A Nintendo Switch 2 display appears at a Best Buy in Nashville, Tenn., on une 5, 2025, (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

BOOKS

“The Poisoned King” by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie. It’s up to 12-year-old Princess Anya to save the dragons and her kingdom. The hotly anticipated Book 2 of the Impossible Creatures series is a fantasy adventure driven by an unyielding belief in the power of goodness.

“Maker Girl and Professor Smarts” by Jasmine Florentine. So what if they don’t have superpowers? These supersmart best friends are ready to take on supervillains! This hilarious, hybrid graphic chapter book includes science-backed instructions for making sorbet and cardboard grappling hooks.

“The Weirdies” by Michael Buckley, illustrated by Forrest Burdett. From the creator of “Sisters Grimm,” these 10-year-old triplets and the world they live in are weird — and highly entertaining. Pencil-hatching illustrations accompany Lemony Snicket-esque humor and fourth-wall breaking.

“I Love You, Little Moose!” by Sandra Magsamen. A five-line poem about nature and all the things we love about it, with vibrant colors and bubble-letter text. This board book also has soft plushie antlers on top.

“Why Does the Wind Blow?” by Eric Carle. Science made easy in classic Eric Carle style! This quick read explains in simple terms how wind blows, aided by illustrations and one Very Hungry Caterpillar.

“Little Heroes of Color: I’m A Little Hero” by David Heredia. Heroes range from hardworking Jim Thorpe to inventive Arvind Gupta to fearless Sonia Sotomayor. Rhyming and repetition make complicated words and ideas easier to understand. In the back, readers will find a mirror with a message that they’re a little hero, too.

“Bitty and Bub, Best Buds” by Janee Trasler. Five short, silly comics follow fun-loving friends Bitty and Bub. It’s a great introduction to reading comics, using speech bubbles in simple panel progressions.

“The Story of My Anger” by Jasminne Mendez. Told in verse and as a play, this empowering story follows Yuli, a junior at a Texas high school, as she learns how to handle racism, the pressure to shine, and stress at home with a widowed mom living with a chronic illness.

“The House of Quiet” by Kiersten White. A Gothic mystery that explores class struggle and what it means to make a positive impact in the world. The stunning ending pulls the pieces together without a single detail wasted.

“When We Were Monsters” by Jennifer Niven. Arlo and Effy trade off narrating this genre-bender of dark academia, murder mystery, thriller and romance. A “Frankenstein” motif throughout the novel conveys themes of monsters and fate vs. free will.

“Leave It on the Track” by Margot Fisher. After her dads die in a fire, Moose moves to a new state to live with her older half-sister, who convinces her to try roller derby. Fisher’s debut grabs you and doesn’t let go, tackling grief, being LGBTQ+ and finding community.

“Take Up Space, Y’all” by Tess Holliday and Kelly Coon. A body positivity book with guides and tips, from finding your fashion to having a healthy relationship with food to dealing with labels. It always defers to consulting your doctor for medical needs like skin problems and mental health challenges.

“I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir” by Eugene Yelchin. The sequel to “The Genius Under the Table” also stands on its own, chronicling a Jewish man’s escape from Soviet Russia in the 1980s with a unique art style that incorporates photographs. Yelchin’s mom and grandmother provide comic relief with their melodrama and uncanny wisdom.

MUSIC

Gonna be golden: For the K-pop lover — heck, for the animated family film fan — there was no bigger pop culture story in 2025 than “KPop Demon Hunters.” The women of the fictional girl group HUNTR/X as well as the heartthrobs of demon boy band Saja Boys no doubt inspired a million cosplays. The most envy-worthy of their fashions is likely HUNTR/X leader Rumi’s bright yellow bomber jacket and, luckily, Netflix has it available for purchase on their webstore. It’s unique enough to function as a costume but also sporty enough for everyday wear.

