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2022 is fast-approaching and it’s that time of year to pick out unique gifts for family, friends, and colleagues. Encourage the pursuit of learning by choosing to share presents that will spark creativity in the brain. From children’s books that will expand their language skills to a book on becoming an astronaut, and from vibrant puzzles to calendars featuring beautiful places, there are a wide range of intriguing options that will make great gifts. These books, puzzles, and calendars are entertaining, insightful, and will be a hit at your next holiday get-together.

Unfollow Your Passion

Terri Trespicio went viral with her TEDx talk “Stop Searching for Your Passion,” garnering in over 7.1 MILLION views. Now, you can add Terri and her headline-making talk to your bookshelf with UNFOLLOW YOUR PASSION: HOW TO CREATE A LIFE THAT MATTERS TO YOU (OSD: 12/21) — just in time for holidays and the New Year! In Unfollow Your Passion, Trespicio questions everything you think you need: passion (fun, but fleeting), plans (flimsy at best), and a bucket list (eye roll), to name a few. By providing the key in unhooking yourself from other people’s agendas, boning up on the skills to move you forward, and exploring your own creativity, memory, and intuition to unlock your unique path to meaning, you will simultaneously excel in confronting the challenges that stop you in your tracks, like boredom, loss, and fear. A sought after speaker, Terri Trespicio has the tools you need to begin creating and sharing work that matters, not only for yourself, but for everyone around you.

150 First Words

For ages 0-3, this bright new large-format first-word board book offers a fun, interactive approach to successful language learning. 150 single words and short phrases are introduced, then along the border of every scene a photograph of each item is presented to encourage additional search-and-find activity. This matching game allows ample fun and time for parents and caregivers to connect with babies and for toddlers to learn by repetition. Merriam-Webster’s 150 First Words is $9.99.

Word of the Day

Become a word virtuoso in just one year with 366 boffo words selected by the masterminds at Merriam-Webster. Inspired by Merriam-Webster’s popular Word of the Day digital feature, this charmingly illustrated book builds knowledge one day at a time with 366 masterful words, written especially for kids ages 8-12. Each unique word includes a scholarly definition, pronunciation, and an indubitable nonfiction fact as an example sentence. At the end of each month you’ll find a story that contains all the words introduced that month, with an audio version so kids can hear it spoken aloud as they go. Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: 366 Elevating Utterances to Stretch Your Cranium and Tickle Your Humerus is $13.49.

First Big Book of Why

WHY do elephants have trunks? WHY are clouds different shapes? WHY does my tummy rumble? Britannica’s huge, authoritative, and lavishly illustrated question and answer book will satisfy even the most curious kids, with over 100 questions verified by Britannica experts.

Spanning a range of topics including animals, the body, machines, space, and more, this book provides clear and accessible explanations ― and even explores some of the mysteries that experts are still trying to solve! By encouraging kids to question how the world works, Britannica First Big Book of Why supports STEAM learning and nurtures enquiring minds. With stunning photography and gorgeous original illustrations by Kate Slater, this is the ultimate gift for kids aged 4+ who need to know WHY! Britannica First Big Book of Why is $21.97.

Listified!

Ever wondered which 10 dinosaurs were the largest, and what they weighed…in cats? Or how much of your DNA you share with other animals…and bananas? Listified! takes the best and most amazing parts of the universe — erupting volcanoes, medieval machines, jumping spiders, exploding stars, and everything in between — and organizes them into a quirky list form for curious kids and their friends and family to enjoy. Britannica’s Listified! takes you on a journey through 300 lists that illuminate everything from the human body, to prehistoric creatures, planet Earth, outer space, and the mysteries beyond. Great for ages 8+, here are three mind-blowing facts from Listified! to get you started…A Tyrannosaurus rex could swallow 15,000 hamburgers in a single bite. A bolt of lightning is the width of your thumb and five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. If you tied all your hair together into a single cord, it could support the weight of 18 cows. Listified!: Britannica’s 300 lists that will blow your mind is $16.98.

The Child That Would Be Missed

After over a decade in the Marine Corps, Eric Sowers and his family moved back into their home in rural North Carolina. Though he would not return to Iraq or Afghanistan, his memories brought the war back to him as he struggled to be a father and husband. Through the flames of rage, shame, and addiction, Eric persevered to discover moments of joy and a path to inner peace. Within The Child That Would Be Missed, let Eric walk with you through the challenges you endure in your life and how to find joyful moments to cling onto. The Child That Would Be Missed is $9.99 in Kindle format and $17.75 in paperbook format.

