Miss Dot's Holiday Picks for Young Readers

Doing some holiday shopping? Nothing's better for kids than the gift of reading. Its benefits are well-documented and numerous, and as the holidays approach, sales will only get better.

Here's a helpful short list of some can't-miss titles for the young readers on your list, courtesy of  at the Collingswood Public Library

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

Garabedian told Patch in an email that she thinks Patrice Kindl's Keeping the Castle "will be the big read this holiday season." She described the book as "a cross between Pride and Prejudice and Emma" that will hit home with fans of Jane Austen's work.

"A fun, short read getting starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly," Garabedian said. "Couldn't put it down!"

Mossy by Jan Brett, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer

For the younger set (ages 3 through 6), Garabedian recommends "the impressive artwork of Jan Brett" in Mossy and the latest from Ian Falconer in Olivia and the Fairy Princesses.

"This is Olivia the pig at her humorous, over-the-top best!" Garabedian said.

Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly and Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

"The over-8 crowd" might enjoy the sequel to Kenneth Grahame’s classic The Wind in the Willows, Garabedian wrote. 

Finally, for "the legion of Janet Evanovich fans," she recommends Notorious Nineteen.

"Although these books are somewhat repetitious, the readership is vast," Garabedian wrote. "Perhaps by the time Torturous Thirty is published, [protagonist] Stephanie [Plum] will have finally chosen between Morelli and Ranger!"