Books and educational materials are among the most consistently underappreciated balikbayan box inclusions — overlooked in favor of more visually impressive items, yet among the highest long-term value gifts an OFW parent or family member can send to children in the Philippines. A quality textbook, a well-chosen storybook series, or a complete set of educational workbooks represents an investment in a child’s intellectual development that outlasts any toy, clothing item, or consumer product that might have occupied the same box space.

Kuwait is a genuinely good sourcing location for books and educational materials — better than most OFW senders initially expect. The country’s large expatriate community sustains a market for English-language books across a range of subjects and levels, and the major hypermarkets, specialty bookstores, and online retailers accessible from Kuwait provide sourcing options that extend well beyond what Philippine bookstores carry at equivalent prices.

This guide covers what to send, where to source it in Kuwait, how to pack books correctly for sea transit, and the specific educational materials that deliver the most value for Filipino students at each stage.

Why Books Are a High-Value Balikbayan Box Item

Books deliver value that compounds over time. A novel a child reads once becomes a novel they may read again in years to come. A science reference book purchased for a Grade 6 student continues to be useful through junior high school. A set of English grammar workbooks benefits not just the child they were sent to but younger siblings who follow the same educational path years later.

The physical durability of books — properly packed for sea transit — means they arrive in the Philippines in the same condition they left Kuwait and remain useful across years of daily educational use. This durability-to-cost ratio compares favorably to toys, clothing, or consumable items that have finite useful lives.

The price advantage of sourcing from Kuwait: Quality English-language books from international publishers — particularly educational materials, reference books, and literary fiction from major publishers — are available in Kuwait at prices that are competitive with or better than their Philippine retail equivalents for the same editions. Philippine bookstores carry many international titles but at import pricing that reflects local retail margins. Kuwait’s direct import market pricing and the competitive retail environment of its major bookstore chains create pricing that makes Kuwait a sensible sourcing location for quality books.

What to Send: Books by Educational Level

Preschool and Early Childhood (Ages 2 to 6)

Books for very young children have specific characteristics that make Kuwait sourcing particularly advantageous — the range of quality international children’s picture books available in Kuwait significantly exceeds what Philippine bookstores typically carry in the same category.

Board books for toddlers: Indestructible cardboard books with simple, high-contrast illustrations and minimal text — appropriate for children aged one to three who are still in the phase of interacting with books physically as much as narratively. Board books are highly durable, pack efficiently (flat and rigid), and can withstand the handling of young children for years. International brands like DK, Little Golden Books, and similar publishers are available in Kuwait.

Picture books for preschoolers: Quality illustrated picture books with simple narratives — Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, and similar classic children’s picture book authors — represent some of the most lasting gifts for preschool-aged children. These books support early literacy development while providing entertainment value that children return to repeatedly.

ABC and number books: Early literacy and numeracy books in quality illustrated editions — available extensively in Kuwait’s bookstore sections — support foundational learning at home alongside preschool education.

Bilingual Filipino-English books: Books that present both Filipino (Tagalog or regional languages) and English text are available from some Philippine publishers online and occasionally in Kuwait’s specialty bookstores. These are particularly valuable for OFW families where maintaining Filipino language proficiency alongside English education is a priority.

Primary School (Grades 1 to 6)

Primary school is where the range of educational materials appropriate for balikbayan box sending is widest — covering everything from workbooks aligned with the Philippine K-12 curriculum to supplementary reading and enrichment materials.

English reading comprehension books: Quality English-language reading comprehension workbooks — graded by level, with exercises that develop both reading skill and analytical thinking — are among the most practically useful educational materials for Philippine primary school students. The Philippines’ English-medium instruction environment makes English reading comprehension a central academic skill across all subjects.

Mathematics enrichment workbooks: Singapore Math workbooks and other evidence-based mathematics enrichment programs are available in Kuwait’s bookstores and online retailers accessible from Kuwait. Singapore Math in particular has strong educational reputation and provides rigorous conceptual mathematics instruction that goes beyond rote calculation — beneficial for Philippine students whose school mathematics curriculum does not always emphasize conceptual understanding.

Science reference books: Illustrated science reference books — DK’s encyclopedic science books are a consistently excellent choice — provide visual, engaging science content that supplements classroom instruction. These reference books are used across multiple school years and cover content spanning the primary school science curriculum.

