When gift-giving, you’ve heard it’s the thought that counts. While true, there’s also a certain satisfaction in finding the perfect gift, whether for a holiday, birthday … or just because. Filled with the latest inspiring ideas, this list features 27 cool and different gifts for kids, teens, and young adults who love to read or write. (It’s sure to please the grownups on your list as well!)
If you’re looking for something quirky, inspirational, or simply new to you, there is something for everyone—including books, journals, toys and games, and fun wearable items!
This post contains affiliate links for products we’re confident your family will love.
⭐ Journals Galore!
For kids and teens who read or write for fun, journal gifts are sure to please them all!
1. Parent-Child Back-and-Forth Journals
Moms, are you looking for a new way to connect with your 8- to 12-year-old son? Check out this fun Mother & Son: Our Back-and-Forth Journal to work through together in the coming year! Filled with activities to complete together, this gift will be a keepsake to cherish!
Just Between Us is a similar journal for mothers and daughters.
2. Cici’s Journal: The Adventures of a Writer-in-Training
Rather than writing a journal, this super-engaging graphic novel gives children a peek inside the journal of a girl who explores her world through observation, note-taking, and the collection of clues. Cici’s Journal: The Adventures of a Writer-in-Training may be the perfect inspiration for your reader to begin writing.
3. Kids Write And Draw Journal
Is drawing more your child’s thing? This Kids Write And Draw Journal gives children a place to collect their creativity and develop their skills with designated space for writing and drawing. Topic suggestions are included as well!
4. Pocket Journals or Field Notebooks
What about a teenager who just needs a portable book to catch all those random thoughts? This 5-pack of Gold Foil Pocket Journal Notebooks fits the bill perfectly. The pocket-size notebooks are small enough to tuck into a pocket, backpack, or tote bag—which also makes them ideal for holiday stocking stuffers. BONUS … they’re cute too!
PREFER CAMO OVER CUTE? Try this set of 5 Camouflage Field Books for your outdoorsy, adventurous teen explorer!
5. Blank Comic Book For Kids: Create Your Own Comics
That special child on your list might think better in pictures with short segments of words. Here’s a Blank Comic Book Journal Notebook that offers a variety of templates so a creative kid can develop storylines with complementary illustrations for maximum impact. POW!
⭐ Synonyms, Stories, and Skills! Oh My!
Give your favorite young person a leg up with these gifts for kids and teens who read and write for the joy of it! Word lovers and creative writers will go nuts over these handbooks, book kits, and other writers’ tools!
6. Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook
This quirky offering is perfect for the aspiring student who needs a little motivation to jump into writing. Covering a variety of topics, the author teaches through anecdotes and simple advice in Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook.
7. Oxford Children’s Rhyming Dictionary
Do you know a child who loves to play with words? This budding poet or songwriter will love the Oxford Children’s Rhyming Dictionary—the perfect writing assistant to help kids write their own poetry. It’s easy to use and filled with fun illustrations and rhymes.
8. 1,000 Strong Verbs for Fiction Writers
Here at WriteShop, we’re all about helping students write more concretely. This includes writing in active voice and choosing strong verbs.
An excellent stocking stuffer, 1,000 Strong Verbs for Fiction Writers will come in handy for high school and college students as well as those who simply want to flex their writing muscles. This awesome reference book will help your favorite teen writers improve their language and draw in the reader. After all, “Why walk when you can traipse, trot, or slog?”
9. The Hero’s Guidebook: Creating Your Own Hero’s Journey
Humorously illustrated and easy to read, The Hero’s Guidebook uses examples of modern-day heroes from familiar books, film, and video games and takes teens through the steps of developing their own hero stories. Includes writing prompts, reflection questions, and “Your Journey” journal suggestions. Loads of writing fun for ages 13-18!
10. IlluStory: Create Your Own Book
Little authors age 4 and up will love creating any kind of story from their own rich imaginations! They choose the characters, setting, and plot to write and illustrate their story. This awesome Create Your Own Book kit includes a guidebook, cover pages, inside pages, markers, prepaid envelope, and a final full-color printed hardcover book that gets mailed to your child.
11. Word on the Street Junior
Word on the Street Junior is a fun, easy-to-play word game that helps kids ages 7 and up build their vocabulary and creative thinking skills. Play with a friend or play in teams!
⭐ Inspired by Words
Whether you’re shopping for a preschooler, preteen, or young adult, these literary-inspired gifts will fill the bill!
12. “Write On” T-Shirt
Sometimes a classic tee says it all. Available in a variety of colors for kids, women, and men, this motivational “Write On” T-Shirt will make a fun gift for the writers on your gift list.
13. Literary Slip-ons
A “lit” pair of shoes will brighten any reader’s day. Even if you didn’t know that “lit” is the newest synonym for awesome or trendy, these super-cute bookish kicks are great for that teen girl or young adult who’s totally into lit{erature}. Plan ahead, though! These fun shoes don’t ship for several weeks.
PREFER A VERSION FOR WRITERS? Grab a pair of Composition Notebook Slip-ons here!