The Method: A Golf Success Strategy

Be your own golf instructor! When you are in question of how to do something in the golf swing and cannot see your golf instructor, this book is the instructor away from your instructor. Whether you’re a beginner golfer or have been playing for years, this book presents every topic a golfer who wants to improve will need to know about: the physical side of golf, the mental side of golf, short game, and more. The Method: A Golf Success Strategy is $25.

Book Nerd

Book nerds appreciate the smell of a brand-new paperback, revel in the thrill of traveling to a new world, and treat characters in novels like new friends. Here to celebrate that devotion to the written word is Book Nerd (April 13, 2021; $12.95), compiled and illustrated by bibliophile Holly Maguire, whose affectionate, masterful artwork and comedic wit make for the perfect companion and gift for booklovers everywhere. Filled with mottos, artwork, jokes, punch-out bookmarks, and more, Book Nerd is a highly giftable ode to those who love the world of books and a celebration of their utter devotion.

Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance

Internationally acclaimed leading voice in wellness Jessamyn Stanley’s new book, Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance (June 22, 2021; $15.95) takes readers on an autobiographical journey to self-acceptance. Jessamyn writes generously and openly about her path to body liberation, her search for authenticity, and the limitations and hypocrisies she has come to see in yoga culture. Tying it all together is Jessamyn’s singular voice — funny, frank, and warm, producing a work that is a unique and compelling blend of memoir, philosophy, and self-help.

Woodland Dance!

Destined to be a read-aloud favorite, Woodland Dance! (September 28, 2021; $7.95; Ages 0+) is the newest board book from Sandra Boynton — a mystical, waltzing nighttime counterpart to the upbeat, broad-daylight Barnyard Dance, the Boynton classic with over 4.7 million copies sold. With a mesmerizing rhythm and rich forest colors by the light of the moon, a lone fox on a mountaintop gives her bugle a long, steady blow — summoning hedgehogs and frogs, raccoons and ducks, bears and moose, beavers and squirrels. Then, in a moonlit glade, in pairs and in families, they dance all night long to the music of The Woodland Dance Trio (boar flute, deer violin, moose cello.) And as dawn breaks, the animals wander off to bed as the Trio plays one last piece to welcome the sun. Such tenderness! Such a magical book to share with a magical child!

Jungle Night

Jungle Night: Beloved family favorite Sandra Boynton — her books have sold more than 70 million copies!—and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma have created a cool bedtime experience like no other. A new and nifty wide-format board book, Jungle Night (March 23, 2021; $7.95; Ages 0+) takes us through the night jungle to hear the distinctive gentle snore of each animal: “Listen to the tiger: ZEEE-ZOOO-HAAA. Listen to the cheetah: CHEE-CHEE-TAAAH.” The downloadable Jungle Night recording, produced by Boynton, is a narration of the book by her son Keith Boynton, with a mystical steel drum backdrop by Lithuanian percussionist Mantas Savickis, and all the animal snores are interpreted by the expressive and playful cello of Yo-Yo Ma. He even does the elephant’s stop-the-show snore — though admittedly that took Ma’s cello PLUS the classic horn salute of the James R. Barker steamship. (Seriously.)

The ABCs of Black History

A New York Times bestseller, The ABCs of Black History (December 08, 2021; $14.95; Ages 5+) takes a bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture. It’s a story of big ideas, significant moments, hope, and love. And it is a beautiful representation of the ideas and personalities that embody a wide range of Black people and experiences in lively verse matched with vivid imagery. Using the alphabet as a frame to introduce Black history, the story begins with Anthem—an introduction to James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing — and ends with Zenith, a tribute to the mountaintop Dr. King spoke about before his death; readers will travel across continents and centuries, navigate triumph and heartbreak, and celebrate creativity and joy. Written by Pushcart Prize–nominated poet Rio Cortez and illustrated by Lauren Semmer.

Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide

Created by the curious minds behind the #1 New York Times bestseller Atlas Obscura, Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide (October 12, 2021; $42.50) is a “captivating book [that] celebrates the incredible global diversity of food, ingredients, and cooking practices” (Alice Waters). Through over 500 entries spanning all seven continents and fifty states, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders. Travel to the rainforests of southern Nigeria, where you’ll find a berry that’s a thousand times sweeter than table sugar. Discover the quirks of Victorian table etiquette, the dizzying array of Mexican candy — from sweet-and-sour salted apricots showered in chili powder to banana bubblegum with a liquid banana core—and the illustrious history of butter-carving competitions in America. Sip beer made from the fog of the Chilean Atacama Desert, experience the joys of bouncy meatballs in the Chaoshan region of China, down a shot of what has been dubbed the world’s worst liquor in Chicago, and learn the glorious history of the seemingly humblest of foods: mustard and pickles. These are just some of the many wonders contained within the pages of Gastro Obscura.