Reading series and chapter books: Age-appropriate chapter book series — Magic Tree House, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Roald Dahl collections, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and similar internationally recognized children’s series — develop reading endurance and the habit of sustained reading that is among the most important academic skills. These series are available in Kuwait and represent excellent value relative to their impact on reading development.

Dictionary and reference materials: Age-appropriate English dictionaries — illustrated dictionaries for younger primary students, standard collegiate-format dictionaries for older primary students — are practical reference tools used daily across a student’s school career.

Junior High School (Grades 7 to 10)

Junior high school students have more specialized educational needs that can be addressed through targeted book selection.

Subject-specific reference books: DK’s comprehensive reference books — Complete Physics, Complete Chemistry, Complete Biology — are among the best supplementary reference materials available for junior high school science students and are available in Kuwait at competitive prices.

English language enrichment: Grammar reference books, vocabulary builders, and essay writing guides that support the increasing written English demands of the junior high school curriculum.

Reading materials that bridge entertainment and education: Young adult fiction that develops reading skill while engaging the adolescent reader — popular series like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and similar internationally recognized YA fiction — support sustained reading habits through the phase where school-mandated reading competes with other entertainment options.

Mathematics enrichment: Problem-solving focused mathematics books — competition mathematics introductory materials, analytical mathematics workbooks — for students with strong mathematical aptitude who would benefit from challenge beyond the standard curriculum.

Senior High School (Grades 11 to 12)

Senior high school students are at the threshold of higher education or professional life — their book needs reflect both their academic track and their emerging adult identity.

Track-specific materials: STEM track students benefit from advanced science and mathematics materials. ABM (Accountancy, Business, Management) students benefit from introduction-to-business and financial literacy books. Arts and Design track students benefit from design theory and creative technique books.

College entrance examination preparation: Quality review books for the UPCAT, ACET, and other Philippine college entrance examinations are among the most practically impactful books for Grade 12 students preparing for higher education. Some of these materials are available in Philippine editions through online retailers accessible from Kuwait.

Professional and career reference books: For Grade 12 students with specific career interests — nursing reference books for healthcare-aspiring students, law introductory materials for pre-law aspirants, engineering mathematics for engineering aspirants — subject-specific references provide both inspiration and practical preparation for the higher education track ahead.

College Students

For OFW parents with children in college or university, textbook and reference support through the balikbayan box is one of the most financially impactful educational investments.

International editions of academic textbooks: Many Philippine universities use Philippine or international editions of standard academic textbooks — Chemistry, Calculus, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, Accounting, and similar subjects. Quality international editions of these textbooks are often available in Kuwait at prices significantly below what Philippine college bookstores charge for the same content. Confirm the edition required by the specific course and professor before purchasing.

Professional reference books: Quality professional reference books in the student’s specific field — nursing drug references for nursing students, engineering handbooks for engineering students, legal dictionaries for law students — represent lasting professional investments that students continue using after graduation.

Where to Source Books in Kuwait

Jarir Bookstore

Jarir Bookstore is the most significant bookstore chain in the Gulf region — with multiple Kuwait locations carrying an extensive range of English-language books across all categories: children’s books, educational materials, fiction, non-fiction, reference books, and specialty professional publications. Jarir is the primary bookstore destination for Kuwait-based OFW senders looking for quality educational materials, and its pricing is competitive across most book categories.

Jarir carries a comprehensive children’s book section that includes major international publishers’ titles — DK educational books, international series, reference materials, and a broad selection of children’s fiction and non-fiction. The educational workbook section is extensive and covers multiple curriculum frameworks and grade levels.

Lulu Hypermarket Book Section

Lulu Hypermarket’s book section is smaller than Jarir’s but covers the most popular and high-volume book categories efficiently — children’s picture books, popular fiction series, standard reference books, and workbook formats. Pricing is competitive with Jarir for the overlapping categories.

Virgin Megastore Kuwait

The Virgin Megastore at major Kuwait malls carries books alongside music, electronics, and entertainment products — with a focus on popular fiction, lifestyle books, and children’s titles from major international publishers. Less comprehensive than Jarir for educational materials but useful for popular fiction and gift-quality book selections.

