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. Belfast Telegraph
... Standing in the shadows of Motown tells the story of the unsung heroes of that most glorious pop ... ... horror films, would you celebrate your college graduation by going on a vacation to a remote log ...
http://www.belfasttelegra ...tory.jsp?story=452829

2. expiration date - by avocadolite
... this journal started a few days after my college graduation day. so it has recorded many aspects of ... ... depression after 9/11. this journal tells the story of my pre-marital nomaden lifestyle where i ...
http://www.avocadolite.com/expiration/about.shtml

3. About Diana Birchall
... Moving to Santa Monica, California after college graduation, I have lived here with my family ever since, working as a story analyst. I am the "book person" at Warner Bros. Studios, reading novels to ...
http://www.dianabirchall. ...t_diana_birchall.html

4. Just Bookz - Non-Fiction General
... 14.95 This is the true story of a young man who, upon college graduation, left his Pittsburgh home to become an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea. In a city of over 11 million he couldnít read or ...
http://www.justbookz.com/ ...egory/cid/16/offset/7

5. The Home Page Homepage
The Story of Home Page Join The D-Word mailing list! email address Powered by ListBot "You're either ... ... 43 years old -- exactly halfway between college graduation and retirement. A husband and a father ...
http://www.d-word.com/homepage/

6. schoolsucks_____.
... and b. after college graduation, we wouldn't want to be DJ's. anyway, i still have a lot of stuff to do! + communication bureau duties for the clarion. (i'll be reading out story excerpts & ...
http://purplekiwi.blogdrive.com/

7. college football graduation rates - Bet College Football Sportsbook
... Brought system become look story wanted also noun felt complete college football graduation rates, until sound fish better must warm end brought don't shows. Example moved boy man winter near fish ...
http://www.bet-college-fo ...graduation-rates.html

8. BUSINESS GIFTS - business gifts - Business Gifts - Business gifts
... gifts personalized new orleans gifts - College graduation gift ideas macdonald's gift certificates ... ... gifts? One of my acquaintances told me a story about business gifts. He was driving along the ...
http://business-gifts.gift-catalogs.biz/

9. The Elusive Visually Impaired Audience: A Selective Profile - American Found...
... the age group of the 80s and 90s. But the main story with regard to education is, as stated above ... ... some post-secondary education below college graduation. E. Expected permanence of Visual ...
http://www.afb.org/Sectio ...ID=43&DocumentID=1720

10. Toy Story 3 Disney (2006) Future CG Animated Movie - CG Explorer
... this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I wan... continues via feedster ... ... of them one. Gav has been begging for the Toy Story 2 game (Buzz is his hero) and we got the last ...
http://www.cgexplorer.com ...a/movies/toy-story-3/

11. WEDDING ANNIVERSARY GIFTS YEARS - wedding anniversary gifts years - Wedding ...
... gifts personalized new orleans gifts - College graduation gift ideas macdonald's gift certificates ... ... gifts years? One of my acquaintances told me a story about wedding anniversary gifts years. He was ...
http://wedding-anniversar ....executive-gifts.biz/

12. Washtenaw Technical Middle College: Graduation
... Credit Conversion - Graduation - Classroom Locator ... Board of Directors - Our Story - Our Mission - Our Vision ... Financial Aid Services - College Planning Resources ...
http://www.wccnet.edu/wtm ...ing/scholarships.html

13. BIRTHDAY GAG GIFTS - birthday gag gifts - Birthday Gag Gifts - Birthday gag ...
... gifts personalized new orleans gifts - College graduation gift ideas macdonald's gift certificates ... ... gag gifts? One of my acquaintances told me a story about birthday gag gifts. He was driving along ...
http://birthday-gag-gifts.gift-catalogs.biz/

14. LAAL #143: "FOR GRADUATION, MY FRIEND GAVE ME A HUMMER."
... Nobody ever believes this story, so maybe if I put it in print, people will no longer doubt me. I am always envious of people who didnít go straight from college graduation to the working world. In ...
http://www.blacktable.com/loser030217.htm

15. find what you love
http://www.fwyl.com/

16. FrontPage magazine.com :: College Graduation Speakers by Center for the Stud...
... 17pt 18pt 19pt 20pt College Graduation Speakers By Center for the ... B. Cole President Spelman College 1996 James J. Duderstadt ... re Only Telling You Half the Story." Copies of the full booklet ...
http://www.frontpagemag.c ...adArticle.asp?ID=2638

