Welcome to Metropolitan Mama’s 2025 Christmas Gift Guide for Readers. Below you will find gift recommendations for: books (of course!), clothing, decor, and accessories for people who appreciate the written word.
This is always my favorite guide to put together since I read between 50-100 books per year and genuinely appreciate giving & receiving bookish gifts. You're in for a treat with this year's gift guide as you'll get a sneak peek into my reading list for the upcoming year - which includes a number of new releases in addition to classic fiction and non-fiction selections.
* Be sure to follow me on Goodreads to find reviews on the titles listed below as well as many other books that I read throughout the year. Note that I also include parental content guides for books geared to children and teens.
If you know an Anne of Green Gables fan, they WANT this pillow cover. The simple, elegant design will match with anyone's decor and the message is an uplifting one - a reminder that tomorrow is vibrant and full of possibilities despite any discouragements from today.
Shop at your local Barnes & Noble for a wonderful assortment of adorable book-themed bags, stationery, and knickknacks.
For anyone who enthusiastically admires the work of Jane Austen, consider the lovely accessories put out by Insight Editions. Adorned with favorite quotes, appealing fonts, and exquisite details, it won't be easy to choose between the file folders, pencil pouch, memo cube, and journal. Can't decide? Get them all and go with a Jane Austen gift theme!
For the best bookish pencil pouches on the block, we highly recommend Out of Print. These beautifully-designed, zippered cloth pouches are handy for storing pencils, markers, phone chargers, lip gloss, and other on-the-go necessities.
Oh so clever! This reading rest holds your cookbooks, textbooks, and tablets in the kitchen, study, or office. Designed with silicone feet for a secure fit and available in 5 colors!
I first discovered Book Darts about a decade ago - and my reading life has never been the same! These tiny metal arrows, packaged in a convenient circular tin, make it a breeze to mark beautiful quotes, interesting statistics, or anything noteworthy as you read. Book darts are *perfect* stocking stuffers for readers, scholars, scientists, and students!
Organize your life with the brilliant Bookaroo Bagaroo! ONE 'tote-ally' organized bag with ONE set of sturdy handles and FIVE generously sized tabbed sections. Room for all your papery stuff in one perfectly portable bag. A brilliant gift for teachers, students, or hobbyists!
Keep your stamps, bookmarks, reading notes, and receipts organized with this handy little pop-up accordion organizer with seven pockets and nine writable tabs.
Because of Winn-Dixie is signature Kate DiCamillo. Her typical style involves short chapters with simple dialogue and memorable characters with interesting names. Great as a read-aloud for very young children.
Such a sweet and beautifully written book. Major themes are nature, friendship, miracles, and growing up. This is truly a "classic" as its messages transcend time and popular culture. Recommended read-aloud for ages 3-12+. Independent reading level: 2nd-7th grade.
Your bookshelf is yearning for these gorgeous painted editions of classic literature, including Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Persuasion, Peter Pan, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Secret Garden, and Winnie-the-Pooh. Each book has elegant and eye-catching hardcover artwork painted by artist Laci Fowler, with a distinctive one-of-a-kind jacket. In addition to sculptured embossing on the cover, other features include gold foil title and page edges, a satiny ribbon marker, and quote pages throughout.
The heartwarming story of Heidi is now available in a gorgeous collectible red hardcover edition with watercolor illustrations by internationally acclaimed artist Maja Dusíková.
Because of the popularity of Wicked (touring across the USA), there has been renewed and sustained interest in The Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum. Penguin Random House has recently published two brand new editions - one more whimsical (delightfully illustrated cover by Anna Bond) and the other more magical (sparkles on the cover with magenta pink accents).
There's nothing an academic enjoys more than a well-researched, well-written, and engaging book on a topic of interest. These new releases will inspire the mind while providing practical insights on higher education and the delights of academia.
In Alphabetical Order (by title):
Give your coworker or newly minted college graduate a leg up in business with research-backed strategies related to entrepreneurship, communication, and time management.
In Alphabetical Order (by title):
The gift of good health begins with knowledge and a plan of action. Books provide helps for both.
In Alphabetical Order (by title):
An insightful and encouraging new marriage or parenting book is a welcome gift for any man or woman who is striving to live their lives with intention and pursue strong relationships with the people they love most.
In Alphabetical Order (by title):
People involved in ministry - whether as pastors, directors, missionaries, teachers, or volunteers - are sure to appreciate books that offer new insights and cutting edge research on the topics they care about.
In Alphabetical Order (by title):
Enjoy incredible facts and stories about over 90 different kinds of birds in this delightful anthology that both children and adults will marvel at.
Explore our solar system with this visually arresting reference book that explores the wonders of our universe. Full color photographs with fascinating stories and stats.
