Gift Guide: Books for Kids and Teens

By Marie Cauley

It can be difficult to buy books as a gift, especially for children and teenagers. You want to get them something that will interest them, but you also want to make sure the book is age appropriate and ? especially for teens ? does not contain explicit language or destructive habits. What you really want is something they will enjoy and will be inspired by, without being condescending. You want a book that catches your eye right as you open it, rather than a book that causes the familiar ?eye roll.?

So what can you get for your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, or godchildren that will make them happy?? Hope has a few recommendations for this holiday season:

Ages 4 ? 6

It?s never too late to teach kids to think positive thoughts. Tiger-Tiger, Is It True? written by Byron Katie, and illustrated by Hans Wilhelm (Hay House), teaches children that they shouldn?t let things that happen to them control their thoughts about life or about themselves. In the book, a wise owl asks the tiger four questions, and when the tiger truly thinks about the answers, he realizes his life is not actually falling apart. This is a great way to teach children that just because you have a bad day at school or somebody says something mean, you don?t have to suffer ? you can turn it around into a positive thought. This book is ideal for children who can read, but I also recommend it for the parents and family of children who cannot yet understand all of the words. By reading it aloud to your children or relatives, you can instill the positive thinking. The earlier children learn to think positively, the better.

Ages 6 ? 9

Children in this age group may enjoy reading the Bible, but many of them would rather read little stories that make them feel good.? I suggest Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago (Zondervan/Zonderkids) to bridge the gap. Lloyd-Jones takes her expertise in crafting children?s Bibles to a new level, with 101 different tales that will inspire the kids. Each story includes a very short Bible passage, so kids can still make the connection between the story and Scripture in a fun way while still learning about God. The illustrations by Jago are vivid and beautiful; it?s almost as if they could jump off the page right into your child?s mind. The combination of words and pictures really brings the positive anecdotes to life. The best part: children will be drawn to this book over and over again.

Ages 10 ? 14

The middle school years are always tough, and kids this age really need to boost their confidence to deal with the process of growing up. Many of them may also be dealing with bullies in some form, and need a way to feel good about themselves while being able to say no to things the ?bad kids? may be trying to talk them into.? A Kid?s Guide to Being a Winner by C. D. Shelton (Choice PH) can help with all of that. With simple illustrations by Greg Gillespie, the book explains how to be a winner by choosing to be responsible, respectful, and thoughtful, going into detail about what all of those things mean and what to do to achieve them. It also delves into having an attitude of appreciation about the good things you have, while learning from the not-so-good things and developing a positive mindset that will help you overcome challenges. Not only will it answer questions that this age group has, but it will boost their self-esteem and become a reference tool whenever an issue might come up ? especially if they are not in the mood to talk to their parents about it.

Ages 15 and up

This is a really tough group to buy for, whether it be books, clothes, or anything else for that matter. The kinds of stories teens are drawn to don?t necessarily mesh with good morals, and they prefer fantasy over true-to-life books for the most part. The Guardian by Heather Burch (Zondervan) tells a story of humans and half-angels which provides plenty of fantasy, but, as Burch says, ?minus the cuss words, drinking, and smoking?. These characters have high moral standards along with adventures. Teens will appreciate that life can and will be exciting even as they stick to their values. Don?t worry, the book is still filled with mystery and romance.

The Guardian is the second book in the Halflings trilogy, but can be read on its own without needing to read the first.? If you would like to start your favorite teen out at the beginning of the series, both Halflings and The Guardian are available.

Books are a gift that keeps on giving all year long and beyond. And if you pick positive ones, the gift of knowledge will carry children well into adulthood. Take the time to really look at the books you are choosing for the kids in your life to make sure they?re getting the right message.

Marie Cauley is a freelance writer who also pens inspirational romance with hopes of soon being published. Her interests include health, music, dance, spinning, and Pilates.? You can also check out her blog http://www.mtclosetowin.blogspot.com where she writes about faith, fitness?and the connection between them.

Source: http://hopeforwomenmag.com/lifestyle/gift-guide-books-for-kids-and-teens

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