15 Unique Gifts for Kids that Parents will Love

Do you often get stuck on what to buy children for gifts? Whether it be for a birthday, Christmas, or another special occasion, trying to select a gift for a child often makes my head spin. It usually involves standing in front of a toy aisle at my local Target trying to figure out which toy the child likely doesn’t already have that still fits in my set budget. Truth be told though, I can’t think of a single child who needs more toys. Sometimes I even feel guilty sending my child off to a birthday party with a toy as a gift. I know the gift will be tossed aside moments after it is unwrapped, making it nothing more than a mere contribution to the overwhelming amounts of stuff that every kid seems to have these days.

So, where to begin with a more thoughtful gift? I’ve compiled some of my favorite ideas from one of my favorite companies to share–ideas that will ignite children’s imaginations and engage their minds and that won’t be tossed aside as junk!

Unique Children Books Even Adults Will Love

I know not every child loves books, but given the chance, most do or will eventually–especially if parents take the time to thoughtfully explain and go through it with their child. Plus, if my children’s books obsession has taught me anything over the years, it’s that not all children’s books are created equal. Here are a few ideas that are more than just words on a page. They require an extra element–an active imagination and mind! These books will leave a big impression and will make you want to give the gift giver’s parents a big hug (or at least a fist bump)! Here are 15 of our favorites.

1. Do Nice, Be Kind, Spread Happy (Acts of Kindness for Kids): this book focuses on spreading the power of kindness in your neighborhood. The book starts with congratulating the child for now being part of the worldwide “kindness club.” It says their duty is to spread happiness and smiles and recruit new members whenever possible. How great is that? Each page has super doable things you can either do or make plans for on the spot. It’s not one of those books where the ideas are so elaborate that you have to run to the store to buy supplies first and then you never end up doing them because they’re too much work. You can do these little activities that very second. And the activities are meant to leave you, and other people, feeling awesome once they’re complete.  (Recommended for age 7+)
2. Be the Change (Big and Small Ways Kids can Make a Difference): I was hooked from the get go on this one. It starts by saying “You might not realize it, but you are a hero! You have a lot of power and, like a superhero, you can use your power to take action and make things happen on the issues you really care about. . . Do you secretly sometimes wish that you could change a few things? Well, guess what? You don’t need a magic wand to transform the world, you just need YOU!” Each page gives a new doable action for making a change in your world–even your own little world–like giving away toys you don’t need to charity and making your own newspaper filled with only happy news to making small changes to help save the environment. The point of the book is to say that not everything you do has to be world changing but that little things truly do make a difference. (Recommended for age 7+)
3. A Year in My Life journal – Journals: the more I have immersed myself in learning and appreciating history, the more I realize that our own history is just as important. What better way to emphasize that than keeping a journal? A Year in My Life journal is perfect for kids that don’t have the ability or desire to write long drawn out entries. It’s a unique kind of journal, one that encourages them to be creative and draw pictures to go with their thoughts. It asks questions like “Write down every feeling you remember feeling today,” and “Draw a scene that happened today, but give the people animal heads.” At the end of the year, they’ll have a fun book to remember it by–they may want to do it every year! Can you imagine how much fun their own kids will have looking through it some day? (Recommended for ages 9-13). If you know kids who are budding writers, than Story Writer’s Ideas Journal is perfect. It will get their creative juices flowing in no time! It provides prompts and tips for starting and ending a story and all things in between (Recommended for ages 9+).
4. Map Maze Book: this company has the perfect activity books for any little or big friends who like to doodle and draw. Brain twister books and maze books galore. Our favorite maze book is the Map Maze book. It’s not just your every day mazes–it has mazes created on maps of real cities with real landmarks pointed out, so it’s educational too! There’s also an Around the World version with maps from literally all over the world. (Recommended for age 6+)
   

