When trying to think of the perfect gift for someone on your Christmas list, this year think books. Book publishers this year have created a terrific marketing campaign titled “Books = Gifts,” with that logo written on a Christmas bulb.
For young children on your list, picture books are a wonderful way to share special time with them, encouraging in them a lifetime love of reading. John Grogan's “A Very Marley Christmas” continues the misadventures of the world's worst, but lovable, dog Marley. Olivia the pig shares a new story in “Olivia Helps with Christmas” by Ian Falconer.
Older children will enjoy popular author Kate DiCamillo's “The Tale of Despereaux” about a mouse who loves music, stories and Princess Pea. Marlo Thomas updates her 1970s classic “Free to Be#- You and Me” with stories, songs and poems about the unique person inside every child.
Whoopi Goldberg's chapter book “Sugar Plum Ballerinas” tells the story of Alexandrea, a reluctant young girl whose stage mother moves her to Harlem to become a famous ballerina. If only she had talent and no stage fright!
JK Rowling shares “Tales of Beedle the Bard” a Harry Potter-spinoff of sorts. Those who miss Harry and his pals may want to check out Rick Riordan's young adult series Perry Jackson and the Olympians, the newest of which is “Battle of the Labyrinth.”
If you have a cook on your list, there are several wonderful cookbooks out this season. Rachael Ray's “Big Orange Book” has great recipes for everyone from beginners to experts with quick meals, holiday meals, vegetarian meals and more. Ina Garten's beautifully illustrated “The Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics” is great for the entertainer on your list.
The more advanced chef will love “Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons for the Home Cook,” a huge tome with gorgeous photos. For the homebody on your list, there are hundreds of decorating ideas in “Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room by Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.”
History buffs will enjoy Newsweek editor Jon Meacham's book on Andrew Jackson, “American Lion.” Read Doris Kearns Goodwin's “Team of Rivals” (now in paperback) to learn how Abraham Lincoln put his political rivals, including William Seward, in his Cabinet. Sounds like this one was on Barack Obama's list.
“The New York Times - The Complete Front Pages 1851-2005” is coffee table book, a historical document of their front pages, including DVDs.
Memoirs are always popular, and among the most interesting this year include Steve Martin's “Born Standing Up,” a well-written book about the craft of standup comedy. Julie Andrews's “Home” recounts her life growing up and becoming an actress. Robert “RJ” Wagner tells his story of his long-lived Hollywood career and love Natalie Wood in “Pieces of My Heart.”
Olympian Michael Phelps mesmerized everyone this summer, and he tells his story in the newly released “No Limits.” Older kids can learn much from his story of hard work, perseverance, and goal-setting.
“The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life” is Alice Schroeder's best-selling biography, and the business person or stock market follower will enjoy it. “Call Me Ted” is colorful CNN founder and former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner's amazing life story.
“Schuyler's Monster” by Robert-Rummel Hudson is the story of his beautiful young daughter Schuyler and the serious illness that prevents her from speaking, among other things. “The Necklace” by Cheryl Jarvis is about 13 women who buy an expensive time-share necklace together, and get much more than they bargained for in the process.
Animal lovers will enjoy Vicki Myron's poignant true story, “Dewey: The Small-Time Library Cat Who Touched the World” and who can resist that pretty cat on the cover of the book? Dog lovers have two unique fiction books from which to choose: Oprah's Book Club selection and Hamlet-inspired “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski, about a mute boy and the dogs he trains, and “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein, a book narrated by Enzo, the loyal dog of a race car driver.
For the mystery fan on your list, George Pelecanos's “The Turnaround” is a novel of redemption, forgiveness, racism and revenge set in Washington D.C. Guys will love it. Tana French's “Into The Woods” is a puzzler about the murder of teenage girl in Dublin, Ireland, and its possible connection to the disappearance years ago of three young children. Her next book, “The Likeness,” continues the story of one of the detectives assigned to that case.
If you know someone who reads Janet Evanovich's “Stephanie Plum” series, Lisa Lutz's “The Spellman Files” and “The Curse of the Spellmans” would be perfect. The books are a hoot, and older teens would enjoy the story of private investigator Izzy Spellman and her wacky family of detectives.
On a more serious side, Jacqueline Winspear's “Maisie Dobbs” series tells the story of a female private investigator in England following World War I. There are five books, and they are all magnificent, and also great for older teens.
Mystery writer Dennis Lehane turns his talents to historical fiction in “The Given Day,” set in Boston just after World War I. Real events and people such as Babe Ruth, J. Edgar Hoover and Calvin Coolidge share the story with Danny, a Boston cop, Nora, an Irish immigrant housekeeper with a secret, and Luther, a black man on the run from murder. This is a fabulous novel, stuffed with themes of labor unions, race, poverty, class warfare, anarchy, love and family.
Philippa Gregory's “The Other Boleyn Girl” is a historical novel about Anne Boleyn, her sister and King Henry VIII and the web of political intrigue, love and marriage that envelops them. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows came from out of nowhere to surprise the literary community. It tells the story of the people of the island of Guernsey off the coast of England during World War II who start a book club to evade the Nazi's oppressive occupation.
Other good fiction choices include “American Wife” by Curtis Sittenfeld, a novel that is loosely based on Laura Bush's life, “Home,” the National Book Award nominee by Marilynne Robinson about family, religion and forgiveness, and yes, home, and for the fans of lighter fiction, Sophie Kinsella's “Remember Me,” the story of an ugly duckling who falls into a coma and wakes up a thin swan with a fabulous husband, job and life - or is it?