17. Graduation Ceremony -Jesuit College Prep School of Dallas - Receiving Diploma
... ahead at college. Jesuit College Prep First Memories Oh Baby ... Graduate Receiving Diploma Graduation scenes for granpa who's in ... Memories Capture the Whole Story From birth to present. Many of ...
http://www.spivideo.com/grad2.html

18. CNN.com - Graduating class helped build fledgling college - May 23, 2006
... Graduating class helped build fledgling college - May 23, 2006 Member Center ...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/E .../college.pioneers.ap/

19. Steve Jobs Speaks to College Graduates
... the closest I ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That s it. No big deal. Just three stories. The first story is about connecting the dots. I ...
http://www.livingdharma.o ...obs-Commencement.html

20. Docs in Progress - Films
... 2005) By Lauren Kritzer On the eve of her college graduation in the midst of the 2004 presidential ... ... 2005) By David Roberts Seven children tell the story of how their mother, a DC cabdriver, sacrificed ...
http://www.docsinprogress.org/films.htm

21. The Elimination of Barriers Initiative: True Mental Health Stories
... I even spent a year in Japan after my college graduation. And best of all, I am now a young woman who is extremely happy with her life. Jen Wand My Story READ REAL STORIES about peopleÄôs ...
http://www.allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/story3.html

22. Attraction Academy - Follow your heart and intuition - words of wisdom from ...
... and heroic figure.. Enjoy his amazing story.. "I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest Iíve ever gotten to a college graduation. ".....Today I want to tell you three ...
http://www.attractionacad ...tory=2005091516034459

23. NURSING - Nursing Jobmaryland nurskng nursng nurseignt nurcint nuersing nurs...
... huge framework nursingl application excelsior story charity underwire deficiencies nursinhg ... ... nurs9ing international bursing texas college graduation recommendation prescribed nursnig ...
http://1412.nursing00.mine.nu/

24. Kibo's Media Scrapbook
... me walking past the camera at a community college graduation ceremony. We did the usual stunt of ... ... was vice president of the math club, too? A FUN STORY During my 1992 Presidential campaign, an FTP ...
http://www.kibo.com/kiboclip/

25. Michigan Real Estate Investment Blog: August 2005 Archives
http://www.markijlal.com/archives/2005/08/

26. The Learning Curve | Reports Archive
... 6th grade. The ultimate goal for these low-income students is college graduation. KPLU education reporter Jennifer Wing has the story. Gifted Education Aired June 14, 2004 Educators who work with ...
http://www.learningcurveo ...g/reports/reports.asp

27. newsus.gif
http://www.revealingvideos.com/newsus.htm

28. Graduation i : College Graduation Rings
... video-clip, and photo gallery. College Degrees from Freedom Seminary ... your ... School uniforms, graduation caps and gowns, work ... other pieces. kadyellebee The story of a girl who shares truth for ...
http://graduationi.com/co ...uationrings/index.php

29. OPB :: Program - Fresh Air
... 04:10 EST With two credits to go before college graduation, John Crawford was called to active duty ... ... to go to war. His new memoir is The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell. 'Just Another Soldier' Revives ...
http://www.opb.org/programs/program.php?id=11

30. GIFTS FOR 40TH BIRTHDAY - gifts for 40th birthday - Gifts For 40th Birthday ...
... gifts personalized new orleans gifts - College graduation gift ideas macdonald's gift certificates ... ... 40th birthday? One of my acquaintances told me a story about gifts for 40th birthday. He was driving ...
http://gifts-for-40th-bir ....executive-gifts.biz/

31. Authentic Messages. Unique Personalized Christmas Gift For Her & Him
... also take pleasure in telling everyone about the story as well... it's an awesome service your company ... ... my daughter a letter in a bottle for her college graduation and she loved it. So did her friends. I ...
http://www.authenticmessages.com/christmas.html

32. m.woodhams » Blog
http://www.woodhams.cl/

33. College Graduation Present
... Search results for "college graduation present" 1. Dorm Room ... finaid.org/ 24. Credit Cards: College students carrying thousands ... Home Credit Cards E mail this story Printer friendly page Credit ...
http://www.presents1.com/ ...e-graduation-present/

