Book Nook - Don't just give a child a book. Give them a reason to love it.

 Forget what you think children should be reading. This holiday season, one Pittsburgh literacy expert has a different suggestion for parents and grandparents: Give kids the books they actually want to read.

And the list might surprise you.

Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series is the runaway favorite. Pokémon, Miles Morales, Ada Twist, and Bluey are big hits. Books about adorable animals remain irresistible. Graphic novels and Japanese manga are increasingly popular, too.

While some adults may dismiss these choices as less serious reading, Kyle Fahsel, a former reading teacher who now directs partnerships and mentorship programs at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Pittsburgh, says that's missing the point.

The best book for a child may be the one they can't wait to open. And sometimes, it's the story behind the gift that makes a book unforgettable.

Fahsel recalls two particularly meaningful examples from RIF Pittsburgh's Everybody Wins! mentorship program, which pairs children with their own volunteer adult Reading Buddies for weekly sessions. "Once a year, mentors have the opportunity to give their young Reading Buddies a book of their own. One mentor, whose mother had passed away and had loved The Wizard of Oz, honored her memory by anonymously giving her mentee’s school a classroom set of the beloved classic. It was a gift that connected generations through a story that held special meaning for one family."

Another pair of mentors created a one-of-a-kind pirate adventure activity book for their Reading Buddies, complete with secret messages written in invisible ink for students to discover. The handmade gift transformed reading into an adventure, making the child an active participant in the story.

For Fahsel, both examples illustrate something important about giving books: It's not about how much you spend. It's about knowing the child, sparking curiosity, and making reading personal.

He has a unique window into children's reading preferences. Last year, RIF Pittsburgh provided nearly 84,000 books to approximately 15,000 children across six Pittsburgh neighborhoods and Wilkinsburg. The organization's Everybody Wins! mentorship program has more than tripled over the past 3 years to include 275 adult-child reading partnerships, many of which continue for years.

Fahsel also emphasizes the importance of offering children books by diverse authors and about a wide range of people, cultures, experiences, and interests. RIF Pittsburgh intentionally provides books like the popular graphic novel series Curlfriends by Sharee Miller and New Kid by Jerry Craft, highly relatable coming-of-age stories that show young readers the importance of celebrating their cultural backgrounds. When children see their own families, communities, and identities reflected in stories, reading becomes more personal and meaningful. Just as importantly, books introduce them to people and perspectives beyond their own experiences, building curiosity, understanding, and empathy. 

In Everybody Wins!, students choose a book to keep for their personal libraries each month.Thanks to a grant from The Grable Foundation — awarded as part of the regional "Won’t You Be a Reader?” literacy campaign — participating children now have access to an expanded selection of books to pick from. It’s based on the premise that when kids choose their own books based on their own interests, their love for reading grows. 

"Every child deserves to find a book that feels like it was written just for them — and another that opens their eyes to a world they've never imagined,” said Gregg Behr, Executive Director of The Grable Foundation. 

Those choices offer valuable lessons for holiday shoppers. Fahsel explains that books inspired by television shows, video games and familiar characters can provide an important bridge between children's existing interests and a love of reading. Graphic novels and illustrated stories aren't shortcuts; they can help children build confidence, reading stamina and the desire to explore more complex stories.

At a time when families are looking for meaningful gifts that don't require batteries, subscriptions or more screen time, Fahsel and Behr offer a refreshing reminder: The best book gift isn't necessarily the most impressive one. It's the one that makes a child feel seen, sparks their imagination, or becomes a memory shared with someone they love.