The Best Gifts For 8-Year-Olds: Toy & Book Presents!

Looking for the best gifts for 8-year-olds? We’ve got you covered with these book and toy present pairings. Pick just the toy or just the book and any 8-year-old will be delighted.

8-year-old children are at a special age where they are young enough to engage in pretend play but old enough to occupy themselves more than ever before.

Below you’ll find items that will create fun for group and independent play. Of course, we had to throw in some books too! Below are our favorite books and gifts for 8-year-old boys and girls.

*Gift for 8-year-olds Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.

Gifts for 8-year-olds

1. Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters and Snap Circuits

Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, Iggy Peck, and the other beloved characters from Andrea Beatty’s picture book series now star in an early reader book series! The first book in the Questioneers series is full of STEM fun for all kids. After reading about these inquisitive kiddos, the child in your life will be itching for some hands-on fun. Snap Circuits is the perfect gift for flexing those creative muscles. You can make dozens of cool gadgets with just one kit!

2. Little Shaq and Tabletop Basketball

Know a basketball-loving 8-year-old? These gifts are perfect. Shaq has an entire series of early reader books that incorporate basketball and other childhood adventures. Pair it with a tabletop basketball game to create the perfect gift for an 8-year-old.

3. The Great Pet Heist and Cat Crimes

Looking for gender-neutral gifts for 8-year-olds? This combo is perfect! The story is about a group of pets who are planning a heist to support themselves while their owner is in the hospital. The story is basically Ocean’s Eleven with animals and it’s so funny. Let your favorite 8-year-old test their deductive reasoning skills with the Cat Crime logic game. It’s a fun tie-in that offers independent fun.

4. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and 3d Doodler Pen

In this classic story, Claudia and Jamie decide to run away to live at The Met Museum in NYC. While hiding from their parents, they go on a quest to figure out who created a captivating statue. After reading about the museum, let kids create their own works of art with this 3D pen. It’s one of our favorite presents for 8-year-olds.

5. The Kingdom of Wrenly and Paper Castle Playset

This book series is perfect for new readers – especially those who loved The Magic Treehouse series. It’s a historical fantasy series centered around a prince and his friend and their many adventures. Gift a paper castle playset with it so kids can bring the stories to life and create their own adventures for Lucas and Clara.

Presents for 8-year-olds

6. Mac B. Kid Spy and Camera Drone

If you are looking for a gift for an 8-year-old who loves anything spy-related, this is the combo for you! The Mac B. Kid Spy series is great for newer readers. It’s got easy-to-read chapters with some graphic novel elements too. After reading the series, kids will love to play spy with this fun drone. It even has a camera!

7. The Candymakers and Chocolate Pen

We listened to The Candymakers as a family and I was as into the kids in this candy-making competition as my children were. Both boys continued with the series when our audiobook went back to the library. But reader beware – there was a sharp interest in candy in our home! That’s why this chocolate pen is such. a great gift for an 8-year-old. They can create their own candy designs with it and indulge in them afterward!

8. Unicorn Diaries and Unicorn Sprinkler

For early readers who love unicorns, this series is the best one in town! Each book focuses on the friendship and adventures of Rainbow Tinseltail and her unicorn friends. Bring the magical unicorns to life with this GIANT unicorn sprinkler. A friend of ours has it, and it keeps the kids entertained for hours on hot days.

9. The Bad Guys and One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Your child may already be familiar with The Bad Guys after it was recently turned into a movie – but the graphic novel series has over a dozen books filled with their adventures. Since one of the characters is a wolf, we think One Night Werewolf is the perfect gift for 8-year-olds paired with this series.

Having spent the good portion of my spring break watching a 7, 8, 10, and 11-year-old playing this hysterical deductive game together, I can tell you to ignore the 14+ recommended age. Simply explained, one person is a werewolf trying not to get caught, other kids are the villagers who are trying to figure out who the werewolf actually is.

10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins and ICECOOL

Mr. Popper’s Penguins won the Newbery and has entertained children for decades. It’s a classic story about a man so enamored with penguins that he ends up with 12! The antics in the book are as fun as the award-winning game ICECOOL, which has players flicking penguins across a multi-room board in a quest to get the most fish first.

Did we help you with finding gifts for an 8-year-old? Let us know if you get anything for your loved one!