Cool Kids Read Books: Bookish Gifts for the Young Ones You Love

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TeensyBird "it's a good day to read to me" kids' shirt

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Ashlie (she/her) is an educator, librarian, and writer. She is committed to diversifying the reading lives of her students and supporting fat acceptance as it intersects with other women’s issues. She's also perpetually striving to learn more about how she can use her many privileges to support marginalized groups. Interests include learning how to roller skate with her local roller derby team, buying more books than she'll ever read, hiking with her husband and sons, and making lists to avoid real work. You can find her on Instagram (@ashlieelizabeth), Twitter (@mygirlsimple) or at her website, www.ashlieswicker.com.

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Finding the perfect gift for a child can feel like a quest worthy of its own story—but for young readers and budding bookworms, the best presents often come with pages. Bookish gifts offer more than just entertainment; they spark imagination, build empathy, and inspire a lifelong love of learning. Whether you’re shopping for an adventurous early reader or a preschooler just discovering the magic of stories, there’s a world of literary-themed treasures waiting to be unwrapped.

Stories themselves are great, but not every bookish gift has to be made of paper. These gifts can encourage quiet moments of reflection, shared family reading time, or hours of imaginative play—all while nurturing a child’s growing mind. From sweet art prints to brighten a reading nook to T-shirts that can “bookworm” up their wardrobe, there are so many ways to celebrate with bookish gifts for kids!

In this guide, we’ve rounded up some of the most charming, fun, and thoughtful bookish gifts for kids of all ages. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a graduation, create a gift basket for a baby shower, or get a “just because” treat, these picks are sure to delight young readers and maybe even turn a reluctant one into a lifelong book lover.

rectangluar print in muted primary colors with a white background. There is a stack of books with a worm wear glasses perched on top, and underneath are the words "Book Worm"

This sweet print leaves nothing to the imagination. Book Worm Print, $5

The Goods

rectangular print with bright primiary colors and a white background. Books stacked horizontally and vertically make the shape of a castle.

For a slightly more whimsical wall hanging, try this! Book Castle Print, $20+

Image of a play room with a large, lit neon sign. The words read "cool kids read books" and the letters are multicolored with white accents.

I love the pop of color granted by this impactful neon sign. Cool Kids Read Books Neon Sign, $50+

a beige tote bag with primary and pastel colors. Black letters read "cool kids read books," and personified books are displayed in a grid pattern.

These cute, personified storybooks make this tote perfect for library books! Cool Kids Read Books Tote Bag, $4+

an ivory colored tshirt in toddler dimensions with bold red capitals reading "Cool Kids Read Books."

I love the retro flair of this shirt. I also deeply agree with the message. Cool Kids Read Books Youth T-shirt, $20

an ivory colored tshirt with rainbow words that say "it's a good day to read to me."

I loved this one so much that I instantly bought it for a friend’s baby shower. It’s A Good Day to Read to Me T-shirt, $26

three bookmarks with different colored tassles. The design features a name in colorful bubble letters, layered under the same name in black script.

Add this personalized bookmark to a favorite story from your childhood, and BAM! Instant thoughtful gift. Personalized Custom Bookmarks, $14

a bright yellow ad showing four different patterns of bookmarks with designs featuring kids reading. The ad says "Kids Reading Bookmarks," "set of 20," "JPG & PNG," "commerical use," and "mega bundle."

The former classroom teacher in me instantly thought of printing these and adding them to the end-of-year gifts I used to give my students. Printable Bookmark Set (Digital File), $5

image of a cartoon worm wearing glasses propped behind a small stack of books. The spines read "Book Worm."

The trend of decorating Stanley’s with stickers has spread to the elementary set. This sticker will help your bookish young one declare their inclinations to the world! Bookworm Sticker, $4

a circular self-inking stamp with the image of a cartoon cat reading and words around the edges reading "From the Library Of Sarah Ferguson" A piece of the paper in the background shows sample stamps with different cartoon images in the middle

The magic of marking your very own books with your very own name is something sacred. Add a thoughtful touch by choosing their favorite animal. Personalized Library Stamp, $18+

A book cover with the title "Sophie Can Be Anything!" The image shows a child in safari gear with a magnifying glass, peering through tall grass

Speaking of the special feeling you get when something has your name, you can have this book personalized for your favorite youngster. Personalized Custom Story, $51

Picture of a cardboard box with sunglasses, crayons, a tote bag, a tic-tac-toe game, and a book wrapped in butcher block paper that says "Mystery Book," among other goodies

This mystery box brings the thrill of Blind Date with a Book to the juicebox set! Kids Mystery Book Box, $25

Hopefully, you’ve found a bookish gift for kids that fulfills your needs! Looking for more great gifts? Check out The Best Unexpected Board Books To Gift.

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