“Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it's much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!” ― Neil Gaiman
The latest Scholastic picture book may not have been included in the letter to Santa, but there are many reasons why it should have been, such as:
Entertainment
Books are a tried-and-true source of entertainment that doesn’t require constant charging. There is no need to upgrade, update or be inundated by ads—just open and enjoy! Books are entertaining and engaging and foster imagination better than any other medium. Make sure you have a brand-new book ready for those travels between holiday lunches.
Relationships
Taking the time to sit down with a child and flip through the pages together is a special moment, and an opportunity to build close relationships. Exploring different themes, emotions and journeys within books is always a great way to communicate, connect and exchange ideas with children.
Practical
New school shoes, a warm winter coat or soft silky sheets might be considerably perfectly practical gifts – but the kids might turn their noses up! Books are practical AND welcome underneath the wrapping paper. Instead of socks, wrap up a series of page-turning teen reads. They can easily be thrown in a backpack for the family trip or stored neatly on a shelf – taking up far less space than the latest of many stuffed animals in the toy trunk!
Thoughtful
Choosing a book for someone is a very personal endeavour. Everyone has their favourite characters and genres, so picking a book that they enjoyed is a sign that you truly know the gift recipient.
Written by: Kimberly Cullinan, September 2024