Even in the sea of toys piled high under our Christmas tree, my kids are always excited to receive books as holiday gifts. Always. And I admit, I’m pretty happy too. They’re gifts that all my kids will enjoy at one time or another, and perhaps even their kids too.

We’ve loved the mom-founded publisher Barefoot Books ever since we first featured them on Cool Mom Picks many, many years ago, so how exciting that they’re our newest sponsor! We’ve gone through their catalog to pick out some of our favorite gift book sets that you can still get in time for Christmas.

Plus, we’ve added creative ways to make books a little more personal and a little more gifty.

Don’t miss our mini-gift guide of books for kids, an amazing exclusive discount, and a $500 sweepstakes. Whoo!

For the child who’s clamoring for stamps in her passport

The Travel the World Collection will take little readers around the globe and back again, no plane tickets required. Yet. These wonderful rhyming stories are followed by pages of educational info so you can plan your next real trip, and illustrations from artists like Anne Wilson and Grazia Restelli are captivating.

Make it giftier: A cool little booklight

For the future Top Chef

Every chef has to start somewhere (not just washing dishes), and the Kids’ Kitchen recipe cards are a fantastic way, with recipes from Apple Volcanoes and Tropical Milkshakes, to healthy Picnic Kebabs. This is one gift where you really get to reap the benefits too.

Make it giftier: Add kid-friendly cooking tools

For the young reader who actually knows the difference between a tortoise and a turtle

If she’s already memorized every exotic animal on Diego, and devoured every animal book out there ten times over, then she’ll love the Animal Stories gift set featuring two delightful tales from Zambia and Kenya.

Make it giftier: Eco-wooden animal blocks

Books for baby’s first Christmas 

Building a library is a wonderful way to celebrate baby’s first year. While there are so many to choose from, the Welcome Baby Gift Set includes a lovely Clare Beaton book, a stuffed friend for cuddling, and one of our favorite baby CDs, Putamayo Dreamland.

Make it giftier: Animal bookends

For the tween who’d rather read Shakespeare than Twilight

If she’s more Balzac than Breaking Dawn, the Classic Indie Reader Collection will make her squeal, with must-reads from the Arabian Nights to Robin Hood, retold for middle-grade readers. Team William!

Make it giftier: Personalized book labels

For the girl who leaps and spins, instead of runs and walks

The Dancers and Dreamers collection is the perfect gift set to get your budding ballerina to take a little breather. The included CD is a sweet bonus.

Make it giftier: A fancy handmade tutu

For the toddler whose favorite time is story time 

Yes, there is more than one bedtime moon story out there! One of them comes to life as part of the lovely Alison Jay Gift Set featuring two big board books that are sure to become tuck-me-in-bed favorites.

Make it giftier: The P’kolino book buddy

EXTRA COOL! Take 25% off everything at Barefoot Books with code COOLMOM through 12/31. Plus, enter to win their amazing Storytime Sweepstakes! Everyone who enters to win a library worth $500 for their family, and another library worth $500 for the charity of their choice (so cool!) will get a 30% off coupon that’s good through 12/31/12.

[main photo via Mamatography Photo Workshops ©Vicky Scesa]