The Best Graduation Gifts

By Holly E. Newton

The end of the school year connotes graduation time, celebrating many different levels of school completions. Books, as always, are the perfect gift and help commemorate this important event in a young person¹s life. Here is a list of some outstanding picture books celebrating the graduate.

For the younger reader celebrating a change in schools, here is a simple tale about judgment.

Zen Shorts, by widely acclaimed author Jon J. Muth, is a story that involves three tales. Three children become friends with a giant panda. He imparts a clever story for each child. One of the tales expertly demonstrates how we need to forgive. A young monk criticizes an older monk for carrying an unappreciative traveler over rain puddles, as he says, "She didn't even thank you!" The wise older man replies, "I set the woman down hours ago." The older monk was able to forgive and forget, while the young monk was still learning this lesson of forgiveness.

Another perfect book for the younger child is This Little Light of Mine. This picture book is based on the familiar song of the same title and is illustrated beautifully by the acclaimed E. B. Lewis. The words of the song describe how the light from within will shine on and on. But, the pictures tell much, much more. A young boy sees another youngster sitting alone, appearing dejected as he is slumped with his head in his hands. As the song progresses throughout the book, the boy invites the sad fellow to join his friends and before long a smile shines through the sad face. This book will surely strike a chord with all ages!

Sometimes it's the wordless books that seem to have the greatest message. Home, by Jeannie Baker, shows the progress of life through an open window. Ms. Baker has small remnants of a girl's life on the windowsill, displaying her growth though the years. For instance, the book begins with congratulations for the birth of a baby girl. Through the window, you see the proud parents in their back yard holding this new baby. There are older looking vehicles on the street beyond the yard. Several pages later, there's the girl as a teen putting makeup on in a mirror that's sitting on the windowsill. Beyond the yard is a full garden and beyond that newer looking cars on the street. There's much to observe and reflect on one's own growth throughout the years.

Sometimes biographies are the perfect inspiration for graduates. Walt Whitman: Words for America, by Barbara Kerley, is a look into the life of one of America's best and most famous poets. His poetry reflected the feelings of our country during the tumultuous Civil War. I found it fascinating that when Walt was young, he loved words and loved to read. He was always writing down feelings and expressions in his little notebook. In the Author¹s Note located in the back of the book, he states that when he was eleven years old, he was given a library card. Later he added, it was ³...the signal event of my life up to that time." Brian Selznick beautifully illustrated the pictures throughout the book, and he studied many historical documents and locations to accurately reconstruct this amazing poet¹s life.

Here is a perfect companion to Walt Whitman¹s biography. When I Heard the Learn¹d Astronomer is a wonderfully illustrated book by Loren Long, based on Walt Whitman¹s famous poem. This poem celebrates the amazing imagination that is budding in all of us. The incredible pictures take you to a young boy's experience as he ponders life and the stars, ³In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.²

Mother Teresa, by award winning Demi, is an inspirational account of one humble woman serving those much less fortunate and extremely poor. This incredible woman gave all that she had throughout her life. Included here is wisdom that we can glean from her: ³Life Is An Opportunity --Avail It. Life Is Beautiful --Admire It. Life Is A Challenge --Meet It. Life Is Costly --Care For It. Life Is A Promise --Fulfill It. Life Is Sorrow --Overcome It. Life Is Too Precious --Do Not Destroy It.²

And lastly, here's a book celebrating and exploring the endless possibilities of life. Imagine a Day, by Sarah L. Thompson, and creatively illustrated by Rob Gonsalves, will spark your imagination --beyond imagination. ³Imagine a day Š when a book swings open on silent hinges, and a place you've never seen before welcomes you here.² Give a great gift to your graduate. Give a book to inspire, motivate and celebrate!

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1. Saving Our Cinema
... school after graduation. He chose UCLA film ... Nixon,î starring Sean Penn, which was filmed ... a public service announcement to be shown on ... district and Hastings College would be driven out ...
http://www.nebraskalife.com/movies.asp

2. Tufts university at Lets Fix Our Schools - Tufts university Information and ...
... 161 College Ave, Medford MA, 02155. Announcement(s): New ... admissions tufts university graduation tufts university vet school ... university Oxford university Penn state university Princeton ...
http://university.letsfix ...yunv/Tufts_university

3. Pittsburgh Celebrity Hockey - Bios
... 1978 he graduated from Penn State University with ... upon John Cigna's announcement of retirement ... s WWCH. While still in college, Richert landed a job ... on and off through graduation, until February ...
http://www.pghcelebrityhockey.org/bios.htm

4. contests
... and practice (4-1-99) *American Agricultural Law Association Writing Competition (6-30) *American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers--commercial finance (9-30-98?) *American College of Legal Medicine ...
http://www.people.memphis.edu/~law/contests.html

