by Kim
“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keeler
Still doing some last-minute holiday shopping and looking for the perfect gift for that special little one (or not so little one) in your life? Consider giving a new book – or two, or three! Not only is a book, as Garrison Keeler so eloquently put it, “a gift you can open again and again,” but by giving a book to a child, you are also gifting the love of reading and of learning to a whole new generation.
While at first glance a book may merely look like some cardboard and paper, it is really a door with endless possibilities to explore the world as well as new and exciting worlds – both real and imagined. Books offer children the opportunity to walk, however briefly and hypothetically, in someone else's shoes and experience lives and cultures that may be very different from their own. Books that respectfully and accurately represent the rich diversity in race, languages, and cultures that make up both our country and the world at large not only offer that opportunity but also help children develop an understanding of the global community in which they live.
And did you know that we have a wonderful resource for purchasing books just like these right here in Downtown West Palm Beach? Rohi’s Readery, which opened last June in Rosemary Square, is a unique, social-driven children’s bookstore that is dedicated to providing books that promote inclusivity and diversity. Their mission is that children will see themselves in the pages of the books they sell or learn about the lives and stories of others. Bookstore founder Pranoo Kumar Skomra is passionate about providing the children in our community with books and programming that highlight diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism practice. Here are just of few of her suggestions for books that would make great gifts for any child this holiday season. Stop by Rohi’s Readery to take a look at these great books or to speak with Pranoo – she’d love to share her expertise to you help find the perfect book for your little one!
And, good news... all of these titles are also available for checkout in print copy and/or ebook with your very own Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach library card. Visit our library catalog to place a hold on one today!
Picture Books
Chapter and Nonfiction Books for Older Readers
