2025 Gift Ideas: The Best Books for Kids Ages 6 – 8
Gift-giving for kids can feel like navigating an obstacle course in a toy store. The must-have gadget of the season? Sold out. That trendy doll? Broken by day two. Tiny LEGO pieces? Already living rent-free on your carpet. Expensive clothes? “Not my style.” It makes any parent want to throw up their hands in frustration.
But here’s the good news: books are almost always in stock, they don’t make annoying noises, and they won’t end up under the couch five minutes after unwrapping. The trick is choosing the right book. So gift your 6–8-year-old an adventure, a laugh-out-loud moment, or a story that makes them feel seen and heard.
Want to level it up? Pair the book with something extra, such as ballet tickets, a Minecraft t-shirt, or the complete boxed set of a series they already love. Because when you gift a book, you’re wrapping up an experience that kids will remember.
Jump To: Gift-Worthy Picture Books | Entertaining Activity Books | Awesome Chapter Books | Must-Read Graphic Novels | Boxed Sets
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Gift-Worthy Picture Books:
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What do you do when you try to tell a carefully written, rhyming story, but your little sister interrupts with wild ideas that do not rhyme? This hilarious read-aloud has themes of sharing, storytelling, and adventure. Wordplay, vocabulary development, and thinking outside the box make this clever story a must-read.
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Just because I’m in the race,
doesn’t mean I’m fully ready.
Just because I’m shaking,
doesn’t mean that I’m not steady.I would argue that one of the hardest things to teach your child is not their ABCs but a healthy growth mindset. Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey’s debut picture book imparts his particular combination of humor and wisdom into everyday life lessons. He lets young readers know that their social and emotional journey can be complex, and that’s alright.
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In Bunheads, Act 2, the sequel to the New York Times bestseller by famed ballerina Misty Copeland, readers see a less glamorous side of ballet training. Misty’s best friend, Cat, convinces her ballet class to choose Don Quixote as their next performance and has her hopes set on playing Kitri, the female lead. During rehearsal, Cat gets injured when she collides with another dancer, making her unable to perform. Her setback becomes a triumph as she learns to weather her disappointment with courage and the support of her friends.
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Calling all chess fans! Seven-year-old Auggie and his family move to a new town, where he struggles to make friends. When he finds his father’s heirloom chessboard, his dad agrees to teach him the game. Learning to play chess helps Auggie see his classmates in a different light, and his new confidence gives him the courage to make friends.
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Explore Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year with this beautiful picture book. Many religious and cultural celebrations share a common theme; they celebrate the light. Lyrical text, informative back matter, and stunning illustrations make this inclusive portrayal of holiday traditions a giftable book for everyone.
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A partridge in a pear tree, six geese-a-laying, eight maids-a-milking — by the time one man gets to Christmas day, wacky gifts sent by his true love have overrun his home. He’s not sure why she sent them, and he has nowhere to put them. But one thing is clear: they have to go. What follows becomes a boon for his entire town. A circus, a parade, a fundraiser for the library, and most importantly, the true spirit of Christmas.
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The classics are always a good choice for picture book gifts, but if you’re looking for something new, try Hogbert. It’s a sweet but familiar tale about a tiny boar who goes exploring the forest and gets separated from his family. With rich and immersive illustrations, fairy tale references, and gentle suspense, this gorgeous book evokes the spirit of Beatrix Potter.
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Entertaining Activity Books:
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Or grab the Ariana Grande Superstar Dress-Up Sticker Book!
Swifties and Arianators will squeal when they unwrap these superstar dress-up sticker books. With over 300 sticker outfits and accessories, kids can mix, match, and style their favorite pop princesses while learning about their journeys to stardom. These books are perfect for readers who jam out Taylor Swift tunes or plan to be first in line to see Wicked: For Good this November.
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One of our favorite boredom-busters during the pandemic years was this delightful YouTube channel for kids. Art for Kids Hub features Rob and one of his four children sitting side-by-side as they draw together and interact. The 30 drawing projects in this book show the adult and child versions of the lesson. This encourages kids to focus on the process of drawing and having fun and not get caught up in recreating something perfect. Young artists will also enjoy the other titles in this series, including Draw with Art for Kids Hub Animals.
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Keep your kiddo busy long after the gift wrap has been thrown away with this set of six Hidden Pictures books. Each volume allows kids to boost their brains as they pore over scenes filled with cuddly cats, ocean animals, sparkly unicorns, and more cute items. This gift set is an excellent choice for those with multiple children or kids close in age.
