The Gift That Keeps Teaching: Books That Transform Everyday Teaching

When the holidays fade and classrooms fill back up with busy hands and big feelings, early childhood educators often find themselves searching for support that goes deeper than seasonal cheer. What truly carries teachers through the year isn’t wrapped in ribbon. It’s reliable tools, refreshers, and resources that help transform everyday challenges into meaningful opportunities for connection and growth.

For educators working with children ages 0–5, the right book isn’t just something to read. It’s something to use — a companion tucked on the shelf, pulled out again and again when a new behavior surfaces; a new skill emerges, or a new question arises. And the best professional resources don’t inspire just once; they offer guidance all year long, meeting teachers wherever they are.

Below are a few standout Gryphon House titles and authors who consistently deliver that kind of lasting value.

Supporting Neurodiversity Every Day

Understanding the wide range of ways young children think, feel, and process the world is a cornerstone of responsive teaching. Books that help educators tune into children’s strengths while offering practical strategies are the ones that get pulled off the shelf most often.

Nurturing Neurodiversity in Early Childhood by Sarah Taylor Vanover is one of those steady, practical companions. Vanover offers clear guidance on building inclusive, developmentally appropriate environments that support autistic children, ADHD learners, sensory seekers, and kids whose learning profiles don’t always fit traditional expectations.

The book’s strength isn’t just in its insight, it’s in its flexibility. Teachers can use these tools when planning transitions, modifying classroom routines, communicating with families, or understanding a child’s behavior in the moment.

Educators love this kind of resource because it doesn’t ask for a full overhaul. It simply reframes what you’re already doing, making room for every child to thrive.

Navigating Challenging Behaviors with Confidence

Challenging behavior is one of the most universal stress points in early childhood programs — and also one of the most misunderstood. The most dependable professional resources don’t promise quick fixes; instead, they help teachers understand why behaviors happen and how to respond with calm, clarity, and connection.

Two Gryphon House authors consistently shine in this space:

Angela Searcy, author of Push Past It!, brings unmatched honesty and warmth to the topic. Her work helps educators see children’s behavior as communication and equips them with strategies that are real-world, realistic, and rooted in developmental understanding. Teachers often describe her books as “the ones you want to keep at your desk,” because they’re packed with guidance you can apply immediately, whether a child is melting down, testing limits, or struggling to self-regulate after a transition.

Adam Holland, in Thinking Outside the Prize Box, challenges outdated reward-and-punishment models and instead invites educators to build meaningful relationships that reduce challenging behavior at its source. His practical, compassionate framework helps classrooms become calmer and more connected: a year-round necessity, not a January-only reset.

These are the kinds of books that help teachers breathe easier on tough days, celebrate growth on the good ones, and feel more grounded in the “why” behind every child’s behavior.

Building Kindergarten Readiness Through Everyday Experiences

Kindergarten readiness isn’t about accelerating academics. It’s about building curiosity, language, problem-solving, and confidence through joyful, developmentally grounded experiences. It’s also one of the most-requested topics that our books cover. The strongest resources help educators weave these foundations into daily routines with purpose and play.

Kick Start Kindergarten Readiness by Alison Pepper offers exactly that kind of approachable guidance, breaking down essential readiness skills into simple, meaningful activities educators can use during circle time, centers, outdoor play, and even transitions. It’s the kind of book teachers reach for all year long because it turns everyday moments into intentional learning opportunities.

For educators focused on early literacy, Latisha Hayes, PhD, brings research clarity and practical tools to the classroom. Her book Playful Activities for Reading Readiness helps teachers nurture phonological awareness, vocabulary, print knowledge, and early comprehension through hands-on, joyful experiences — not worksheets or pressure. And coming in March 2026, her newest book, Ready to Read: Using the Science of Reading in Pre-K and Kindergarten, will give educators an even deeper, research-aligned framework for supporting emergent readers in ways that honor how young children naturally learn.

A Last-Minute Gift That Lasts All Year

If you’re still searching for a meaningful gift for an early childhood educator — or if a family member is asking what you’d love to receive — e-books and audiobooks are a perfect last-minute option. They arrive instantly, never go out of stock, and can be accessed anytime a tricky moment, a curious question, or a new challenge pops up.

Because at the end of the day, the best “gift” we can give educators is ongoing support — tools they can trust, ideas they can use, and inspiration that meets them right where they are.