Polish-language books make the best gifts for children

The pre-Christmas rush is just around the corner. For parents, this time can bring a great deal of stress and frustration. The list of holiday preparations is so long that sometimes a single sheet of paper isn't enough to write it all down—from shopping, cleaning, and meal prep to hunting for extra chairs so everyone fits at the holiday table.

Every parent is familiar with the annual dilemma of choosing the best gifts for their children. After all, we always try to ensure they get what they’ve dreamed of and included in their letters to Santa. Yet, we often get caught up in a whirlwind of irrational toy shopping, buying trinkets and playthings that get tossed aside after five minutes—only to end up in the trash before spring arrives because there’s simply no room for them in the kids' room. Being a parent is tough, isn't it?

Let’s not lose our heads. Alongside those coveted toys, let’s invest in a timeless gift that can be enjoyed again and again: a book.

8 reasons to buy a Polish-language book for bilingual children
So, here is our own list of reasons why a book makes the best Christmas gift:

1. It supports language development in children of all ages. Even the youngest readers enjoy turning pages and looking at pictures, and these early steps into reading will pay off in the future. It is best to start reading and engaging with books from an early age. Older children learning to read and write will find it easier to recognize sounds and words if they have heard them in their favorite stories—whether listening to a tale or reading together with their parents.

2. Reading fosters a special bond between parents and children. Reading time is time dedicated entirely to the child, allowing us to focus on this single activity without distractions or interruptions. Ideally, one should read for 20 minutes every day; it is an investment worth making, as the time spent is priceless.

3. For bilingual children, reading in Polish opens the door to a language that, while secondary to them, holds great importance for their parents and families. It enriches their vocabulary, aids in Polish communication, and fosters an understanding of Polish culture and customs—which often differ from those in Britain (or other countries). Reading is the first step toward learning to write and developing fluency in one’s native language.

4. Reading stimulates the imagination and helps shape a young person's worldview; it can spark new interests and help them find their place in the world. Books make us more sensitive to the situations of others and teach us empathy.

5. Reading is always an act of learning and discovery—encountering history, new places, and fascinating people; it opens us up to new experiences and to others.

6. A book can be placed on a shelf and revisited later; it is timeless and does not lose its appeal like plastic toys designed to last only a few weeks. 7. Reading is relaxing and soothing, offering a brief escape from reality (especially important for parents after the stress of the holidays!)

8. It’s very easy to wrap. :)

If you have other reasons, feel free to share them in the comments! We could keep adding to this list indefinitely :)

Recommended books as gifts for bilingual children
In our bookstore, you’ll find a unique selection of Polish and Polish-English books, chosen specifically for children learning Polish as a second language.

Children for whom Polish is a second language have different reading needs than their peers in Poland; that’s why we regularly consult with teachers and parents in the Polish diaspora to find out what works best for bilingual children.

We’ve gathered all our book gift suggestions on our Holiday Shop page.

And if you’re looking for books to get you into the holiday spirit, check out our Christmas Books page.

Book gifts for children under 3
For children up to 3 years old, we recommend books with moving parts and cut-outs; these support a toddler's motor skill development and encourage an early love of books through play.

Our bookstore also features popular series that support early speech development, laying the groundwork for bilingualism and future Polish language learning. Pucio and the 'I Learn to Speak, Pronounce, and Tell Stories' series—created and recommended by speech therapists—support Polish language development.

Other recommended series:

Kicia Kocia

Smart Child Academy (Akademia Mądrego Dziecka)

Dobra Książeczka

Book gifts for children aged 4–12
When choosing books as gifts, always consider the child's interests and their level of Polish language proficiency. For example, if a child loves superheroes, Star Wars, dinosaurs, space, the Smurfs, or princesses, suggest books featuring these themes.

We recommend:

Books about animals

Bilingual books: we know from experience that children growing up outside Poland are eager they read in English, but not always in Polish. In such cases, we suggest reaching for titles children know from their English schools—such as *Diary of a Wimpy Kid*, the *Mr. Men and Little Miss* series, Dr. Seuss, *The Gruffalo*, *The Very Hungry Caterpillar*, or *We're Going on a Bear Hunt*. These titles—familiar from English schools or libraries—are hugely popular among English children; their Polish translations capture the interest of bilingual children and encourage them to read in Polish.

Polish literary classics—such as the poems of Tuwim and Brzechwa, along with other timeless verses—help children familiarize themselves with the sounds of the Polish language.

Play-based learning—learning through play—is the best way to acquire a foreign language, especially for younger children or those with limited proficiency in Polish. Games, songs, and rhymes engage all of a child's senses, sparking the joy of discovery and the experience of new stimuli; this, in turn, helps them better retain new words, sentences, and concepts.

Leveled reading—for children just beginning their reading journey, we recommend the following series:

*Czytam sobie* ("I Read by Myself") – This bestselling series supports children aged 5–7 in learning to read independently in Polish, offering three levels of reading proficiency.

We recommend it for bilingual children who are already familiar with leveled reading from their English schools. Matching the reading level to the child's ability helps build reading confidence, and successfully reading even a single short book in Polish is a source of pride. Ready to Read

Bookworms

Words and sentences for learning to read

Book gifts for teens
For older children who read independently, we recommend these series:

Young Adult Literature

The *Magic Tree* series

Books by Łukasz Wierzbicki

Books by David Walliams (in Polish)

Comics, e.g., *Marzi*

Books for parents

Learn how to handle parenting challenges and discover books recommended by experts—such as those from Natuli—that support conscious parenting based on the principles of attachment parenting.

Parenting guides

Novels

Happy reading!