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!

Visit Holly's Web Site!

Remember your Grad but don't forget Dad! One click gets you access to all the best Father's Day gift ideas on the web.
Click Here for Great Father's Day Gift Ideas!

1. A Leftist Youth Journal Based in the U.S.
... A Tribute to Mini-Nukes in Three Poems Poem: rage against the dying of the light List ... ... s Speech at the Santa Monica Community College Graduation Ceremony Josh Saxe One way of thinking ...
http://www.lefthook.org/Reports.html

2. Wedding Invitations , cards, Wedding Invitations
http://free-sample-birthd ...ddinginvitations.com/

3. Graduation Cap
http://www.campusy.net/graduation-cap/

4. Graduation Poems
... Here's a college graduation poem... Awesome Achievement Your college graduation Fills us with love and pride. We always knew that you could do Whatever you really tried. It's a long and challenging ...
http://www.poemsource.com/graduation-poems.html

5. Personalized Gifts - Personalized Gifts
... Coach Gift Personalized College Graduation Gift Personalized ... for weddings, anniversary, graduation, retirement, Christmas, and ... Gift Prints Creating a short poem using the letters of any first ...
http://www.unique-persona ...fo/personalizedgifts/

6. PERSONALIZED GROOMSMEN GIFTS - personalized groomsmen gifts - Personalized G...
http://personalized-groom ....executive-gifts.biz/

7. Thank You to Parents
... & Dad, Mom, etc.): 3. Choose Poem: Poem 1 Poem 2 Poem 3 4. Closing (Examples: Love Always; With Love ... ... s Wedding Day - September 3rd; Laura's College Graduation - June 30th; etc.: 7. Choose Rose Color ...
http://www.poetrygift.com/graduationgift.html

8. Red Steagall &nbs...
... Texas State, Steagall formed a band. Upon college graduation, he took a job with Western Grain and ... ... work; obtain a poet's permission before using a poem in any form. © 2000-2005 Managing editor: M ...
http://www.cowboypoetry.com/redsteagall.htm

9. Best College Graduation Gift
... Long, based on Walt Whitmans famous poem. This poem celebrates the amazing imagination that is ... ... Thursday, May 12 College opportunities for ... Student loans after graduation Is renting a good ...
http://www.mygraduationgi ...ollegegraduationgift/

10. hacker on 43 Things
... can once again dream, Of this love of mine . . . Poem by Kharshiefa Sidoo (Kash) Sep 13, 04:47AM ... ... this is the closest Ive ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories ...
http://www.43things.com/person/hacker

11. The Leprechaun Club Of Ireland(tm)Online Gift Shop,Online Shopping Mall Iris...
... gift ideas,graduation speeches,college graduation announcements ... corporate,baby day,graduation,for,silver,,creative irish ... irish english dictionary,irish poem,irish stew,irish rose,irish ...
http://www.blarneyvillage.com/club/shop.htm

12. colorado classmate - find the best colorado classmate
... classmate college graduation poem Classmate College Graduation Poem... JREF Forums - Gradeschoolers charged with trying to poison classmate Students charged with trying to poison classmate DENVER ...
http://www.free-classmate ...lorado-classmate.html

13. Poem And Song For Preschool Graduation
Poem And Song For Preschool Graduation FireRocket Search Related Searches poem for graduation from college college free graduation poem green day graduation song 2005 high school graduation song high ...
http://www.barberforjudge ...preschool-graduation/

14. ..:: dianaschnuth.net: 21 April 2005 ::..
... April 2005, 10:19PM | posted in ruminations This poem reminds me of conversations my roommate Amy and ... ... we did manage, although I think it took college graduation and entrance into the work force to ...
http://www.dianaschnuth.net/archives/000412.php

15. michigan college fund
... central university college nassau comunity college marist college athletics home courses college graduation poem © 2004 College Shop All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All ...
http://www.sageofbroward. ...gan-college-fund.html

16. College Gift Graduation Man
... gift suggestion college graduation cake college graduation college graduation speech college graduation poem unique college graduation gift girl graduation gift college graduation announcement ...
http://www.freegiftidea.c ...-gift-graduation-man/

17. Free Directory
... baby shower gift ideas bridal shower gift poem college student gift christmas gift ideas 50th ... ... gods gift including sharing his divinity best graduation gift bridal shower gift poem coffee and tea ...
http://y.myftpsite.net/gift/index.html

