Happy Holidays! Back by popular demand, we’ve rounded up 30 interesting gift ideas to help you spread joy this season! And if you need more inspiration, don’t forget about our previous year’s lists: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to Nintendo’s wildly popular Switch console doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken, instead offering more of the same but with dramatic increases in power and visuals, plus a few extra features thrown in for good measure. This is bound to be the hottest item on wish lists this season, unless your giftee ranks among the millions who have already nabbed one. $449.99
Paladone NES Cartridge drink coasters
Coasters representing classic NES game cartridges like the original Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt, so your giftee can more easily find something to feel nostalgic about with their drink of choice. $14.99
ARCADE1UP Infinity Game Board
Offers access to countless games in one easy to set-up device (some games cost extra). $499.99
CoolGeek M1 Music Frame CD player
Records are getting too expensive, so many physical media enthusiasts are jumping back on board with CDs. This player by CoolGeek looks great, works on a rechargeable battery or plugged in, and offers both AUX and Bluetooth 5.0 output for true flexibility. $249
Tuneshine live album art display
Compatible with Spotify, Apple Music, Sonos, and last.fm, this neat little gadget adds a fun visual element to your favorite music lover’s streaming experience. $199.99
Teenage Engineering OB-4 speaker
A “portable high-fidelity blutetooth loudspeaker” that boasts 40 hours of playback on a single charge, offers multiple input methods, and features endless looping tape recording that allows users to “rewind the radio and remix anything”. Available in several fun colors. $629
Tiny Vinyl mini-records
Wildly impractical, but supercute and very collectible, these little records work on regular turntables and feature songs purportedly curated by the artists with their fans in mind. $14.99/each
Tin Can Flashback phone
Plug one of these into your home’s router and then get ready to relive the 1980s. Owners can call anyone with one of these devices for free (optional $9.99/month to call all other phones) and chat to their heart’s content, discussing magazines and their favorite New Order tracks deep into the night. Parents can give these to kids to control who they call as well. $75
Camp Snap CS-8 digital video camera
Screenless and with several retro filters, this rechargeable digital video camera is all about recreating classic vibes as opposed to worrying about capturing the perfect shot, helping users live in the moment. $199
Booktrovert “Ask me what I’m reading” tee
Perfect for a fellow booklover, it shows off their love of the written word to the world and might even help start a conversation or two. $22.95-$38.95
The Folio Society Books
Everything else gets pricy limited versions these days, so why not books? Almost like the Criterion Collection for novels, The Folio Society reissues acclaimed and beloved books in lovingly designed special editions that will be treasured by those who list them among their favorites. $18 – $1,500
AAA24 Membership
Few, if any, movie studios inspire the sort of fandom that A24 has, so this subscription is perfect for the movie lover in your life. Members receive zines, a membership pin, free movie tickets (at participating theaters, which do not include Square), $5 in store credit every month, 10% off in the A24 store, a special birthday gift, and more! $99/year
Puzzle Mania! book
From the New York Times Games team, this book features countless print versions of popular games like the crossword, Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, and more! $38
Quince Mongolian cashmere crewneck sweater
At just $50, this sweater really can’t be beat. Several colors are available to choose from and there is also a men’s version for a little bit more. $50
Door Harp
A trio of tranquil notes emanate from this lovely wood piece every time the door is opened. $115
BioLite solar site lights
Rechargeable via USB or solar power, this set of 6 lamps can be staked into the ground or strung along a rope to illuminate anything from a backyard gathering to a campsite cookout. The bulbs are waterproof and provide up to 20 hours of light per charge. $99.95
Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube 8X magnification telescope
Available in 7 fun colors, this is a great tool for novice nature watchers to better observe the world around them. $79.95
SLK Nexus pickleball paddles
Pickleball continues to grow in popularity, so if you know someone who hasn’t picked it up yet or doesn’t have the best paddles, now might be the perfect time to get them some. $49.99
Lectric XP4 750 eBike
Rechargeable, step-through, and folding for easy storage, this versatile eBike is a fun way to get around the neighborhood. $1,813
Franklin Sensors Light Level
Sure, bubble levels look great (which is why there are 2 included on this device), but they can be hard to see from certain angles and distances. To solve that, this level changes between red, orange, yellow, and green lights to make it easy to tell when that shelf is just right. $24.99
DIY Stained Glass Mosaic Kit
Make your own charming work of art without learning how to solder. $49
LEGO Mosaic Maker custom brick set
Take a favorite image (that meets their qualifications) and have it turned into a custom LEGO brick set. $80
Ravensburger GraviTrax Star Wars action-set
Young Star Wars fans will have a blast building their own exciting marble runs. $99.99
Connect 4 Frenzy
Tired of the regular version of Connect 4? Try this new twist that lets up to 6 players take turns trying to bounce their pieces into the board. $14.99
MindWare Run the Runway fashion design kit
Kids will learn how to take their ideas from the sketchbook to the runway with this fun kit! $49.95
Dreamworks Dragons Ultimate Plasma Blast Toothless
A fun action figure that features lights and sounds while boasting an impressive 25″ wingspan. $32.99
POP MART Labubu
We don’t know, but people seem to want them. $20+
SKIBIDI Toilet deluxe figure
No really. We don’t know. $24.99
Hape Dynamic Pixel Piano
A wooden piano filled with discovery that will keep small children playing and discovering for hours. $58.89
Fat Brain Toys PlayTab Go
A portable sensory activity board for ages 1 and up that promises to keep little ones busy and learning no matter where you go. $14
Neither the Library or its staff has received compensation or commission of any kind for inclusion on this list or for clicks to outside websites.
Cover photo by Yevhen Buzuk on Unsplash.
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