   Image from Surprise Usborne Books

5. Travel PocketDoodle book: do you have a friend who spends a lot of time in the car as their parents shuttle siblings place to place? This pocket size doodle book is the perfect size for friends who are always on the go! There are also larger versions with endless amounts of activities for hands that just like to be writing, drawing, coloring or doodling something! Each page gives a new picture or prompt where they can use their creativity their heart’s content. (Recommended for age 6+)
6. Across the USA Activity book: we can’t leave this one off the list! This book is perfect for anyone who loves traveling and learning about the good old USA. There are activity pages to design your own Oval Office, draw skyscrapers to fit in with certain cities, and activities to help learn states and their capitals! If all schools gave each student a copy of this book, no child would think learning about the United States was boring! (Recommended for age 6+)
7. 100 Paper Planes to Fold and Fly books: My first introduction to my now favorite children’s book company was when a good friend gave my son one of these 100 Paper Planes to Fold and Fly books. I’d never seen anything like it and I instantly looked at the back of the book to see who published it. I figured if they had one book that great, they’d have more. Boy, did they ever! I fell in love with these books and I’ve been hooked ever since. Not only do they have an airplanes to fly book, but they also have bugs, birds, dragons, and space ships! Any boy or girl would love these. They’re super inexpensive and come with everything needed to fold some super awesome paper airplanes–even the paper! (Recommended for age 6+)
8. Cut and Color Playbook Cities: this activity book is so cool! You can create beautiful paper diorama scenes of some of the biggest and busiest cities in the world, from New York City to London to Paris. Each page has some fun facts about the buildings and parts of the city too. (Recommended for ages 6-10)
9. Make Buildings: parents may try and steal this one away from their kids if they don’t watch out! It’s not only educational–teaching kids about famous architecture–but it builds up their creativity by teaching them architectural elements to design their own! It allows them to imagine and dream up their own buildings and cities with fun doodling activities and well thought out activities. (Recommended for ages 7-10)
10. Never Get Bored Book: this is a fun book packed with activities for kids who like saying “I’m bored. What can I do?” It gives dozens of activities they wouldn’t think of on their own, like writing their own comic strip and making a homemade bird feeder and observing the birds while they eat. I wish someone had given it to me when my oldest was young. (Recommended for age 6+)
11. Picture Puzzle Books: these books keep my three-year-old entertained in church for at least 20 minutes at a time–my older kids have even been known to try and steal it from him. The books are fun, fun, fun for little minds. Think of them as Where’s Waldo for younger kids. Each new page has a new colorful and well illustrated scene with clues of things to find. For example, a scene of penguins in the Zoo Picture Puzzle book has one penguin askin you to find his missing bow tie. There’s Under the Sea,  Jungle, and even Dinosaur versions! (Recommended for age 3+)
12. Shine-A-Light books: does your child’s friend have a subject they absolutely love? These Shine-A-Light books will delight any aged young reader (and even some older ones). They’re books with a surprise twist that my kids think is the coolest. Each page has a “hidden” image that can only be viewed by shining a light through it. We’re kind of partial to the Wonders of the USA shine-a-light book, for obvious reasons, but there are some other gems too, like the Wonders of the World, Secrets of the Seashore, In the City, and the Human Body. To complete the gift, you could tie a little flashlight to the ribbon of the packaging. (Recommended for ages 4-8)
13. Spying, Fighter Planes, Special Forces and Drones books: my son has an obsession with all things military at the moment. There’s an entire set of books that are simply wonderful. They’re not too long, not too short, and kids don’t even realize they’re learning. Spying tells all about methods used (old and current), along with real life spy stories. The pictures alone in the Fighter Planes book captured my son’s attention. The book dives into how fighter jets have evolved over the years and current specialized weapons and other equipment that make each jet unique. It even discusses how pilots dodge missiles and how you can become a pilot. Special Forces and Drones are next on our list. Pair one of them with the Planes to Fly book and you’ve got a perfect gift! (Recommended for age 8+)
    

    Image from Surprise Usborne Books

14. Sticker Books: Admittedly, I don’t love stickers. It’s a weird quirk about me. However, Usborne has some of the best sticker books around. First off, they aren’t just any old sticker books. They all have an element of learning to them. For starters, the Historical dolly dress up sticker books are out of this world. My 6-year-old is obsessed with sticker dress up books. These books are like mini history lessons and fun all rolled into one. Each book covers a period of history–from the turn of the 20th century (think Downton Abbey style!), 1920s, World War II era, Golden Age of Hollywood, straight up to the 1960s. There’s even a gorgeous Around the World version that is a great introduction to culture! On each page is a fun scene from history with a paragraph or two about that time period and why people wore what they wore. Brilliant! Not only are the illustrations and outfits beautiful, but they won’t break the bank. They also have a dream job version and a Grand Hotel version where you get to be the interior decorator who decides where all the furniture and pictures go. If these are too girly for boys, there are even some versions that are great for boys, such as the Heroes or Astronauts Sticker Book and the World War I historical dress up book. There’s even a Sticker Atlas book! This unique book simultaneously offers lessons in geography and fun. The stickers show animals, landmarks and traditional dress of each country! My last favorite sticker book is the Famous Artists Sticker Book. Whether you want a cultured child who can recognize famous works of art, or you just want a fun teaching tool, it’s a great one! (Recommended for age 5+)
15. Peek Inside, Look Inside, See Inside Books: this entire series is gold! Kids love “lift the flap” type books and studies show they make remembering facts easier for kids. This series gives kids a peek/look/see into the world around them, offering various subjects from under the sea to airports to great cities of the world. I love the way this company has broken it down too. The Peek Inside books are geared toward the younger reading crowd (age 3 and up). Favorites include Peek Inside the Sea and Peek Inside Nighttime. Look Inside is geared toward kids one step up from toddlerhood and gives more info than the Peek Inside series but still keeps it age appropriate (age 5 and up). Favorites include Look Inside an Airport, Look Inside Our World, and Look Inside How Things Work. the See Insides are for kids even a little older (age 7 and up) and gives even more info on each subject. My favorite See Inside books are See Inside Exploration and Discovery, See Inside Great Cities (there’s even an awesome one just for New York City), and See Inside Weather and Climate.

 

This post is not sponsored or affiliated with Usborne Books. We truly just love them and are excited to share them with you, no strings attached. Our Usborne site is always up and running. There are no home or online parties to attend. There’s no pressure to host a party yourself. You can purchase them anytime from the comfort of your own home.