Holiday Gift Guide: Rohan Woods Teachers Share Their Favorite Books for Young Readers

Finding the perfect holiday gift for a child can feel like searching for a unicorn. You want something meaningful. Something they’ll enjoy. Something that sparks imagination and strengthens skills without feeling like “schoolwork.”

Books do all of that and more.

To make holiday shopping easier, we asked Rohan Woods teachers to share the books they personally love to gift to children—and the stories they see students connect with year after year. Their picks range from beautifully illustrated picture books to captivating novels for upper elementary readers. No matter your child’s age or interests, you’ll find something magical here.

TEACHER	CHILDREN'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Mrs. Lipic - Science	Any of the Little Critters books by Mercer Mayer.
Ms. Monahan - Third Grade	The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams The Curious Little Kitten Gets Lost, by Linda Hayward The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires
Mrs. Meuth - Physical Education	The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Mr. Lang - Music/Drama	Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
Mrs. Burkert - Art	Anything by Peter Reynolds
Mrs. Rodas - Spanish	Bilingual editions of all of Eric Carle's books.
Mrs. Guenther - Middle School	The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Mr. Rowe - 4th Grade	Roald Dahl books (specifically The BFG, The Twits, Fantastic Mr. Fox) My Side of the Mountain (by Jean Craighead George) Hatchet (by Gary Paulse) Calvin and Hobbes collection
Mr. Dzurick - Middle School	Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Mrs. Carrion - Executive Assistant	A thrilling novel for a nature lover: A Voice of the Wilderness Novel: A Wolf Called Wonder, part of a 4 novel series You get to see the world through the eyes of a wolf. We begin slowly with him as a pup and his family and then the story grapples you as the wolf is displaced from his home and has to fight for survival while looking for a new home. It is based off of a real wolf that dispersed from his natal pack in 2011 and wandered from Oregon to northern California for more than 1,000 miles. Action and adventure graphic novel in space: Zita the Spacegirl, a 3 book series How can I describe this one? You are young and get thrown into an unkown world, something that looks like the Star Wars Universe! Cool aliens, weird places, and fast paced action. Find your friend and get back to Earth! Are you in? Cozy fantasy graphic novel: Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian, a 4 book series You live in a beautiful world full of life, full of light, full of love. When darkness starts taking over, you find a legendary Galdurian. This unlikely friend says the most peculiar things and acts in the most peculiar ways... Maybe you made a mistake in bringing him along? But when you find trouble, they stick by you and never leave you behind. Will you be able to find help and stop the darkness from taking over? Non-fiction picture book: I Am Jane Goodall It is difficult to summarize an incredible life, but this book does a superb job! We watch her grow up and see as she faces difficult decisions and academic challenges to become the great scientist we all know her to have been. Non-fiction spy short stories: Spies by David Long Take a look at real life people that ended up serving as spies and hear all about their missions.

🎁 Holiday Gift-Giving Guide: Teacher-Recommended Books

Classic Picture Books & Early Readers

• Little Critter Series by Mercer Mayer
  Sweet, funny, and relatable stories perfect for young readers.

• The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
  A timeless tale about love, belonging, and what it means to become “real.”

• The Curious Little Kitten Gets Lost by Linda Hayward
  A gentle, engaging early reader about bravery and problem-solving.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
  A delightfully clever rhyming story that begs to be read aloud.

• Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
  Cool, musical, and confidence-building stories kids love.

• Anything by Peter H. Reynolds
  Inspiring, creativity-focused books that encourage big ideas and big feelings.

• Bilingual Editions of Eric Carle’s Books
  Perfect for language learners and fans of Carle’s iconic illustrations.

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
  A classic book about generosity and love that sparks meaningful conversation.

Chapter Books & Middle Grade Favorites

• Roald Dahl Classics
  The BFG, The Twits, and Fantastic Mr. Fox – quirky, imaginative stories filled with Dahl’s trademark humor.

• My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
  A survival adventure about independence, resilience, and the natural world.

• Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
  A powerful story exploring friendship, community, and courage.

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
  A gripping sci-fi classic full of strategy, leadership, and moral questions.

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
  A wilderness survival story that hooks even reluctant readers.

For Nature & Adventure Lovers

• A Wolf Called Wander (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel, Book 1 of 4)
  A thrilling, deeply emotional story told entirely from a wolf’s perspective. Follow a young wolf’s real-life inspired 1,000+ mile journey from Oregon to Northern California as he searches for a new home and fights for survival.

Graphic Novels

Action & Adventure (Space)

• Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke — 3-book series
  Thrown into an unknown, Star-Wars-like universe, Zita must navigate wild alien worlds and nonstop action as she searches for her lost friend. Fast-paced, imaginative, and fun.

Cozy Fantasy

• Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert — 4-book series
  A warm, beautifully illustrated adventure where a quiet heroine teams up with an odd but loyal Galdurian to save their world from encroaching darkness. Heartfelt, magical, and visually stunning.

Non-Fiction

• I Am Jane Goodall by Brad Meltzer
  A child-friendly biography that beautifully captures Jane Goodall’s early life, big dreams, and scientific achievements.

• Spies by David Long
  Fascinating real-life spy stories packed with daring missions and unforgettable heroes.

Comic Collection

• Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
  A beloved classic filled with humor, imagination, and heart. Perfect for readers of all ages.