GENERAL NON-FICTION
There is absolutely no trivia fan in the world who could be without “1,339 Quite Interesting Facts to Make Your Jaw Drop” by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin. This totally fun book is filled with I-didn’t-know-that facts that practically beg to be read aloud.
If there’s someone on your gift list who likes to poke the bear and stir up trouble, then “Villains, Scoundrels, and Rogues” by Paul Martin may be the right thing to wrap. This book is filled with short chapters on all kinds of real-life troublemakers and shady citizens. How fun is that? Wrap it up with “Madam Belle: Sex, Money, and Influence in a Southern Brothel” by MaryJean Wall, for an even more rascally gift.
The gardener on your list is going to go wild for “A Garden of Marvels” by Ruth Kassinger. This is a book about the secret lives of plants: what they eat, how they mate, and how they grow. Wrap it up with a trowel and a few packages of seeds, for a nice promise-of-spring gift.
For the spiritual person on your gift list, “The Grateful Table” by Brenda Knight, foreword by Nina Lesowitz will be an excellent book to wrap up. It’s filled with prayers, graces and thoughts meant for mealtime, but not only. Your giftee will be more than welcome to use it anytime… maybe even right after it’s opened! Pair it up with “Having the Time of Your Life: Little Lessons to Live By” by Allen Klein, a book of quotations to further enhance joy.
The movie buff on your list will eat up “The Zombie Book: An Encyclopedia of the Living Dead” by Nick Redfern, with Brad Steiger. It’s filled with entries on the genre, including directors, plots, and TV shows. Innocent fun—no. A welcome gruesome gift—absolutely yes! Wrap it up with “The Government UFO Files: The Conspiracy of Cover-Up” by Kevin D. Randle for a gift that creeps on giving.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AUTHORS
For the beauty on your gift list, wrap up Bill Duke’s “Dark Girls,” photography by Barron Claiborne, interviews by Shelia P. Moses. This wonderful book showcases the beauty of women in many skin tones, and the feelings they have for their unique color. Hint: this book is not just for young women; grandma might like reading it, too!
You may need to find a gift for the historian who has everything, so look for “Samuel Wilbert Tucker: The Story of a Civil Rights Trailblazer and the 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In” by Nancy Noyes Silcox. Except for the fact that it has an abundance of pictures and a great timeline, the title says it all.
BUSINESS
For the businessperson who can’t quite conquer being on top of everything, wrap up “The Organized Mind” by Daniel J. Levitin. This book takes a look at why our brains are packed tight and how some leaders deal with business TMI. Wrap it up with another fascinating book, “The Marshmallow Test” by Walter Mischel, a book about self-control and how to conquer and use yours.
If there’s someone on your gift list who’s new to business and is just learning the ropes, wrap up “Compelling People” by John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut. This book uncovers the traits that give someone the ability to sway others and, in turn, to be successful. Wrap it up with “Perfecting Your Pitch” by Ronald M. Shapiro, a very useful communications book that helps your readers reach for success, but not just in business.
LITTLE KIDS
I seriously don’t think I know one little kid who doesn’t like a bedtime story. Heck, I like a bedtime story, and I liked “Day is Done: Prayers and Blessings for Bedtime” by Elena Pasquali, illustrated by Natascia Ugliano. This is one of those books that can be read quietly for a soothing night-night, both for adult and for child. Wrap it up with “Little Owl’s Day” by Divya Srinivasan, a cute story about a little guy whose inability to sleep gets him into a big adventure.
MIDDLE GRADERS
If there’s a mystery lover on your list, then look for “Somebody on this Bus is Going to Be Famous” by J.B. Cheaney. A strangely empty bus stop. A bus full of kids, each with one clue. A bus driver who acts all weird. Can your whodunit fan solve the mystery before the kids on the bus do it?
TEEN READERS
Teen readers who love futuristic novels (but can’t handle a whole lot of fantasy) will love “The Scavengers” by Michael Perry. It’s the story of a young woman who’s left behind by her family when they leave town, and the only way she can survive is by scavenging—alone. Excitement. Danger. What more could your teen want? Wrap it up with “The Girl From the Well” by Rin Chupeco for a gruesome gift duo.
And there you are! A whole lot of ideas for that hard-to-buy-for person on your gift list. Best of all, if these ideas don’t fill the bill, then you can always give a gift certificate, or you can throw yourself at the mercy of your friendly bookseller. Yes, he or she is absolutely brimming with ideas for everybody on your gift list, so what are you waiting for?
Season’s Readings!
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