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz

A moving picture book for older children and families, Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz (April 13, 2021; $19.95) is one book—English on one side, Spanish on the other, with both languages meeting in the middle. The voices of real children, taken from publicly available court documents, are paired with the powerful artwork of 17 Latinx artists, including Pura Belpré Award– and Caldecott Medal–winner Yuyi Morales (Dreamers) and Pura Belpré Award–winner Raúl the Third (Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market). These innocent voices have gone unheard for too long. Offering an opportunity to better understand human migration and children’s rights, Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz compassionately introduces this difficult topic while providing an urgent call to action and simple steps to help. In addition, royalties from the book will directly benefit children in migration, so anyone who picks up this book will make a difference.

The Reverse Coloring Book ®

Get ready for the next mindfulness and creativity blockbuster that’s already a viral TikTok favorite: The Reverse Coloring Book ® (August 31, 2021; $14.95). It’s so simple, yet so profoundly satisfying. Each page has the colors, and you, the artist, draw the lines. Created by artist Kendra Norton, these beautiful and whimsical watercolors provide a gentle visual guide so open-ended that the possibilities are limitless. Trace the shapes, draw in figures, doodle, shade, cover an area with dots. Be realistic, with a plan, or simply let your imagination drift, as if looking at clouds in the sky. Each page is an invitation to slow down, let go, and thoughtfully (or thoughtlessly) let your pen find its way over the image. With reverse coloring, you create something truly your own.

Directions: Really Good Advice for Getting from Here to There

Written by beloved “illustwriter” Hallie Bateman, Directions: Really Good Advice for Getting from Here to There (March 30, 2021; $12.95) is a lively and uplifting collection of insights, observations, aha moments, well-worded reminders, and epiphanies that readers can dip in and out of as they would a daily horoscope, fortune cookie, or Magic 8-Ball. BookPage notes that it’s “a fun one to leave by the bed in a guest room or an Airbnb, since almost anyone will find a direction or two that resonates with them.” These simple truths give readers permission to lovingly accept themselves in all their imperfect glory.

You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves

You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves (March 30, 2021; $14.95) edited by Diana Whitney is filled with works by a wide range of poets addressing the complex feelings of coming-of-age, from loneliness to joy, longing to solace, attitude to humor. These poems offer a message to teens in their most difficult years of self-acceptance and strength, giving them permission to let go of shame and perfectionism. The collection includes works by Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate; bestselling authors like Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Acevedo, Sharon Olds, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Mary Oliver; and Instagram-famous poets including Kate Baer, Melody Lee, and Andrea Gibson. The perfect gift for any young person grappling with the challenges of becoming themselves.

Sisters: Better Together

Sisters certainly have their fair share of laughs and good times, along with epic fights and meltdowns. In Sisters: Better Together ( July 20, 2021; $12.95), a sweet ode to this unique, often complex but always loving relationship, authors and sisters Alice and Doris Lieu have created the perfect tribute one sister can give to another. Filled with vibrant illustrations and funny, heartwarming, and sometimes cheeky text, it has everything from portraits of famous sisters, to relatable quotes about sisterhood, to examples of what makes a sister (a sister is a lifelong sidekick, an accomplice, and a sometime nemesis).

Oakley the Squirrel: The Search for Z

Help little Oakley the Squirrel find the letter Z  in this charming picture book with photos of real squirrels interacting with adorable handmade miniature sets and props. Oakley the Squirrel: The Search for Z (June 22, 2021; $7.95 US; Ages 0+), created and photographed by artist, educator, and former guidance counselor Nancy Rose, introduces budding readers to not only the alphabet, but also the fascinating, ubiquitous creatures living right outside their doorsteps!

The Montessori Toddler

It’s time to change the way we see toddlers. In this bestselling parenting book — using the principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori — Simone Davies shows how to turn life with a “terrible two” into a mutually rich and rewarding time of curiosity, learning, respect, and discovery. With hundreds of practical ideas for every aspect of living with a toddler, The Montessori Toddler (March 19, 2019; $19.95) provides step-by-step ways to cultivate daily routines with ease, like brushing teeth, toilet-training, dealing with siblings, losing the pacifier, and so much more.

