5 Gift Books for the Young Reader Who Has Read Everything

Percy Jackon’s Greek Gods, by Rick Riordan and John Rocco 
The world of Percy Jackson continues to enthrall readers over a decade after its debut with The Lightening Thief. After finishing up the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, author Rick Riordan followed it up with even more stories about Greek demi-gods with his Heroes of Olympus series, featuring several crossover characters. While you probably can’t get the Percy Jackson fan on your list a pass to Camp Half Blood, you can still give them a guided tour of Greek mythology from Percy Jackson himself. This guide to the Greek gods is not only full of Percy’s sarcastic asides and funny observations, it’s also full of Greek mythology and full-color illustrations.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition, by J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay 
Yes—the young reader in your life has probably already read Harry Potter. If they’re anything like me, they’ve probably read it multiple times and may even have multiple copies of each book. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get them this illustrated edition. It actually means the opposite. A true Harry Potter fan knows that you can never have too many copies of the Harry Potter books, especially when one of the copies is this beautiful. This book will be the crown jewel of their Harry Potter collection. Magical, full-color illustrations from Jim Kay (the same illustrator who brought us last year’s Sorcerer’s Stone: The Illustrated Edition) will transport readers back to Hogwarts to experience Harry’s second year alongside him, creating a whole new experience for even the most die-hard fan.

The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, by Jeff Kinney
The Wimpy Kid series opens with middle-schooler Greg Heffley explaining that his mom has forced him to keep a diary. And you know what? I think we’re all glad she did, because the series has spawned eleven (that’s right, eleven) books, all of which are laugh-out-loud funny.  So now maybe it’s time for the middle schooler in your life to start their own diary. This DIY diary makes it simple, with plenty of interactive spaces and open places to chronicle the going ons of life. Owners of this “diary” will be prompted to make lists and draw their own cartoons—anything they want, really—as long as they don’t write down their “feelings.” And for more DIY fun, go ahead and pick up the Dairy of a Wimpy Kid Mad Libs while you’re at it.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Box Set), by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
The Spiderwick Chronicles kicks off with the Grace children finding a mysterious old field guide in their attic that leads them to discover the world of fairies is closer than they thought. And now, the fairie world is even closer with this box set that includes all five of the titles in the beloved series (The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda’s Secret, The Ironwood Tree, and The Wrath of Mulgarath) all held together in a beautiful box that evokes the magical menagerie that awaits readers. But if you think the reader in your life is ready for more, check out the book that started it all, Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Full of sketches and hand-written notes, it’s printed on parchment-like pages meant to resemble a scientific journal on myths and folklore. Perhaps they’ll be inspired to create their own field guide using The Spiderwick Chronicles Notebook for Fantastical Observations?

The Wizard of Oz: The First Five Novels (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), by L. Frank Baum, John R.  Neill, and W. W. Denslow
Almost everyone has seen the film The Wizard of Oz, but has the young reader in your life read the original book? What about the following four sequels? If not, this is the perfect gift to get them started on the classic novels set in the enchanted world of the Emerald City and Oz. But even if they have already picked up this series, collector’s editions are always a welcome addition to a young reader’s shelf. With a bonded-leather bindings and gilt edging, this beautiful book can start anyone on the road to building their own exceptional  home library. But it isn’t just beautiful sitting on the shelf: the pages are also full of lavish illustrations. And if you’re feeling extra generous, you can find more beautiful classics, like The Secret Garden and To Kill a Mockingbird, from Barnes and Noble’s Collectible Editions.