Remember that when you give books as gifts, you give so much more. You give adventure, friendship, laughter, empathy and love. These are my suggestions, but for more, visit www.booksequalgifts.com.
Diane La Rue is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. Her lifelong goal is to read one book per week. She can be reached at
laruediane2000@yahoo.com
Older children will enjoy popular author Kate DiCamillo's “The Tale of Despereaux” about a mouse who loves music, stories and Princess Pea. Marlo Thomas updates her 1970s classic “Free to Be#- You and Me” with stories, songs and poems about the unique person inside every child.
Whoopi Goldberg's chapter book “Sugar Plum Ballerinas” tells the story of Alexandrea, a reluctant young girl whose stage mother moves her to Harlem to become a famous ballerina. If only she had talent and no stage fright!
JK Rowling shares “Tales of Beedle the Bard” a Harry Potter-spinoff of sorts. Those who miss Harry and his pals may want to check out Rick Riordan's young adult series Perry Jackson and the Olympians, the newest of which is “Battle of the Labyrinth.”
If you have a cook on your list, there are several wonderful cookbooks out this season. Rachael Ray's “Big Orange Book” has great recipes for everyone from beginners to experts with quick meals, holiday meals, vegetarian meals and more. Ina Garten's beautifully illustrated “The Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics” is great for the entertainer on your list.
The more advanced chef will love “Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons for the Home Cook,” a huge tome with gorgeous photos. For the homebody on your list, there are hundreds of decorating ideas in “Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room by Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.”
History buffs will enjoy Newsweek editor Jon Meacham's book on Andrew Jackson, “American Lion.” Read Doris Kearns Goodwin's “Team of Rivals” (now in paperback) to learn how Abraham Lincoln put his political rivals, including William Seward, in his Cabinet. Sounds like this one was on Barack Obama's list.
“The New York Times - The Complete Front Pages 1851-2005” is coffee table book, a historical document of their front pages, including DVDs.
Memoirs are always popular, and among the most interesting this year include Steve Martin's “Born Standing Up,” a well-written book about the craft of standup comedy. Julie Andrews's “Home” recounts her life growing up and becoming an actress. Robert “RJ” Wagner tells his story of his long-lived Hollywood career and love Natalie Wood in “Pieces of My Heart.”
Olympian Michael Phelps mesmerized everyone this summer, and he tells his story in the newly released “No Limits.” Older kids can learn much from his story of hard work, perseverance, and goal-setting.
“The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life” is Alice Schroeder's best-selling biography, and the business person or stock market follower will enjoy it. “Call Me Ted” is colorful CNN founder and former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner's amazing life story.
“Schuyler's Monster” by Robert-Rummel Hudson is the story of his beautiful young daughter Schuyler and the serious illness that prevents her from speaking, among other things. “The Necklace” by Cheryl Jarvis is about 13 women who buy an expensive time-share necklace together, and get much more than they bargained for in the process.
Animal lovers will enjoy Vicki Myron's poignant true story, “Dewey: The Small-Time Library Cat Who Touched the World” and who can resist that pretty cat on the cover of the book? Dog lovers have two unique fiction books from which to choose: Oprah's Book Club selection and Hamlet-inspired “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski, about a mute boy and the dogs he trains, and “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein, a book narrated by Enzo, the loyal dog of a race car driver.
For the mystery fan on your list, George Pelecanos's “The Turnaround” is a novel of redemption, forgiveness, racism and revenge set in Washington D.C. Guys will love it. Tana French's “Into The Woods” is a puzzler about the murder of teenage girl in Dublin, Ireland, and its possible connection to the disappearance years ago of three young children. Her next book, “The Likeness,” continues the story of one of the detectives assigned to that case.
If you know someone who reads Janet Evanovich's “Stephanie Plum” series, Lisa Lutz's “The Spellman Files” and “The Curse of the Spellmans” would be perfect. The books are a hoot, and older teens would enjoy the story of private investigator Izzy Spellman and her wacky family of detectives.
On a more serious side, Jacqueline Winspear's “Maisie Dobbs” series tells the story of a female private investigator in England following World War I. There are five books, and they are all magnificent, and also great for older teens.
Mystery writer Dennis Lehane turns his talents to historical fiction in “The Given Day,” set in Boston just after World War I. Real events and people such as Babe Ruth, J. Edgar Hoover and Calvin Coolidge share the story with Danny, a Boston cop, Nora, an Irish immigrant housekeeper with a secret, and Luther, a black man on the run from murder. This is a fabulous novel, stuffed with themes of labor unions, race, poverty, class warfare, anarchy, love and family.
Philippa Gregory's “The Other Boleyn Girl” is a historical novel about Anne Boleyn, her sister and King Henry VIII and the web of political intrigue, love and marriage that envelops them. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows came from out of nowhere to surprise the literary community. It tells the story of the people of the island of Guernsey off the coast of England during World War II who start a book club to evade the Nazi's oppressive occupation.
Other good fiction choices include “American Wife” by Curtis Sittenfeld, a novel that is loosely based on Laura Bush's life, “Home,” the National Book Award nominee by Marilynne Robinson about family, religion and forgiveness, and yes, home, and for the fans of lighter fiction, Sophie Kinsella's “Remember Me,” the story of an ugly duckling who falls into a coma and wakes up a thin swan with a fabulous husband, job and life - or is it?
Remember that when you give books as gifts, you give so much more. You give adventure, friendship, laughter, empathy and love. These are my suggestions, but for more, visit www.booksequalgifts.com.
Diane La Rue is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. Her lifelong goal is to read one book per week. She can be reached at
laruediane2000@yahoo.com
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