9 Delightful Kids’ Books That Fit Inside a Stocking

Little Sea Turtle Finger Puppet Book, by ImageBooks 
Size (in inches): 4.30(w) x 4.30(h) x 1.00(d)
This story is simple enough for toddlers: the baby sea turtles just hatched and now they’re swimming! But the finger puppets add another layer, giving kids and parents a new way to play peek-a-book together. Want more puppet fun? There’s a whole series of these books, featuring fox, dog, monkey, and duck puppets, and more!

The Very Busy Spider’s Favorite Words, by Eric Carle
Size: 2.20(w) x 2.20(h) x 2.30(d)
This mini book includes ten illustrations by the beloved artist Eric Carle and ten words from his classic stories. The colorful art will draw kids in, and the vocabulary builds early reading skills. And before Baby can read, these chunky board books can double as building blocks. Read the stories…build ‘em up…knock…’em down! Do it again!

Pat the Bunny, by Dorothy Kunhardt
Size: 5.16(w) x 7.04(h) x 1.10(d)
This is the touch-and-feel book that started it all! At least for many of us. Gift the little ones in your life with a nostalgic title that will quickly become a new favorite. There’s the classic bunny, plus the peekaboo blanket, and the scratch-and-sniff flowers, all sure to become well worn by a new generation of loving hands.

Pantone: Colors, by Pantone
Size: 8.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)
This board book is so stinkin’ trendy, I want it! By showing the difference between light and dark versions of the same color, Pantone teaches color in a whole new way and builds vocabulary. Naturally, the corresponding Pantone colors are included. Perfect for baby art directors!
For Kids Who Can Read

Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel
Size: 8.90(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.18(d)
Pretty much any of the I Can Read books can be curled into the side of a stocking. Why not choose a couple that you remember from being a kid and share them with your little ones when all the excitement has died down a bit? If you need a recommendation to get you started, you can’t go wrong with Frog and Toad. They still stand up today. Merry Ribbit!

Ivy and Bean, by Annie Barrows
Size: 5.50(w) x 7.25(h) x 0.37(d)
Chapter books are designed to be held easily by little hands, and that makes them perfect for slipping into a stocking! If there’s a new book in your kiddo’s favorite series, grab that one. If you need a new series to start, Ivy and Bean is a winner with both boys and girls. OK mostly girls, but boys will gobble them up too. And that’s a good thing for everyone.

Beautiful Oops, by Barney Saltzberg
Size: 7.00(w) x 6.80(h) x 1.30(d)
This is the largest book on the list, but with its flaps, tears, holes, and haven’t-seen-that-before paper-engineering tricks, it’s totally worth having it peek out the top of the stocking. This book is a celebration of creative thinking and the magic that comes with making a mistake. It’s a lovely way to inspire kids to step away from the video games and make something a little bit messy and totally original.

Fact or Fib, by Kathy Furgang
Size: 05/06/2014
Great books prompt great conversations (some about deep ideas, some not so deep ideas). With claims like “An ant can lift a ladybug” and “There are about four million dogs in the world today,” the Fact or Fib series will give your kids lots to talk about, debating which statements are true and which are false. Be warned: your kids WILL try to stump you with these books.

What’s Your Poo Telling You?, by Josh Richman and Anish Sheth MD
Size: 4.75(w) x 6.25(h) x 0.37(d)
This book is perfect for older kids who love a good poop joke as much as their younger brothers and sisters. Packed with facts like what makes poop float and disturbing names for BMs like The Hanging Chad and The Log Jam, this book will give kids more than enough information to gross out their teachers, babysitters, brothers and sisters, and probably even themselves!
What are your favorite stocking stuffer books?