Episode #88: Holiday Gift Recommendations

Welcome to another great episode of Book Friends Forever with Grace Lin and Alvina Ling! Just in time for thinking of holiday gift ideas, Grace and Alvina welcome special guest, Alison Morris, of First Book to help them with book recommendations. As usual, the book friends also catch up on each other’s lives and share what they’re grateful for each week.

Grace wanted to say “thank you” to everyone who purchased her “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” calendar for 2021 as they have officially sold out! She has opened her Etsy shop for the holiday season. Be sure to check it out and order some wonderful prints!

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“How have you been?”

Alison Morris had a quiet but lovely Thanksgiving. She missed seeing her family. Her husband, author and illustrator Gareth Hinds, has been under a deadline to finish a book so a little vacation felt much needed.

Grace’s Thanksgiving was also quiet and nice. Her family ordered dinner from Whole Foods, Zoom called their family, and also held their 2nd Annual Chicken Run! The pod families came over in costume, Hazel had made award ribbons, and it was generally a really fun success.

Alvina also had a pretty mellow Thanksgiving. She spent it in Vermont with Stephen and his father, Bob. They ordered their Thanksgiving dinner from Friendly’s which prompted some reminiscing about going to Friendly’s ice cream as a child. (Fun fact…Alison Morris was a waitress there for a summer!) The big moment was moving Bob into his assisted living facility. It was a positive experience although pretty emotional.

Holiday Gift Book Recommendations:

Grace and Alvina seek out Alison’s expertise on what books are great for some of the specific children in their lives.

Grace’s nephew, Cappy, age 12:

• The Iliad by Gareth Hinds (graphic novel)

• Samurai Rising by Pam Turner, illustrated by Gareth Hinds (nonfiction)

• All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat (nonfiction)

• Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang (graphic novel)

• Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds & Danica Novgorodoff (graphic novel)

Alvina’s nephew, Trogdor, age 9:

• National Geographic Kids 5,000 Awesome Facts About Everything (photographic nonfiction)

• The Life of Zarf: The Trouble with Weasels by Rob Harrell (middle grade novel

• Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez (middle grade novel)

• Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods: 20 Chilling Tales from the Wilderness written by Hal Johnson, illus. by Tom Mead (middle grade short stories)

• Trapped in a Video Game series by Dustin Brady (young middle grade novel)

Winter Book Worms Reading Group, 4 girls, 3rd graders:

• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien (middle grade novel)

• Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen (chapter book)

Alvina’s nephew Integer, (Byoby) age 5:

• Lift by Minh Le & Dan Santat (picture book)

• The Doodle Adventure series by Mike Lowery – The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs! (chapter book-level graphic novel)

• Field Trip to the Moon or Field Trip to the Ocean Deep by John Hare (picture books)

• The Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton (early chapter books)

Grace and Alvina’s friends’ daughter, Martha, age 7 (but reads well above her level):

• Dragons in a Bag and The Dragon Thief by Zetta Elliott (young middle grade novel)

• COMING IN JANUARY – Katie the Catsitter by Colleen AF Venable & Stephanie Yue (graphic novel)

• The Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse (graphic novel)

Alvina’s niece, Shoshana, age 5 (almost 6):

• The Princess in Black series by Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham (early chapter books)

• The Yasmin series by Saadia Faruqi (beginning readers/early chapter books)

• The Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro (chapter books)

• Galapagos Girl/Galapaguena by Marsha Diane Arnold, illus. by Angela Dominguez (nonfiction picture book)

• Rocket Says Clean Up! By Nathan Bryon, illus. by Dapo Adeola (picture book)

Grace’s neighbor Bryson, age 3:

• Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry (picture book)

• Everything Goes: On Land by Brian Biggs (picture book)

• Go, Dog, Go! By P.D. Eastman (picture book/beginning reader)

• Pretzel by Margret Rey and H. A. Rey (picture book)

• Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats (picture book or board book)

• Up on Bob by Mary Sullivan (picture book)

Grace’s neighbor, age 15:

• Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

• The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling

For Grace’s daughter Hazel, age 8:

• A Very Quacky Christmas - written by Frances Watts, illustrated by Ann James (picture book)

•   The Creature Campers series by Joe McGee and Bea Tormo (Chapter Books)

• The My Pet Slime series by Courtney Sheinmel (Chapter Books)

• COMING IN MARCH – Too Small Tola by Atinuke and Onyinye Iwu (Chapter Book)

Books for new babies:

Storytelling Math board books by Grace Lin:

• What Will Fit?

• The Last Marshmallow

• Circle! Sphere!

• Up to My Knees!

THANK YOU so much Alison!

“What are you grateful for?”

Alison is grateful for health in general. She’s thankful that she has healthy family members during this surge in the pandemic deaths.

Grace is grateful that people are purchasing prints off her Etsy shop!

Alvina is grateful that Bob’s transition to an assisted living facility went so well.

More about Alison Morris:

Alison Morris is a nationally recognized children's book buyer with an infectious enthusiasm for reading and 20 years' experience matching books to readers. As the Senior Director of Title Selection for nonprofit First Book, she oversees the curation of children’s and young adult books on the First Book Marketplace, hand-selecting a diverse range of titles that speak to and address the needs of kids in underserved communities, with a keen eye to inclusion, authenticity, and kid-appeal. She previously served as Senior Editor at Scholastic Book Clubs, Children's Book Buyer for Wellesley Booksmith and The Dartmouth Bookstore, and was the founding blogger of the ShelfTalker children’s book blog for Publishers Weekly. She'll be joining us from her home near Washington, DC where she spends LOTS of time discussing books with her husband, illustrator and graphic novelist Gareth Hinds.

Other Books and media mentioned in this episode:

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