Online Retailers Accessible from Kuwait

Amazon.com is accessible for delivery to Kuwait addresses — providing access to the full range of international English-language publishing, including titles not stocked in Kuwait’s physical bookstores. For specialized educational materials, out-of-print titles, or specific curriculum-aligned workbooks not available locally, Amazon delivery to a Kuwait address before inclusion in a balikbayan box provides the widest possible sourcing range.

For Philippine curriculum-aligned materials — workbooks specifically designed for the Philippine K-12 DepEd curriculum, Filipino-language materials, or Philippine publisher titles — online orders from Philippine publishers (Rex Bookstore, Vibal Group, and similar) delivered to a family member in the Philippines may be more practical than sourcing from Kuwait.

How to Pack Books for Sea Transit

Books are not fragile in the traditional sense — they do not crack, shatter, or lose function if dropped. But they are vulnerable to specific transit conditions that require specific packing attention: moisture damage and physical deformation from sustained pressure or impact.

Moisture Is the Primary Risk

Books are made of paper — and paper absorbs moisture readily. A book that absorbs significant humidity during a multi-week sea voyage can arrive with warped pages, wavy covers, mold growth in extreme cases, and in the case of coated paper pages, pages that stick together.

Moisture protection steps for books:

Seal each book or group of related books in a zip-lock bag — press out excess air before sealing. This is the single most effective individual step for moisture protection.

For hardcover books or books with glossy covers: a layer of plastic wrap around each book before the zip-lock bag provides additional moisture barrier.

Place silica gel packets in the section of the box where books are concentrated — two to three packets for a significant book volume.

Do not place books in the bottom section of the box where they are most likely to be in contact with any moisture that enters from below.

Physical Protection: Preventing Page Deformation

Books under sustained compression — when heavy items are placed directly on top of them — can develop permanently deformed pages, curved spines, and bent covers. The correct approach:

Place books flat and upright when possible — books standing on their spines with pages facing up distribute pressure across the binding rather than across the pages.

Do not stack heavy canned goods or dense items directly on top of books without padding between them.

For paperback books specifically — which have more flexible covers than hardbacks — surround with a buffer of clothing above and below to prevent cover bending from surrounding item pressure.

For children’s board books — which are rigid cardboard — these are the most mechanically resistant book format and can be packed with less specific protective attention than paperback and standard hardcover books.

Organizing Books Efficiently in the Box

Books are rectangular, flat, and stack efficiently — which makes them excellent box-fillers for irregular spaces.

Along the base of the box: A row of books standing upright along the base wall of a Jumbo or XL Carton — lined up like books on a shelf — uses base wall space efficiently and creates a rigid internal structure that supports items placed inside and above them.

In gaps between larger items: Thin paperbacks and workbooks fill gaps between irregularly shaped items effectively — pushed into spaces that clothing or food items cannot conform to.

As a layer above canned goods: Books placed flat above the dense bottom layer of canned goods create a flat, rigid platform for more delicate items placed above. This layered approach makes efficient use of the box volume.

Weight Management

Books are denser than most people intuitively expect — a box filled entirely with books can become extremely heavy. A typical hardcover book weighs approximately 500g to 800g. A set of twenty books can weigh 10 to 16 kilograms — a significant portion of a Jumbo Carton’s practical handling weight even before other items are added.

For boxes with significant book content, weigh the total book selection before packing begins and factor the book weight into the overall box weight calculation. Distribute books across the box base evenly rather than concentrating them in one area.

If the total weight of planned books significantly exceeds a manageable portion of the box’s practical handling capacity, consider splitting books between two boxes or reducing the book quantity.

Educational Materials Beyond Books

Workbooks and Activity Books

Workbooks — particularly mathematics, English language, and science workbooks aligned with the Philippine K-12 curriculum — are among the most directly academically useful educational materials available for balikbayan box sending. Singapore Math workbooks, Kumon-style practice booklets, and similar structured educational workbooks provide structured learning support that complements classroom instruction.

Workbooks pack efficiently alongside books using the same zip-lock moisture protection and flat-stacking approach.

Art and Craft Supplies as Educational Materials

Quality art supplies from Kuwait — Faber-Castell pencil sets, quality watercolor sets, sketching books, and similar artistic materials — support creative development and arts education in ways that are often poorly resourced in Philippine public schools. These are educational materials in the broader sense and represent excellent value from Kuwait’s stationery sections.