34. Alumni Profiles - Grand Rapids Community Foundation
... Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College Graduation Year: 2005 Scholarship(s) Received ... ... Read more about Tiffany Ashley Fine Share Your Story Share YOUR story by filling out a profile. We ...
http://www.grfoundation.o ...larships-profiles.php

35. Dave Kessler - Bio
Before his college graduation, David Kessler attracted the interest of an agent at Janklow & Nesbit (Michael Crichton, Richard Price) with an eight-page story intended for a film school application ...
http://www.davekessler.com/bio.html

36. College Graduation Announcement Wording
... Search results for "college graduation announcement wording" 1 ... finaid.org/ 24. Credit Cards: College students carrying thousands ... Home Credit Cards E mail this story Printer friendly page Credit ...
http://www.graduation1.co ...announcement-wording/

37. - Bravenet Web Journal
http://harmonicconcordance.braveweblog.com/

38. Rambling Librarian :: Incidental Thoughts of a Singapore Liblogarian
... the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories. The first story is about connecting the dots. I ...
http://ramblinglibrarian.blogspot.com/

39. Diamond Threadworks Guestbook
... his memory quilt that I am making for his college graduation. I will think of your beloved son ... ... Thank you for the rockets and the story to go with them. I hope you have a Happy New ...
http://www.diamondthreadworks.com/guest_book_4.htm

40. Herbie: Fully Loaded Review :: Hollywood.com
... Story With college graduation now behind her, Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan), a third-generation member of a famous NASCAR family, looks forward to her new life in New York working for ESPN. But when ...
http://www.hollywood.com/movies/review/id/2441958

41. Front of the Class
... Excerpt In The News Reviews Events Sidebars & Story Ideas Interview Q&A Additional Resources Image ... ... attitude many times in the summer after college graduation. In spite of sterling recommendations ...
http://www.bookflash.com/ ...class/news_quotes.cfm

42. Morning Journal - Virtual Newsroom
... Events ï Meeting Notices Education ï Campus & School Honors ï College Graduation ï Dean's List ï Items of Interest ï Scholarships ï Story Ideas Religion ï Church Functions ï Religion Briefs ...
http://68.74.210.201/vnr/ ....asp?publicationID=85

43. Campus Life in College ñ Career and Graduation ñ College Textbooks Supplies
... As a college student you will learn (if you haven`t already ... ... I know, but there is a positive side to this story. After this weekend most of us will have the ...
http://college.lifetips.c ...ekend-cram/index.html

44. MSN Encarta - Do You Feel Lucky? A Movie Quotes Quiz
... Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) at Benjamin's college graduation party in The Graduate (1967)? a ... ... skating 4 In the classic World War II love story Casablanca (1942), Humphrey Bogart's character ...
http://encarta.msn.com/qu ...o_You_Feel_Lucky.html

45. UC Santa Cruz - Student Profiles In Excellence
... by delivering the student commencement address on Saturday at her college graduation ceremonies. Read complete Walsh story Alexis Spencer As a campus, UCSC is known for fostering undergraduate ...
http://www.ucsc.edu/students/profiles/

46. Meadowlark Lemon - Athletics speaker - Athletes, Inspiration, Motivation, Sp...
... Experience Meadowlark as he weaves theory and story, personal experience and humor, wit and love ... ... Shows and Autograph Signing Shows - College Graduation Keynote Speaker Recommendations Dear ...
http://www.premierespeakers.com/754/index.cfm

47. my weblog
http://parenting.daisyswan.com/Articles/

48. USNews.com: A match made on DVD (2/28/05)
... The Love Story of Kathryn and Chace Beddingfield" of Flint, Texas, includes the tale of their first kiss (at his college graduation party)--and a scene in which Chace spins around while Kathryn ...
http://www.usnews.com/usn ...0228/28diversions.htm

49. WhippetGood.com: Chronicles of Nerdia. Archives
http://www.whippetgood.co ...s_of_nerdia/index.php

50. ABC 7 News - Georgetown and GMU Continue Graduation Season
... 11:28am Washington (AP) - College graduation season is in full ... Georgetown and GMU Continue Graduation Season wjla.com web by ...
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0506/329612.html