5. High School Bulletin Updates
... families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president, Lawrence H. Summers ... ... must enroll at Penn College within one year of high school graduation and agree to become a ...
http://www.canton.k12.pa.us/news.htm

6. Trade Show News, Trade Conference News, Tradeshows and Events, Industry Awar...
... World(R) Guarantees College Graduation Thu, 23 Mar 2006, 14:57:00 ... Conference Center of Bentley College, 145 Forest Street, Waltham ... Austin, Texas. The program announcement accompanies the September ...
http://www.send2press.com/news_tradeshow.shtml

7. TJHSST - Current News
... a fun, safe way to celebrate your High School Graduation. Tickets cost $90 unless your name is drawn ... ... Siemens Foundation in collaboration with the College Board announced on Friday that five TJ Seniors ...
http://www.tjhsst.edu/news/archive.html

8. Baseball Toaster : Dodger Thoughts : Questions Linger with Furcal Injury
... of an iron curtain with the announcement from Dodger general ... used to stay at my co-op in college when his tours came through ... Chynna Phillips, sixth grade graduation. (ii) Turning down offer to ...
http://dodgerthoughts.bas .../archives/337817.html

9. Democracy Project
... 21st Centuryís Ayn Rand, Robert Penn Warren, or Walker Percy ... s Washington Post by Boston college's Martha Bayles diagnosing ... yet test scores and graduation rates have remained ...
http://www.democracy-proj ...archives/2005_08.html

10. LostRings1980s
... You can post your announcement by sending an ... for lost rings for graduation years from 1980 ... at age 50. Ashworth College Earn your Associates ... 6/03 Lost: 1985 North Penn HS gold ring with ...
http://www.reunionsworld. ...rings 1980 - 1989.htm

11. RFL - Report
... Overly, Butler County, Penn. Daniel Shreve ... in 2002. Since graduation, she had been self ... s heading up the College Outreach program for ... public service announcement to educate and ...
http://www.rockforlife.or ...eport_2004_12_14.html

12. washington trip dc a trip state img
... Trip: Mt. Washington. March , albums. The graduation trip to Mt. Washington. While the weather ... ... WASHINGTON DC SPRING BREAK MARCH PENN STATE ERIE, THE BEHREND COLLEGE. In March Fremont, California ...
http://vellop.com/trip-to-washington.html

13. Graduation Class Rings at Graduation-Class-Rings.Net
... phrases include artistic memories memory albums, penn state college graduation invitations, college ... ... grants, national college graduation rates, graduation announcement packages, and sigma chi ...
http://www.graduation-cla ...ation class rings.php

14. College Graduation
... Annoucements College Graduation Announcement College Graduation Announcement Card College Graduation Announcement Penn College Graduation Announcement Sample College Graduation Announcement Sample ...
http://www.mygraduationgift.com/collegegraduation/

15. Rutgers College World War II Memorial
... season and a special announcement regarding chapel the next ... Hillside, NJ and Newark Junior College, Newark, NJ Entered Rutgers ... Guard, Major, 1941 Upon graduation, John attended graduate ...
http://fas-history.rutger ...ll/some_gave_all.html

16. CLASS - Community - Competitions 2002
... Competitions " Graduation " Ceremonies ... 2006 Essay Announcement " 2005 Art ... s Association) and the Penn-Ohio Rabbit Club ... she wants to attend college, she prays for Gods ...
http://www.homeschools.or ...competitions2002.html

17. Accredited Online Bachelor Degree Program | Best offers of accredited online...
... With a liberal arts college, institutes of ... a particular job announcement, then your name ... advisor will develop a Penn State campus This site ... settings after graduation Additionally, in ...
http://bachelor1degree.ch ...or_degree_program.htm

18. Penn Indy Online | Opinion | Jodie Foster: Unfit for Commencement
... Amy Guttmann upon announcement that Jodie Foster ... circumstance of my graduation ceremony should not ... the self-worth of Pennís arts and humanities ... credit to the college curriculum came to a ...
http://www.pennindy.com/index.php?id=3,65,0,0,1,0

19. The Berean Chronicles - Past Programs
... said in an unusual announcement tucked into an ... he has learned since graduation has taught him that ... of what he learned in college in History and ... July 12, 05 Lenn Penn - FalseDawn.us author ...
http://www.retakingamerica.com/past_guest.html

20. Internet2 Past Showcases
... downloadable songs. Penn State is also ... making an important announcement about extending ... performances and college theater using the web ... included a joint graduation ceremony between ...
http://www.internet2.edu/ ...se.cfm?keyword_id=107

21. Learning Technology newsletter, Vol. 4 Issue 1, January 2002
... es Back to contents Long-Life Learning Communities Based on PBL Courses Abstract The aim of this paper is to present a research proposal for the creation of learning communities during the graduation ...
http://lttf.ieee.org/lear ...h/issues/january2002/

