Book Gift Guide | A Book For Everyone On Your List

The gift of reading is perhaps the best you can give a loved one. The plethora of interesting and engaging books gives you the opportunity to find the perfect book for everyone. This book gift guide is a great place to find unique books. Wrap these up, place them under the tree, and see the delighted smiles when the gift is opened.

Book Gift Guide

For your Toddler:   

Home by Carson Ellis

Home can be a house in the country, a palace, or even a shoe. This beautifully illustrated new children’s book by Carson Ellis, illustrator and wife of Decemberists singer Colin Meloy living and working out of Portland, is a creative and fun way to travel with your children across space, time, and mythology. It crosses the borders of reality and fantasy in such an interesting way, you’ll want to pick this one up even if you don’t have children!

Sparky by Jenny Offill & Chris Appelhans

Do your children constantly ask you for a new puppy or kitten or bunny rabbit? Well, this book will make you think twice about telling them to find a pet that “doesn’t need to be walked bathed or fed.” This spunky little story showcases the creativity and tenacity of one little girl who just wanted a pet. Bonus: the illustrations are equally beautiful and adorable.

For the New Parent:

The Scientist in the Crib by Gopnik, Meltzoff, and Kuhl

While I despise most “parenting books,” this one is definitely an exception. It balances both the science and the emotions involved in raising a baby. Gopnik, Meltzoff, and Kuhl find a way to provide the reader with the developmental science of infants without telling parents exactly what to do with the information. I’ve read this book many times, and find something new with each read!

For the Music Lover:

Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen

Cohen’s poetry is sure to excite any true music lover out there. It is evident that much of the poetry in this collection were written during Cohen’s time on Mount Baldy in a Buddhist monastery. His poetry, like his music, flows off the page with such clarity and peace that it can be read over and over again. I’ve always believed books of poetry to be some of the best gifts, because they are one of the few gifts that honestly keep on giving.

For the Hippie:

Nobody Home – Interviews with Gary Snyder

While the obvious suggestion would be some Kerouac or Dalai Lama beat poetry, this book of interviews with Gary Snyder provides such an interesting and intricate look into his life and his view of the world that I think it tops any normal suggestion. He talks comprehensively about his relationship with Zen Buddhism, travel, and his writings in these deeply personal interviews with Julia Martin. The way Snyder grounds ideas about Buddhism in direct applications and experiences makes the philosophy a little bit less…philosophical; he makes it easy to get and apply in one’s own life, no matter what god you believe in, if any.

For the Drama Nerd:

The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh

This darkly comical play centers around “Cripple Billy” and his comically mean-spirited and excitement-depraved community as he attempts to audition for the part of the Yank in an upcoming film. McDonagh brilliantly parodies how the small, often culturally isolated Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland have been viewed by outsiders. Bonus: Daniel Radcliffe acted in the Michael Grandage Company production of the play!

For the Person Who Needs to Slow Down:

The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer

You may have seen Pico Iyer before on TED Talks, but if you haven’t read any of his essays or books yet you should definitely start with this one. Although Iyer often talks about the importance of travel and exploration in the process of finding yourself, he talks in this short book about the importance of not traveling. Iyer’s experience meeting with Leonard Cohen during his years on Mount Baldy, and his experiences of being a traveler with a family culminate in his meditations on mediation and stillness. And because the book is such a quick read, it’s especially great for those in your life who are really busy.

For the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Lover:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods plays with the presence of gods, ancient and modern, in today’s society. It also includes some important social commentary on the rising influence of social media and technology in modern society. Although this novel is longer than a lot of Gaiman’s other stories, it’s a relatively quick and entirely exciting read that would also be the perfect gift for any history or mythology buff. Important Note: be sure to get this version that notates “author’s preferred text;” it has loads of added text as well as a great introduction and some interviews.

Erin McCoy – When I’m not in my studio creating artful messes, I’m with the 20 preschool children I work with, creating even more messes! Besides calligraphy, I love food, camping, crafting, and reading…I try to balance them all out every day. I feel I’ve come alive through the expression of my creative process, with the scratching of pens and the whispers of brushes and I can’t wait to help bring people’s ideas to life! { Instagram } { Twitter } { Website }