PREPARED BY LARA RIECKEN, CHILDREN'S MATERIALS SELECTOR
1. Dream Snow, by Eric Carle (Philomel/Penguin)
Ages 2-7
"Soon he dreamed of falling snowflakes." A modern Christmas picture-book classic featuring Eric Carle's whimsical collage illustrations. Don't forget to push the button!
2. The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Robert Ingpen (Sterling)
Ages 5-9
More than 100 years ago now, Kenneth Grahame penned the delightful tales of Mr. Toad and friends. Gift Robert Ingpen's illustrated keepsake edition with a copy of Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt, 2012), to continue the fun.
3. The Baby-Sitters' Club Graphic Novel Vols. 1-4, by Ann M. Martin, adapted and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)
Ages 8-11
The Baby-Sitters' Club returns for a new generation! Illustrator and huge BSC fan Raina Telgemeier recently adapted the 1980s series to graphic novel format, with the same heartfelt ups and downs of the original.
4. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien (HarperCollins)
Ages 9 and up
First published in 1937, this fantasy's enduring appeal is testament to the power of a good story. Pair this with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Official Movie Guide (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012) for new fans of Bilbo Baggins and Middle-earth.
5. A Wrinkle in Time: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, by Madeleine L'Engle (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Ages 10 and up
Madeleine L'Engle's 50-year-old science-fiction classic has influenced generations of readers and writers. Hope Larson's new graphic novel adaptation (FSG, 2012) is a worthy companion - why not wrap up both for under the tree!
ADULT BOOKS FOR HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING
PREPARED BY MICHELLE WHITEHEAD, ADULT FICTION SELECTOR
1. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan (HarperCollins)
Books, codes, technology, love, and a mysterious book club: This book has something for everyone and is a fun, upbeat, optimistic read.
2. The Yard, by Alex Grecian (Putnam)
This grisly murder mystery is set in Victorian London post-Ripper. In his debut novel, Alex Grecian does a superb job of bringing the period to life as well as unravelling a thrilling (although at times gory) mystery of a murdered Scotland Yard detective.
3. Canada, by Richard Ford (HarperCollins)
A beautifully written story told from the point of view of Dell Parsons, an American son of bank-robbing parents, who eventually finds himself in Saskatchewan. Ford is a master of the written word, and any fan of literary fiction will be enamoured with this novel.
4. How to Be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran (Harper)
In this funny but important book, Caitlin Moran tackles modern feminism with a flair for the hilarious using stories from her own life. A must-read for women (but we're sure men will be reading it on the sly).
5. Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle)
This small book is a series of comics imagining Darth Vader as a loving father to Luke Skywalker. It is funny and sweet and the perfect stocking stuffer for Star Wars-loving dads.
