Book Gift Suggestions for the Holidays Export

Do you have some good book suggestions to offer to those looking for the perfect gift for the holidays? Please give your suggestions...author and title and anything more you'd like to add about the book to help our readers find the ideal gift for those on their holiday lists.

I heartily recommend an absolutely beautiful book by Ruth Bell Graham, "A Wintry Night". It is a perfect book for children (make them wash their hands first!). IMO, the book is beautiful enough to appeal to a collector.

Babi

but I really agree wholeheartedly with your reccomendation. Here is a link to it: One Wintry Night

Intruding? You, Phyll? Never, what a super recommendation, Babi, and what a super link, Phyll, the artist will inscribe it!

I have one too, for children, what age would you both say is best for that book?

An interesting aside: Ruth Bell Graham, author of One Wintry Night, is the wife of Billy Graham, the evangelist.

recommend another for children 4-8. It's by Margaret Wise Brown, who wrote Goodnight Moon and IMO never wrote a bad book, and is illus. by Calder. It is:On Christmas Eve

Gosh, there are sooooo many wonderful children's books. As for the adults, you almost need to know their particular interest, don't you?

Do you know, Patwest, I had forgotten entirely about it being THAT Ruth Graham. I'm embarrassed because they are fellow North Carolinians.

WOW...GREAT suggestions for children. Thanks and for the link and author bio information. It's so wonderful to be able to give a child a book of his own...to cherish when all the toys have broken or grown stale.

jane

Super idea for a discussion, I love these lists and carry them all year round! Especially if you are not around small children much it's good to know what some great books are, those look fabulous!

I have three books to recommend for starters. One is for children 8-12, and it's quite unusual. It's called

The Goat Lady by Jane Bregoli, and is accompanied with splendid illustrations by the author. (Wanted you to see the cover so you could see what type of illustrations it has). It's a true story about a family which moves into an upscale neighborhood which has an elderly lady living on the outskirts who ties her clothes together with twine and keeps goats. It's about kindness, courage, and looking behind outward appearances, it's a beautiful true story.

On a lighter note just the thing for the holidays, is a wonderful romp perfect for a friend who has extended her plastic with holiday shopping, Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic, it's just delightful with a Rachel Ray type character you can't help pulling for. It's an entire series, this is the first book, I'm reading them all, and enjoying each one, it would make a super movie.

The other book I'd recommend is completely different, also by Kinsella, I read about IT and her in the NY Times, it's brand new and called The Undomestic Goddess, about a high powered attorney who hits melt down, gets on a train in England and ends up asking directions at a manor house and being mistaken for the new housekeeper. She can't cook and has no domestic skills. It's wonderful.

As always at holiday time I recommend to anybody who has not read it and likes "Christmas Mysteries," Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor by Simon Brett, one of the all time best, full of puzzles for the reader to solve, it's a classic.

I've got more but these are a good beginning!

Ginny,

I couldn't wait for Christmas. I just put 'The Goat Lady' on hold at the library. I can't believe it's a true story. At our library it's listed under biographies. I love the book cover.

Thank you.

I loved Redbird Christmas. I enjoyed it last Christmas. I think it is a wonderful Christmas gift.

"With the same incomparable style and warm, inviting voice that have made her beloved by millions of readers far and wide, "New York Times bestselling author Fannie Flagg has written an enchanting Christmas story of faith and hope for all ages that is sure to become a classic. Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget "A Redbird Christmas."

"From the Hardcover edition.

Great book gift ideas for children and for fun and for inspiration.

Thanks!

jane

I found a wonderful list of books for your grandchildren at hugatuga.com. I have 7 grandchildren and they throughly enjoyed the stories and the magical toy. I have never seen books so creative. My 4 year old grandchild goes to bed with the book and toy every night. There was no shipping and the books arrived within a few days.

I have a bunch of audio books on cassettes, mostly mysteries, I would be glad to send them to anyone interested.

I have audio tapes from the Teaching Company (see online) dealing with literature, humanities, music, philosophy etc that I would be glad to send to anyone willing to pay the postage. Please cotact Bernadette at bmcinnis2@yahoo.com

Kellie and Bernadette: You might want to list your offerings in the Book Exchange where people exchange books for the cost of the postage.

