Go here for a list of the best book recommendations from some of our favorites; websites, bookstagrammers, and more.
If you’re like us, you’re always looking for a book for someone, whether it’s yourself or someone you know. Birthdays, Christmas, Hannukah, Ramadan, and other holidays are the perfect opportunity to gift books, but how do you choose books for those on your list? We’ve compiled some of our favorite sources for great book recommendations. We promise you’ll find plenty of the best options from these wonderful people who know books like the backs of their hands.
Be sure also to look at our recommendation lists if you have a princess or superhero fan on your list, no matter their age!
Click here for our princess lists and
Click here for our superhero list
Picture books
Children’s Lit Love-
Website: https://childrenslitlove.com
Instagram: @childrenslitlove
One Page at a Time Episode: https://onepagepodcast.com/2020/03/12/episode-23-building-character-with-picture-books-with-mary-costello/
The Book Report-
After having her recommended to us in several different interviews, we knew we needed to check out Michelle from The Book Report. Her book reviews focus on the younger age levels and is a very popular source for book ideas and information!
Website: https://www.thebookreportblog.com
Instagram: @the.book.report
Juvenile Fiction/Middle Grade
We Are Teachers- this is a website of all kinds of resources for teachers, so while you may have to hunt a little for their book recommendation lists, they are well worth the effort when you find them.
Instagram: @weareteachers
Everyday Reading- Janssen actually has amazing recommendations and reviews for many different reading levels (including adult!), but her JF/Middle grade sections are particularly rich. If your reading style ends up meshing with hers, this site is a wealth of book ideas!
Website: https://everyday-reading.com
Instagram: @everydayreading
One Page at a Time Episode: https://onepagepodcast.com/2020/10/01/episode-30-what-everyday-reading-looks-like-with-janssen-bradshaw/
Young Adult
Brightly: Like Everyday Reading, this site actually has recommendations for many different reading levels, but we have been particularly impressed with their YA selections. YA is such a tricky category to navigate, so sometimes we need all the help we can get with these books!
Website: https://www.readbrightly.com
Instagram: @readbrightly
Adult
Professional Book Nerds-
A podcast run by two actual professional book nerds (co hosts who both work for OverDrive, the company we have to thank for the Libby app). Every week they give us several “expert book recommendations.” They live and breathe books and we can reap the benefits of their hard work!
Website: https://professionalbooknerds.com
Instagram: @probooknerds
One Page at a Time Episode: https://onepagepodcast.com/2019/11/21/bring-out-your-professional-book-nerd/
Inclusive/Diverse
Here Wee Read-
Website: https://bookshop.org/shop/hereweeread
Instagram: @hereweeread
Books for Diversity-
Website: https://www.booksfordiversity.com
Instagram: @booksfordiversity
First Name Basis-
Website: http://firstnamebasis.org/books/
Instagram: @firstname.basis
Book Recommendations from some of Our Favorites
There are few things that can bring joy quite like a well-composed book recommendation list when you are at a loss for your (or your kids’ or your classroom’s) next read. Both of us have other people’s efforts to thank for some of our favorite books in the past few years, not to mention our kids’ favorites! While we love to bring you book recommendations ourselves, we also know that there are so many people out there already doing such a wonderful job that the best gift we can give you this holiday season will be to bring you together with all of these amazing resources! We will break them down into several categories so you can hopefully find exactly what you need (book-wise!) and get straight to the fun part- reading!
You may also be interested in our interview with Janssen Bradshaw at Everyday Reading
You may also be interested in our interview with Mary Costello at Children’s Lit Love
And finally, you may also want to listen to our interview(s) with Adam Sockel at Libby and Pro Book Nerds