Colored pencil sets: Faber-Castell, Staedtler, and similar German-brand colored pencil sets available in Kuwait at competitive prices are significantly better quality than the locally available brands in Philippine school supply stores. A 36-color or 48-color set from Kuwait is a genuinely impactful educational gift for a visually creative child.

Sketching and drawing supplies: Quality drawing pencils, blending tools, and sketching books for adolescent and adult students interested in visual arts or architecture.

Mathematical instruments: Quality geometric sets — Staedtler or Faber-Castell branded geometry sets with compass, protractor, set squares, and rulers — are significantly better quality from Kuwait’s stationery stores than the generic geometry sets available in Philippine school supplies. For secondary school students who use geometry instruments extensively, a quality Kuwait-sourced set is a practical and lasting gift.

Stationery and Writing Instruments

Quality pens, pencils, and writing instruments from Kuwait’s stationery stores represent significant value for students whose classroom and study writing demands benefit from reliable, quality instruments.

Pilot, Uni, and Zebra brand pens — Japanese-brand pens widely available in Kuwait are among the most reliable and smooth-writing available globally. A selection of quality ballpoint, gel, and fine-liner pens from Kuwait is an appreciated practical gift for students at any level.

Mechanical pencils with lead refills: Quality mechanical pencils with multiple lead refill sets are better value for students than repeatedly purchasing wooden pencils and represent a practical educational investment.

Highlighter sets: Multi-color highlighter sets from quality brands are consistently useful for secondary and tertiary students across all subjects.

Science Kits and Educational Toys

Educational science kits — basic chemistry experiment sets, physics demonstration kits, biology model sets — are available in Kuwait’s specialty toy stores and some bookstores and represent high-value educational gifts for STEM-interested children.

These kits vary in their balikbayan box suitability depending on their components:

Chemistry sets with liquids or powders: confirm the specific contents before including. Some chemistry kit components may be restricted in sea cargo if they contain flammable or corrosive materials. Safe, non-reactive components (litmus paper, basic indicator solutions, etc.) are generally acceptable.

Physics and biology kits without liquid components: generally appropriate for balikbayan box inclusion.

Customs Considerations for Books and Educational Materials

Books and educational materials are personal-use items with no specific customs restriction in Philippine import regulations. Declaring them on your packing list is required but straightforward:

“5 children’s picture books (Dr. Seuss series), value approximately 2 KD each”
“3 DK Science reference books, value approximately 8 KD each”
“2 Singapore Math workbooks Grade 4, value approximately 3 KD each”
“1 Faber-Castell 48-color pencil set, value approximately 5 KD”

Specific declaration by title or series name for high-value books, with approximate values, is the appropriate level of specificity.

Books are not a high-value-threshold item in most standard balikbayan box sends — a reasonable selection of books contributes modestly to the annual ₱150,000 declared value threshold.

Making the Educational Gift Feel Personal

A book sent in a balikbayan box without any personal dimension is a useful object. A book that has been chosen specifically for the individual child receiving it — whose cover page includes a handwritten inscription from the sender — is something a child may keep for decades.

Before sealing each book into its zip-lock bag, write a personal inscription on the title page or inside front cover:

“For [Name], who loves science — I found this in Kuwait and thought of you. From [your name], Kuwait, [date].”

This inscription costs nothing. It takes thirty seconds. And it transforms a purchased item into a personal gift that the child associates with you specifically across years of reading and learning.

For young children who will be read to rather than reading independently: include a note for the parent or guardian suggesting a reading approach, sharing why you chose the specific book, or connecting the book to something specific about the child’s current interests that the OFW knows from conversations and video calls.

Contact Jeezan Cargo

For your next balikbayan box from Kuwait — including books, educational materials, and all the other items your family needs — contact Jeezan Int’l Cargo & Courier Services Inc. to book your home pickup.

WhatsApp: +965-55913895
Email: info@jeezancargo.com
Website: jeezancargo.com
Kuwait Office: Fahaheel, Block No. 7 Qasariya #1, 64024 Fahaheel, Kuwait
Philippines Office: Mare Angela Compound Bldg #2 M.L Quezon St., Casuntingan, Mandaue City 6014 Cebu Philippines