Boys, ages 6-10, will especially love this creepy book with full-size pop-ups of a dragonfly, cockroach, beehive, and - grand finale! - a menacing scorpion. Five full-page spreads. Lots of facts about frightening creepies and crawlies.
Newly published by DK in July 2025! The Presidents is a children's reference book that includes features on all 45 presidents (ending with Joe Biden) and a selection of first ladies - along with general pages on the constitution, the presidency, presidential places, and presidential vehicles.
Human parents will relate to this tender and beautifully illustrated story about a young badger's attempt to stay up after bedtime, using a myriad of excuses.
Chrysanthemum is delightful story about a little [mouse] girl with an unusual name. When she first goes to school, she is ashamed of her name and the other mice children mock her for it. But when a beautiful singer is hired at the school and also has a flower name, the other children are speechless and sorry for their ridicule. A well-written story with a moral that is natural, not pushed or saccharine.
Marla Frazee has a distinctive, colorful, and beautiful way of drawing families. Kids of all ages will enjoy seeing adorable drawings of babies and their every day doings. The accompanying rhyming text by Susan Meyers is whimsical and suits the pictures exactly. Bonus points for picturing breastfeeding and night parenting in a natural, gently way.
I first discovered illustrator Bernadette Watts at a thrift store many years ago and was instantly smitten. In fact, I wrote to Bernadette to see if she might be interested in collaborating on a picture book with me (and she wrote me back (!), explaining that she was advancing in age and no longer working with collaborators). If you haven't been introduced to her magical art, it is my distinct pleasure to do so now.
Come along and learn more about the author of many of your favorite tales - The Brave Tin Soldier, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and The Pea, and many more (168 in all!).
A richly illustrated version of a famous cautionary tale. King Midas loves gold so much that he wishes that everything that he touches will turn to gold. This wish has unexpected and tragic results, but he learns his lesson and the story has a happy ending. Children will be enchanted by the gorgeous pictures and the fantastical accompanying text.
A lovely picture book that quotes Robert Frost’s magnanimous poem word for word - without variation or commentary. Rich, melancholy illustrations fit the tone and beat the poem. Not too dark, but also gorgeously moody. The protagonist of the illustrations is a young woman in braids, a long skirt, and a belted coat. She is reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables or Laura Ingalls Wilder. It is hard to decipher emotions of the main character, which is exactly how the poem reads. Is the author soaking in the beauty of the snowy woods or is she heartbroken, ready to give up? No one knows.
Kids go crazy over Chris Van Dusen's fabulous illustrations and vibrant imagination - including mine! The If I Build A Series has been popular at our house for years: If I Built A Car (2005), If I Built A House (2012), If I Built A School (2019), and If I Built A Town (2025). (Note that the first three books are far superior to the fourth for a number of reasons). So fun to find under the tree!
Watch the beauty of the seasons and be inspired to live a simpler, slower life by reading Virginia Lee Burton's classic picture book - The Little House. When you close the pages of this charming story, you'll likely be hankering to move to a little house in the country near a babbling brook with crabapple trees in the front yard.
A Paintbrush for Joni shares the biography of Joni Eareckson Tada, an artist, writer, and speaker who lives with quadriplegia. Joni's perseverance, determination, and courage are inspiring - a story worth telling. (The author and illustrator portray Joni as being too young, however - she looks about twelve years old on every page).
Based on a true story of the writing of Silent Night in a small village in Austria, this picture book introduces young readers to Josef Mohr (the author the poem) and Conrad Franz Xaver Gruber (who set the poem to music).
This dreamy picture book brings the Eugene Field poem to life with illustrations of three children who go fishing in a clog shoe as they sleep. The illustrator keeps to a simple and repeating color palette to convey a sleepy message that is ideal for bedtime.
This delightful and sonorous picture book introduces young readers to the various parts of the orchestra with rhythmic text and interesting accompanying illustrations. I completely understand why this title, which is written by Lloyd Moss and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, is a Newberry Honor Book because of the way that a somewhat complex topic is simplified for small children.
You may have heard the adage: Readers are leaders and leaders are readers. I have found this to be true in my interactions with executives, professors, and thought leaders. Equally true is this: Readers are writers and writers are readers. Readers may not always be writers in the sense that they write essays, poems, stories, or books - but they typically love making lists, taking notes, and appreciating the written word in many other fashions & forms. As such, notebooks and journals are a winning gift pick for the literate person in your life.
Check out the cost-saving bundles by Paperage on Amazon! You can get gorgeous top-bound spiral notebooks for professionals, small legal pads for stocking stuffers, and notebooks in vibrant colors for students.
These soft, floral notepads, designed by artist Ruth Chou Simons, are ideal gifts for coworkers, college students, and close friends. Buy them in a pack for easy distribution to the people you love.
————–
Some of the products in the list below were sent to us to try. Other products are ones that we purchased ourselves or were given by family members and friends. Know that I will always provide both the pros and cons of each featured product.