M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

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!

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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!

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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.

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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.  

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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. 

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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. 

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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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