18. My Mother's Thank You Poem
... those dear ladies, and she gave them this simple poem to show them a little bit of how very much ... ... THE WILDS, where I had been working since college graduation in '88. I had plane tickets to go home ...
http://www.our.homewithgo ...erluvd/momma_poem.htm

19. A man is not a man, without a heart; nor a soul.. - Journal
... a poem, don't know who the writer is, found it in my letter folder.. hmm.. MUM (Picture source) When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. You thanked her by wailing like a banshee. When ...
http://heartsoul.multiply.com/journal

20. Feb01
... and resumes." Soon after we graduated from college, a friend, Bob Lewis, had a party at his ... ... this event which inspired me to write a silly poem for Pat. Monday 26 Lists of Lists. Lists ...
http://www.birchlane.net/feb01.htm

21. Stationary Stores - One of the premier stationary stores for your elegant st...
... ours allow you to insert a logo, a drawing, a poem... just about anything to make your invitation ... ... christmas party invitations | college graduation announcements | custom invitations ...
http://www.aldengrace.com/stationary-stores.html

22. rockoweb: talky-talky
... Anyone up for ScriDoAPoMi, aka 'Scribble Down a Poem Minute'? Posted by eli at 11:09 AM | Comments ... ... if I recall correctly) from my 2001, post-college-graduation, pre-real life Wyoming trip. At the time ...
http://www.fancycanoe.com/rockshot/

23. christmas gift
... infinite Continuation; Bus this poem does not have end... One day ... teddy bear gift unique graduation gift halloween gift basket ... gift for teen custom giveaway college graduation gift idea creative ...
http://www.edelstein-oase ...t/christmas-gift.html

24. Fall 2003 Class Notes
... Connie Girard Brown enjoyed a granddaughterÄôs college graduation. Her daughter, three grandsons, and granddaughter live in Virginia. She continues with Bible study and bridge....In June, John and ...
http://www.middlebury.edu ...lass_notes/fall03.htm

25. Humor Directory: Jokes : School Jokes
... Rating: 2.32 Rate It) Chemowocky - A fun poem that, I guess, could help you learn the names ... ... guide to choosing a college and you will be laughing all the way to graduation day. [Funnystuff ...
http://www.ehumorcentral. ...y/Jokes/School_Jokes/

26. The American Scholar lecture
... dream poem, "Kubla Khan," for King's Crown Essays, my college's Journal of Undergraduate Literary Criticism. At this time the curiousity remained purely academic, but as college graduation ...
http://cla.calpoly.edu/~s ...ications/AmSchol.html

27. Graduation
... Greeting Cards Cards College Graduation College Graduation Gift Cruise Lines Duke University E ... ... Graduation Party Supply Graduation Photo Graduation Poem Graduation Prayer Graduation Present ...
http://www.realgraduation.com/

28. ANNIVERSARY GIFT - anniversary gift - Anniversary Gift - Anniversary gift
http://anniversary-gift.gift-catalogs.biz/

29. MAMA : Report : Current
... Local MAMA Promoter John Black celebrates his college graduation at the Season's with, what else, a concert with the MoFo Party band. JB is the man. If you need to get your Johnny and Kelly fix ...
http://www.modestoview.co ...a/report/default.aspx

30. Rob Reiner Current Month TV Schedule
... Far A lost magazine and a found poem initiate a family feud on the ... All in the Family Mike's Graduation Mike prepares for his final ... faces the prospect of his college graduation. 30 minutes- (CC ...
http://www.tv-now.com/stars/reinerr.html

31. Pima community college
... for kids dictionary english spanish candy cane poem saab 9 3 viggen winstrol depot new balance ... ... mumbai cancer charities civil war news college graduation gift ideas list of accredited colleges ...
http://pima-community-college.parra.pisz.pl/

32. What We're Reading...
... so charming and yet so crazy-making. Each short poem is accompanied by a vivid, expressive ... ... promise they will never do this. Upon her college graduation, Carol gets engaged and their ...
http://www.wilmette.lib.il.us/ysreads.html

33. Invitations - Wedding Invitation
http://my-wedding.my-desiress.info/

34. Lola Tarot ~ Improvisational Ritual Theatre
... was ever the same. Two weeks after her college graduation, the tour bus, full of 16 colorfully ... ... winning 'video poems.' His most recent video poem was selected for screening at the 7th ...
http://www.lolatarot.org/performers.htm

