We are often asked what books we recommend on giftedness. We’ve read so many and it’s not always easy to recall all of them, so I’ve decided to compile a list of them, for ease of use.
I’ve noted some brief thoughts on each, and sorted them into categories: Books for Children, Books for Parents/Caretakers/Educators and Creativity. As the list grows, I will probably sort them further within each category (eg: books for gifted adults, books for teens).
There are many more books on this subject – you can find a huge list at Hoagie’s Gifted. These are only the books that we have read and recommend.
Scroll through the list, or click on a specific link below to go directly to that part of the list.
Books for Children
Books for Parents/Caretakers/Educators
Creativity
Books for Children
The Gifted Teen Survival Guide: Smart, Sharp, and Ready for (Almost) Anything
by Judy Galbraith and Jim Delisle
We got this for our daughter, who is barreling down on 13. She carries it to school with her most days. We both like the voice it is written in, and she is comforted in knowing she is not the only one feeling as she does.
The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide: For Ages 10 & Under
by Judy Galbraith
Our 7 year old reads this regularly and loves consulting his “manual”, as he refers to it. I like the way it is written and illustrated, and we both find it very affirming.
101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids
by Christine Fonseca
This was the first gifted book we purchased for our kids. We got one for each of them (the two youngest haven’t received their copies yet, since it’s geared towards the 10 and up crowd). It overs just about everything, and is written in a way they enjoy reading.
Books for Parents/Caregivers/Educators
10 Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Child: One Family’s Perspective
(by Nancy N. Heilbronner, Ph.D.)
I purchased this last summer at the SENG Conference, and was struck by the number of these things I’ve said over the years. This is a good book, with an interesting perspective: the author’s kids helped write it.
A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children
(by James T. Webb)
Our copy of this book is heavily dog-eared. So much good information.
Raising a Gifted Child: A Parenting Success Handbook
Kindle edition
(by Carol Fertig)
The overall tone of this book was comforting. Not only does it have good info, it has excellent tips, and addresses most of the common issues that go along with raising gifted children.
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy And Successful Children
Kindle edition
(James Delisle, Ph.D)
This book is great for my short-attention span. It’s a good, easy read, well-written and not heady.
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Enjoying the Gift of Being Uncommon: Extra Intelligent, Intense, and Effective
Kindle edition
(by Willem Kuipers)
I never understood why I felt so different from everyone. It was only after realizing my children were gifted (and all that meant), that I discovered I was gifted and all the pieces fit together. This book covers so much of what it means to be a gifted adult.
It is a bit heady, but it is still a worthy read.
Early Gifts: Recognizing and Nurturing Children’s Talents
(by Olszewski-Kubilius, Limburg-Weber and Pfeiffer)
Covers all areas of gifts in children (science, performing arts, sports, mathematics etc), with usable tips to guide them.
The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids: How to Understand, Live With, and Stick Up for Your Gifted Child
(by Sally Yahnke Walker, Ph.D)
Let’s just say that this book is always kept nearby, and has lots of notes and dog-eared pages.
Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults
(by Susan Daniels, Ph.D & Michael M. Piechowski, Ph.D)
Excellent book for parents, gifted adults and those with gifted partners/spouses. I cried through a lot of it, as I identified more and more with it.
Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds
Kindle edition
(by Jan & Bob Davidson, with Laura Vanderkam)
This is a frustrating and absolutely necessary read. This book is what pushed me into gifted advocacy.
Raisin’ Brains: Surviving My Smart Family
Kindle edition
(by Karen L. J. Isaacson)
A humorous look at the life of a family filled with gifted minds.
Gifted Parent Groups: The SENG Model
(by Arlene DeVries, M.S.E. and James Webb, Ph.D.)
I purchased this after starting our local gifted support group. It can be used with or without SENG Facilitator training.
Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential
Kindle edition
Audiobook, MP3 Audio edition
(by Peg Dawson, Ed.D. and Richard Guare, Ph.D.)
This has been a great resource for me (scattered!) and for helping me help my children.
When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs
Kindle edition
(by Jim Delisle, Ph.D. & Judy Galbraith, M.A.)
Because they don’t have all the answers. And they need to understand that that is ok.
Anxiety-Free Kids
(by Bonnie Zucker)
I love that this book has a tear-out “Kid’s version” to correlate with what I’m reading. My kids also enjoy it, and it’s been very helpful in guiding them through their anxiety.
Giftedness 101 (Psych 101)
Kindle edition
(by Linda Silverman)
I am only half-way through this, but I really like it – the info is well laid out and the tone is great. Admittedly, all of the references on each page chops up my reading flow (because I want to go down all the rabbit holes!), but it also helps validate that what I’m reading is well researched and documented.
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope With Explosive Feelings
(by Christine Fonseca)
If you have a child who is dealing with explosive feelings, and high-intensities, get this. Now. It has tips for parents and educators.
Creativity
Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity
(by Hugh MacLeod)
*recommended for older gifted and adults, due to some salty language
I love this little book. I bought if for myself a few years back, when I was dealing with some creativity-block, and I’ve set it aside for my children to read when they get a bit older.
Mess: The Manual of Accidents and Mistakes
(by Keri Smith)
Gifted children often struggle with perfectionism, while other gifted children struggle with organization and get chided for their messes. This book encourages the former to accept mistakes and celebrates the messiness of the latter. Our kids loved watching me work through this book, and they were always flipping through it with envy. As I result, I got them each their own copy. The part they couldn’t wait to get to: burying this book for three days and then digging it up.
One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun
(by Beckah Krahula)
The kids got me into Zentangle drawings (a calming, meditative art form), so I got this book for us all. A great guide for getting started and for inspiration as you move along.
Zentangle for Kids
(by Jane Marbaix)
A fun resource for kids who are wanting to try Zentangle in some fun shapes.