22. The Command Post - 2004 US Presidential Election - June 2004 Archives
... half the hike in graduation rates will come ... s running Electoral College Calculator shows Bush ... Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) noted that the ... drug program. he announcement was made as Bush ...
http://www.command-post.o ...archives/2004_06.html

23. Jewish Music Web Center Announcements: Classical or Jewish art music Archives
News & Features Announcement Weblog Featured Sites Der Kukvinkl ... from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ... the Bronx, New York. Upon graduation from HUC-JIR, she ...
http://www.jmwc.org/annou ..._or_jewish_art_music/

24. Advanced Combo Tricks: Sports Archives
... said in making the announcement Tuesday. Posted by ... by Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State and ... this afternoon. bq. College basketball's ... players lag in graduation rates Boston.com ...
http://act.hagale.net/sta ...ives/sports/index.php

25. Laptop initiative
... Aug 1, 2005 Announcement: The laptop store ... Architecture nor the College of Arts and ... Technology Services at Penn State (ITS), Apple ... Apple OS up through graduation. Installation disks ...
http://www.arch.psu.edu/students/lap_index.shtml

26. KFFL - The Hottest NFL, MLB and Fantasy News!
... enter the draft. My personal favorite college football team right now is Notre Dame and that ... ... this, but we may or may not make an official announcement as the team may hire from within as we ...
http://www.kffl.com/weblo ...ves/general/index.php

27. Archive - Conference - Location Intelligence
... Jobs News Special Announcement Newsletter ... Scholar. After graduation, he spent two years ... from Castleton State College in Vermont. Scott ... and an MBA from Penn State University. He ...
http://www.locationintell ...ve/2004/speakers.html

28. SW Michigan Chapter
... Laureate award (see announcement below). We send ... them complete their graduation requirements ... put himself through college by playing in bands ... family, Stephanie Penn served four years in ...
http://www.breadforthejou ... pages/SWMichigan.htm

29. Current Student Information
... share this announcement among your ... Award Denise Gardner, a Penn State University ... in the ceremony. The College of Agricultural ... Society is hosting a graduation brunch in Gym 3 of ...
http://www.cas.psu.edu/do ...ltystaff/Vol7No4.html

30. eOCULUS 10.04.05
... what to expect upon graduation. Speakers were ... included how the College and University fared ... Architects, PC. The announcement was just in time ... ViÃ’oly Architects: Penn Medicine Center for ...
http://www.aiany.org/eOCULUS/2005/2005-10-04.html

31. Search Calendar
... 215 Schaefer 126 PA Announcement Mckeldin 305 ... Bound - Buffalo State College Upward Bound Ilinois ... High Scho William Penn. High School Williiam ... Fundraiser Games Graduation/Closing Homecoming ...
http://www.morgan.edu/webcalendar/search.asp

32. Tips For Directors of State College Area Races
... want to avoid are: Penn State graduation ... high school prom or graduation weekends, and ... than 10 K. The State College area does not have a ... try to put your announcement on a wide variety ...
http://www.nvrun.com/race-directors-primer.html

33. Tervis Tumblers from tumblerstore.com
... Letters NASCAR | Graduation Gifts | Professions ... Boise State Boston College Bowling Green ... Oklahoma State Oregon Penn State Pittsburgh Pitt ... of Tervis Tumblers. Announcement: 757-369-0254 Fax ...
http://www.tumblerstore.com/

34. USA Gymnastics Online: Athlete News - November 2004
... the war competing for Penn State from 1947-49. He ... 1948 and 1949. After graduation he coached for ... models for the 350 college women student leaders ... the CAS hearing announcement that found you ...
http://www.usa-gymnastics ...ws/2004/an-nov04.html

35. College Football from Education Hall:
... Bet College Football Lines Announcement Bowl College Football ... College Football Recruiting Penn State College Football Bowl ... Lines Bowl College Fantasy Football Graduation Rate Of College ...
http://college-football.educationhall.org/

36. Society of Financial Examiners
... and Experience: Graduation from an accredited ... current resume and college transcripts. The ... a copy of our job announcement, which contains ... EOE. back to top Penn Millers Insurance ...
http://www.sofe.org/index.php?page=jobs

37. Honoring the great players of the professional football world. News, history...
... The ultimate football collectible. Riddell college helmets full size authentic Clemson helmet is ... ... Hayes' first Ohio State football team. After graduation, Fischer continued his proud association ...
http://football.thehealth ...w-footballLS3900.html

38. Jim Bouton Official Web Site: Foul Ball
... circuses, ice shows, graduation ceremonies ... high school and the college level. 3. Many of the ... such as the NY-Penn League standards that ... before any public announcement is made of BSE's ...
http://www.ballfour.com/foul_docs.html

39. Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Genealogy : Biographies L
... Milwaukee Journal, January 16, 1921 WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT: Gestern Morgen schlossen Oscar E ... ... himself for teaching and had previous to his graduation passed the teacherís examination, after ...
http://www.2manitowoc.com/biosLi.html

40. Graduation i : Graduation Caps
... Graduation Rings College Graduations Fall ... Graduation Announcement Graduation ... ADD CATEGORY Graduation Caps Suggested ... II Roxy Hat Sand Penn State Nittany Lions ...
http://graduationi.com/graduationcaps/index.php

41. About Our Program
... of Graduate Studies | College of Biological ... of Chicago Andy Clark Penn State University ... will be required for graduation. These requirements ... convenient time. A announcement of the seminar to ...
http://www.eve.ucdavis.edu/eve/pbg/program.html

42. PostalWatch News Archive - October 2005
... backlog. In an announcement released Oct. 12 ... forwarding service to Penn State fraternity ... formally ask the State College post office to ... breaks or after graduation, the office cancels ...
http://www.postalwatch.co ...2005/news_2005_10.htm

43. HE&OS » 2005 » April
... name called at high school graduation ever since she was a ... worried that her own recent announcement to school officials might ... of them to four years at the college of their choice! Yikes ...
http://cobranchi.com/?m=200504

44. Keith C. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D.
... for the zebrafish (announcement). Zebrafish 1:69 ... students for graduation? How long will ... or comments about the Penn State Pathology ... at jfaust@psu.edu College of Medicine | Medical ...
http://www.hmc.psu.edu/pa ...xperimental/cheng.htm

45. VP Academic Newsletter - Online
... a day long event for graduation secondary students ... Foresty Service, Sault College, Ontario Forestry ... projects. The announcement was made on May 26 ... in Leisure Studies from Penn State University ...
http://info.georgianc.on.ca/VP/

46.
... information - songs. penn honor. official ... gowns, providing il graduation © rand including ... of of the athletics college sports member ... achieve, to announcement day ideas ...
http://traditional-music- ....info/traditions.html

47. Carlisle Indian School Manuscripts.
... Dr. M. B. Anderson, President Seelye of Amherst College, General Eaton. Defense of Pratt as the ... ... Samson Foster. Map of United States by Watson W. Penn, Osage. PI 1-3-7 Drawing of bear by J. H. Givan ...
http://www.historicalsoci .../ciismanuscripts.html

48. http://www.uh.edu/admin/media/topstories/
... future after graduation. Although no law ... Ivy League with its announcement that it would not ... STUDENTS BEMOAN COSTLY COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS Sticker ... Regents will consider. PENN WILL PAY TUITION FOR ...

49. Larry Litwin's Public Relations Blog
... since the announcement of the Rowan West ... to the big time of college sports, the NCAA's ... such as the graduation ceremonies, which ... Liacouras Center 10,200 Penn The Palestra 8,700 ...
http://www.larrysblog.com/

50. The Universities Weblog: January 2006
... Business Schools... Graduation Rates Remain a ... Cheerleading Stunts Penn Joins Peers in ... languages into college and university ... languages. The announcement premiered to mixed ...
http://www.universities-w ...6711/january_2006.php

51. Southern Asia Adventist Association
... Health Graduation Announcement Young as our ... Following graduation, he pursued a ... at Columbia Union College for a year, he ... 1969. Later he attended Penn State University in ...
http://www.saaa.org/archivednews.shtml

52. fox 45 baltimore -- fox 45 baltimore
... State University ~ Penn s Landing ... College Technology Graduation 2003 ... http://www ... International College Chefs ''Get Cooking ... a public service announcement saluting the group ...
http://www.fcabaltimore.com/fox45baltimore/

53. Harvard Business School Case Study Anderson Street Review - Information | Re...
... Jobs In Austin Texas Penn State Worton Business ... In Michigan Ranking College Schools Of Business ... School Of Business Graduation Where Is The ... 1985 Text of game announcement from Infocom's ...
http://www.mba-business-a ...andersonstreetreview/

54. spellingerrorz.com: variant spelling directory
... penn fishing reel penn national insurance ... tees personalized graduation gift personalized ... pharmacy pharmacy college pharmacy direct ... record photo announcement photo badge photo ...
http://www.spellingerrorz.com/p.php

55. Valentine Gifts Listed below
... State Oregon Oregon State Penn State Pitt Purdue South ... All Boston Red Sox Merchandise College | NFL | MLB | NBA | NHL ... gifts baby announcement gifts sears com gifts graduation gifts ...
http://www.toptengifts.biz/Gifts27103.aspx

56. turncoat
... a Ph.D. and a sinecure as a college professor instead of devoting ... had the floor and made the announcement that he has some ... When my younger brother, Penn, told our father he was ...
http://crab.rutgers.edu/~goertzel/turncoat.htm