A Dad’s Guide to Books, Manga, and Bookish Gifts
I’m George. My kids are 11 and 13. One tears through Percy Jackson and Solo Leveling. The other draws anime and reads 23 manga volumes in three weeks. We play Fortnite together, binge Demon Slayer, and argue about which Harry Potter book is best.
This site is what I’ve learned: book recommendations that worked, gifts that didn’t collect dust, and the gear worth buying.
Books We’ve Actually Read
Picture books we read a hundred times. Chapter books that got my kids hooked. Manga series they finished in a week. If it’s on this site, someone in my family read it first.
Book Gear That’s Worth It
Book lights that don’t die after a month. Stands that hold actual heavy books. Bookends that look good and work. I’ve bought the cheap stuff and the expensive stuff. Here’s what survived.
Harry Potter Stuff
Illustrated editions on the shelf. LEGO sets half-built in the living room. Mugs we actually drink from. If you’re shopping for a Potterhead, this is the list.
Lord of the Rings Picks
The books, the art collections, the gift editions. Merchandise for fans who’ve read the appendices. (Yes, those people exist. I’m one of them)
Why trust some random dad on the internet?
Fair question. I’ve been reading to my kids for 13 years. Started with board books, now we’re into manga and YA. My wife’s a therapist who picks books that actually help kids. Between us, we’ve tested hundreds of recommendations on our own family first.