budding author
For the future best-selling author.
Best for ages: 4 and up
Got a creative kiddo? Let their imagination go the distance when they turn their own original story into an actual, printed book. There aren’t enough awards to sing the praises of this DIY book-authoring kit. Kids create their own story with words and pictures that they mail off to be returned as a professionally printed and bound 20-page hardcover book. Clear some space on your bookshelf now; once the book authoring bug bites you can expect them to just keep creating.
Get the Create Your Own Storybook kit at Amazon for $34.99
5. All the tools they need to start their own library
For the future librarian.
Best for ages: 5 and up
Once they start building their library, they may want to start loaning those books out. For a budding bibliophile, there's no greater pleasure than sharing a beloved book, but it’s pretty crushing when those books get lost. Here is a library kit so they can experience the joy of sharing books, without the agony of them being lost forever.
Get the Knock Knock personal library kit at Amazon for $21.58
6. An encyclopedia to answer all of their burning questions
Encyclopedia Britannica has knocked it out of the park with this incredible kid's encyclopedia.
Best for ages: 5 to 12
If you have a kid with a curious mind, this amazing 424-page encyclopedia will be their go-to compendium for answering all of their questions of “how” and “why.” We can’t recommend this stunningly illustrated kids’ encyclopedia enough. It covers more than 170 topics, with engaging insights from over 100 experts. It is chock full of fun and fascinating facts and brimming with explanations that get kids asking for more.
Get the Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia at Amazon for $19.98
7. A brainy bedtime book of sleep stories
These 5-minute stories are fascinating and all focus on sleep!
Best for ages: 4 to 9
Why do we sleep? Do animals dream? Where is the biggest bed in the world?
These aren’t your average bedtime stories. This compendium of night-related knowledge told in fascinating story form takes kids to Ancient Egypt to explore the beds of Tutankhamun, then off into space to see how astronauts get ready for bed, and even under water to learn how hibernating turtles breathe through their butts. There are 30 amazing 5-minute stories, with all facts verified by Britannica.
Lavishly illustrated on every page with specially commissioned artwork, and packed full of expert-provided information, this book is the ultimate brainy bedtime companion for children aged 4 to 9.
Get 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime: 30 Amazing Stories at Amazon for $12.99
8. A story telling speaker to read to them, when you can’t
For the kid that always wants to a bedtime story.
Best for ages: 3 to 12
Studies show that when children are read to for 20-minutes or more daily, it helps to cultivate them into better readers and helps expand their overall reading comprehension. While some days we can’t always read to our kids right when they want to, the Yoto is a screen-free option with classic and best-selling titles read by elementary school teachers, icons like Earth Kitt, and Oscar-winners like Kate Winslet. It also happens to be a favorite of the Reviewed parenting team! With beloved titles by authors like Julia Donaldson, the device is great for little ones; it also ages really well with the full library of Roald Dahl books, Enid Blyton titles, and classics like The Jungle Book and Treasure Island.
Get the Yoto Player Starter Pack at Amazon for $108
9. A set of bookplates for the kid who likes to lend their books
Customized bookplates for the bookworm that's building their library.
Best for ages: 5 and up
There is something so satisfying about having your name in a book; it makes it feel like the fantasy world you visit when you read them is yours forever. Ensure that favorite books never get lost with a custom set of book plates that reflect your kiddo’s personality. These come in an array of designs that are great for kids of all ages, from giraffes and tricycles to butterflies and rainbows. These bookplates are colorful and customizable stickers that are personalized with their name and an image of their choice.
Get a custom set of 20 book plates at Etsy for $15
10. An eReader so they can bring a whole library everywhere they go
An eReader lets them take their reading habit with them wherever they go.
Best for ages: 7 and up
For the book-lover who always wants to bring three or four extra books “just in case.” Lighten their load with the kid-centric version of the Kindle's ever-popular Paperwhite eReader. This kid-friendly Kindle has parental controls to ensure all of the content that’s downloaded is age-appropriate. Small, lightweight and compact, they can bring the whole Magic Treehouse series with them on summer vacation, or a handful of favorites just in case a dentist appointment goes a bit too long.
If they burn through books quicker than you can buy them, know that the Kindle supports downloads from any library in the country.
Get the Kindle Kids’ edition at Amazon for $109
11. A first dictionary to look up big words in
For the future etymologist.
Best for ages: 7 and up
Of course they can always look up a word on Dictionary.com, but giving them the experience of a dictionary will open a whole new world for them. Remember looking up one word as a kid and, next thing you knew, you were reading your way through the page? Filled with gorgeous photos and diagrams, example sentences, and word root explanations, this dictionary is for the budding etymologist.
Get the Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary at Amazon for $9.19
12. A bookmark that points to the exact spot you left off
A little finger to point where you left off.
Best for ages: 7 and up
There’s nothing worse than losing your spot! This bookmark not only keeps their page, it points to the exact line they left off on. For the reader who is meticulous or for when they have to finish their chores right in the middle of a cliffhanger, this is a small but mighty life-saver that makes peeling them away from plot twists a little less traumatic.
