
Gift card provided.
This year, I bought gifts for most of my Christmas list at Barnes & Noble. Like many people, I used to think that Barnes & Noble was pretty much just books, but I was so mistaken: They have countless other products perfect for holiday gifting, from home wares to tech gadgets and toys, toys, toys! Sitting in the comfort of my home, I was able to browse through their website and tick off name after name on my holiday list. If only shopping were always this easy!
Since they have so many great items for kids, I actually bought 75% of the gifts for the children in my family this year from Barnes & Noble. How awesome is that?! These are my top 3 gift ideas for kids from Barnes & Noble:
- 1. Utopia 360° 3D Virtual Reality Headset: VR headsets are one of the hottest trends for 2016, so picking one up is a great way to become a gifting hero! At only $29.95, this headset is a bargain and is compatible with most smartphones, including both Android and iPhone. It’s simple: Just load a few VR apps on your phone, pop the phone into the headset, and place it on your head to be immersed in a virtual reality world of videos and games. Jai actually made his own VR headset this summer, and it’s always a huge hit and conversation starter when we have guests over. It blows my mind that all my childhood sci-fi movies are coming true! I actually picked up a couple of these headsets as gifts for different people, including a teenage boy on my list that I was drawing a blank on what to buy for. Not only are these awesome gifts, but bonus, it will give the recipient something fun to do on Christmas day also!
- 2. LeapFrog Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket: When I saw this, I knew it would be a great gift for my toddler niece who loves girly things and stuff that makes noise! This pretty pink picnic basket retails for $21.95 and comes complete with plastic picnic food and utensils perfect for a teddy bear’s picnic. It talks and sings songs, helping young children learn colors, shapes, matching and manners. The sound can be turned on or off, meaning that it can be used as a “Quiet toy” when appropriate! LeapFrog always make wonderful educational gifts, and I know this will provide a lot of entertainment.
- 3. Grumpy Cat Hand Puppet: My niece also loves cats, so I thought that good old Grumpy Cat would be perfect! Not only will old Grumps give the grownups a smile, but he has soft fur and cute little hands that you can move around to put on a puppet show! At only $15.95, this is a really cute little gift for any child aged 1 year and up.
Hear more about my gift picks in this Gift Guide video:
To further aid you in your holiday gift search, Barnes & Noble have put together a 2016 Holiday Gift Guide with ideas for everyone in your family. As part of this Gift Guide, they’ve compiled a list of the top gifts for children this year:
Top Gifts for Kids

Fun & Imaginative Stories for Kids
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J. K. Rowling
2. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
3. Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #11) by Jeff Kinney
4. Don’t Push the Button! by Bill Cotter
5. The Land of Stories: A Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales written by Chris Colfer and illustrated by Brandon Dorman
6. Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by James Dean and Kimberly Dean
7. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: Extra Sweet Edition written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond
8. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman
9. Darkstalker (Wings of Fire: Legends) by Tui T. Sutherland
10. Gravity Falls: Journal 3 by Alex Hirsch, Rob Renzetti, Andy Gonsalves, Stephanie Ramirez

This Season’s Top Toys
1. Barnes Exclusive 20th Anniversary Pikachu 8″ Plush $19.95
2. Pie Face Showdown $24.95
3. Hot Wheels AI Starter Kit $99.95
4. Sky Rover Voice Control Drone $86.95
5. 10698 LEGO Classic LEGO Large Creative Brick Box $59.95
6. Sesame Street Elmo 13 inch doll $16.95
7. My First Bananagrams $11.21

Top Tech Toys
Design, Make, Create & Build
1. Dash Robot $11.21
2. Bloxels: Build Your Own Video Games $49.95
3. Magformers Walking Robot Set 45pc $99.95
4. littleBits Gizmos & Gadgets 2.0 $199.95
5. Sphero Star Wars Special Edition BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with Force Band $199.95
6. Make: Spinbots Kit $29.95
7. Vex Robotics Pick & Drop $39.95
8. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar™ $49.95