35. Personalized Graduation Gift : Personalized Birthday Gifts, Birthday Gift Id...
... graduation gift, personalized graduation gift, college graduation gift idea . Lifeflashes ... ... Graduate, Graduation Gift We will laser engrave any words, message or poem onto a beautiful ...
http://www.birthdaycardsa ..._graduation_gift.html

36. Graduation Area
... or alumnus of a university or university college to a graduating class and their guests. Common ... ... in general) or a politician. United Kingdom Graduation Poem Many university graduation ceremonies in ...
http://www.graduation-area.com/

37. inexpensive personalized gifts
... gifts for mom - Craft-gift-ideas gift of life poem - Christmas-screensavers inexpensive ... ... ideas anniversary gifts traditional - College-graduation-gift-ideas newborn baby girl gifts ...
http://personalized-18th- ...rsonalized-gifts.html

38. Recreation/Games URL Submission - Submit your URL to !tzalist Recreation Dir...
... Church Youth Group Games Clean Jokes College Graduation Gift Ideas Counterstrike Maps ... ... by Mail Play Chess Online Playstation Cheats Poem for Teacher Appreciation Poetry Contests Police ...
http://www.itzalist.com/rec/url-submission.html

39. Race and Place Newspapers
... poem celebrating the simple pleasures of life. Page 3 Summary: Various local announcements detailing activities of Charlottesville's black community,from political activism, to college graduation ...
http://jefferson.village. ...paper&paper=Reflector

40. Homemade Fathers Day Gift
... Day Gifts. College Graduation Gifts. GIFT BASKETS. mother's day gift ... powerlaunching.com/fathers_day_gift_pack.htm ? Father's Day Adfunk Internet Solutions Article ... day father poem 852 day ...
http://www.gifts-gadgets- .../10/boys-toys472.html

41. The Graduation hat with embroidery hats and hard hats
... Hat pin cheap hats von dutch trucker hats beach hats outdoor hats nike hats college hats graduation hat red hat poem hats wholesale millinery hat boxes. You can leave your hat on mosquito net hat red ...
http://graduation-hat.xdrx.lubin.pl/

42. Mom
... Mom hugs me at my college graduation Thanks to Amy for the ... as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in Illinois ... happy birthday Mom. I wrote a poem about her 55th birthday, and ...
http://www.links.net/vita/fam/mom/

43. 50th wedding invitation
... Regency, Carlson Craft & & College Graduation Invitations; 50th ... Announcements; High School Graduation & Marketing roundtable ... wedding band wedding camera poem father daughter wedding dance ...
http://www.hamiltonctyele ...dding-invitation.html

44. Graduation Vitamin C
http://www.takeyourvitami ...graduation-vitamin-c/

45. dervala.net: The Leaving
... of childs view of the world as put in the great poem by Dylan Thomas that I failed to comprehend in ... ... at June 23, 2005 02:12 PM I dont think college graduation is too late to give advice. No age is ...
http://www.dervala.net/archives/000759.html

46. MBR: MBR Bookwatch, August 2002
... in her mid twenties who won it all by reciting a poem about how she lost nights studying because she ... ... Calvary officer in the late 1890's after his graduation from the British West Point Sandhurst, and ...
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/aug_02.htm

47. Romance Languages and Literatures
... weeks before the College graduation deadline. Students should ... & Media Studies, and the College Courses French Language (must ... We begin with a study of the poem that alternates with an ...
http://www2.college.uchic ...ncelangsandlits.shtml

48. http://www.americanfarm.com/Faith2004.html
... no matter what their skin color or national origin, to make a success of their life, the hope of college, of having a home, a family, a job, a retirement. The greatest hope that a man is afforded is ...

49. The Social Fabric and Annual Cycle of Residential Colleges
... the new freshmen to the sights and sounds of graduation, and all the joys and sorrows in between ... ... In the Strong College newsletter I had two such distinctive features: a regular poem-of-the-week ...
http://collegiateway.org/howto/life/

50. graduation :: graduation announcement, graduashun, graduation gift, graduati...
... graduation, announcement, graduation, gift, graduation, song, invitation, quote, poem, dance, dinner, party, project, speech, vitamin, c, dress, ring, college, announcement, friends, forever, gown only ...
http://www.thebuzzreport. ...ouncement/graduation/

51. American Literature Web Resources: Elizabeth Bishop
... criticism of her work. June 1934-- her college graduation, moved to New York City, determined to ... ... 1936, a story in Partisan Review in 1938, and a poem in The New Yorker in 1940. Summer of 1935, she ...
http://www.millikin.edu/a ...nology/bishopbio.html