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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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. Solanoy.com
... Posted at 11:18 AM Read More Sat - June 18, 2005 Trip to Los Angeles and Joshua Tree Mom, Dad, Me and Myles go down to SoCal to celebrate my cousin Rachelle's college graduation. Posted at 10:48 PM ...
http://www.solanoy.com/

2. The Daily Star - Online Edition
... Graduation Year Groom's High School Groom's College Graduation Year Groom's College Groom's Place Of Employment Groom's Job Title Wedding Trip Location Couple Live in Additional information Your ...
http://www.thedailystar.c ...s/form-wedredone.html

3. Experiences
... My brother Bud, my Swedish girlfriend from Stockholm, Lena, and I took this trip together following our college graduation many years ago. We flew into Amsterdam from Jacksonville, Florida on a ...
http://ancestraltravel.ho ....com/Experiences.html

4. Canisius College - NCAA Regulations for Boosters -- Canisius College
... presents; Promise of employment after college graduation; Purchase of items or services from a ... ... Canisius team competing in your area on an away trip. DO provide an occasional home meal to enrolled ...
http://voldemort.canisius ...ncaa/booster_regs.asp

5. Ugh, supermarket cheddar? Here come the cheese snobs — JSCMS
... During a college graduation trip to Europe, Carstarphen was introduced to hundreds of varieties of cheese. Soon, she was snacking on it throughout the day. Eventually, her tastes moved from processed ...
http://jscms.jrn.columbia ...5/zabjek-cheesebuyers

6. Destinations Network
... Corporate Other (Please Specify Below) Details : Trip Type : Please Select One Leisure Historical / Sightseeing Senior Class / Graduation College / Spring Break Specialty ñ Wedding ...
http://www.destinationsne ...requestform.cgi?ref=1

7. Sue Dodge - Newsletter
... India and Sri Lanka for ministry opportunities and what a trip it was! We went to Kumbanad to speak and sing for India Bible College Graduation then it was on to Sri Lanka . We were there for four ...
http://www.suedodge.com/newsletters.asp

8. Kathy
... Hannah is here! Jim Dohl is 50! Jean's College Graduation Cayman 2000 Calling of the Clan 2000 ... ... Industry September, 2001 Flying Our Flag Fall Trip to Virginia Beach October, 2001 Terry's Idea of ...
http://www.krward.com/

9. Hairless Ape - Joshua Sullivan's Photography
... then drove up to Ithaca for my sister's college graduation. Colorado River My flight home just ... ... I went on a decidedly non-whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River. June 28, 2002 - I ...
http://www.hairlessape.com/

10. (BQB Excerpt)
... Naked Brunch), two childhood friends travel across Europe the summer after their college graduation. The trip was meant for Chloe and her boyfriend, but after he dumps her, Blackie agrees to go ...
http://www.sparklehayter.com/excerpt.html

11. WordRidden: The Scribe - North to Montana!
... Seer Well, I've been back in Arizona after my trip to Alaska for exactly one day, and tomorrow I ... ... to Montana to go to my little brother's college graduation. So this is really just another update ...
http://www.wordridden.com ...0020206123227.xml/all

12. KathleenEulogy
... a holiday or a camping trip, he made you all feel welcome, important and understood. No more so as, when he proudly took his oldest son to his Brother Sean's college graduation to show each of them ...
http://www.fdnyengine6.or ...es/KathleenEulogy.htm

13. The Personal Website of Richard Chen
... Chang's room, senior at RPI My college graduation photo Graduation with Mom at parents house in ... ... warming up My Wedding 1975 Wife Janice on trip to Canadian Rockies Banff, Alberta, Canada ...
http://www.richardchen.us/photo_gallery.html

14. Hays Cummins' Home Page: Ecology, Marine Biology, Coral Reefs & Rainfore...
... Festival 2001 Louisiana-Ohio Crawfish Festival Movie Western College Graduation Weekend, Spring 2003 Little Miami River Field Trip, April 2003 Collins Run Fish Collecting Trip, 2003 Environmental ...
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/

15. RyanJacobs.com
... 2002 Colorado Software Summit - Pics from my trip to the 2002 Colorado Software Summit Our ... ... of The OSU Triathlon Club 1994-1995. Graduation Day - My college graduation. Flash Flood on Friday ...
http://www.ryanjacobs.com/photos/

16. Inertia Tours :: College Spring Break Trips
... Positions Currently Available with Inertia Tours Full & Part Time Sales Manager Campus Manager Campus Sales Reps Greek House Reps High School Senior Graduation Trip Organizers College Tour Program ...
http://www.inertiatours.com/wantajob.html

17. Wine accessories
... Beer, Liquors and Liqueurs If you can't afford a trip to the liquor store, come and visit us ... ... Christmas Gifts | Collectibles | College Graduation | Cookies | Corporate | Engagement ...
http://www.allgifts-giftb .../wine_accessories.htm