14. Keychain: “If I Can’t Take My Book, I’m Not Going!”
Confession time! My friend JUST purchased this Book-Lover’s Keychain as a gift for her recently licensed teen driver who never leaves home without a book in her bag. If you know someone just like her, your searching ends here. A fun extra to tuck into a gift box or stocking!
15. Englishbox: A Classic Literature Subscription Box
Now THIS is the gift that keeps on giving! Several of our grandkids live out of state (or out of country), so we love giving subscription crates as gifts. Specially curated for lovers of literary classics, this book box brings stories to life and engages your favorite young adult. It would also make an amazing self-care gift for yourself!
Each Englishbox Classic Literature Subscription Crate comes with one classic novel, a reading guide, and (my favorite part!) a bunch of book-inspired goodies that enhance the reading experience—including gifts to open as they read!
16. Craft Kit: Build a Miniature Library or Study
This standout gift is guaranteed to impress a high schooler who loves all things miniature, crafty, and bookish! Ideal for a detail-oriented teen, this Miniature Library or Study Craft Kit will keep her entertained for hours as she paints, assembles and glues together this model of a library/study.
17. Velocireader Tote Bag
Out of Print makes the coolest gear for bookworms of all ages! Tweens and teens will love this fun and whimsical Velocireader Tote Bag, whether they’re off to school, Grandma’s house, the library … or anywhere!
SHOPPING FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN? Grandkids, nieces, nephews, and young friends will love their very own Out of Print book bag, like this kid-sized Very Hungry Caterpillar Tote. Even better, throw in a few classic Eric Carle Board Books or adorable striped Very Hungry Caterpillar Socks to make the gift complete!
⭐ Fandom Favorites
Books, beverages, bags, and more are gifts that will light up the faces of book-loving kids and teens who love to read or write.
18. Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Collection
The colors! I would buy these books just to brighten my shelves! But I’d read them too, because even as an adult, I still adore the Anne books. This fun collection introduces young readers (9+) to the world—and adventures—of Anne of Green Gables. The books also make lovely read-alouds while curled up in front of a fire or rocking on a porch swing.
19. Anne of Green Gables Blueberry Tea
A steaming cup of tea pairs perfectly with a good book-–particularly when it’s fragrant Prince Edward Blueberry Tea and a volume from the Anne of Green Gables collection! The tea comes in a wooden crate that’s a fun keepsake long after the tea is gone.
20. Anne of Green Gables Cookbook
Growing up, my girls spent hours baking and cooking in the kitchen. As fans of L. M. Montgomery’s classic books, they could have spent every day in Anne’s world. Do you have a tween or teen like this? If so, I bet they’ll love the collection of recipes in the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook inspired by the familiar characters of Avonlea. This cookbook also includes photos, illustrations, quotes and anecdotes to charm its readers.
21. Harry Potter UNO
Everyone is always up for a game of UNO, and this Harry Potter UNO edition adds an unexpected spin for even the most experienced player. This gift is ideal for ages 7 and up.
22. Harry Potter Hogwarts Express LEGO Set
Complete with minifigures of Harry Potter and his pals, this exciting Hogwarts Express LEGO Train Set will entertain Harry Potter fans ages 8-14 who love brick building and wizarding adventures!
23. Lord of The Rings Poster Set
The Lord of The Rings Poster Set would be an eye-catching addition to an office, study, family room, or teen’s bedroom. These 8×10 posters make a great wall grouping—not to mention a unique conversation starter!
24. The Lord of the Rings Mug
Simple is smarter sometimes. Featuring minimalist-style illustrations of Frodo and Samwise, this whimsical Lord of the Rings Mug features a well-known LOTR quote. Pair it with packets of Caramel Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix to make a welcome gift for tween and teen fans of LOTR!
25. The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers
This classic boxed set featuring Adventures of the Borrowers evokes fond memories for many adults and is a captivating introduction to literature for young readers 8 and up. They’ll love meeting the tiny people who live in mouse holes and “borrow” things from the big house for their own ingenious uses.
26. Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Famous Writers
It’s always fun to read about famous people before they were famous! True Tales of Childhood from Famous Writers, a kid-friendly collection of biographies and illustrations, shares lesser-known anecdotes from the younger days of fifteen authors across multiple genres and time periods.
27. Before They Were Authors: Famous Writers as Kids (Graphic Novel)
A hardcover graphic novel, this collection of childhood stories from multiple beloved authors will stir the minds of readers ages 10 and up. Before They Were Authors: Famous Writers as Kids may even foster a desire to explore their own creative abilities!
⭐ More Gifts for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults who Like to Read or Write!
We hope you feel inspired by our gift ideas for young readers and wordsmiths. Because we couldn’t possibly collect every great idea in one place, you’ll find even more inspiration below!
- 20 Awesome Gifts for Kids and Teens Who Love to Write
- 25 Inspiring Gift Ideas for Teens Who Love Reading or Writing
- Cool Writing Tools: Inspire Writing with Old-Fashioned Joy
- 10 Gifts for Grammar Geeks and Writers
- 38 Creative Gifts for Book Lovers and Writers
- 40 Clever Gift for Readers, Writers, and Word Nerds
This post contains affiliate links for products we’re confident your family will love! We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission for recommendations or links to any products or services from Amazon.com.
