Are you looking for a special book for the young people in your life? If so, our panel of Johnson County Librarians have their holiday gift recommendations ready for you — and just in time!
From the story of a boy who finally connects with his distant father through the unlikely language of music, to a tale of some ragtag kids, and a loyal greyhound, escaping 13th-century France, these titles are sure to get your children through what could otherwise be a long winter break.
For preschool through 2nd grade
- Thunder Boy Jr.by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, preschool-grade 1
- Snow White: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan, illustrated by Matt Phelan, all ages
For 3rd through 6th grade
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, grades 3-6
- Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm, grades 4-6
- Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes, grades 4-6
- Tru & Nelle by G. Neri, grades 4-6
- Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness by Donna Janell Bowman, illustrated by Daniel Minter, grades 4-6
- Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier, grades 4-8
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds, grades 5 and up
- Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart, grades 5 and up
- The Inquisitor's Tale, or the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly, grades 5 and up
- Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk, grades 5 and up
For middle- and high-schoolers
- Heartlessby Marissa Meyer, middle and high school
- Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, middle and high school
- March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, middle and high school
- The Best Manby Richard Peck, middle and high school
- Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston, high school
- Girl in the Blue Coatby Monica Hesse, high school
- Kill the Boy Bandby Goldy Moldavsky, high school
- The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis, high school
- The Singing Bones: Inspired by Grimms' Fairy Tales by Shaun Tan, high school
- One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak, high school and college freshmen