Loud and clear: Every music enthusiast needs a decent speaker in their life. And for the more eccentric listener, only a truly unique device will do. That’s where Uncommon Goods’ Acoustic Gramophone Amplifying Speaker enters the conversation. This beautiful smartphone speaker — handmade from walnut wood — naturally amplifies. That’s right: There are no cords, wires, batteries, solar panels or whatever else involved. Simply slide your phone into the slot, press play on your favorite streaming platform and let the natural acoustic enhancements happen.

Dolly it up: It’s hard to go wrong with Dolly Parton. So, make your holiday shopping easier by gifting a country connoisseur her latest coffee-table book, “Star of the Show: My Life on Stage.” It’s the third and final installment in her photographic trilogy of big ol’ books — following “Songteller,” which was all about her lyrics, and “Behind the Seams,” about her daring and culture-shifting fashion. Parton has arguably saved the best for last: This text is all about her performance, offering both an in-depth personal and professional history. Plus, it’ll look great in any living room. Random House.

Get ‘GUTS’-y: Tour books are a dime a dozen these days and with good reason. They make for great gifts! High-resolution, never-before-seen images are ideal for the young superfan — and Olivia Rodrigo knows that. Her “GUTS World Tour Book” boasts 136 pages of images and some text detailing her energetic run of shows, alongside a sticker sheet, limited-edition poster and more. While the stan in your life awaits Rodrigo’s third album, surprise them with this. Available via Rodrigo’s merch store.

TECH

The Nintendo Switch 2 was the biggest and most anticipated console launch of 2025, and if history is any indication, it will be increasingly harder to find as Christmas approaches. But for the gamers in your life — both young and adult — this is the gift to get.

Nintendo’s Black Friday deals for the console and games have been announced but the best bang for your buck may be the console bundles. The Switch 2 is still available as just the console only or bundled with Mario Kart World. A new bundle is now available where the console is packaged with Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

The iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max captured the headlines this year when the new lineup launched, but the base iPhone 17 received an upgraded camera (telephoto lens), more base storage and a longer battery life. Given the price for this model hasn’t changed, you’re straight up getting more tech for the same price. If your gift recipient’s current iPhone is a few generations behind, this is a good time to consider an upgrade.

If you or someone in your life has ever been curious about a foldable phone, consider Samsung’s newest Galaxy Z Fold 7 model. This phone solves many of the issues users have been concerned about since fold phones hit the market: It’s much thinner and lighter than its predecessors — 0.17 inches thick when unfolded and less than half an inch folded — and it weighs slightly less than half a pound, impressive considering they boosted the size of all the screens.

For anyone interested in doing more filming or photography with their mobile device, this supremely portable tripod by SelfieShow offers solid stability even when extended to its max height of 71 inches. The mounting arm also offers a wide array of positioning for shooters on the go. And the rig can collapse into a retractable selfie stick for even more functionality and portability.

For aspiring influencers, podcasters or vloggers in your life, try these wireless microphones by Hollyland. The Lark M2 Wireless Microphone mics are easy to use, have good range and do well in filtering out background noise. You can easily attach these to clothes for interviews or even hold them for the tiny mic lifestyle. Best of all, it comes with two mics per order.

These mics are currently on sale for $76.

There’s always someone who wants a TV

For those TV lovers who just want a little more for their gaming or cinematic experience, consider Samsung’s S90F OLED TV. This higher-end TV offers excellent contrast, colors and Ethernet performance. It also can act as a giant monitor if you want to plug your PC/gaming console into it, offering VRR support up to 144Hz on all four of its HDMI ports. For those who like to add sound systems or other peripherals to their TV, it also offers an additional three USB-A ports and one USB-C port.

Normally this TV retails around $1,800, but an ongoing holiday promo (until Dec. 1) puts it, at 55 inches, at $1,199.99.

Typing on the go

Portability is core to the Logitech Pebble 2 wireless keyboard and mouse combo. This minimalist and highly functional offering by Logitech will satisfy on-the-go users who are looking for a silent, but still tactile, Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. It also offers a one-tap, multi-device switching option if you’ve already paired it with said devices — which include Android tablets and Apple iPads in addition to laptops — a great feature if you’re multitasking.

The combo comes in several colors and retails for $49.99. If you’re OK with black, Walmart has a deal for $42.