Get the 7 different colored finger pointing bookmarks at Amazon for $9.99
13. A hilarious bookmark to make them smile
Hilarious bookmark pals will have them giggling.
Best for ages: 6 and up
Add a little bit of humor to their reading with these hilarious 3-D creature bookmarks. Best deployed when they are forced to slog through boring titles for school, these wacky and wild animals screaming from between their pages will get them giggling.
Get the 2-pack of wacky Bookmark Pals at Amazon for $11.99
14. A subscription to an app with an endless supply of books
This app gives kids access to over 40,000 books!
Best for ages: 3 to 12
If your bookworm is burning through titles faster than you can hit the library, the amazing Epic app will keep a steady stream of new stories immediately at their fingertips. With over 40,000 titles to choose from, your kid's reading material will never run dry.
For new or reluctant readers, this is—bar none—one of the best literacy-building apps available. Completely searchable by age and grade, they can easily find books that are right at their reading level and that will pique their interest. There is also a fantastic "read-to-me" option where titles are read aloud, highlighting each word as it's spoken, allowing kids to hone their phonetic and comprehension skills and build their reading confidence—all while freeing you up so you can read a book or two on your own.
Get a subscription to Epic for $9.99 a month or $71.99 a year
15. A cushy chair to recline in
A beanbag chair for a the coziest reading time.
Best for ages: 2 and up
Nothing goes better with a good book than a cozy chair to relax, recline and read it in. This bean bag chair is big, comfy, and not too “kiddie.” It’ll easily blend into living room decor, or grow with them as their style changes but their love for a good book remains a constant.
Get the standard classic bean bag chair at Wayfair for $81.99
16. A reading nook for privacy
A beautiful teepee that comes with a hanging LED light and a floor mat.
Best for ages: 3 and up
If your resident bookworm needs a special space to drift away into story land, this easy to assemble tent will be a dream come true. Gift them with their own special spot that feels like it was made just for page-turning.
Get the Flybold kids teepee tent at Amazon for $35.97
17. A cozy pillow to snuggle up with
A cozy pillow to nap on between page-turners.
Best for ages: all ages
If they are starting to nod off while reading—well, that's just a rite of passage! How about giving them something a little bit more comfortable to doze on? This cozy pillow is emblazoned with what are likely the last words they say every night before bed.
Get the "Just One More Chapter" pillow at Etsy for $21.11
18. A shirt to declare their superpower
Reading IS a super power! Say it loud and proud.
Best for ages: 2 to 12
Don't let them tell you any different, kid! Reading IS a superpower—let them declare it on their shirt. We just love this retro style and it comes in all sorts of colors, sizes and styles so you can pick just the right one for your little literary superhero.
Get the Kids Reading T-shirts For Kids at Amazon for $21.99
19. A bag to carry their favorite books around in
A book bag for little arms and big reading ambitions.
Best for ages: 3 and up
Just right for kiddos with little arms but big reading ambitions: This “book bag” is perfect for carrying their favorite storybooks to grandma's house, or for packing up their numerous library returns (and carting another few home).
Get the Elephant and Piggie Read Kid's Tote at Amazon for $15
20. A bookcase reading nook
Why don't they make this in adult sizes?
Best for ages: 3 to 10
Why they don't have this in adult-sizes is beyond us. This bookcase can fit all of their favorite books, and the reading area is a perfectly designed cradle for them to lean back and drift off into story land.
Get the Kidcraft bookcase reading nook at Amazon for $135
21. A soft stand to prop up their books with
Put that tablet away! This is perfect for page-turners.
Best for ages: 4 and up
On the couch, on the floor, in bed, or on the go—wherever they are reading this pillow lap stand will make reading more comfortable. This is perfect for a tablet or a book and the cozy plush covering makes it extra comfy for the coziest reading time.
Get the Flippy tablet stand at Amazon for $34.99
22. Custom-made bookends
These custom-made book ends will display their favorite books in style.
Best for ages: all ages
Their book collection is getting bigger! How about some beautiful bookends that are inspired by creatures you only see in story land? If their books are their pride and joy they should be displayed in style with these custom-made bookends.
Get custom made bookends from Pigmee Pigbee at Etsy for $90
23. A cool new comic book series
If they need new reading material, this is one of the most fun new book series we've found!
This zany and gripping new three-book series follows the Zoo Patrol Squad as they crack criminal cases. Colorful, smart and completely hilarious, these graphic novels were written expressly for young readers. These gorgeously illustrated books were both written and illustrated by Disney, Dreamworks and Marvel alum Brett Bean, and are filled with wacky animals, wild adventures and madcap mysteries. No matter how reluctant a reader you may have, this can't-put-it down series is sure to grab their attention and their imagination.
If your kid has already burned through the Dogman series (or you're tired of fart jokes) your kids will love this exciting, funny and smart book series (and you'll be grateful for them).
* Get Zoo Patrol: The Kingdom Squad Caper at Amazon for $9.99
* Get Zoo Patrol: Run, Monster, Run! at Amazon for $11.99
* Pre-order Zoo Patrol: New Sheriff in Town at Amazon for $12.99
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