Gift giving can be difficult especially if you desire to give something tangible. You can depend on books as a gift that can reflect love, friendship or to show that you value them. Below are a variety of outstanding books that will be thoroughly enjoyed. The appropriate ages will be listed on each book.
Where’s Waldo? A-Maze-ing Journeys, by Martin Handford, is an oversized book with Handford’s trademark pages filled with interesting characters, and in this book, intricate mazes. There are twists and turns that will have you working hard to figure out the path to the end. Each open page is filled with bright colors and elaborate layouts. This book is great fun for ages five through eighty five!
Where’s Wonka? A Search-and-Find Book, by Roald Dahl and intricately illustrated by Wren McDonald, is a reimagined experience where the reader gets to participate in locating the five golden tickets. After locating those, the reader then enter rooms that reproduce the experiences that Charlie and his grandpa got to experience. Some of the rooms include The Sweet Shop and The Chocolate Room. The reader will search for specific items on each open-page. Best suited for ages seven and up.
Ten-Word Tiny Tales: To Inspire and Unsettle, by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by 21 various artists, is truly a most mind-boggling picture book that will stretch your imagination. Each open-page shows a brightly painted scene with a ten word sentence that creates in the mind a story waiting to be told. This is where kids, ages eight and up, can expound on what they interpret from the picture and the events they perceive as they conjure up a story. For instance, there is a picture of a mouse in her bed. Underneath the house, there are many tunnels where ants are eating dinner at a set table, gathering fruit from trees and more. The ten-word sentence reads: I hear the patter of tiny feet underneath my bed. Be aware that the illustrations can be a little harsh and frightening. There is some good advice on writing stories found at the back of the book from the author. This book is good for ages 7 and up.
The Ultimate Book of DINOSAURS and Other Prehistoric Creatures, by Sandra Laboucarie and brilliantly illustrated with flaps, pop-ups, and pull-tabs by Benjamin Becue, is an over-sized book packaged with sturdy pages filled with dinosaurs according to where they lived on land or sea and according to their size. This book is so enticing and inviting that every child and adult will be captivated to the end.
Eric Loves Animals (Just Like You) (The World of Eric Carle), by Eric Carle, would be a perfect coffee-table gift for the picture book aficionado. Eric Carle is internationally renowned and receiving of many picture book awards. This over-sized book, with 171 pages, has one or two brightly painted animals done by Carle. This collection of his art is organized alphabetically featuring creatures from his famous stories. This book is great for all ages.
Three Tasks for a Dragon, by Erin Colfer and gorgeously illustrated done in pencil and colored digitally by P. J. Lynch, is an exquisitely told story that reads like a fairy tale. But this well told story is anything but a traditional fairy tale. The language emits the imagery befitting a hero or a prince. And the maiden who needs rescuing has talents and strengths of her own. Between the gorgeous pictures, and the storyline, this quick read will be enjoyed by ages eight and up.
Once There was a Bear: Tales of Before it All Began (Winnie-the-Pooh), by Jane Riordan, and colorfully illustrated by Mark Burgess, is a delightful collection of 10 chapters prior to all the main characters living in A. A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood. This sweet book continues the integrity of both Milne and his original illustrator: E. H. Shepard. The stories may answer questions such as how Christopher Robin meets Pooh and did all of Christopher’s animal friends get a chance to explore London before moving to the woods. Here is the perfect read aloud for bedtime for ages four and up and read alone for ages seven and up.
Paper World: The Human Body, by The Templar Company LTD and cleverly illustrated by Gail Armstrong, is the kind of book that may inspire doctors in your house. The layout is brilliant with overlays of die cuts to view organs under the rib cage, workings of the brain and even an underlaying of the senses. The facts are concise and interesting making this a most interesting book for all ages.
A Toni Morrison Treasury, by Toni and Slade Morrison and illustrated by various artists, is a collection of eight picture books put into one large bound compilation. The mother and son duo have written some outstanding stories that are filled with color and exuberance that kids ages three to eight will love. Some of the stories include: Little Cloud and Lady Wind and Please, Louise.
