2023 Bookish Gift Guide: Best Bookish Gifts for Kids Ages 9-11

As a fan of a good pizza, this non-fiction book grabbed me from the cover. I was delighted to learn facts about pizza I didn’t even know I was curious about—like where its major components originated and the differences between pizza sold by franchises worldwide. Did you know tomatoes were first grown in South America and not Italy? This charming release has easy-to-read text, real pictures, illustrations, and fact pages that grab young readers’ attention. I’d recommend it for ages 9+

Ever wondered why people say black cats are bad luck? Or why four leaf clovers are lucky? This book dissects the history of worldwide traditions, superstitions, and folklore, exploring which have scientific backing and which are just superstitions. This novelty book covers almost everything with full-color illustrations and sections about animals, the natural world, the body, and other random stuff. If you have readers curious about luck and superstitions, this is an excellent choice for them.

A fascinating book about the vehicles that have shaped our world, written by narrowboat captain and children’s author Matt Ralphs, with stunning color illustrations on every page by Rui Ricardo. From ancient chariots and Viking longships to racing cars, rockets, and solar-powered airplanes, our world has been changed by the pioneering development of many incredible vehicles. This book is absolutely breathtaking and the perfect coffee table book for engineering-curious readers (or anyone) to flip through when they feel the need.

A hefty yet accessible coffee table or classroom book with a little something for everyone. Families could use it to flip to one page each day (or readers might flip immediately to their own birthdays) and enjoy reading snippets of historical information from the day President Obama was sworn in, to the day the Burj Khalifa opened. Ranging from ancient history to modern-day, nonfiction enthusiasts will love learning about trivia that they could repeat or research.

Told in an exciting, March Madness style, elimination-round matchup, this entertaining book will entice reluctant readers to vote on who they think will win in each round. Each “rumble” also features animals from different habitats and categories, such as ocean, jungle, dinosaurs or just sharks. Because of course, sharks need their very own arena in any kind of rumble!

This comprehensive children’s encyclopedia holds thousands of pictures, facts, and statistics about the world, presented in an easily digestible format for kids ages 9-11. With over 9,000 indexed entries, the encyclopedia covers a wide range of subjects: space, earth, environment and ecology, living world, science, culture, continents, history and politics, and the human body! However, the book is well-organized with color-coded sections and specific categories within each topic. This encyclopedia is perfect for kids who love facts, enjoy exploring different topics, or want to learn more about the world around them.

Weird But True World: 2024 is part of a best-selling series from National Geographic Kids that shares hilarious, quirky, and totally fascinating facts about almost every topic. At almost 300 pages, this newest volume compiles the “world’s weirdest” from every continent, under the oceans, and up into space. Kids will especially love the book’s stunning photography and personality quizzes, such as “Which Unique European Animal Are You?” This book is an ideal gift for any curious kid who loves exploring the strange, wild, and wacky side of life.

Published: November 14, 2023

Orthodox Jew Shaindy lives in a tight-knit Jewish community but feels invisible and socially inept. No one at school particularly dislikes her, but no one tries to befriend or return her friendliness. She envies her next-door neighbor, Gayil who is beloved and excels academically, but she also wants to befriend and be Gayil. So when Gayil invites her to set up pranks on several students and teachers at their school, Shaindy is happy to be in the inner circle. Unfortunately, the mischief quickly turns into something malicious as Shaindy realizes that Gayil’s pranks are designed to hurt her targets, and Shaindy is on the list of targets. This is an intricately plotted, strongly character-driven story about the inner lives of tween girls and the human emotions of envy. Although sometimes bogged down by detailed portrayals of Jewish tradition, this book is exceptionally engaging and unique.

Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape. But one summer, Eric saves Dani from a fire in his family’s camper. Unfortunately, the accident prevents Dani from doing what she loves the most: playing baseball. It also drives a wedge between the friends as they discover the real reason behind the fire. Can Dani forgive her best friend? Told from two engaging perspectives, this evenly-paced story never lags and feels relatable enough to keep young readers flipping the pages.

This was featured in this year’s Summer Reading Guide. When Rahim’s friend Kasia gifts him her newest invention, he has no idea it’s a time travel device. Rahim ends up in 1997 meeting his father as a tween before he became the strict dad he is. Can Kasia get him back in time for dinner–and before his actions change the future? Hand this funny, suspense-filled sci-fi release to fans of time travel stories.

