Some women collect jewelry, clothes, artwork, fine dishes, sentimental ceramic sculptures or even recipes. I, on the other hand, have been called a minimalist by my 20-year-old daughter because I don't collect anything, keep my household simple (in hopes of avoiding physical clutter which also seems to clutter my mind) and really have never had the desire acquire many things. This has probably resulted from years of traveling around the country and being the person in charge of packing and moving. Over the years, however, I have grown to love books. I have become a bibliophile; I believe that's the appropriate term. Funny enough, well designed children's books often entice me, especially those with vibrant illustrations and endearing stories.

Books make ideal gifts for children for a variety of reasons including:

1. Durable - hardcover children's books can usually take quite a beating and still be valuable. Now, thin plastic coating on covers makes their exteriors almost waterproof.

2. Affordable - many children's books are not expensive and many can be acquired for under $10. If you consider that they'll probably be read over and over, and help eliminate time watching television and playing computer games, their value increases. Planning ahead and purchasing books online can save you even more money.

3. Timeless - well written children's stories retain their readability for years to come. If you have older children, think of the books that your children wanted you to read over and over. Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are immediately come to mind for my family. I still have both of those books in my personal library.

4. Can be personalized - Inscribing books, writing a note and dating your gift, makes it even more personal. I still have books that my parents gave me with my mother's handwritten note in each. My mom is no longer with me on earth, but it's so precious to have those personalized books to remind me of how much I am loved.

5. Teach values without being obvious - Every opportunity should be taken to share Biblical values and personal morals with our children. If it can be done with a fun, personal gift that will be used over and over, even better!

6.  Create quality time - as you read with your child, you'll find that there's no time better spent. The closeness derived from spending such time with your child is priceless.

7. Easy to wrap - Well, maybe this isn't as important to some people as others, but I don't enjoy wrapping odd-shaped gifts so anything square makes me happy! 

So, you're beginning to think that children's books make awesome gifts, but you're not sure of where to start. At Epi Kardia, Dana and I have had tons of experience selecting children's books. Over the years, we've developed some criteria to assist us in weeding out the chafe from the wheat that you might find helpful.

• Well illustrated - especially for younger children, illustrations can draw a child in or turn him away. Colorful illustrations are almost immediately attractive, but distinctively designed monotone or black/white illustrations can also hold a child's attention. Distinctive style seems to matter most to children. For example, Make Way for Ducklings has simple, monotone illustrations, but they have a unique artistic quality that relates to the time period in which the book was originally illustrated. Without these unusual illustrations, the story just isn't the same. For many children, I think this type of illustration is comforting. The Little Miss Spider series by David Kirk (see above) has amazing vibrant coloring and almost animated characters. The colors and attention to detail tell the story right along with the written words.  
• Quality Writing - as your child reads a book, the writing becomes an example of how books should be written. If the book has poor writing, it could be misleading to a child when you pursue teaching how to write. Exposure to quality written works can translate into stronger writing skills for your child. 
• Appropriate themes - we never consider books that have a theme disparaging God or promoting values that oppose Scripture, no matter how popular or beautiful the book may seem. The staying power of a book (my children both recited excerpts from many of their children's books without being asked) means that the theme will educate your child whether you want it to or not. There are many books out there that don't necessarily declare the story's theme in the title. For example, Different Dragon, with it's cute cover was written by a lesbian, presenting a main character child who has two moms. For my family, homosexuality is not a lifestyle that I want to promote. It's important that you fully understand a story's theme before you share it with your child.
• Timelessness - books that promote trends, such as the latest kids' television character, are not typically timeless. Traditional stories, many presented in different unique ways, hold value that can hold a child's attention for years. New stories can also hold a timeless quality if they're written well and have a theme that spans the ages.

Beware! As you begin looking at children's books, you may find yourself reliving your childhood and lose a lot of time rereading your favorites. In the days to come, watch for our book reviews to help you narrow down your choices as the holidays draw nearer. Hopefully, you'll rediscover some childhood favorites and learn about some new "classics" that you and your child can read together.

God's blessings and happy reading,

Beth