Book Exchange

I brought it home just to peruse last night. Its entitled, "Arthur Spiderwicks's Field Guide--to the Fantastical World Around You" by the Grace family and authors Tony diTerlizzi and Holly Black. Take a peek and see the faeries of Jared Grace. Its sort of similar to my coffee table book about Hobbits. Wonderful illustrations with fold-out pages sprinked about so that you can experience these wonderful creatures. Reminds me of "Lady Cottington's Pressed Faeries" book from years ago which is always re-released over the holidays.

Also, picked up a new book entitled, "Macbeth" retold by Bruce Coville/pictures by Gary Kelley. This is a youngster's book but a pleasure to read and enjoy the illustrations. Beautiful book!

Thanks Jane I will contact book exchange.

For once, a book about senior care written by a senior! The Other Way Home: A Guide for seniors who live with their children by Margaret Rodgers. It is based on the author's ten years of living in the homes of her 4 adult children following the death of her husband. A delightful read peppered with humorous anecdotes, the author's message is as inspiring as it is informative. Available on Amazon.com

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. This one has been published for awhile. It is very funny. A man decides not to celebrate Christmas. In his mind, he will save money, avoid crowds and being hospitable. Will his plan work or fail? That is the plot.

In this retelling of a folktale, a group of slaves, unable to bear their sadness and starvation any longer, calls upon the African magic that allows them to fly away. "The well-known author retells 24 black American folk tales in sure storytelling voice: animal tales, supernatural tales, fanciful and cautionary tales, and slave tales of freedom. All are beautifully readable. With the added attraction of 40 wonderfully expressive paintings by the Dillons, this collection should be snapped up.

Great suggestions, Ann and Hats!

jane

Thanks for those suggestion. SKIPPING CHRISTMAS & REDBIRD CHRISTMAS sound like wonderful reading. I'll give them a try.

Great, Bill. It's always nice to have some ideas of possible books that others might also enjoy.

jane

Take a look at "Blue Moon Soup" which has wonderfully funny illustrations and recipes for all who love making soup the main dish.

Thanks, Ann!

This from today's NYT --
"The award for young people's literature went to Jeanne Birdsall for her debut novel, The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy, published by Knopf. The story of four girls and their widowed father, the book was best described, Ms. Birdsall said, by a third grader from Long Island who told her "This book is about being a good listener, even if you're a grown-up." I don't know the grades level -- sounds like grades 3 -6.

My granddaughter (now 12) has loved Art Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen. It's a puzzle, as well as a book about art. Readers study 30 grandmasters and try to figure out which ones are frauds and who is the forger. This was quite difficult for me. There is another in the series about modern art, which was much easier to solve. (Ages 8 -- 80+)

Thanks, Pedln! Those sound wonderful.

jane

Pedln,

Thank you!

Hats, I have a book on the art of the Dillons and each page is beautiful and frameable. Since I love myths and folktales, and since you recommend it, and since the book has DIllon illustrations .... I'm going to get my own copy of The People Could Fly. It sounds wonderful.

Marvelle

Be sure to read "Wylie and the Hairy Thing" first, Marvelle. My 3rd graders loved it and requested it often with read it "spooky" Mrs. R. Sue

Marvelle,

That makes me happy!

I am just finishing the Undomestic Goddess. It is very funny! It rmeinds me of the first couple of "Stephanie Plum" detective stories.

Andrea, I'm so glad you liked it, you must read the Shopaholic books, by the same author. I was just finishing the 3rd one, and W was on a trip and I had gone to bed late and simply could not stop laughing! I laughed and laughed, it was near the end of the book, so I HAD to keep reading to see what happened but she made me laugh so hard I could not sleep. I think they are masterpieces. I am at the end of the series now and I hate to see it over, I would read any Shopaholic book she wrote, try the first couple of them.

Pedln thank you and Sue and Hats and Ann for those recommendations, my goddaughter is very precocious and it sounds just her thing, I've ordered them, I'm so glad Jane did this, because if you are not around young children you really have no idea what they would like.

I have a wonderful book I just discovered yesterday, tho I have been eyeing it at the new B&N displays for the holidays for some time.

