Miss Betsy’s Book Nook, 2018 edition

It’s time for the annual reporting of what books I, as the Redeemed Reader Managing Editor, buy for those on my gift list!

I do this partly to show you, dear readers, that we put our money where our mouth is: that is, we buy the same books we often recommend that YOU buy. We love to stock our own personal libraries and those of our friends and families with books full of Truth and Story, with the real winners.

And I do this partly to show you, dear readers, that all children are born persons–there really is no “one-size-fits-all” book other than the Bible itself. Each of the people on my gift list require thought, and each year is a little different.

Some years, I choose themes (such as the Christian fantasy  and discipleship resources year, the graphic novel year, …). This year, I picked a lot of activity books, but it’s not a true “theme” since not all of the books fit. Pro tip: “how to” or activity books for kids work best for kids who are already fully independent readers. You’ll note that the younger kids on my list aren’t receiving those kinds of books!

Miss Betsy’s Book Nook, 2018 edition

Without further ado, here is the 2018 lineup, youngest to oldest (titles linked to amazon via affiliate links; RR review links where applicable):

• 3-year-old twins (niece + nephew; they will be 4 in January): Rabbit and Robot by CeCe Bell (RR Review) and The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith (confession: this second is purely to inflict read aloud torture on my brother- and sister-in-law *ahem*)
• 7-year-old nephew, number 1: Around the World in 80 Puzzles (RR “Books for the Whole Year” list)
• 7-year-old nephew, number 2: Rabbit and Robot, (RR Review) and Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit (RR Review)
• 10-year-old nephew: The Complete Laugh-out-Loud Jokes Book (RR “Books for the Whole Year” list)
• 11-year-old twin son #1: The Pushcart War (RR Review)
• (on our One-Size-Fits-All List) (this title is for my family’s Christmas Eve “Yule Book Flood”)
• 11-year-old twin son #2: Watership Down (RR Review) (on our One-Size-Fits-All List) (this title is for my family’s Christmas Eve “Yule Book Flood”)
• 11-year-old twin sons together: Handmade Bird, Bee, and Bat Houses (this has a really nice variety of do-able projects in it)
• 13-year-old daughter: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner* (RR Review) (also on the One-Size-Fits-All List) (this title is for the Christmas Eve “Yule Book Flood”)
• 13-year-old daughter: Knit Step by Step (a fantastic stitch glossary/encyclopedia, perfect for those who want to move beyond the basic knit/purl stitches and learn to read patterns); 60 Quick Knits for Beginners (doable for those with basic skills)
• 13-year-old nephew: Japanese Origami for Beginners **
• 16-year-old nephew: Fly Tying for Beginners **
• Grown-up friends/family: I got these gifts early and passed out a number of copies of either Wild Bells or Hallelujah. They were big hits!

*We already own this very book on a family shelf, but as Gladys Hunt reminds us, it’s important for kids to have their own personal libraries!

**I haven’t seen either of these books; I am trusting amazon reviews for these (full disclosure!).

What are YOU giving the kids on your gift list?