Top Tech Tools
Coding, Robotics, Programming & More
1. CreoPop 3D Printing Pen – Starter Kit $129.95
2. Makeblock mBot $74.95
3. Utopia 360° 3D Virtual Reality Headset $29.95
4. Kano Computer Kit $149.95
5. XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0 Wifi 3D Printer $399.95
6. WEmake FM Radio Soldering Kit with Tools $24.95
Find more kids’ books here and more educational toys and games here!
Special Polar Express Pajama Storytime
Barnes & Noble are also offering a special Christmas activity at their brick and mortar locations that you won’t want to miss:
In addition to great holiday gifts, Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will host a special in-store Polar Express storytime event packed with tons of hot cocoa, coloring, writing letters to Santa and more. Come in your pajamas and join us as we get in the holiday spirit! Find your local Polar Express Pajama Storytime date online here.
When it comes to holiday shopping, Barnes & Noble has you covered for the entire family!
Enter to Win:
One lucky reader will win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
To Enter:
Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Giveaway is open to residents of the continental US, 18+, and ends on December 19th at 11:00 PM PST. Sorry, no PO boxes. See widget for more details and click here to read our giveaway rules.
My daughter would like to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The History Buff books would be a perfect choice for my teen oldest son. He really loves anything to do with history.
Jingle Bells: Christmas Carol Coloring!
my son would like to read the James Patterson, Max series
I would buy some mystery books and young adult movie books!
My daughter would love the, Joannas Christmas, adult coloring book.
My son would love the Star Wars Lego Set
Any would work…I think they are all very nice. Thank you Merry Christmas.
My daughter would like the Harry Potter Marauder’s Map.
I would love to get the eric carle ride and roll! So cute!
My nieces would enjoy playing with the Shopkins Mega Pack S6.
My daughter would like The Hammer of Thor (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Series #2)
My daughter would like the book “Ghosts”.
From what’s listed it would be the Pokemon Go Field Guide, however my grandson who loves to read the most is asking for additional books to complete his Magic Tree House Series.
I like to get the Samsung Galaxy Tab E NOOK 9.6 for my daughter she loves to read and her bookshelf is filled up.
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My kids would love Pie Face!
My niece would love the johanna’s christmas coloring book!
The Secret Keepers!
My son would love Harry Potter wizards chess
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
and the zoober chimp
My daughter would love the Karianna 18” espari Doll – Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes! Such an adorable doll!
My son would love the Nook!
I’d love to get my littles the littleBits Gizmos & Gadgets 2.0 for Christmas this year.
My son would really like the 60102 LEGO City Airport Airport VIP Service. Thanks.
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My son would like to read the new Diary of A Wimpy Kid book!
My son would love the Sphero Star Wars Special Edition BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with Force Band
My kids would like any of the Classic Kids Books!
My kids love games and puzzles. I’d love to read The Magnolia story. I also like that I can get a coffee drink at Barnes and Noble. It’s a fun store.
My kids are little but my little boy would love the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar!
Oh I think he would love the Inventor Kit by Strawbees! That looks so fun!
Our daughter could use a Nook tablet.
JAMES PATTERSON MAX series.
Patterson is the BEST.
I would give the Lego Ideas Yellow Submarine.
The kids would love the Harry Potter gift set the very best from the site.
My son would love the Harry Potter Wizard Chess Deluxe Edition.
Anything Harry Potter would be awesome!
My grandkids definitely want the Harry Potter books!
I would love to give my niece the Press Here Game by Hervé Tullet.
My kids would probably like Snowmen at Night
I would get “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” to read to my son who’s still in the womb, due January 7th!
My grandson would like the FurReal Friends: Torch My Blazin’ Dragon.
I would love to get Diary of a wimpy kid for my sons!
I would love to read Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks which is a Barnes & Noble exclusive edition. I’ve been an avid fan of Nicholas Sparks for years and love a good romance.
Snowmen at Night looks fun
I think my granddaughter would enjoy the Coloring Books for Everyone.
They love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series!
They would love to have the Harry Potter Wizard’s Chess set
Anything Harry Potter, starting with Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit!
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I noticed the Page Flags Pride and Prejudice for my coworkers. They have such gift ideas!
Bon Bon Rolybop Elephant
My son would love the Snap Circuits Junior and h e just may get it, Thanks
Harry Potter, anything Harry Potter.
I like the Dash robot for my son and the My Little Pony Monopoly game for my daughter.
My son would like the Monopoly: The Walking Dead Survival Edition game.
Steam Train Pull Along
My boys would love the Minecraft series books!
My nephew would love Harry Potter Clue game~!
I think my toddler would LOVE the Eric Carle Ride and roll!!
My daughter would love the Pusheen donut cat. She is a bit obsessed with cats at the moment!
My kids would love the POP Rides: Harry Hogwarts Express Engine! They are bit Harry Potter fans!
My girls would love the Magformers Rainbow 30 Piece Building Set because they all like to build things.
My daughter would love the LEGO Architecture Buckingham Palace!
Mine would like the Star Wars Legos!
Harry Potter is always a good gift for me daughter. She would enjoy the Harry Potter: The Coloring Book #1.
Would love the minecraft books.
It would be books. My daughter asked for a few specific books and then a B&N gc to pick some books out later. Thank you!
Harry Potter Clue
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
My son would love the Steam Train Pull Along and my daughter would love the Inventor Kit.
My girls would enjoy the Color Your Holiday set!
I think he would love the POP Rides: Harry Hogwarts Express Engine.
My son would love the Lego Minecraft the Village set. He has been asking for it for a few months now.
My daughter might like the Making Youtube Videos book.
My grandson would love the Hot Wheels AI Starter Kit 🙂
Harry Potter Clue would be perfect for the kids!
Magic of Harry Potter
LEGO DUPLO My First Cars and Trucks would be perfect!
My son would love the Imaginext DC Deluxe Batmobile 2016!
My nephew would be thrilled to get the Lego Star Wars U-Wing Fighter set.
Frosty the Snowman, mini book
He likes to build things, I think he would really enjoy the Magna-Tiles 37 Piece Set
I think my boys would enjoy reading Internet Youtube sensations Dan and Phil Boxed Set featuring their 2 books, The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire and Dan and Phil Go Outside. This would be something different than they usually read and something entertaining.
The
. Utopia 360° 3D Virtual Reality Headset: would go over big.
My daughter has her eye on this one —> Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J. K. Rowling
The Whistler
by John Grisham
My 13 year old would love it
My daughter would love Chip
For me, I’d like the illustrated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!
My daughter is like me and a huge Harry Potter fan! She’s asking for the Funko Pops for Christmas…I didn’t know that they had one for the Hogwarts Express!
I think they would like the Harry Potter Paperback Boxed Set, Books 1-7
The Harry Potter Paperback Boxed Set with Books 1-7 would be a big hit!
I LOVE THE HOT WHEELS STARTER KIT.
My daughter would love the Strawbees Inventer kit!
Harry Potter box set please
Definitely Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J. K. Rowling!!
My nephew would love to get a new The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss because his current one is wearing out pretty wholesome, and a new one for a New Year would be grand.
The Steam Train Pull Along would be perfect for my son.
No kids. My sister wants a nook. I can get her a nook with this GC
Thanks for the contest.