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Books to Give at Christmas
By Holly E. Newton
What’s the easiest gift to give for
the Christmas season? Books! All ages can enjoy them
and you can find any kind of genre that interests that special person,
young or old. Here is a list of some extraordinary books that
you’ll want to put on your shopping list. But here's a warning
— you may want to keep these for yourself!
The Ultimate Interactive Atlas
of the World, published by Scholastic, is an ingenious
look at the world with pull-tabs, pop-outs, sliders and flaps.
The format of this oversized book is easy to lay open because it
has a spiral binding instead of sewn pages. In addition, you’ll
easily grasp all that there is to learn because of its interesting
layout. You will learn about interesting details of maps as
well as facts about countries and continents. If you are looking
for a perfect end-table-book for that special person’s living room,
look no further!
And while we’re on the subject about
the world, Our World Globe Book, by Disney Learning,
has to be on the cutting edge of unique and inventive! After
taking this book out of the box, you immediately see that its circular
shape and pages turns into a globe. Only this globe has pages
all about our world. There’s even a stand, so this creative
book begs to be read so it can edify all!
And talking about an interactive book
experience, The Sleeping Beauty Ballet Theatre, by
Viola Anmn Seddon, and cleverly staged by Jean Mahoney, has all
the elements for a story to be read and then acted out. There’s
a stage, scenery that can be changed, a full cast that can be easily
mounted on the stage and even a CD with music that supports the
story. This one will call for loud applause!
Click to buy
 If
you are looking for a very unique book that will amaze, 600
Black Spots, by David A. Carter, is a rare look inside a
brilliant pop-up artist’s brilliant display! I’ve never seen
anything like his pop-up books and this one is no disappointment.
I really can’t explain each page because every single page is simply
amazing. You’ll just have to experience this book to see what
I’m writing about. His other two books, One Red Dot
and Blue 2 are just as incredible as this book!
The other master of this paper engineering
is Robert Sabuda. He has a new pop-up book, Winter in
White. The difference between these
two engineering masters is that Carter’s books are a visual display
of ways to present paper. Sabuda has actual images that represent
animals and other facsimiles. This book displays ice skaters
to sleigh riders, to a snowy Christmas tree. Both of these artists
have to be among my favorites!
Pop-ups
can be very educational. Titanic, by
Martin Jenkins, and engineered and illustrated by Brian Sanders,
will transform you to the high seas of the cold Atlantic during
1912, when the largest vessel ever to sail the ocean hit an iceberg
and sank. The oversized book features a full pup-up of the
ship that spans over two feet long. The book is so well packaged
that there is so much to learn on every page!
Click to buy
 And
if your recipient is a lover of dinosaur books, Extreme Dinosaurs,
by Robert Mash, and illustrated by Stuart Martin, is another oversized
book that is packaged with the reptile lover in mind. Each
thick page of the book is packed with interesting information, as
well as the inside cover that houses a huge fold out poster of many
of these giants.
And here’s another dinosaur book that
kids will love. Dinosaur Dig It!, by Jonathan
Kronstadt, and illustrated by Dan Jankowski, has a small sized book
on one side of a box-shaped book. The other side holds tools
to begin the exploration process of prehistoric bones.
Click to buy
The
rest of these books are geared for younger children. We’re
Going on a Bear Hunt: A Celebratory Pop-Up Edition,
by Michael Rosen, and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, is a
fun book to read and explore. The rhythmic lyrics beg to be
read in a singsong manner, and kids will love the pop-outs and pull
tabs.
Click to buy
You’re
All My Favorites, by Sam McBratney, and illustrated
by Anita Jeram, is packaged with the cutest story about a furry
family and included are three small bears.
Click to buy
My
Penguin Osbert, by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, and illustrated
by H. B. Lewis, is another gift set with the book about a young
boy who wants a penguin for Christmas. A small, stuffed penguin
is included.
Click to buy
Good
Night Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, is the classic
story that all children should have on their shelves. Included
is a pair of little slippers in the shape of bunnies.
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© 2007
Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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