I love giving books as gifts, so earlier this fall I asked several of my writer and blogger friends to recommend some of their favorites for you. I’ll have a bunch of these posts over the next two weeks, with ideas for every age group of reader. Today and tomorrow I’m focusing on books for kids.

Natasha Wing

Kids’ author Natasha Wing suggests Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon. Natasha say, “Chapter book for kids about a girl with a big personality and wild imagination. I found it charming!”

When I looked it up on Amazon, I discovered more Dory books. You can check out the list on Abby Hanlon’s author page.

Natasha is the author of the Night Before Series, so you might want to check out her titles at her website. The Night Before the Night Before Christmas has been a bestseller since 2002.

Teresa Funke

Teresa recommends these books for children: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (2013 Newbery winner about a gorilla “put on display at a mall and his journey to freedom”) and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (this one is for ages 10 and up).

You’ll want to take a look at Teresa’s World War II books for children as well, especially if you’re a history buff and/or want your kids to understand one of the most important periods of history for the United States and for the world. I’ve enjoyed all of the Home Front Series stories, but my favorite might be The No-No Boys (14-year-old Tai Shimoda is caught in the middle when trouble breaks out in the Japanese interment camp where he lives).

Laura Backes

Laura provided this list of her favorite recent picture books: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Christian Robinson (lyrical text, diverse characters–2016 Newbery Medal); Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson (charming story about adoptive families, but with dog characters); Good Night Baddies by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Juli Kangas (funny bedtime story); The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henry Matisse by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Haley Hooper (picture book nonfiction abut Matisse’s childhood and evolution as an artist).

Laura Backes is known for the Children’s Book Insider website and online classes that offer assistance to writers who want to create great books for children and young adults.

I’ll have more book recommendations for children in the next post. After that we’ll move on to Young Adult books. We have even more of those to list. It seems a lot of adults are reading YA books these days, and that’s because they’re really good!!