It's strikingly beautiful, a new one by B&N (who are doing a LOT of good with their books) and is called The Great Masters of Italian Art by Elena Capretti. I made the mistake of turning a page Saturday and could not leave without it, although it's hardback and must weigh 10 pounds, it's HUGE.

It's huge, heavy, and magnificent, still only $19, it would make a stunning holiday gift, and it's just incredible. It takes Italian artists by centuries so you can see how art changed and then selects a few pieces and blows THEM up ( it's a gigantic coffee table book) with commentary, it's just mind blowing. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a book more. It's sumptuous, it's divine, you just want to sit and read it forever, and even I can SEE the details, I mean they blow up the hands bigger than my own. I absolutely love it and would recommend it to anybody, whether or not they loved art, when they get through, they will!

It's a course in itself but such JOY in the incredible and HUGE details, it's amazing. I can't say enough about it, have never SEEN such a book, if you're in B&N, turn a few pages, I guarantee you you'll sit down with it and never want to let it go. If you have anybody on your list who likes art, they will thank you forever.

Ginny, I cannot find that book in B&N. Was it a new book that they haven`t listed it as yet?. It sounds wonderful. I can`t find it with Froogle or at Amazon either. Help.....

May...I think the book is here: The Great Masters of Italian Art edited by Cristina Acidini Luchinat and Elena Capretti

Thanks, Jane; I did have that up, but decided it was not the right book--thanks for clearing that up. I am going to order it.

I have bought my granddaughter, Leah Paris -- just six years old October first -- some books for Christmas. First is the Goat Lady, a lovely story which is beautifully illustrated. Next is On Christmas Eve by Penny Ives and David Hawcock. This is a pop-up book with great illustrations that I got at eBay for not very much money.

Tonight I placed a bid on a book on eBay. L. Frank Baum turned some rhymes into prose stories in this book, which is illustrated, if you can imagine, by Maxfield Parrish. Keep your fingers crossed that I get this treasure.

I saw medieval books tonight that went for between $5000.00 and $11,0000.00. Imagine having that kind of money!

GINNY, I splurged on 3 Penelope Fitgerald books for myself on Amazon. One was a penny, one was fifty cents and the third one was one dollar and seven cents.

Mal

Mal...

I'm glad this listing was helpful to you in getting books for your granddaughter. Good luck with the auction.

jane

Since the musical Wicked is making its rounds, I'm thinking about getting the book for my sister for the holidays and including a note in it promising that we will see it together when it comes to one of our towns sometime soon (or we will visit New York together!) I like when books can be tied into something else as well, like recipes, or a movie, etc.

Good idea, Helena!

Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella sounds really funny. I have someone on my list who would enjoy it. Ginny, thank you.

Ann, I like the Blue Moon Soup Cookbook too. That book would make a very nice gift. I love the title, Blue Moon Soup. I could hardly type it. It's a tongue twister.

just read HERES JOHNNY by ed mcmahon great book

Thanks, Homestead, for that recommendation.

jane

Do you need a last minute gift for that hard-to-please person in your life? Go to Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com and order "All Aboard, Destination Unknown" by Virginia Bickel, "Robert de Hazeldene" by Robert Haseltine and "Myrrden" by the same author, and "Precarious Global Incandescence" by Marilyn Freeman.

What riches to choose from, and those books were all written by members of the Writers Exchange WREX right here in SeniorNet

Forgive me for being late, but I had promised and here I am.

For my grandson, 9 1/2, I bought
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Swiss Family Robinson
Treasure Island
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (by Roald Dahl) and
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, a NYT Bestseller.

For my granddaughter, 6 1/2, a first grader, I chose
Superdog: The Heart of a Hero, by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner (Illustrator)
The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke and Kerstin Meyer (Illustrator)
A Family of Poems : My Favorite Poetry for Children by Caroline Kennedy.
Months ago I also bought Charlotte's Web but she may not yet be ready for that. Of course one never knows.

I read "The Princess Knight" and found it wonderful; I also liked the portions of"Dragon Rider" that I read. Those two were for me the "unknowns" in the list and I just had to check. I was amply satisfied.