Stocking Stuffers for Kids: 24 Books for Ages 4–8

Why small books make good stocking stuffers for kids

Short answer: A small book fits in a stocking, can be read the same morning, and, unlike candy, can be read again afterward.

Candy is usually gone by lunch, and some small toys may not last much longer. A book can be read again, and a child may ask for it that same evening.

We chose these 24 books with three things in mind:

• Size. Many are small: Little Golden Books, a pocket-size Peter Rabbit, early-reader paperbacks, and thin activity books. Others, like the Elephant & Piggie books, are standard-size hardcovers, and we say so.
• Age. The books are grouped for 4- and 5-year-olds and for 6- to 8-year-olds. The ages are a rough guide.
• Themes. Some books fit the skills our program works on: waiting, sharing, helping, and trying again after a mistake.

The book links on this page go to Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that shares its sales with independent bookstores. They are affiliate links: we earn a small commission from Bookshop.org if you buy there. We list the edition and format for each book, so you can find it at your local library or bookstore too. We don't list prices, because they change.

Small classics for ages 4–5

Short answer: Little Golden Books and Beatrix Potter's original small editions are among the most stocking-sized books there are.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (Warne, small hardcover, about 4 by 5½ inches). At this size it fits easily in a stocking. Peter goes into Mr. McGregor's garden after his mother tells him not to.

The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey (Golden Books, Little Golden Book hardcover). A story about five puppies who dig under a fence, from one of the first Little Golden Books, published in 1942.

The Saggy Baggy Elephant by Kathryn and Byron Jackson (Golden Books, Little Golden Book hardcover). A young elephant worries about his wrinkled, baggy skin, and by the end of the story that worry is solved.

The Little Red Hen, illustrated by J. P. Miller (Golden Books, Little Golden Book hardcover). The hen asks her friends to help plant, harvest, and bake, and each one says no. Children ages 4 and 5 often join in on the repeated lines, and the ending opens an easy question: who helped, and who didn't?

Elephant & Piggie books for 4- and 5-year-olds

Short answer: Mo Willems's Elephant & Piggie books are funny and written almost entirely in speech bubbles, so they work as read-alouds at 4 and as first books to read alone at 6.

They are standard-size hardcovers of about 57 pages, with very few words on a page.

Waiting Is Not Easy! (Hyperion). Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, and Gerald has to wait for it. It fits the long wait before Christmas.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? (Hyperion). Gerald argues with himself about sharing his ice cream with Piggie for so long that something happens to it. It's a funny way into the question of sharing.

Elephants Cannot Dance! (Hyperion). Gerald is sure elephants can't dance, and Piggie talks him into trying.

We Are in a Book! (Hyperion). Gerald and Piggie realize that someone is reading them.

From the same author, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (Hyperion) is a regular picture book rather than a small one. The pigeon finds a hot dog, and a small duckling has a lot of questions about it. It ends with sharing.

Small stocking stuffers for kids: activity and puzzle books

Short answer: Activity books are thin, light, and give a child something to do on Christmas morning while the grown-ups make breakfast.

Merry Christmas Activity Book by Tony J. Tallarico Jr. (Dover, 48-page paperback). Dover describes 36 Christmas puzzles, such as naming Santa's reindeer, finding matching ornaments, and crosswords with picture clues. A few crayons or a pencil tucked in next to it make it ready to use.

Christmas Hidden Pictures Puzzles to Highlight (Highlights Press, 32 pages). Hidden picture puzzles from Highlights, built around Christmas scenes. Two children can search the same page together.

Christmas Fun Mad Libs by Roger Price and Leonard Stern (Price Stern Sloan, 48-page paperback). A fill-in-the-blank word game: one person asks for a noun, a verb, or a silly word, and then reads the finished story aloud. The publisher lists it for ages 8–12. Younger children can play if a grown-up does the writing.

Early readers for 6- to 8-year-olds

Short answer: Early readers and first chapter books are the right size for a stocking, and a child who is learning to read may be proud to read one alone.

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel (HarperTrophy, I Can Read paperback, 64 pages). Five short stories about two friends, and a Caldecott Honor book.

Henry and Mudge: The First Book by Cynthia Rylant (Aladdin, 40-page paperback). Henry, who wants a dog, gets a puppy named Mudge.

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (Scholastic). A boy named Buzz catches a fly and wants to enter him in a pet show. It is written for children who are just starting to read.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick, hardcover). The first book about Mercy, a pig who loves hot buttered toast. One night the Watsons wake up to find their bed tipping over a hole in the floor. It's a short chapter book with full-color pictures, and it reads aloud well for a 5-year-old too.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton (Tundra Books, 64 pages). Narwhal meets a jellyfish named Jelly, in short stories told in comic panels.

Owl Diaries: Eva's Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott (Scholastic). The first book in an early chapter book series written as an owl's diary, with pictures on every page. Eva plans a festival at school and finds out she can't do it all by herself.

