Besides being easy to wrap, books can be the perfect gift for young children, teens and adults. Books are invaluable gifts for young children. Reading to children stimulates proper brain development. Reading also expands a child's knowledge and improves comprehension skills. Children who experience regular read-aloud time from an early age develop a wider vocabulary and tend to talk in sentences much earlier. Reading time and books should be fun. Choose colorful books to which the child can relate. Point to the words as they are read, and read with expression at a pace so that the child can look at the pictures. Ask questions such as what do you think will happen next, or who was your favorite character in the story, or did the character learn a lesson. School-aged children may prefer books on their school’s reading list, but consider giving a book from your childhood and share why you enjoyed the book. The giver and receiver can discuss the book together. If a child loves a certain series, buy or preorder the latest book. Boys tend to be reluctant readers, so encourage them with graphic novels, science fiction or nonfiction books. Encourage an interest in a topic, such as dinosaurs, space, or history by giving a book on the subject. Many publishers have wonderfully illustrated and detailed books. Choosing a book for an adult is easy if you know their areas of interest: cookbooks for the foodie, travel books for an upcoming trip, the latest thriller for the mystery enthusiast, or a book on entertaining for a person who likes to host get-togethers. Consider purchasing a signed copy or first edition of the reader’s favorite book. For someone who has read nearly everything or for a new acquaintance, consider a gift card to a bookstore. Browsing for books is pastime for most readers. For the tech-savvy person, a gift card to purchase books for their e-reader may be the right gift. If you have a larger budget, consider giving an e-reader or tablet with a reading application. Many electronic books are free to download or lower in cost than the print versions. Many books in the public domain are available as free downloads at Project Gutenberg at http://www.gutenberg.org/ and The Literature Network at http://www.online-literature.com/ Winter in northern Indiana is the perfect climate for reading. As the temperature hovers below freezing, consider giving the gift of time and the warm indoors with an enjoyable book.
