25 Cool Gifts for Kids That Parents Will Love Too

One simple idea: pair a children’s book with a little stuffed friend and package it in a fun way.

What if you could give a child a gift that feels like a fun new toy—but give their parents something they’ll actually be happy to receive?

That’s exactly what I had in mind when I started putting together these little gifts.

I love giving children’s books, but let’s be honest: a book by itself doesn’t always feel like the most exciting thing for a child to open.

Add a tiny stuffed friend that connects to the story, package the two together in a clever way, and suddenly you’ve got a gift that feels completely different.

A lemon book paired with a glass of lemonade.

A strawberry book paired with a berry basket and a strawberry friend inside!

A pretzel book paired with a pretzel that gets tucked into a bakery-style bag.

And a hot dog book?

Well, obviously that one needs a little food basket with a smiley hot dog inside.

The book gives the gift meaning.

The little stuffed friend makes it fun.

And the packaging is what makes the whole thing feel like a gift.

So if you’re looking for cool gifts for kids, a small gift for a birthday party, a non-toy gift for a child who seems to have everything, or just a fun Christmas or baby gift, this is one idea you can keep coming back to time and time again.

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The “Little Friend + Great Story” Gift

Here’s the formula:

Children’s book + little stuffed friend + fun packaging = one seriously cute gift.

And you don’t have to make it complicated.

Start with a children’s book that features a food item.

Then find a small stuffed animal that matches something in the story.

It doesn’t have to be an exact character from the book. In fact, I think it’s more fun when it’s not.

Then ask yourself:

“If this were a real product, how would it be packaged?”

That’s where the fun starts.

A strawberry belongs in a berry basket.

A pretzel belongs in a bakery bag.

A lemon belongs in a lemonade cup.

A hot dog belongs in a food basket.

Suddenly, you’ve gone from “I bought you a book” to “Look at this adorable little gift I made for you!”

And that’s the magic of this idea.

25 Cool Gift Ideas for Kids

I started with food-themed books and little food stuffed animals because I couldn’t resist the cuteness.

Once I started looking, though, I realized there are so many possibilities.

Here are 25 combinations to get you started.

And if you find a book and plush combination that you love, don’t be afraid to make it your own.

The packaging doesn’t have to be expensive—the idea is what makes the gift special.

1. Lemon Book + A Lemon Plush

This might be the gift that started it all.

Pair Lemons Are Not Red with an adorable lemon plush, then tuck the little friend into a clear cup with a lid and a cute straw.

It looks like a tiny cup of lemonade—but instead of a drink, there’s a little friend waiting inside.

It’s playful, unexpected and incredibly easy to put together.

This is such a sweet gift for a toddler or preschooler.

Lemons Are Not Red is a simple, interactive introduction to colors, with clever cutouts that make the pages especially fun for little hands. 

2. Strawberry Book + Strawberry Plush

A strawberry book and a strawberry plush already make a pretty adorable pair.

This is a great early elementary gift, and the little berry basket makes the strawberry plush feel like a tiny farmers-market find.

The book itself is a classic read-aloud about Little Mouse and his prized strawberry. 

3. Pretzel Book + Pretzel Plush

For this one, I wanted the packaging to look like something you might actually get from a bakery.

A simple wax paper bag makes the pretzel plush feel like a little treat, with the book tucked right alongside it.

It’s such an inexpensive packaging idea, but it completely changes the look of the gift.

This one is especially cute for a preschooler.

The story follows Pretzel, a snack who discovers that his own unique talents are what make him special, so the little pretzel plush makes the message even more fun. 

4. Hot Dog Book + Hot Dog Plush

I mean… how could I possibly give a hot dog book without a hot dog stuffed animal?

For this one, I used a little food basket with a liner and tucked the plush inside.

It feels like a tiny hot dog gift basket, which is exactly the kind of unexpected detail that makes a gift memorable.

This is a perfect preschool gift and kindergarten gift for a little Mo Willems fan.

The story is funny and fast-moving, with Pigeon trying to figure out what to do when a hungry duckling wants some of his hot dog. 

5. Pizza Book + Pizza Plush

This playful picture book makes a particularly fun preschool or early-elementary gift.

Pete’s dad turns him into a pretend pizza when Pete is feeling down, making the pizza plush and little pizza box an especially fun extension of the story. 

6. French Fry Book + French Fry Plush

This is such a fun choice for a little kid who loves food and silly stories.

Tuck the French fry plush into an actual fry container and you’ve got a gift that looks like a tiny fast-food order—except this one comes with a book!

7. Cookie Book + Cookie Plush

This classic makes a wonderful toddler, preschool through early-elementary gift.

The story’s silly chain of events is perfect for reading aloud, and a little cookie plush in a bakery-style bag turns a familiar book into something that feels completely new.

