It’s Christmas and what better time to give the gift of books. If you have a child on your Christmas list, give them the gift of living a life outside themselves. Books can transport you to places you might never go.

Ian’s Magic https://www.amazon.com/Ians-Magic-Peggy-Chambers/dp/1735830615/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ian%27s+magic+peggy+chambers&qid=1638714309&sr=8-1 is a middle grade reader for 7 – 10 years. Ian learned at an early age that he could perform feats of magic—if his math problems were correct. If not, things might not turn out right for him. But as a grade schooler, he has problems that need solving that can’t be solved on paper with a pencil—like a little brother. And he MUST win the annual math contest this year. The prize is an electronic tablet, so he won’t have to share the family computer. But Thomas wants to win too, and he might be better at math than Ian. Is it fair to win the contest using magic?

Glome’s Valley Glome’s Valley: Chambers, Peggy: 9781717076243: Amazon.com: Books is a young adult novel for 10-15 years. Ethan traveled to the Heavener Runestone for the summer with his archeologist dad and is bored while his dad studies the stone. For something to do, he hikes the hills and runs into a boy about his age who is dressed in Viking garb. As they begin to play in the forest, Ethan meets other inhabitants and soon realizes that the boy is a ghost of Vikings that inhabited the forest centuries before. And Glome has friends and foes; energetic fairies and smelly trolls who have been fighting a war for many years. Ethan is pulled into the war and sneaks out at night to help his friends not knowing that there are forces who want him to fail. His dad finds an app on his phone to help him locate his son and summon Thor for assistance.

Return to Glome’s Valley Return to Glome’s Valley: Chambers, Peggy: 9781521912201: Amazon.com: Books takes place 14 years later when Ethan returns to the place he played as a child and finds not much has changed in the forest, except for him. He meets Trondelag, the dragon and a young girl who might be his doppelganger from when he was young. Glome and the fairies let it slip that the Vinland Maps, an archeologists dream, lay hidden in the forest right under his nose. But Trondelag tries to convince Ethan not to risk his life for a piece of paper that would make him famous. Will he have to summon Thor again for help?

It’s Christmas and time for gifts. What better gift than a book. What are you reading this week?