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Great Children’s Books for Late
Shoppers
By Holly E. Newton
Are you still looking for that perfect
gift for Christmas? Have you put off buying gifts to the last
minute? Well, look no further because I have a list full of
variety of gift giving books that will put your anxieties to rest.
First, here is a compilation of extraordinary
stories selected by Avi. Best
Shorts: Favorite Short Stories for Sharing has some
of the most interesting and varied stories written by award winning
kids' authors for 10 years old through adult. The first story,
“Rogue Wave,” by Theodore Taylor, will have you on the edge
of your seat from beginning to end.
A brother and sister encounter a disaster
when their boat is capsized after being hit by a giant wave.
What takes place in these short 16 pages is exciting and terrifying,
making this story a perfect read-aloud. There are also stories
that are mystical, frightening, magical, humorous and courageous.
The famous illustrator, Chris Raschka, has drawn a picture at the beginning of each story.
Avi, along with Katherine Paterson, wrote
their thoughts about the importance of short stories, which are
found at the beginning and end of the book. Here at last is
a book that will motivate, create, invigorate and entertain young
minds waiting for their own story to tell!
Sometimes, books are packaged to create
an ultimate gift. Moongirl,
by Henry Selick, is a large picture book
that has a DVD that goes right along with this unique fantasy.
Peter Chan drew the illustrations, and Courtney Booker, digitally
colored the pictures making this unusual story a great read for
ages 5 and up.
Click to Buy
 Now,
how about a cookbook for those youngsters looking for a yummy read?
Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook, by Georgeanne Brennan, and photographed by Frankie Frankeny, is a delectable concoction inspired from those hilarious
stories by the famous Dr. Seuss himself. Try the tantalizing Flapjack
Flapper’s Flapjacks, inspired from the story Oh Say Can You
Say? — or how about an after-school
snack of Nupboard’s Nuggets, inspired
from There’s a Wocket in My Pocket. All ages are sure to enjoy
baking and eating these tasty treats!
Board games seem to be the forgotten
fun activity, and yet they can be a terrific and fun way to build
family memories while improving reading and comprehension skills.
Cranium has a new game to connect, or reconnect, with your family.
Funfolio Family Edition is full
of activities that you and your family can enjoy such as building
a time capsule, writing your own movie scrip or creating a scavenger
hunt. This is fun for all ages.
Are you looking for that fun activity
book that will engage your toddler? Little, Brown Publishers
has a unique finger puppet storybook: Goldilocks and
the Three Bears. Here is a brightly-colored glove
that will hold the Velcro bears and Goldilocks that can also be
placed inside the cloth-covered back page of the oversized board
book. (There’s also The Three Pigs available as well.)
This book is great fun!
How about a gift set that includes
5 CDs to go along with The Complete Adventures of Curious
George, by Margret and H.A. Rey?
This large picture book has all of the favorite stories about this lovable
monkey along with 3 and 1/2 hours of story recordings, music and
fun sound effects youngsters will truly enjoy!
Click to Buy
 Now
for three very creative books for the 9-and-older child, Beatrix
Potter: A Journal, by Beatrix Potter, is a most inventive
book! This large and beautifully bound book, published by
Penguin, has pockets and pouches that open, lavish
paintings, even maps that fold out. This will surely
encourage the writer in your youth!
Fairy-ailty:
The Fashion Collection From the House of
Ellwand, by David Ellwand
and Eugenie Bird, and beautifully illustrated by David Downton,
will enthrall and completely immerse your young dress designer.
Here is a book so full of creative genius that it’s sure to spark
or continue to ignite that interest in design, even if it’s for
the fairest fairies of the land.
And last is a simple book, yet full
of practical ideas for those last minute gifts. I Wanna
Make Gifts, by Clea Hantman,
and illustrated by Azadeh Houshyar,
is full of unique and easy to make gifts that will make gift-giving
more memorable especially because it was made — not purchased!
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© 2006
Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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