Books have always been important to me. I read them, I write them, and I buy books I’ll probably never read just because I like the look of them. We started reading out loud to our sons before they were even born, and it worked brilliantly with the oldest, Harry, who is now mad about books (not sure about the baby just yet!).

I always give children books as gifts. While they may not appreciate them immediately (particularly if they were expecting something more “dynamic”), they’ll definitely enjoy them later.

Here are a few of my favorites, grouped by age range.

Age 0-2:

Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

We read the Boynton book so many times to my pregnant belly that my husband ended up reciting it during labor to make me laugh. And The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a classic for a reason — not to mention how much tiny babies like to poke their fingers through the holes the caterpillar has “chewed.”

Age 2-4:

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rosetti Shustak

We picked this up on a child-free trip to Toronto. While reading it in the store, our lips began quivering because we missed our little man so much. So we bought it, and he loves it as much as we do. It’s great because the older he gets, the more actions he can join in with in the book. And the illustrations are delicious.

Age 4-6:

Lauren Child’s * Charlie and Lola Books

Pretty much any Lauren Child book is perfect for this age range, and you can pick and choose depending on the child. I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed, I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato, and I Am Too Absolutely Small for School all are gorgeous, hilarious, and relateable. If you can get a pop-up version, all the better (and more “gifty”), and make sure you get a book that’s actually written by Lauren Child rather than the TV tie-in versions, which, while still good, don’t quite capture her quirky charm.

Age 6-8:

Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss (deluxe edition)

Everyone loves Dr Seuss, don’t they? And this is my favorite. Along with being–like all Dr Seuss books–charming, quirky, and funny, it’s also inspirational. Parents of older children have told me that they tend to have another “terrible twos” phase at around the ages of 7 and 8, and this is the perfect book for that. Let the kids know that there’s a great big world out there…but they don’t need to head out just yet!

Age 8-10:

Time Stops for No Mouse by Michael Hoeye

The first in a series featuring Hermux Tantamoq (mouse, watchmaker, and detective), these books have been described as Indiana Jones meets Beatrix Potter. They’ve got romance and adventure, and they’re very funny.

So, there you have it…a go-to gift guide for kids! Even if they don’t thank you right away, they will once they crack the spines of these lovely books.

Have any of your own suggestions? We’d love to hear!

[Photo by ||!prliignore6||]