18. Photo Matt - Home
... 97 files, last one added on Sep 19, 2005 College Graduation Trip 12 files, last one added on Jul 13, 2005 Concerts Photos from the concerts I've been to 1 40 Lynyrd Skynyrd Photos from the Lynyrd ...
http://www.hochmania.com/photos/index.php

19. Celebrate a Hero! - Personalized gift books- retirement gift ideas - gift id...
... relatives. Then the book went crazy with a trip down memory lane. I gave him the book on Sept ... ... Darling I did this book for my daughter's college graduation. I included old friends, present friends ...
http://www.celebrateahero.com/comments.html

20. Dwight Calwhite - Cyberspace Rockstar
... 2005-4-9 Spring Party [17 pictures] (party) 2005-6-11 College Graduation [77 pictures] (party) 2005-6-3 Ahmers Bowling Sendoff [4 pictures] (trip) 2003-12-20 Xmas in Florida [73 pictures] (trip) 2003 ...
http://www.calwhite.com/gallery.php

21. hustler of culture: Dreams
... my friend adam, a trader since college graduation just finished his trip. he made good money on wall street and hadnÄôt the opportunity to ever spend it. what he did over the last six months was to ...
http://hustlerofculture.t ..._we/dreams/index.html

22. College Story
... As a college graduation present I was given three options: a bear trapping trip to Maine, a big game hunt out West, or Trapperís College. I chose the College. I have been trapping for the last 11 ...
http://www.furtakersofamerica.com/Wagnerstory.htm

23. mod6's Gallery :: 2003
... Katy's College Graduation Pictures of during and after the graduation ceremony. Changed: 17/10/2005 Contains: 31 items. Viewed: 627 times. Album: Mexico - Cuernavaca/Mexico City Katy's Trip to ...
http://pics.mod6.net/gallery/2003

24. multimedia
... LIFE OF AGONY @ The Warfield 5/7/2005 COLLEGE GRADUATION LIFE OF AGONY @ The Pound 7/27/2005 ... ... Grand Canyon With Jacob L.C. just before road trip to N.O. With Rob Martinez Greg Jones with his ...
http://www.mattmorales.com/multi.html

25. The Ferrin's Place - Justin and Britteny Ferrin's Online Home
... May- Trip to LA for the college graduation of Brittenyís brother Joe; Brittenyís brother Mark graduates from Creighton Prep high school; Britteny is selected to interview for the TV series ìthe ...
http://www.ferrinsplace.c ...hives.php?id=A2005011

26. Disneyland Trip Reports
... is a play-by-play report, and describes the day trip well. Patrick Edaburn - June 1998 Time of Year ... ... days at Disneyland to celebrate Lori's college graduation. Pat's report, as usual, has alot of ...
http://www.mouseplanet.co ...files/tr_dl_pre01.htm

27. Journal Tribune - York County's Only Daily Newspaper.
... List ushers with hometowns Location of reception Location of wedding trip Bride's info: High school Year of graduation College Year of graduation Employed by Groom's info: High school Year of ...
http://www.journaltribune.com/wedding.html

28. Appreciate Your Mom Mother Everyday
http://www.sikh.net/community/appmom.htm

29. doc's paradise photo gallery
... John-Marc and John-Paul with us at J-P's college graduation With Charlene on (clothing-optional ... ... at John-Paul's Peace Corps home On a canoe trip while visiting J-P in the Peace Corps With ...
http://madprof.home.mindspring.com/photo.html

30. I have ordinary addictions.: February 2004
... and he even made my college graduation. I'm going to try my best to make it to the funeral in Texarkana on Saturday, but I'm not sure if I can because of my upcoming trip and whatnot. This will ...
http://www.ordinaryaddict ...04_02_01_archive.html

31. Opening your Treasure of Time
... or preparing to leave home for their 'gap year' trip. You may want to open the capsule in ... ... very well be the ideal opening date. College graduation day-or the day your child lands his or ...
http://www.treasures-of-t ...Treasure_of_Time.html

32. Whats new with the NYC-3
... River Gorge to Washington and New York: This 11-day, 4000+ mile trip, is an unusual opportunity centered around a college graduation in Houston in mid May. The proud parents would like to do the ...
http://www.nyc-3.com/future.html

33. You Grow Girl | Plant Journal :: Roxana
... bestest friend's (lisa) college graduation. YAY LISA! I'm 24 years old, and the last time I went on a family vacation was, well, quite a while ago... So needless to say this trip was quite different ...
http://www.yougrowgirl.co ...als/roxana/000197.php

34.
... christmas clocks coats collectables college graduation gifts communion gifts confirmation gifts ... ... gifts creative gifts cufflinks customized day trip day trips days out debenhams department store ...
http://www.buy-in-time.com/gifts/

35. Bridport Bed Breakfast Inn Vermont Lodging Accommodation Hotel VT New Englan...
... throughout the year. Let us help make your trip to Vermont truly enjoyable. Our two dogs ... ... wildflowers, and the pomp and ceremony of college graduation in the spring and hiking, biking ...
http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/vt/m/vtm61012.htm

