In a world segregated by screens, the gifting of a book feels almost rebellious, suggesting that imagination, not distraction, is the thing to value.
Wrapped not only in paper but in possibility, a book placed in the hands of a child transports them way beyond the living room twinkle of the tree to life under the sea, worlds filled with dinosaurs, ornate rooms resplendent with fine art, the cosmos and beyond – the kinds of places where ordinary kids discover they are extraordinary.
It’s why we love to give the children in our lives not just something to unwrap, but something to inspire. The gift of a book reassures young readers they are worthy of such adventures, ready to experience the sense of a new world opening up.
Which is why we’ve asked the authors and illustrators of our wonderful kid’s books to tell us who they’re gifting them to this year. We hope you find their choices inspirational and will head into the store to set the children in your life into a world of adventure. When you're read what they've got to say, head into the store where we've made gifting simple.
Sam Brewster – Illustrator of Book of Bones, Book of Flight, Book of Dinosaurs
Sam Brewster photograph courtesy Sam Brewster
“To the insatiably curious kids, to those who press their face to the glass, who run around display cabinets and stand up on their tip toes to get a better look at some exotic animal; my books Book of Bones, Book of Flight and Book of Dinosaurs are for you (and the books I’d give to you). They'll give you a close up, playful and tactile insight into these fantastic animal's lives. I drew each illustration whilst thinking to myself, “What did young me want to see, when reading about a Velociraptor’s feathered skin? Or a Blue Whale’s humungous mouth? Or a tiny shrew’s home of forest of grass?” and I made sure to draw in everything that young me would have wanted to see.”
Ferren Gipson – author of The Ultimate Art Museum, The Art Book For Children
Ferren Gipson photograph Tim Boddy
“I think The Ultimate Art Museum would make good gift for a reader of any age who’s curious about art but isn’t quite sure where to start to learn more. It’s accessible way to welcome emerging art-lovers into the fold. I would give The Art Book for Children to a younger child who’s showing an aptitude for drawing or making. It could be a great resource to get their creative wheels turning and potentially give them ideas to explore.”
Helen Scales author of What a Shell Can Tell, Shells and What They Hide Inside
Helen Scales photograph courtesy Helen Scales
“I would like to give a copy of What a Shell Can Tell to every young person who doesn’t own a book, and who is curious about nature. If I could take them on a trip to a beach to go shell spotting, even better.”
Sara Gillingham – illustrator of Exploring the Universe, Exploring the Elements, Animals in the Sky, Full of Life, Alpha Bravo Charlie
Sara Gillingham self portrait
“I would give Exploring the Universe to a teacher who is looking for a new addition to their classroom library. Perhaps they have student who would be especially inspired by the cosmos, and are short on resources. I’d love to gift it to them!”
Lisk Feng – illustrator of Our World, Our Galaxy, Our Seasons, Our Underwater World, and the forthcoming Prehistoric Planet
Lisk Feng self portrait
“I want to give my forthcoming book Our Prehistoric Planet to my best friend’s son, who refuses the fancy designer wooden toys and instead demands those chaotic supermarket dinosaur toys - because obviously only plastic T-Rexes truly speak to his soul. A cool dinosaur book might finally win me some points in his dino-obsessed world!”
