A Gift for Nana
Lane Smith, Random House Studio, mixed-media picture book, gift giving, family, grandparent love
Read Aloud Picture Book · 40 pages · Ages 4 to 8 · Random House Studio · Published May 10, 2022 · Pre-readers welcome
A Gift for Nana is a picture book written and illustrated by Lane Smith, published by Random House Studio on May 10, 2022. The story follows a young rabbit who wakes up determined to find his grandmother the perfect gift and ends up walking through a forest where every animal offers a small clue. At the end he discovers that the gift he was looking for was nearby the whole time. The book is recommended for ages 4 to 8, runs about 40 pages, and reads at a Lexile 550L level.
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Key Takeaways
- A warm picture book about a small rabbit who wants to find the right gift for his grandmother
- Forest animals (fox, deer, rabbits) each offer a small idea on the journey
- The twist at the end reframes what makes a gift feel meaningful
- Lane Smith’s mixed-media illustrations lean warm and a little bit wild
- Best read aloud with kids who can sit through a longer picture book
- Works well as a Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or grandparent gift-giving prompt
About the Author and Illustrator
ABOUT THE CREATORS
About the Author and Illustrator
AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Lane Smith
Award-winning American illustrator and author, known for tender picture books that mix hand-drawn elements with digital collage.
The book came out in 2022 and runs about 40 pages, which is on the longer side for a picture book. That length is a clue about its target audience. The text is short on each spread, but the illustrations need a moment to land. Younger listeners will probably want a lap read. Older kids can sit and look on their own.
What Happens in the Story
The book starts with a rabbit who wakes up with a single goal. Find Nana the perfect gift. The trouble is he does not know what that even looks like. So he heads out into the forest with the question rattling around in his head, and the forest answers, one animal at a time.
A fox sends him to look for one thing. A deer suggests another. The rabbits he meets point him yet another direction. Each clue is small, and the rabbit gets a little confused about what he is actually looking for. The turn comes at the end, when he finally finds something, and it is not the kind of thing he expected to find in a forest. Smith leaves the exact reveal deliberately soft, which is why this book tends to start conversations rather than just close them.
Why It Works for Family Read Aloud
The book reads in about five minutes at a normal pace. That makes it a good fit for end-of-day wind-down, especially if you pair it with a short chat about who in the child’s life might love a homemade card. The illustrations pull a lot of the weight, so children who are still pre-readers can follow the story by looking.
It also opens a door to talk about gift giving without turning the conversation into a lecture. After we read it, my five year old wanted to draw something for his grandmother. That is the kind of response this book seems to invite. It is a quiet prompt rather than a moral lesson.
The rabbit finally finds something, and it is not the kind of thing he expected to find in a forest. — A Gift for Nana
Who This Book Is For
This is a good pick for families looking for read alouds that touch on kindness, thoughtfulness, or grandparent relationships without being heavy. It fits well in Mother’s Day or Father’s Day reading lists, or any time a child is working on a gift for an older family member. Caregivers who like Lane Smith’s other work will probably want this on the shelf.
It is less of a fit for kids who want a high-energy story. The pacing is slow and the illustrations reward looking, so the readers who get the most out of it are the ones willing to slow down. If your child likes books like The Kissing Hand or While We Can’t Hug, this one belongs on the same shelf.
Did this read aloud help you find your next gift-giving book?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Gift for Nana about?
A Gift for Nana is a picture book about a young rabbit who walks into the forest looking for the perfect gift for his grandmother. Along the way he meets helpful animals, and at the end he discovers the gift was already close to home.
Who wrote A Gift for Nana?
Lane Smith wrote and illustrated A Gift for Nana. It was published by Random House Studio on May 10, 2022.
What age is A Gift for Nana for?
The publisher recommends A Gift for Nana for ages 4 to 8. The text is short enough for preschool listeners, and the emotional hook still lands with early elementary readers.
Is A Gift for Nana good for a read aloud?
Yes. The story reads in about 5 minutes and pairs well with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or grandparent gift-giving prompts.
Who is Lane Smith?
Lane Smith is an American illustrator and author who won the 2017 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for There Is a Tribe of Kids and a Caldecott Honor for Grandpa Green. His picture books include It’s a Book and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.
