Best Books for 2020 – Holiday Gift Guide
Everyone in our family always receives a new book for the holidays. My daughters and I are avid readers so we have a continuous running list of books we plan to read. I try to keep that tradition going with my nieces by giving them a new book each year.
Children’s Books For Christmas
Completely Me by Justine Green, Ed.D
Author Justine Green has created a book that shares her own story of disability through her main character, a little girl who never noticed there was something different about herself until others pointed it out. The main lesson of self-acceptance is relatable and children can learn that it is within those imperfections that make you perfect. Completely Me is available in paperback for $12.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark and through Kindle.
Unicorn Jazz by Lisa Caprelli
The children’s brand Unicorn Jazz is an entire book series promoting kindness and emphasizing the importance of social emotional learning. What makes these books special is that they’re also educational learning tools “Jazz” is a unicorn plush reading buddy that you can pair with the book along with an entire line of merchandise.
It is was newly released on our Amazon Prime as a series as well.
Rainbow, Rainbow by Harry and Sona Jho
Get to know the story of Bo Peep with the colorful children’s book and plush set Rainbow, Rainbow.
An Extra Dose of Love by Muriel Fitzpatrick
It’s Christmas Eve and Santa’s elves, save for two, are sound asleep after a long year preparing gifts. The two elves, Liam and Jack, are on a mission to find and return a missing toy from Santa’s sleigh before it’s too late in Muriel Fitzpatrick’s latest children’s book, “An Extra Dose of Love”. In this classic Christmas tale, Liam and Jack search the north pole for a young girl’s teddy bear and eventually find it in the most unlikely of places.
LOVE by Casey Rislov
Love is patient, love is gentle and kind, love celebrates the joys of others. Inspired by the much-loved and well-known passage from the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:4-8), LOVE wraps little ones up in the embrace of gentle words and sweet illustrations. Author Casey Rislov and Illustrator Rachael Balsaitis are the award-winning team of Love is Forever.
The Merry Christmas Mittens by Sarah Janco, Illustrated by Blayne Fox
Endorsed by Santa Claus on Instagram! Holly wakes up on the morning of Christmas Eve, excited for what her day will bring! While she laces up her skates by the pond, mischievous Jack Frost blows a wintry wind that sweeps Holly’s mittens away from her. Holly’s mittens get a glimpse of how people and families all across the town celebrate Christmas and spread cheer to those they meet in The Merry Christmas Mittens!
Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas by David Mulford, Illustrated by Christine Cathers Donohue
Jeannie is coming to Crab Lake for Christmas! The animals love to watch Jeannie from a distance when she visits in the summer, but they have never had a chance to talk to her before now-for, as everyone knows, animals can only talk in the winter. Come to Crab Lake for Christmas, and spend the evening with Jeannie and her forest friends: bear cub Pudgey and his family, kindly Mr. Woodchuck, distinguished Bellknap Beaver, and the deer, the wolves, the cardinals, and more!
Oscar the Mouse by Sam Baker
Acceptance is key for both kids and adults – something that really resonates with Sam Baker, a 98-year old WWII Marine veteran, and children’s author. He recently published “Oscar the Mouse” – a picture book with a message about accepting the special things that make you different. Will Mimi, the main character, face her fears and make a new friend? Learn what happens when she explores a new kind of friendship, bringing more joy and laughter to both of their lives?
Young Adult Books
Venators (Books 1-3) By Devri Walls
Legends Rise On sale: September 15, 2020
Rune Jenkins has a long-standing infatuation with anything from the supernatural world, and she’s trying to hide it. If she doesn’t, she angers her reckless twin brother Ryker, and starts feeling like her own sanity is slipping. But the closer she gets to her old friend Grey Malteer, the harder it becomes to stifle her own interest. The supernatural suddenly invades their reality when other-worldly creatures come hunting for the three college students. Rune and Grey escape, but must follow Ryker’s abductors into an alternate dimension, Eon, and discover their true identities. They are Venators, descendants of genetically enhanced protectors and sentries between Eon and Earth. In this world of fae, vampires, werewolves, and wizards, the three must find their way through and out of Eon, before it consumes them.
Aether Ones By Wendi Coffman-Porter
Long ago, the Great Sundering ripped the universe apart, creating two separate realms. The kuldain realm developed advanced technology, and its inhabitants travel the universe on massive ships to colonize and expand their empire. The aether realm, harnessed the magic of the massively powerful eldrich energy that connects everything within their realm. A tentative peace reigns between the two realms, maintained by a treaty and by the Imperial Investigative Service. Leilani Falconi, a talented agent of the IIS, polices the galaxy with quick sarcasm and a quicker temper. When a series of suspicious deaths in kuldain space threatens the secrecy and peace, Leilani must solve the mystery–fast–before both her realities erupt into eternal chaos.
Books for Families
Discovering Wildlife in Toronto’s Don Valley by Jim Chung
In Ontario, Canada, the East and West branches of the Don River converge in the bustling city of Toronto, creating the Don River Valley. Nestled in the heart of the city, the Don Valley is a small yet persistent piece of nature, thriving and teeming with wildlife despite the efforts of human urbanization and industrialism nearby. Jim Chung offers this look into a beautiful piece of Toronto to curious visitors and Toronto natives alike. Through his captivating photographic precision, you can explore the flora and fauna of the Don Valley, from birds, to insects, to mammals, and fungi. Experience a precious part of Toronto you might have never known existed with Discovering Wildlife in Toronto’s Don Valley.