36. Unique college graduation gift
... gift jewelry etc. unique college graduation gift, unique ... gift box unique high school graduation gift or unique business ... etc. unique shower gift (cheap trip canada) unique personal gift ...
http://peopleover50.com/i ...e-graduation-gift.htm

37. Ken Schutte.com: Photographs
... Amazing mountains outside of Munich, Germany Group Description: Pics from my trip to Europe after college graduation. 1 comment on Europe Photos. Add/view comments >> The content of this ...
http://www.kenschutte.com ...avel/europe/pic4.html

38. [chall] Home
... in Review Colorado Skiing Justin's YCP College Graduation Bishop's 50th Wedding Anniversary 382 ... ... the winter I spent one week skiing in Colorado. Trip photographs are available in my special ...
http://justin.turnthecrank.com/

39. TravelBlog | J Bloggers
... since February. However, I've been planning this trip in broad strokes since 1998 or so. At that time ... ... me. Since I never took the customary "College Graduation Tour Around Europe", th [View Full ...
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/J-list.html

40. Baseballtour.com: The Home of The Summer that Saved Baseball
... a trip?" Believe us, it wasn't easy. It took us numerous attempts to construct an itinerary that would hit all 30 ballparks in our tight 38 day window that was sandwiched by our College graduation ...
http://www.baseballtour.com/tour.html

41. ÆéÆ¥ÆøÆØçÆ®ÆøÆÆæ.ÆïØäÆÆØç
http://www.ezilnila.com/padithu_3.htm

42. College Graduation Gift Ideas
... time to start throwing around college graduation gift ideas. Are ... the best gift ideas are graduation memory books filled with ... Savings On Your Next Las Vegas Trip Get information about and big ...
http://celebration.lifeti ...ation-gift-ideas.html

43. West Suffolk College Online - © West Suffolk College 2005
... on success for HND Graphics students The Graduation show for West Suffolk College students on ... ... wins wine award A West Suffolk College student has won a trip to the Rioja wine producing ...
http://ww2.westsuffolk.ac ...oot/higher education/

44. wholesale product new!
http://wholesale-product.pageroom.com/

45. Ant Farm Photo Journal index
... Kitchen Roof Leaks, May 23, 2004 Rhonda's College Graduation Party, Roxbury Tavern, Late Afternoon ... ... 2004 Flowers, Friday, May 28, 2004 Kyrgyzstan Trip: Sampler page 1, May 31to June 7, 2004 ...
http://www.antfarmjournal ...l/AFJournalIndex.html

46. nissan carburetor new!
http://nissan-carburetor.pageroom.com/

47. Scholarship Opportunities
... OR up to no more than 2 years after their graduation. College student grant amounts are $500 for two ... ... family income and cost and length of trip on a case-by-case basis not to exceed $2,000 ...
http://www.israelprograms.org/scholarships.htm

48. DVD Review: Herbie Fully Loaded
... played by Keaton) runs the crew. As a college graduation present, Keaton takes his girl to get a ... ... the bucket of bolts against NASCAR champion Trip Murphy in a street race, and dodging monster ...
http://dvd.monstersandcri ...ews/article_10291.php

49. The Kelleys: Photographs at Neeter Skeeter's Place
... Visit Anita Visits Waynesboro - June 2004 Anita's College Graduation - May 2003 - Sarah Lawrence College Miscellaneous & Group Photos TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!: Way Back When (Childhood Pics) THE ...
http://www.neeterskeeter.com/photos/kelleys/

50. Eastern European Outreach - Trip Application
... area code For Those Traveling Through a College Program Only Name of School Year of Graduation College Mission Trip Coordinator Form of Payment for $200 Deposit VISA MasterCard American Express Exact ...
http://www.eeo.org/trips/trips_apply.html

51. A Pictorial History (Page 1)
... Davis Comes to the Bronx JHS Graduation William Hickey Reccomends ... Speaking at Morris H.S. First Trip to Puerto Rico Off-Off-Bway ... William Devane Robert Shattuck College / Working Acting / Writing ...
http://www.edgallardo.com/picthist.htm

52. Random Rants and Ramblings, Post-Japan: October 2005
... since college graduation!) and Joon Nak for breakfast. We sat and chatted for several hours. I think all of us are pretty opinionated and like to talk. This afternoon, I stuffed in a quick trip to SF ...
http://blog.takinoma.org/ ..._takinoma_archive.htm

53. A man is not a man, without a heart; nor a soul.. - Journal
Multiply About Sign In Join Now! A man is not a man, without a heart; nor a soul.. Home Journal ...
http://heartsoul.multiply.com/journal

54. Just Bookz - Travel
... so they can plan their attitude and their trip before arrival. Written in a friendly and ... ... the true story of a young man who, upon college graduation, left his Pittsburgh home to become an ...
http://www.justbookz.com/ ...egory/cid/33/offset/2

55. Biography
... family friends. When we returned home from this trip, we had exactly one day home until we drove to ... ... unique vacation was in celebration of my college graduation. From the moment we stepped on the ship ...
http://www.jennifercampbell.net/biography.htm