Reading is important, which is why we have events like Read Across America Day, Hats Off to Reading, and World Book Day. If you're looking for some kid-appropriate gifts for book lovers, it never hurts to start with books—but you can keep going from there! You can give your child the gift of a new book, read to them using finger puppets, wear book character costumes and join in other Read Across America events at school or the library. The important thing is that you pass on the importance and fun of reading!
Children's Book Gifts
Storybooks for kids are great, but kids are also sure to love these book character gifts! They can snuggle up for storytime with their favorite book character stuffed animals or take some books on the go with a children's book backpack. Parents may also enjoy using finger puppets and plush toys when reading to act out the stories with their kids. There's certainly more than one way to enjoy Read Across America, Hats Off to Reading, or World Book Day at home.
Harry Potter Gifts for Kids
LEGO Hedwig Plush | Hedwig Plush and Blanket Set | Light-Up Hermione Wand Toy | Harry Potter Comfy Throw |
Harry Potter Journal Set | Harry Potter 9 3/4 Platform Playset | Plush Harry Potter | Hedwig Coin Bank |
If your kids are a little older, you can still encourage them to keep reading! Young adult fiction books like the Harry Potter series continue to be very popular, and some families even read the Harry Potter books together. Your kids will also love Harry Potter toys that allow them to act out their favorite scenes from the books and play along with their favorite characters. You can find a variety of Harry Potter LEGO sets along with plush toys, games and other great book-related gifts. Don't think that you have to save the book gift ideas for World Book Day—they're great for holidays and birthdays, too!
Dr. Seuss Gifts for Kids
Did you know that Read Across America Day also falls on the same day as Dr. Seuss Day, March 2nd? It's no wonder that there are so many Seussical activities! There are also tons of great Dr. Seuss gifts for kids. Plush toys and finger puppets bring their favorite Dr. Seuss characters to life, making great storytime buddies. You can also find fun Dr. Seuss activities for kids such as a kids' board game! These and other Read Across America activities are sure to make the day extra special!
Winnie the Pooh Gifts for Kids
Winnie the Pooh Jack-in-the-Box | Winnie the Pooh Ears | Hundred Acre Woods Throw | Winnie the Pooh Dining Set |
If your child likes to visit Pooh and friends in the 100-acre wood, they would probably love a little Winnie the Pooh gift for Hats off to Reading or World Book Day. A Tigger plush is great for taking on their own adventures, and you can even take it a step further with a set of Pooh ears for pretend play. Maybe they'll want you along on their adventure too!
Book Character Costumes for Kids
Many Read Across America Day and World Book Day activities include wearing costumes of book characters. Dr. Seuss costumes like The Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 costumes are certainly popular picks, but there's so much more! Harry Potter costumes are a great choice, especially Ravenclaw robes for your little bookworm. Also, Alice in Wonderland outfits are classic, but you can also find other offerings like Curious George costumes or Pete the Cat outfits. Your kid will love wearing their favorite literature character costumes, but the best part is that they can also wear their book costumes again for Halloween!
Book Character Costumes for Adults
Cat in the Hat Costume | Sam-I-Am Costume | Piglet Costume | Waldo Costume |
Plus Size Thing 1 & 2 Costume | Ms. Fiona Frizzle Costume | Gandalf Costume | Professor McGonagall Costume |
Kids may be encouraged to dress up for Read Across America Day, but even teachers and parents can dig into some Read Across America dress-up ideas—the kids would love it! How cool would it be to teach a class wearing a Miss Frizzle costume, a Professor McGonagall outfit or even a Dumbledore costume? While these book characters are great teacher costume ideas, there are other literary characters that kids will love and recognize, too. The costume might have been for you, but ultimately the kids will get a lot out of the experience!
Book Purses for Adults
The Princess Bride Purse | Alice in Wonderland Purse | Fantastic Beasts Books Purse | Bambi Purse |
Winnie the Pooh Purse | Disney Princess Books Purse | The Fox and the Hound Purse | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Purse |
And finally, we come to our favorite new style of bag: purses that look like books! We have purses that resemble The Wizard of Oz, The Princess Bride, and Disney classics like Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh—all with a convenient shoulder strap. They're also lightweight, so even if it looks like you're carrying a library, it won't feel that way. These purses are really the best fashion accessory for book lovers!
We hope that you enjoyed all of these Read Across America Day and World Book Day ideas! What do you do to get your kids interested in reading? Do you read with your kids or even have a family storytime session? We'd love to hear how you get kids to read books. Also, if you'd like to check out some other book products, visit our Read Across America gifts page for other great ideas!