Owen is in Paris with his mom for the summer studying the popular French writer Jules Verne when he becomes the center of several weird coincidences, ending with a never-before-seen Jules Verne book ending up in his possession. Suddenly, he and his new friends are tailed by dangerous people who want the book back. This is a high-energy mystery with plenty of chases around Paris, perfect for fans of Paris. The audiobook is excellent, with captivating sound effects.

Charlie is the new kid for the umpteenth time, but this time things will be different. Her dad is no longer in the military, and this is a more permanent home, so she feels more pressure to find and impress some new friends. When she meets a cool group of Black girls with varying interests, she decides to hide her “babyish” style and hobbies to befriend them. But she soon learns that with true friends, you can be your whole self. This is a delightful first book in a new graphic novel series about Black hair, girlfriends, fashion, and adjusting to change. Great for ages 8+

This stunning graphic novel follows Cinzia, Avvisi writer’s apprentice living in sunny Sianerra. Cinzia and her Mestra write news stories/pamphlets to the city, but not everyone likes it when they tell the truth. After an edition exposing the ruling family for extortion, Cinzia and her Mestra are arrested at night, and she has to join forces with the princess to fight back against censorship. Besides the wonderfully imaginative and powerful storyline, I loved the visuals and the diverse representation in this graphic novel. The main character has a bad leg and gets around with a walking stick, which is something rarely depicted in graphic novels (and it’s barely even discussed—it just is!). Although this book feels closer to fantasy (but without magical elements), it’s set in a Renaissance-style Italian village, so it could work for lovers of realistic fiction too. Good for ages 9+

Sixth grader Lucy enjoys fantasy novels and is a new middle schooler, while her older sister GiGi is the queen bee of eighth grade, and their relationship has fallen apart even worse since their dad died. This is a fantastic graphic novel about sibling rivalry, fencing, and family. Good for ages 10+

If your child is looking for a meditative, offline way to document their reading life, a reading journal is the way to go and this is my favorite for kids. 

This is truly a puzzle for the whole family. As you piece together this 50 Must-Read Books Bucket List 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle from Ridley’s Games, you’ll uncover classic and modern titles to add to your own bucket list. Featuring beautiful illustrations of 50 novels in a cozy library setting, once you complete the puzzle, decide which story you’ll dive into next: from The Handmaid’s Tale to Beloved, or The Hobbit to Catch 22. Once you finish using the poster guide as a reference, why not hang it up on your wall and use it to mark off which books you’ve read and would like to read next? Packaged in a bucket-style tub, it’s the perfect gift for the bibliophile and book lover in your life.

This leather case is designed exclusively for 6.8” Amazon All-New Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition E-Reader. It is slim and lightweight. Its stand design makes it a convenient accessory for reading. Most customers attest to its high quality and overall attractive look. It’s the way to go if you’re looking for a sleek, durable, and sturdy case for your Kindle.

Elevate your little bookworm’s reading life by getting them a Kindle e-reader. This Amazon Kindle has a 6.8” display with thinner borders, adjustable warm light, up to 10 weeks of battery life, and 20% faster page turns. It offers a fun way to read and relax.

A book light is a must-have reading accessory if you’re a night owl. This reading light is lightweight, portable, and has adjustable color temperature modes that are friendly for both kids and adults. I have one and I can confirm that the battery life lasts forever! It provides up to 80 hours of reading.

We absolutely love this boho-style kid’s nursery/bedroom book ledge. It measures 3.6″D x 17″W x 1.6″H. Its durable, sturdy, and versatile design makes it a suitable piece for your kiddo’s books, collectibles, toys, and plants. Plus, it’s easy to clean and install!

Bookmarks are a great way to liven your child’s reading session. For nature lovers, the 3D shark bookmark may be a great way to stimulate their interest in reading, improve their reading span, and mark their pages while reading. It is lightweight, sizable, and made using durable material. This cartoon bookmark also comes in a dinosaur design.

What better way to inject some fun into reading than using some funny bookmarks? Like the shark bookmark, this cute set will not only help your little reader keep track of their reading but also make their reading session a happy one. It will be a hit, for sure!

This set includes: Book Sloth, Otter Read, and Tiger Tales. They are a great way to express a bibliophile’s love for books and add a fun element as well. You can pin these on your purse, backpack, jacket, shirt…everywhere! Their butterfly clasps hold them in place, so you don’t have to worry about them falling off.

Book subscriptions are a great way to sharpen a child’s cognitive development and provide them with a diverse range of books that appeal to their interests. The Owl Crate Junior Subscription is one of our favorite book subscriptions. It offers age-appropriate reading resources for every reader and a 10% discount for new subscribers.