Joke books for kids who love to laugh

Short answer: Joke books get read out loud at the breakfast table. These two are listed for children about 7 and older, and younger siblings can enjoy them when someone else reads the jokes.

Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott (Revell, part of Baker Publishing Group, paperback). One-liners, knock-knock jokes, and tongue twisters. Retailers list it for ages 7 and up.

Just Joking 3 (National Geographic Kids, 208-page paperback). Jokes, riddles, knock-knock jokes, and tongue twisters set next to photos, many of them of animals. It is listed for ages 8–12.

Books about feelings, patience, and trying again

Short answer: These are short picture books about what our program practices: naming feelings, waiting, and not giving up after a mistake.

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek (Abrams, hardcover). A girl describes what different feelings are like from the inside, and there's a heart-shaped cutout through the pages. The publisher lists it for ages 2–4, so it is the one for the youngest children on this list, or for a younger sibling. For more books like it, see our guide to feelings books for children.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick, 32-page hardcover, about 7½ by 8½ inches). Vashti is sure she can't draw. Her teacher asks her to make a mark and sign it, and she starts there. It's a good book for a child who gives up early.

Ish by Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick, hardcover). Ramon loves to draw, until he starts to worry that his pictures don't look right. The book is about a drawing that is "ish" rather than exact. It pairs well with The Dot.

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (Platt & Munk, an imprint of Grosset & Dunlap; hardcover, 48 pages, the complete original edition). The classic about a small engine that tries to pull a stranded train of toys over the mountain, saying "I think I can." It's a regular picture book, not a small one.

We keep more books like these in a list on Bookshop.org, Books About Patience, Trying Again, and “Not Yet”. If waiting is a big topic in your house in December, our guide on how to teach kids patience has more ideas.

Stocking stuffers for kids that aren't junk, and aren't things

Short answer: Some of the most useful stocking stuffers for kids are promises written on paper.

These cost nothing but your time, and some children may remember them longer than a toy:

• A coupon for one-on-one time. "One hour with Dad, just us. You choose: the park, a board game, or baking cookies." Giving three options makes it easier for a 5-year-old to choose.
• A "you pick dinner" card. Your child chooses what the family eats one night in January.
• A late bedtime ticket. Fifteen extra minutes, used on a night your child picks.
• A library card of their own. If your child doesn't have one, a note that says "We're getting your library card this week" is a good match for a stocking full of books.
• A note from you. A few sentences about something specific they did this year: "You kept trying on your bike, even after you fell."

The coupons work best if they're used soon. A coupon still in the drawer in March is a small disappointment, so put a date on it together.

How to fill a stocking without overdoing it

Short answer: One book, one small thing to do, and one thing to eat is enough for many 4- to 8-year-olds.

A very full stocking can be more than a young child takes in. They open everything in a few minutes, and nothing gets much attention. A few things they'll actually use often go further.

A simple pattern:

• Something to read. One of the books above, picked for your child's age.
• Something to do. An activity book, crayons, or a coupon from the section above.
• Something small to eat. A clementine or a candy cane, if your family does that.

Christmas morning also involves a lot of waiting, and a book gives a child something to do in the meantime.

What are stocking stuffers?

Stocking stuffers are the small gifts that go inside a Christmas stocking, usually opened on Christmas morning. They're typically small and simple: books, crayons, small toys, fruit, or candy. Small books, like the ones in this list, fit well because they are both small and long-lasting.

What are good stocking stuffers?

For children ages 4–8, good stocking stuffers are small, safe for their age, and used after Christmas morning. Small books are a strong choice: a Little Golden Book for a 4-year-old, an early reader or a joke book for a 6- to 8-year-old. Activity books, crayons, and a written coupon for one-on-one time also work well. For younger children, check that no item is small enough to be a choking hazard.

Do you wrap stocking stuffers?

Some families do and some don't; there's no rule. Wrapping makes the stocking last longer, because each item is a small surprise. Leaving items unwrapped is faster for parents and lets a young child see right away what's inside. A middle option is wrapping only one item, often a book, so there's one thing to open and the rest can be seen at a glance.

What are practical stocking stuffers for kids?

Practical stocking stuffers for kids are things they'll use after the holidays: books, a toothbrush, warm socks, hair ties, crayons, a water bottle, or a small flashlight for reading in bed. Books are practical because they can be read again and again. Pairing a practical item with something fun, like a joke book, keeps the stocking from feeling like a list of chores.

What are cheap stocking stuffers for kids?

Some of the lowest-cost books for a stocking are Little Golden Books, early-reader paperbacks such as I Can Read books, and small activity books like Dover's. Library book sales and used bookstores are another option. Some of the most loved stocking stuffers cost nothing: a coupon for one-on-one time, a "you pick dinner" card, or a note from you about something your child did this year.

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