Creative Book-Inspired Gifts for Your Young Children
If you’re looking for gift ideas that feel thoughtful, meaningful, and delightfully hands-on, pairing a picture book with a small activity or bundle of supplies is a perfect way to go. These book-inspired gifts are budget-friendly, easy to assemble, and packed with opportunities for creativity and connection. Here are some of my favourite ideas to help you build gifts that feel truly special.
A Barnyard-Themed Play & Create Gift
Big Red Barn
A beloved classic like Big Red Barn becomes even more engaging when it’s paired with an invitation to play. Gift this book alongside a farm-animal colouring book and a fresh box of crayons. Or take it up a notch with a few small farm animal figures for hands-on storytelling. Kids will be creating barnyard adventures in no time.
A Snowy Craft Bundle for Paper Artists
Snow
A fresh stack of white paper, a pair of new scissors, and a copy of Snow make a magical, wintry gift for anyone who loves crafting. This simple trio invites kids to experiment with cutting out paper snowflakes. Feeling brave? Add glue and glitter for extra sparkle—just be prepared to embrace the mess!
A Build-Your-Own-Animal Playdough Kit
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
This book is already a favourite for colour recognition and rhythm, and it becomes even more interactive with a little creative twist. Gift a selection of colourful playdough (or ingredients to make your own), plus fun additions like googly eyes, feathers, and pipe cleaners. Kids can sculpt the animals from the story or invent their own.
A Purple Creativity Box
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Put together a “Purple Craft Box” filled with markers, crayons, glue sticks, beads, yarn, and paper—all purple of course. It’s a simple gift that encourages drawing, imagination, and storytelling.
A Recipe Keeper Starter Set
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
This delightful book travels the globe to gather ingredients, making it a perfect pairing with a brand-new recipe binder. Kids can start collecting favourite family recipes, experiment in the kitchen, and create their own culinary keepsake. It’s a gift that will grow with them.
by Adrianne Curwen
Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
