Books, Crafts, and Plush Dolls! 45+ Unique Birthday Gifts That Kids Love

Skip the last-minute birthday present scramble with our one-stop birthday gift guide — it's filled with creative, meaningful gifts that kids will remember for years to come. It includes Klutz activity kits, unputdownable books, and plush dolls based on kids’ favorite characters. 

Browse the best birthday gifts by age below or shop birthday gifts for all ages at The Scholastic Store.

Birthday Gifts for Ages 0-2 

Give books that are a joy to read aloud with the How Do Dinosaurs...? Box Set. This charming series features hilarious text and illustrations, and the rounded corners and sturdy pages make this box set very giftable (and likely to endure even if little ones gum the pages). For bedtime reading, turn to the Sensory Snuggables Medium Plush Rabbit With Cloth Book, which includes both a plush bunny and a sweet book — together, this pair is perfect for encouraging sensory exploration and imaginative play. 

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Birthday Gifts for Ages 3-5

Share five classic stories about everyone's favorite Big Red Dog with the Clifford Treasury — children can follow along on Clifford's many adventures with  his best friend, Emily Elizabeth, including when Clifford gets a job and goes to Hollywood. (You can also add on a precious palm-sized Clifford plush doll!)  

Or get kids crafting with the Klutz Jr! This pom-pom kit includes pre-made pom-poms, paper punch-outs, and glue, so that kids can craft 10 fuzzy pom-pom pets, along with a pet carrier to hold them. 

Birthday Gifts for Ages 6-8

Spark kids' imaginations with the Who Would Win? Colossal Competitions 10-Book Box Set. As children read these books, they'll learn all about each animal's anatomy, behavior, and more and get a chance to ponder which dangerous animals would win in a fight. You can never go wrong with a box set, which provides hours of reading — other options that are perfect for this age are Baby-Sitters Little Sister Graphix #1-4 Box Set and Dog Man: The Epic Collection (Books #1-3). 

At this age, kids can lean into crafting (and do so fairly independently). Encourage kids' creativity with Klutz: Make Your Own Soap, Klutz: Paint & Peel Jelly Stickers: Glitter Goals!, and more Klutz kits. 

Get more birthday gifts ideas for ages 6-8 below: 

Birthday Gifts for Ages 9-12

Want a big gifting moment? Turn to retro tins full of books, including classics you may have read yourself as a child, like The Baby-sitters Club Retro Tin Boxed Set and Goosebumps Retro Scream Collection: Limited Edition Tin. Or, help kids discover a newer beloved series with the Wings of Fire #1-5 Box Set (Special Editions), which includes never-before-seen character sketches and an exclusive Q&A with bestselling author Tui T. Sutherland. 

Artistic kids will also adore unwrapping the Cozy Coloring Books Value Pack, which includes three books full of all things cute (including capybaras!). 

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Birthday Gifts for Ages 13+

Lean into children's interests: Bakers and Harry Potter fans will be thrilled to receive a copy of The Official Harry Potter Baking Book. It includes 40+ recipes (think Pumpkin Patch Pies to Owl Muffins) inspired by the books and movies. 

Or turn the control over to kids with the Five Nights at Freddy's: Interactive Novel Box Set, a collection of interactive novels where the reader gets to decide what happens. Hunger Games fans will treasure the Sunrise on the Reaping: Collector's Edition – it's full of beautiful touches, like metallic foil cover details and stained edges with stenciled art that make it a memorable gift. 

Get more birthday present inspiration for ages 13 and up: