It’s great to give books as gifts for the holidays, but remember there’s also no better way to start the New Year. Stuck for a hostess gift? Don’t bring yet another bottle of cheap wine. I have some better suggestions, and I’ll tell you why I think these are worthy of your consideration.
For a lot of people, the Holiday season centers around kids. There are some great Children’s Books to give for Christmas, birthdays, and just because kids are so enthusiastic about getting presents.
Pop-ups rule, mainly because the whole family can enjoy them. I recommend the following, which all come shrink wrapped:
A Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes, Matthew Reinhart, $26.99. “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Humpty Dumpty”, “Pat A Cake,” and a slew of other old favorites literally jump to life. Terrific for a pre-school child.
My Little Red Firetruck, Stephen T. Johnson, $19.99. Forgive me, but this really is such a boy’s book. It’s both a book and a toy, with wheels that really turn, an erasable slate, and realistic looking tools. Dad will love you for giving this to his son, ages 3 and older.
The Sound of Music, adapted by Bert Fink, $26.99. The hills really do come alive, accompanied by “My Favorite Thing”s and “Edelweiss.” Not suitable for children under 3, but come on, we know you’re going to give this to you friend who’s an inveterate musical comedy fan.
White Noise, David A. Carter, $22.99. The ultimate touch me, feel me book. This is the final installment of the popular color series, with creative works in bold hues, and a graceful text. For grown-ups, along with culturally advanced kids.
It’s definitely a good time for a special limited edition of the classic book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst, $17.99. Come to think of it, this would also be a great gift for any friend who’s going through a hard time.
All The World, Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee, $17.99. For ages 3-7, a light, breezy way to show little ones that We Are The World.
Olivia Acts Out, adapted by Jodie Shepard, $16.99. This board book will delight any little girl, from the red velvet on the cover, to the very understandable annoyance the little piglet feels at not getting the lead in the school play. Good tool to teach some valuable life lessons in a fun way.
Worth checking out: There’s a new DVD set of the old classic series, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, 60th Anniversary. These five discs were shot in color. A great way to reminisce, and to introduce to today’s modern youth the simple programming we enjoyed back in the day.
Young Adult, known as YA books, are well represented this year:
Before Columbus, Charles C. Mann, $24.99. A painless way to get youngsters interested in the history of our hemisphere before the White Man came on the scene in 1492. Excellent illustrations.
A Gift Of Days, Stephen Alcorn, $21.99. Quotes from Mel Brooks, Helen Keller, and Bill Clinton (now, apparently, known as William Jefferson Clinton), provide a thought a day throughout the year. Very good for initiating family discussions.
Seven Rays, Jessica Bendinger, $16.99. What if you find out you are so much more than you think you are? A good read for a teenage girl.
Fantasy and Science Fiction are a YA staple, and there’s a fine crop to choose from:
Eragon’s Guide To Alagaesia, Christopher Paolini, $24.99. A rich and highly imaginative guide to a mysterious world, with fanciful illustrations, maps, and history. Very Lord Of The Rings.
Leviathan, Scott Westerfeld, $19.99. The author of the popular Uglies series presents a fast paced story of adventure set at the cusp of World War I.
The Magician of Hoad, Margaret Mahy, $18.99. A suspenseful tale of a young mind reader in a fractious royal court, and how he encounters his destiny.
The Shadow Dragons, James A. Owen, $17.99. Owen is the author of the Imaginarium Geographica series, the Starchild graphic novels, and the Mythworld series. It’s a great journey to read and walk along with this wildly creative writer.
The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black is always popular, and this season we have both The Completely Fantasticle Edition, $29.99, and the boxed
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, $33.99. The parallel world of the faeries is alive and well.
We all love Best Sellers, but with so much merchandise available, choice can be overwhelming. I’d like to suggest:
Secrets Of The Lost Symbol, Dan Burstein (above) and Arne De Keijzer, $25.99. Everyone’s already got Dan Brown. We’ve bought the books and seen the movies. A series of experts, including Karen Armstrong and Amir Aczel, explore the mysteries of the Brown novels. They answer our questions about the works, and in some cases, provoke them. The truth is in here.
Superfreakonomics, Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner, $29.99. Anyone who hasn’t heard about and been intrigued by these Steves isn’t reading, anyway. Related with wit and plenty of bite, here are the burning issues of the day told in a style that entertains as well as informs.
Non-fiction. For the heroes in your life, pick up:
The Intimate Lives Of The Founding Fathers, Thomas Fleming, $27.99, which includes, at long last, the story of the women in their lives.
America’s Prophet, Bruce Feiler, $26.99. The author of the much loved Walking The Bible explains why Moses is so important in American history.
Highest Duty, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (above) with Jeffrey Zaslow, $25.99. A hero in our own time, his bravest act was admitting “I can’t do that,” and determining what he actually could do under crisis conditions.
Bomb Power, Garry Wills, $27.95. The eminent historian explains how the atomic bomb changed American politics forever.
A Truth Universally Acknowledged, edited by Susannah Carson, $25. Thirty-three great writers interpret Jane Austen. For them literary types.
Have A Little Faith, Mitch Albom, $23.99. A sure-fire hit, this is Albom’s first non-fiction work since the blockbuster Tuesdays With Morrie.
A lot of us are making New Year’s resolutions, with Self Improvement at the top of the list:
59 Seconds, Richard Wiseman, $24. This is good enough to give to folks who don’t even want to improve. Wiseman employs science to help us avoid the self-help gimmicks of the day, and to achieve true happiness.
Your Inner Skinny, Joy Bauer, $16.99 (PB). The Today Show nutrition expert (above) tries to make losing weight and keeping it off as painless as possible.
For pure enjoyment, nothing beats good Fiction writing:
New York, Edward Rutherfurd, $30. If you haven’t discovered this master of historical fiction, start here, and then read everything he’s ever written; he’s that good.
Rainwater, Sandra Brown, $23.99. Set in depression era Texas, Brown once again gives us an absorbing read.
Nothing is better to help forget the weather outside than a good Thriller:
The Red Door, Charles Todd, $24.99. The latest in the popular Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries.
The Disappeared, M.R. Hall, $24.99. Coroner Jenny Cooper brings a woman’s sense and sensibilities to a troubling case.
Altar Of Eden, James Rollins, $27.99. Combination of suspense, scientific experiments, and intrigue lead to a riveting read.
Nifty gifty Stocking Stuffers:
Ask Me. Rico Medina & Billy Merrell ask us to ask ourselves such heart stopping questions as, “Who would you rather meet in a dark alley, Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears?” Trust me, someone on your list will love this.
The Gastronomy of Marriage. Michelle Maisto ponders the meaning of quick muffin mix and the love connection. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll buy the cheap stuff anyway.
This is just the tip of the iceberg (what’s left of it, anyway). There are lots more good books to help us stay in, curl up, and outsmart the cold winter we face.
Michall Jeffers is an accomplished cultural journalist. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. She writes extensively, both in print and online. She is an active member of Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, American Theatre Critics Association, International Association of Theatre Critics, Dance Critics Association, and National Book Critics Circle.
