On Reading: Merry Christmas! What Books did you give or get?

Merry Christmas (and other Winter holiday happies) from the 5 Minutes for Books team! We are so happy to be able to do what we do here. We do it because we love books, and we like sharing that love with all of you other booklovers. Here are some of the books that we are gifting to those in our lives:

JENNIFER

• I’m feeding Kyle’s love of Calvin and Hobbes with a copy of one of the collections he doesn’t have: The Indispensable Calvin And Hobbes. I’m also trying to expand his appreciation of comics with a really nice hardbound Peanuts collection that I found in the clearance section at Barnes and Noble for around $10.
• My kids’ bookworm roots run on both sides — not only from my own dad, but from Terry’s side of the family as well. My father-in-law and his mother are both huge readers. In addition to some other goodies, I bought The Hunger Games book for my/his grandmother (click the link for a chance to win the book and movie poster). That’s right! I’m giving the violent dystopian bestseller to my grandmother! And what’s more, I think she’ll like it, since she’s a fan of mystery and suspense and has dabbled in sci-fi.

LAUREN

• My son is an avid sports fan. Every year, Santa brings him Scholastic’s Year in Sports. This book is filled with statistics, and my son pores over it for months. This is perfect for the 9-12 age range (or even older for those who love stats).
• My daughter recently started reading chapter books. She found Sophie the Awesome in her stocking. I saw this series at our recent book fair, so I’m sure Santa made a good pick. I think my daughter will enjoy this exuberant character.
• Almost every year, I give my mom the newest Nicholas Sparks book. She has them all, so I think that The Best of Me is a welcome addition to her collection!

DAWN

• Just a couple weeks ago, my children’s school (where I also happen to teach) held its annual Scholastic Book Fair, and I picked up a couple of paperback books for the kids’ stockings. Raining Cats and Dogs: A Collection of Irresistible Idioms and Illustrations to Tickle the Funny Bones of Young People seemed to be perfect for my four year old who loves to giggle over the funny things words can mean.
• For my kindergarten daughter, whose class recently completed an extensive study of bones and fossils, I chose the Scholastic 2011 winner of the “Kids are Authors” contest: What Does the X-Ray Say? I’m a big fan of this campaign that recognizes literary work created by school groups, and the topic couldn’t have been more appropriate for my daughter this year!
• Since my mother-in-law took care of some significant book purchasing this year (Elephant & Piggie and Percy Jackson among the familiar characters in the mix), we opted to get our oldest a book that differed from his usual fare of middle grade and YA novels, and went with a puzzle book. Brain Games: Improve Your Memory is filled with a variety of number and word games that seem like his thing. Though we’re not looking to lower our 11 year old’s brain age, we predict he’ll have fun with this one.

NANCY

• A few years ago my sister and I agreed to give books to each other’s kids. We can order online and have them shipped right to each other’s houses. My niece is in first grade but reading above grade level, and I use my advantage of already having been through that grade with my son to pick out some new material for her. So I got her The Judy Moody Star-Studded Collection: Books 1-3, The Pain and the Great One Quartet Box Set and Ivy & Bean’s Secret Treasure Box (Books 1-3). All are new to her and I think she’ll enjoy them. I also like that you can get boxed sets at Amazon pretty inexpensively.
• The Amazon method also means I get a sneak peek at what the boys are getting. Alex is getting the rest of the Wimpy Kid books that he doesn’t already have, plus both The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back.
• Zach is getting a bunch of picture books, including E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld, who we love, and Caralyn Buehner’s Snowmen at Christmas, the newest in a series of books about what snowmen do when we’re not looking.

TRISH

• Most of my nieces and nephews wanted gift cards this year, but my newest nephew is only 10 months old, so I still get to pick out his presents! Along with his regular gift, I tucked in a fun board book, based on a Dr. Seuss classic, called One Fish, Two Fish, Three, Four, Five Fish.
• My son is getting Squish #2: Brave New Pond and Stink Trek: The Adventures of Uncle Stinky #2. Since they are both sequels to books he liked, I know they will be well-received.
• And, although my husband is more of a music buff, he did ask for one book, which I was happy to get him: Normal Christianity: If Jesus is Normal, what is the Church? by Jon Welton.

ELIZABETH:

• I’m late to the party, as usual! I’m on the West Coast, which is a valid excuse, and am also visiting the in-laws, which is even more of an excuse if only you knew! We still haven’t opened our gifts yet, but every one of us is getting books. (Yes, I am pretty sure that I am getting the The Complete Pelican Shakespeare, which I asked for when I realized I’d lost my old copy in one of our many moves.)
• Elliot bought Ilsa 2 books, neither of which I can link since I can’t remember what they were even though I helped pick them out.
• I bought Ilsa some of the Anne of Green Gables books. I grew up in Canada reading L.M.M. Montgomery, and I have passed on my Emily books and attempted to pass on my Anne books. Sadly, I’d read a lot of them to death, and Ilsa’s collection was missing a few. Not after today! Ilsa’s twin, Abel, is getting a comic collection.
• Even Donn, who claims he’s not a reader, is getting 2 books: Elliott Erwitt Paris and Robert Capa: The Definitive Collection Yes, those are picture books! 😉