It should come as a surprise to no one that I am the annoying relative who gives you books for the holidays. Which reminds me, ‘tis the season for one of my all-time favorite tweets:

Anyway, this year has been shitty and continues to be shitty, and if I’m being honest I’m pretty over it, but I’ve got a six and seven-year-old who insist on joy, so if you, too, are doing holiday joy and gift-giving this season, I figured I’d share my picks:

Books for Adults:
For my Boomer fam: King of Ashes S.A. Cosby—For the Boomer dads and others who can take a little gore, and Claire Lombardo’s The Most Fun We Ever Had for everybody else.

For Millenials/Gen Z: I know I’ve recommended it here before, but I’ve already got like five copies of Mia McKenzie’s These Heathens stacked in my Bookshop.org cart.

The spread: Do you have a back up present for the person you invariably forgot? Just me? Well, if you need something on hand that works for a wide variety of readers, Liz Moore’s God of the Woods just came out in paperback, and will be my go-to emergency present this season. Would work for teens, too.

Books for Kids:
Picture book favs: Tyler Feder’s Bodies are Cool, Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin’s Come Over to My House, bell hooks’s Homemade Love.

(Earlyish) elementary: Did you know they’re graphic novelizing The Magic Treehouse series? The boys and I tore through the first eight or so of these, until we caught up with them, and they were all in.

Middle Grade/YA: Ann Clare LeZotte, Deer Run Home. I reviewed this one earlier in the year and I still think about it sometimes.

The spread: If you’re looking for something heftier for the (hearing) K-8 crowd, the CODA is House Yoto and is obsessed. He’s got this one.

Stocking Stuffers:
Don’t worry, I have thoroughly vetted the literary kitsch scene! I’ve perhaps never gotten more compliments on an item of clothing than these library card socks from Out of Print.

Also, I have not yet gifted, but personally requested some merch from Philly Queer Book Club for Hannukah. I mean, who doesn’t need another gay beanie, amirite?

The small but not kitsch: Nonprofit or worker-owned media subscriptions! Legacy media is very busy with the bottom of boots right now, so supporting good nonprofit or worker-owned local media is something I’ve been trying to do more. Some of my favorites are Philadelphia Inquirer, ProPublica, Mississippi Free Press, Texas Tribune, Hell Gate, The 51st, and Defector.

Last and most importantly, food banks! Cash is so helpful to food banks, because they can get wholesale deals that stretch farther than food donations alone. Donate in a loved one’s name to their local bank, or a spot that serves a population close to their heart. A couple of my favorites are Philabundance and Rochester Deaf Kitchen.
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Need more book recommendations? I’ve unlocked my “If You Liked this, Try…” recs for what to read after the bestseller.

ICYMI: For PBS American Masters and in celebration of their new Marlee-centered documentary Not Alone Anymore, I wrote a bit about the evolution of deaf representation in film. The documentary is free to stream, including an ASL-dubbed version up on their site.

This guide originally went out to paid subscribers on 11/25, and will unlock for all subscribers in December.