8. Watermelon Book + Watermelon Plush

This one is especially fun for a preschooler.

The crocodile narrator’s hilarious fear of swallowing a watermelon seed makes this a silly, memorable read—and the produce bag makes the plush look like it just came home from the grocery store. 

9. Peach Book + Peach Plush

This sweet story about two frogs and their friendship makes a lovely preschool or early-elementary gift.

The little peach plush is really more of a playful packaging surprise than something directly from the story, which is part of what makes this combination so cute. 

10. Pie Book + Apple Pie Plush

This one is different from many of the younger picture books on the list.

Pies from Nowhere tells the true story of Georgia Gilmore and the women who used their cooking to help sustain the Montgomery Bus Boycott, making this a thoughtful early-elementary gift with a meaningful history lesson tucked inside. 

This idea isn’t limited to toddler books!

11. Ice Cream Book + Ice Cream Plush

This is a fun preschool or early-reader gift built around one of the most recognizable Elephant & Piggie stories.

Put the little ice cream plush in a real ice cream cup with a spoon and suddenly you’ve got a tiny ice cream-shop gift. 

12. Popcorn Book + Popcorn Plush

This is such a cute preschool or early-elementary gift.

Otto is a little popcorn kernel who doesn’t pop like the others, making this a sweet story about self-acceptance and embracing what makes you different.

Put a popcorn plush in a classic popcorn box and you’ve got a gift that’s as fun as the story itself. 

13. Coffee Book + Coffee Plush

This is such a fun option for a preschool or early-elementary child, especially one who loves playing restaurant or pretending to run a café.

The story follows a little boy who helps at his family’s café in France and learns to slow down and take his time. 

14. Taco Book + Taco Plush

This is practically begging to be turned into a gift.

The book’s silly taco-loving dragons make it a great preschool through early-elementary choice, and putting the taco plush in an actual taco holder takes the joke all the way. 

15. Banana Book + Banana Plush

This one is your baby/toddler option.

It’s a colorful board book filled with silly, affectionate rhymes, so pairing it with a banana plush makes a really cute first-birthday or new-baby gift. 

16. S’more Book + S’more Plush

This is a great preschool through early-elementary gift, especially for a child who loves camping or cozy outdoor adventures.

The story follows Graham the s’more as he learns that he doesn’t need to be something different to be enough. 

17. Orange Book + Orange Plush

This is a particularly good choice for a kindergarten or early-elementary child.

Orange feels left out when all the other fruits can rhyme, but the story turns into a funny and thoughtful lesson about friendship, inclusion and appreciating differences. 

18. Donut Book + Donut Plush

This would be such a fun preschool through early-elementary gift.

Arnie is a doughnut who discovers that being eaten isn’t necessarily the destiny he imagined for himself, and a little donut tucked into a bakery bag makes the whole thing even more playful.

19. Cupcake Book + Cupcake Plush

This is another great preschool through early-elementary option from the If You Give… series.

Put the cupcake plush in an actual cupcake container and you’ve got a gift that looks like it came straight from a bakery.

20. Avocado Book + Avocado Plush

This one is especially meaningful for a kindergarten or early-elementary child.

Avi the avocado worries about new and unfamiliar things, and the story gives kids a concrete way to think about facing their fears one brave step at a time. 

21. Sushi Book + Sushi Plush

This is a little different from the other books because it’s also designed to appeal to adults who enjoy miniatures, art and photography.

That makes it a fun choice for an older preschooler, young reader or family gift, particularly if the child already loves sushi. 

22. Sandwich Book + Sandwich Plush

This would make a sweet preschool or early-elementary gift.

The story follows two friends who learn to appreciate each other’s different foods and cultures, so the little sandwich wrapped like a deli order is a fun nod to the book.

23. Apple Book + Caramel Apple Plush

This is a great toddler or preschool gift, particularly for fall.

The story introduces young children to how apples grow, so the apple-themed plush and caramel-apple packaging turn it into a really cute back to school gift. 

24. Pickle Book + Cucumber Plush

This is one of the sillier combinations in the collection—and that’s exactly why I like it.

It’s a fun preschool or early-elementary gift for the child who is obsessed with pickles, and the mason jar makes the cucumber plush look like the world’s cutest jar of pickles. 

25. Pasta Book + Tomato Plush

This one brings you right back to the baby/toddler crowd.

Little Book of Pasta is a short board book that introduces little ones to different pasta shapes, making it especially appropriate for a baby’s first library or early-learning collection. 

Why Parents Love These Gifts for Kids

Why do these gifts work so well?

They’re a little bit of everything.

They’re fun.

There’s something exciting about getting a little stuffed friend.

They’re useful.

The child gets a new book that can actually be read and enjoyed.

