Looking for the perfect gift for the kids in your life? It can be hard to find just the right book when there are so many options out there. So to take a little stress out of your holiday gift shopping, check out these recommendations from Tandem staff. To buy your own copies, click on the links to go through our affiliate link to Amazon!

Brenda Recommends: Llama Llama Holiday Drama

Holidays and patience around gifts and giving, rather than receiving, can be hard for kids. This books lets children explore that time of the year and learn about being patient and giving with their favorite drama-prone Llama!

Kaitlin Recommends: After The Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again

Author Dan Santat takes the famous ‘Humpty Dumpty’ nursery rhyme and explores what  would happen if Humpty Dumpty is put back together again. How would a traumatic event impact the fragile egg? This touching and delightful tale reminds us about the real fears that come after an accident, and how getting back up again is part of the healing process. A great read for all ages about rebuilding after a fall.

Laura Recommends: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is my favorite holiday book for children.  I love it because I have a lot of nostalgia for the old Chuck Jones cartoon that was a staple of the holiday season for me growing up.  And obviously I love the rhyme and the meter of Dr. Seuss’s classic book.  But also, I love the Grinch.  I love his expressions and his transformation.  Both of my children love it, too, and they have listened to it over and over again from birth. 

Kelsey Recommends: Rain!

Rain is one of my favorite books for winter because it reminds us how easily weather can affect our moods, how our moods can affect those around us, and how a simple act of kindness can brighten the grayest, rainiest day.  The brightly colored illustrations and sparse text allow for lots of dynamic discussion about anything from weather to feelings to sharing.  There are also ample opportunities for young readers to join the protagonist in hopping like a frog and reflecting on what makes rainy days fun!

Emily Recommends: The Velveteen Rabbit

I really love The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s a story that really illustrates how important it is to share your love with others. How the things that truly make us “real,” come from the love and support we feel from others. 

Molly Recommends: Gotta Go! Gotta Go!

It’s gotta be “Gotta Go, Gotta Go” a story of the journey of a little bug as he follows his inner voice which keeps telling him “Gotta Go, Gotta go, Gotta go to Mexico”. He doesn’t know what Mexico is, and our bug doesn’t know that its a caterpillar, but our bug knows that this  is his calling. As you can imagine, this is a long trip with many impediments, but our determined bug never gives up. It’s a great read-along book, because it’s so fun to say “Gotta go, Gotta go, Gotta go to Mexico” and it’s so fun to say, that in our family it’s the way we move everyone along when we’re having a hard time getting it together to get out of the house.

Tania Recommends: ¡Qué montón de Tamales!

My family continues to make tamales for the holidays and as children we would always have specific tasks like mixing the ‘masa’ or separating the corn husk. These are tasks that we still have today and I love that it’s a family tradition and it turns into a party before the actual Christmas party. Also, who doesn’t love tamales???? I can eat tamales every minute of every day!

Bonnie Recommends: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is my all time favorite.  It is such a happy and colorful book and as the saying goes “the way to your heart is through your stomach”, food always evokes a sense of happiness and love in me.  This would make it a good book particularly around Thanksgiving!  Chomp Chomp!

Sara Recommends: Julián is a Mermaid

“Julián is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love is a beautiful, understated story about acceptance and love. On an outing with his abuela, Julián falls in love with the beautiful “mermaids” he sees in New York City. When he gets home, he uses a sheet and plants to dress just like the mermaids. When his abuela sees him, he feels ashamed expecting her to disapprove of his costume choice and his desire to be a mermaid too. Rather than chastise him, she gives him a necklace to add to his costume. They return to where they saw the mermaids and they joins their parade. This book defies stereotypes and shows how simple actions can show a child that it is okay to be themselves whoever they decide they want to be. 

Cecilia Recommends: Alma and How She Got Her Name

One of my favorites is Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal.  It is a beautiful story about family, identity, and how we honor and connect to our ancestors.  Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela’s father teaches her about the ancestors who she is named after, and why she is their namesake.   Through the stories Alma connects with each over a shared love, passion, or characteristic.  In the end, she learns that she is the first Alma in her family and her story is hers to write.

Dwyn Recommends: Worm Loves Worm

Worm Loves Worm is one of my favorite books lately. With adorable illustrations and hilarious text, it’s a sweet story and one I come back to over and over. When these two worms want to get married, there’s so many little things they have to do just because that’s how it’s done. But every time, the worms find ways to change traditions to fit themselves. Don’t have fingers to wear a wedding ring? That’s ok, they’ll make great belts! It’s a fun book for kids and grown ups too!