The Montessori Baby

It’s time for the babies! A follow-up to Simone Davies’s bestselling The Montessori Toddler comes The Montessori Baby (May 11, 2021; $19.95). Drawing on principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori, The Montessori Baby shows how to raise your baby from birth to age one with love, respect, insight, and a surprising sense of calm. Co-written by Simone Davies, author of the bestselling The Montessori Toddler, and Junnifa Uzodike, The Montessori Baby is filled with hundreds of practical ideas for understanding what is actually happening with your baby and how you can mindfully assist in their learning and development. Thoughtfully and beautifully laid out, it’s a calming and empowering guide filled with straightforward, step-by-step advice on understanding and supporting babies at every milestone.

How to Astronaut: An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth

How to Astronaut: An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth (September 15, 2020; $27.95) by Terry Virts, one of only four astronauts in history to have piloted a space shuttle, flown a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, performed space walks, and commanded the ISS, is a book for everyone who wants to know what space travel is really like. From fighter jets to unwieldy space suits, space station cuisine, and an uncensored look at answering the call of nature in zero-G and from bad bosses to bureaucratic nightmares, this offbeat and often hilarious collection of short, readable essays gives a sneak peek behind the curtain of real astronaut life.

How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious

Scientists tell us that everyone dreams between three and six times every night. But what do our dreams mean? Artist and writer Nicole Chilton decodes these metaphorical messages, from the classic flying dream to the appearance of a butterfly, in How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious (August 17, 2021; $14.95) with gorgeous watercolor images that inspire the reader to daydream while turning the pages.

Good Night, Spencer and Spencer Loves You

Spencer the sweet little cat stars in a new series of die-cut board books that introduce early vocabulary and daily routines to babies and toddlers. Good Night, Spencer (July 06, 2021; $6.95; Ages 0–4) shares a cozy bedtime routine.

Spencer Loves You (July 06, 2021; $6.95; Ages 0–4) features a story about Spencer’s family members and the things they love to do together.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die® puzzle

Good news for those struck with wanderlust — the beauty and excitement of a global journey is now at your fingertips. Travel-savvy puzzlers are invited to piece together stunning global locations from the Golden Gate Bridge to the ice sheets of Antarctica. Curated by Patricia Schultz, who rewrote the book on travel with her 1,000 Places to See Before You Die® and other titles, this collection of landmarks and beautiful scenery brings to mind a collage of postcards from a life-changing trip.

Where the Crawdads Sing 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle

Immerse yourself in the gorgeous waterways, wetlands, and wildlife that make up Kya’s world with the Where the Crawdads Sing 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle (August 31, 2021; $19.95). The beautiful landscape described in the novel comes to gorgeous life in each image, from an inquisitive owl to a light-soaked marshland. For all those captivated by the magical corner of North Carolina’s Outer Banks that the Marsh Girl calls home, this puzzle offers the opportunity to sink inside this gorgeous environment piece by piece, image by image.

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Page-A-Day Calendar 2022

People are fascinated by zombies — as evidenced by eleven seasons of The Walking Dead and the perennial popularity of zombie films. But if the undead were to actually come shuffling down your street, would you know what to do? From author Scott Kenemore, horror novelist and member of the advisory board to the Zombie Research Society, How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Page-A-Day Calendar 2022 (August 14, 2021; $15.99) is a tongue-in-cheek calendar filled with tips and survival strategies, plus fascinating trivia to keep zombie fans entertained. The hordes are coming — will you be ready? Printed on FSC-certified paper and 100% recyclable.

5-Minute Daily Meditations Page-A-Day Calendar 2022

In this time of collective anxiety and uncertainty, it’s no surprise that people have been turning to meditation to find peace of mind. Introducing 5-Minute Daily Meditations Page-A-Day Calendar 2022 (August 03, 2021; $15.99), a brand-new calendar featuring 5-minute meditations to help readers get centered, focused, and in the right headspace to take on each day. Meditation teacher Sah D’Simone, author of Spiritually Sassy, leads a heart-based healing movement rooted in tried-and-true techniques and infused with joy and authenticity.

The Kid’s Awesome Activity Calendar

The perennially bestselling calendar that keeps kids engaged, sparks their imaginations, and promotes hours of zany, unplugged fun. Each month, The Kid’s Awesome Activity Calendar (July 27, 2021; $15.99) features a colorful hand-drawn spread with seasonally themed illustrations and creativity-inspiring prompts: “Help design some snow monsters!” Plus word searches, mazes, and other lively activities and games. The calendar includes 300 stickers to place on the calendar or anywhere a kid wants.

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