They’re small.

If you’re looking for a small gift for a child, you don’t need a giant present to make an impression.

They’re different.

These aren’t the same toys everyone else is bringing to the birthday party.

They’re great for kids who have everything.

If the child already has a playroom overflowing with toys, a thoughtfully chosen book and little friend can be a welcome change.

And they’re personal.

You can choose the book based on the child’s age, personality or interests—and then find the little friend that makes the pairing work.

That’s what makes this more than just a book gift.

You’re creating a little story around the gift.

When to Give These Cool Gifts for Kids

One of the things I love most about this idea is that you’re not limited to one occasion.

Birthday Gifts

These are perfect when you’re headed to a child’s birthday party and want to give something a little more interesting than another toy.

They’re especially nice for a friend, niece, nephew or classmate when you want a small birthday gift that still feels special.

Christmas Gifts

This idea works beautifully for Christmas, too.

Make one for a niece or nephew, tuck one under the tree for a grandchild, or use the idea when you’re looking for a smaller Christmas gift that isn’t just another toy.

And because the concept works with so many different books and plushes, you can customize it for different ages and personalities.

Baby Shower Gifts

For a baby shower, choose a sweet board book and a soft little stuffed friend.

The baby obviously won’t be reading the book right away, but that’s part of the beauty of a book gift—it can become part of the child’s library for years to come.

New Baby Gifts

A book + little friend also makes a sweet new baby gift.

Choose a beloved children’s classic, pair it with a coordinating plush, and package it in a way that feels special enough to give to new parents.

First Day of School or Back-to-School Gifts

A book-themed gift can also be a fun way to celebrate a preschooler or kindergartener starting school.

A little friend + a new story feels like a sweet “you’ve got this!” gift.

Just Because

And, of course, you don’t actually need an occasion.

Sometimes a little gift just because you were thinking about someone is the best kind.

A Gift for Kids Who Have Everything

This might be my favorite reason to make one of these gifts.

You know the kid.

The one who already has every toy.

The one whose birthday party invitation arrives and you immediately think:

“What on earth am I going to buy this child?”

Instead of trying to find something they’ve never seen before at the toy store, create something they probably don’t already have.

A little strawberry in a berry basket.

A hamburger in a takeout box.

A lemon in a drinking cup.

It’s unexpected without being complicated.

And that’s exactly what I want from a good kid’s gift.

Don’t you?

Free Printable Gift Tags for Kids

Of course, I couldn’t make these gifts without making a gift tag to go with them.

The tags say:

A little friend + A great story = feed your imagination.

Simply print, cut and attach them to your gift.

I created four food-specific printable tags to coordinate with the gifts I’ve photographed:

   

And I also made a generic version with a little book illustration that works with all the other book + plush combinations.

I love that the tag brings the whole idea together.

The little stuffed animal makes the gift fun.

The book makes it meaningful.

And the tag explains why the two belong together.

A little friend + A great story = feed your imagination.

How to Create Your Own Book + Plush Gift

Once you see the formula, you start noticing possibilities everywhere.

Find a children’s book that features something recognizable.

Then ask:

Could I find a little stuffed version of that thing?

If the answer is yes, you’re halfway there.

Then think about the packaging.

Would it go in a:

• berry basket?
• bakery bag?
• takeout container?
• cup?
• food basket?
• produce basket?
• little box?
• paper bag?
• pastry box?
• jar?

The packaging doesn’t need to be fancy.

And chances are, you already have something around the house that can work perfectly for the packaging.

It just needs to make sense with the little friend.

That’s what turns a book and stuffed animal into a gift that feels completely intentional.

The Gift Doesn’t Have to Be Big to Be Special

I think we’re all a little conditioned to believe that a great gift has to be a big gift.

But some of my favorite gifts are the little ones.

A children’s book.

A tiny stuffed animal.

A clever little package.

And a tag that says feed your imagination.

That’s enough.

In fact, sometimes a small, thoughtful gift is exactly what you need—especially when you’re shopping for a birthday party, a child’s friend, a niece or nephew, a new baby, or a kid who already seems to have everything.

A Little Friend. A Great Story. A Really Cool Gift.

I started with one simple idea:

What if I paired a children’s book with a little stuffed friend and packaged the two in a fun way?

And once I made the first one, I couldn’t stop thinking of more.

That’s the beauty of this gift idea.

You can make it for a baby.

You can make it for a toddler.

You can make it for a preschooler.

You can make it for a young reader.

You can make it for Christmas.

You can make it for a birthday.

Or you can make it simply because you found a book that was too good not to share.

The child gets a little friend.

The parent gets a great story.

And you get to give a gift that feels like you actually thought about it.

A little friend + A great story = feed your imagination.

Magic is in the details,