Best Items Logo
Products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Back to Reviews

Three Holiday Gifts to Order in Early November: The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, Instax Mini Film, and the Kodak Charmera

By Best Items Staff
An early-November evening at a dining table: a father and his young daughter wrapping holiday gifts together, rolls of kraft paper, twine and scissors spread out, a stack of small wrapped boxes and a large flat box already wrapped with a ribbon, a few instant photos laid out on the table, a tiny keychain camera dangling from a tote bag on the chair, warm lamp light and the first string of fairy lights in the window behind them, candid editorial

Most holiday shopping can wait until December. A few gifts can't. An advent calendar has to be in the house before the first door opens on December 1, and gifts for the people who are hardest to shop for go faster when you've thought about them before the rush. Here are three products already on Best Items that are worth ordering in early November, who each one suits, and what to check before you buy.

The countdown gift: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 (75456) is the one with a hard deadline. Per its product page, every door hides a surprise build, including The Mandalorian and Grogu in holiday sweaters, Moff Gideon, Carson Teva, and a Jawa, plus 8 mini vehicles such as the Razor Crest and an N-1 Starfighter. It's listed for Star Wars fans ages 6 and up. Catalog rating: 4.9 / 5.0.

Order it now and put it somewhere safe. The whole point of an advent calendar is opening it day by day starting December 1, so it's the one gift on this list that's genuinely late if it shows up on December 3. A small tip: set out a tray or a shallow box next to the calendar so each day's tiny pieces have a place to land.

For anyone who already shoots Instax: FUJIFILM Instax Mini Film Twin Pack

FUJIFILM Instax Mini Instant Film Twin Pack (White), 20 Photos is the gift that gets used the same day. It's official Instax Mini film with classic white borders, two cartridges of 10 sheets each, and it makes credit-card size prints for all Instax Mini cameras and Instax SHARE printers, according to the listing. Catalog rating: 4.8 / 5.0.

The important check: this is Instax Mini film, so it only fits Instax Mini cameras and Mini-format SHARE printers. Before you buy, make sure the person you're shopping for owns one (a quick look at the camera, or a casual question, will tell you). For a teenager or a friend who brings their camera to every party, a stash of film around the holidays is welcome, especially with family gatherings and New Year's Eve coming up.

The fun stocking stuffer: Kodak Charmera Keychain Camera

KODAK CHARMERA Keychain Digital Camera Blind Box is a novelty gift that actually takes pictures. Per its product page, it's a retro mini digital camera that clips onto a bag as a charm and shoots 1.6MP stills and 1440x1080 video, with built-in frames and filters, USB-C recharging, and microSD expansion. Catalog rating: 4.5 / 5.0.

Two things to know before gifting it. First, it's a blind box: the outer shell design is random, so don't promise a specific color. Second, the photos are novelty quality, not a substitute for a phone camera. That's part of the charm for the right person, usually a teen, a collector, or anyone who likes a retro gadget on their backpack.

Prices on the site update daily, so check each product page for the current price.

A simple early-November gift plan

Make a short list now of the people you shop for and mark the gifts with a deadline. Advent calendars come first, then anything going to someone you'll see at Thanksgiving, then gifts that need to be mailed. Order the deadline gifts first, check each one when it arrives, and hide them somewhere the kids don't look. Wrap as you go if you can; one evening a week with a roll of paper and a pair of scissors beats a marathon on December 23.

Who these gifts suit

The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar suits a Star Wars fan ages 6 and up who'll enjoy a daily build through December. Instax Mini film suits anyone who already owns an Instax Mini camera or SHARE printer. The Kodak Charmera suits teens and gadget lovers who think a camera on a keychain is delightful and won't mind a surprise shell. If someone on your list wants a serious camera upgrade, none of these is that gift.

The bottom line

Order the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 now so it's ready for December 1, pick up Instax Mini film for the Instax shooter in your life (after confirming the format), and keep the Kodak Charmera in mind as a stocking stuffer for the gadget fan. Check each product page for the current price before you order.