I love books of all kinds, but children’s picture books are truly some of the most magical. They provide portals of imagination to share with children, a fun bedtime story with the little ones, or a nostalgic journey into your own childhood.

I’m always looking for new stories to give as entertaining gifts to the children in my life. Recently I found four new ones that I think are exceptional and can’t wait to share them.

“All the Books” by Caldecott winner Hayley Rocco and John Rocco is about Piper Waterstone who loves books and doesn’t want to share them.

“Waffle Can’t Decide” by Brenda S. Miles is about a waffle who has many decisions to make in life and finds a better way to do it.

The book “Little Chefs” by Rosemary Wells tells stories of helpful little chefs who arrive just in time to save the dinner party.

And finally, “Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble” by Briony May Smith is about a troublesome little fairy searching for her true family.

“All the Books” is a very cute book about the magic of libraries. Piper Waterstone is a little girl who loves her books so much that she never shares them. She takes them everywhere she goes but when an accident happens, she is saved by the kind librarian. This opens Piper’s eyes to a whole world of books that could be hers, only if she is able to share them. Piper discovers the value of sharing with her friends and the importance of the library in her life.

“Waffle Can’t Decide” is a funny and adorable book about a waffle who can’t make up his mind. She can’t decide which socks to wear and is late for school, she can’t choose an ice cream flavor and then they’re all gone. Waffle continues to procrastinate. She uses the tools around her to make things easier, like focusing or getting more information. The book also offers helpful tips for parents to help little ones strengthen their decision-making skills.

“Les Petits Chefs” is a very charming book with three distinct stories. Wells is also the author of the popular children’s book “Max and Ruby.” His new stories are about children trying to make dinner for their tired parents or a cake for their sister and the disasters that result. But just as things seem bleak, a small army of little chefs appear and teach the children how to prepare the perfect dish for the occasion. The stories are very sweet to read but the charming illustrations really take over in this book.

“Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble” is a delightful book about a fairy born to Wren parents in the forest. Little Jenny is very mischievous, which annoys the other woodland animals. She leaves to find her fairy family only to discover that they are not very nice and that her real family is the one that has always loved and accepted her. In the book, Tiny Jenny serves as a good example for children not to worry about being different and the power of learning to be true to themselves.

I think these books are beautiful new editions of children’s literature. All of these books are recommended for children ages 4 to 8 but can be enjoyed at any age. These stories delight, entertain and provide essential lessons for children. I would highly recommend these books as gifts to the children in your life. I hope they provide you with many hours of fun and joyful reading together.

• Rachel Fowler is a bookseller at Inklings Bookstore. She and other Inklings staff review books in this space every week.