With Chanukah around the corner, searching for the perfect gift stops here. You can never go wrong with a book; it’s always appropriate and appreciated. Besides, it’s one of those items you can never have too much of. It doesn’t take up space, it’s not messy or dirty, and it’s not a trending item either.

 

Books are as timeless as classical music. Never boring, always inspiring.

 

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” Those are the wise words of Margaret Fuller. Reading is one activity you pick up as a young child that grows with you and within you.

 

Reading cultivates a life of knowledge, insight, and motivation. The younger you begin, the more you absorb.

 

One great way of teaching your children the value of reading is by introducing them to books from a very young age. They don’t need to comprehend too much to be able to look at pictures that excite them. Those first picture books open them up to an unlimited world of learning.

 

Reading a book to your young toddler at bedtime is a good way to end a hectic day. There may have been moments of discipline, and you didn’t connect with your child as you would’ve liked. No matter how the day went, it’s an excellent way for them to feel like you’re all theirs. It’s their private moment of individualized attention that they desperately need. More than that, it opens their minds and fosters curiosity about the world around them.

 

Another way to build a love for reading is to have plenty of books on rotation. After reading one book several times, it may not be so exciting to read again. Investing in books is worth every penny spent. It’s so rewarding to hear older children tell their younger siblings which books they love and why. That only happens when there are books in the home to talk about.

 

Ages 2 to 5:

 

 

The age of language development. Articulation, expression, and learning to speak up for yourself are all skills developed at this age.

 

At this age, most children aren’t reading independently. Most often, an adult reads to them. However, they already understand concepts and feelings. Reading books to children at this age teaches them about challenges that relate to real life, even with fictitious characters.

 

They learn about animals, numbers, science, fears, feelings, and more. All are depicted with illustrations in a fun way.

 

Here are our book recommendations for toddlers and preschoolers.          

 

                                

Judaica Books	Timeless Classics
Imagine If… Peanut Butter and Jelly for Shabbos Yossi and Laibel on the Ball Arrogant Ari Learns a Lesson Yael’s Great Big Family Cozy Rosy Learns to Be Herself Marvelous Moishy Learns to Bentch Wally the Worm Learns About Kosher   Moshe of Japan	Goodnight Moon Curious George The Berenstain Bears Dr. Seuss Llama Llama Red Pajama The Very Hungry Caterpillar Clifford the Big Red Dog All By Myself The Little Engine That Could

  

Ages 6 to 8:

 

 

At this age, your child can read independently and has already developed a liking to reading. They enjoy some downtime where they can lose themselves in pages of imagination. Reading is an excellent exercise for children that need to enhance their concentration. More than that, it’s a great brain workout. Reading forces you to remember places, names, characters, and people.

 

Reading is a great stress reliever, and young children carry a lot of stress and anxiety. A University of Sussex study found that reading for six minutes reduces stress by 68%. Here’s to increasing knowledge and patience at the same time. (It’s our own Chanukah miracle.)

 

                                

                                

Judaica Books	Timeless Classics
The Royal Rescue Shimmy’s Cleanup Plan A Journey With Rabbi Juravel   The Marvelous Mix-Up Bentzi’s Secret Club Jelly Eli Z Meet Madame Chamberlaine	Junie B Jones Judy Moody Amelia Bedelia Fancy Nancy Hank Zipzer Ivy & Bean

 

Ages 9 to 12:

 

 

At this point, you’re starting to rethink the whole cultivating reading belief. You’re even walking around proclaiming that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. You can barely tear your child away from their books. It’s as if the world is divided in two, the entire world and your child with a nose crazy-glued to their book.

 

Nothing exists around them while they’re reading. As long as they’re in that zone, a cannonball can come crashing through the living room, and they won’t hear it. It’s as if they’re in some boot camp preparing for their teenage sleep cycle of perpetually getting up late and not hearing their alarm clock ring. Here are some books to aid in the madness.

 

                                

Judaica Books	Timeless Classics
Really, Truly Esther To Catch a Thief Passport to Russia 23 Under One Roof The Baker’s Dozen The Cheery Bim Band Mrs. Honig’s Cakes Mister Lister The Promised Child What Shevi Forgot Blending Secrets Escape from the USSR	E.B. White classics The Famous Five All-of-a-Kind Family The Secret Garden A Little Princess Wonder Roald Dahl books Holes Pippi Longstocking Anne of Green Gables

 

Ages 13+:

 

 

At this point, it’s time to surrender to finding the perfect gift. Even if you nailed it, you likely missed a minute detail that derails the whole gift.

 

To keep things safe and more civil than the Greeks, opt for a gift card option. It’s the peace treaty gift that keeps teenagers happy.

 

It feels so nice to buy presents for your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, etc. It doesn’t matter who you buy it for; you know the value of each book outweighs the cost. It’s something that will be enjoyed forever by all.

 

So while you wait for those latkes to fry up, grab a spatula in one hand and a book in the other. You’ll be standing and frying for eight days straight. Make use of your time.

 

Happy reading!

 

As Slay Copy Inc.’s founder, Goldy Buxbaum helps business service providers reach more clients by combining business strategy with web writing. Check her out on Linkedin to see how you can grow your business.