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If I were a betting woman, I would dare say that everyone loves to tell a good joke — kids included. This book brims with hilarious, kid-friendly jokes and silly stories to get everyone laughing. The jokes progress in length and reading difficulty throughout the book, helping kids increase their reading skills and confidence!
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An oldie but goodie, this is one of the most loved and used books in our house. This high-quality kids’ encyclopedia is filled with thousands of pictures and facts covering everything from science and technology to history and culture. It’s a must-have for curious kids of all ages.
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Awesome Chapter Books:
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If your young reader likes stories about unlikely friendships, such as Frog and Toad, Pizza and Taco, and Elephant and Piggie, they’ll love the Earl & Worm series. Earl, a saxophone-playing, extroverted bird, is the opposite of his neighbor, Worm, a quiet book lover. Each book features three stories about how they handle situations with their unique personalities. This unusual pair will induce plenty of giggles in newly independent readers.
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Poor Murray just wants to eat sticky buns, nap, and head through the cat flap into the garden for a stretch in the sun and a wee. Unfortunately, his owner is a bumbling wizard named Fumblethumb who has not only enchanted the cat flap but turned his last sticky bun into a perky bunny named Bun. Some days, when Murray goes through the cat flap, he enters the garden as usual, and other days, Murray and Bun get whisked away on a magical adventure. With its adorable illustrations, this laugh-out-loud illustrated chapter book makes the perfect gift.
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Eight-year-old Dak and his friends Fenn and Lucy set out on a quest to find one of the 12 stolen magical stones that keep their kingdom of Ravenwood peaceful. Previous stones have been found in dragon dens, forests full of alicorns, and villages plagued by earthquakes. In this fourth book, the friends venture under the sea and face down an angry kraken. If your young reader is looking for an epic fantasy adventure that doesn’t require complex world-building, this series is an excellent choice.
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Must-Have Graphic Novels:
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Fans of the Magic Tree House series will be excited to see siblings Annie and Jack in the latest graphic novel adaptation of the short and easily digestible chapter books. These vibrant graphic novels allow readers to relive their favorite adventures in full color. In this 8th book in the series, Annie and Jack get transported through the Magic Tree House to the moon.
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What happens when your 3rd grade class accuses you of killing the class pet? Carter is too busy playing video games to notice that Mr. Pebbles, the naked mole rat, has expired. Anxious to clear his name, Carter calls forth the spirit of Mr. Pebbles with the help of his grandmother’s magical pendant. With the ghost pet floating by his side, Carter and Mr. Pebbles question his classmates and embark on a school-wide search to find the poor unfortunate soul who knows what really happened. Readers will delight in this lighthearted, supernatural graphic novel series.
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Zootopia 2 hits theaters in November 2025! Drum up excitement for the upcoming movie with this graphic novel retelling of the first Zootopia movie. Readers follow upbeat Judy Hopps in her first foray into the “modern mammal metropolis” of Zootopia. Determined to prove herself on the police force and crack a tough case, she teams up with fraudster fox, Nick Wilde. This graphic novel is perfect for 6-8-year-olds who can’t get enough of this fun Disney movie.
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Boxed Sets:
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Do you believe in magic? Mia and her friends Lexi, Sita, and Violet do. They are Star Friends, humans who can communicate with animals from the Star World. The magical creatures show the girls how to use their unique magic abilities and fight against the dark forces threatening their town. If your young reader has already read books 1-4, give them this boxed set, which includes Night Shadows, Poison Potion, Moonlight Mischief, and Hidden Charm. With 13 books in the series, and another installment due in early 2026, young readers have plenty of reading material to keep them captivated.
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When five Minecraft players get sucked into the game, they must use all their knowledge to survive. This boxed set of six illustrated hardcover books brims with action-packed adventures, humor, and Minecraft fun. The set includes Crack in the Code!, Mobs Rule!, New Pets on the Block!, To Bee or Not to Bee!, The Golem’s Game!, and The End of the Overworld!
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The boxed set of this bestselling trilogy arrives just in time for the 2025 holiday season. Read (or re-read) all the adventures of Max and her friends, the Midknights. Max dreams of becoming a knight, and together with her quirky group of friends, defends her town from all kinds of threats. This fun book series bridges the gap between early chapter books and longer, more complex middle grade novels. It’s an excellent choice for advanced readers in 2nd or 3rd grade.
