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.
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1. University of North Dakota | Student & Outreach Services
... Barnes & Noble University Bookstore. Regalia can be ordered on-line at http://www1.herffjones.com/college/graduation/index.cfm through November 7. Regalia reserved on-line can be picked up and ...
http://sos.und.edu/commencement/?pg=prepare

2. COMMENCEMENT
... Bookstore October 17-22 Mon -Thur 8-7, Fri 8-5, Sat 10-2 Order Online http://www1.herffjones.com/college/graduation/index.cfm UCF ORLANDO CAMPUS STUDENT INFORMATION (Main campus students do not ...
http://www.registrar.ucf.edu/Comsked.html

3. Commencement - William Mitchell College of Law
... and gown by contacting Herff-Jones and asking for Kevin at: (952) 447-4449 or www.herffjones.com/college/graduation Cap & Gown Pick-Up will be the week of January 9 in Hachey Commons. We will e-mail ...
http://www.wmitchell.edu/current/commencement.html

4. Commencement Information
... is the official provider for UHD with Graduation announcements, caps and gowns and UHD college rings through the UHD bookstore. Their website is www.herffjones.com/college. They can also be reached ...
http://www.uhd.edu/commencement

5. Class Ring --- Rings Official College Balfour University Jostens Gold Alumni...
... ring suit just about any graduation purpose designs choose ... order class ring visiting HerffJones representatives Student ... rings made especially Balfour College Jewelry Watch special sales ...
http://diamond.altse.com/class-ring.html

6. College Graduation Quote
... com college graduation herffjones.com college graduation college graduation rate college graduation card college graduation ring college graduation graduation motivational quote graduation quote and ...
http://www.quote5.com/college-graduation-quote/

7. Fisk.edu: Welcome to Our Online Community!
... PJ 122) April 1, Friday DEADLINE FOR ORDERING COMMENCEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS Go to www.herffjones.com/college/graduation follow instructions to place order. Disclamer:The University or Herff Jones will ...
http://www.fisk.edu/index.asp?cat=50

8. Fall Convention Exhibitor Directory
... collegeboard.com K-12 - Connecting Students to College Success & Opportunity Compass Learning Booth ... ... 800-233-0242 www.herffjones.com Yearbooks, Class Rings, Caps & Gowns, Graduation Supplies ...
http://www.njpsa.org/docs ...vention/fallexdir.htm

9. Herff Jones: CPA
To view graduation items created especially for your college or university, select your school name from the list below. Agnes Scott College Alabama A&M University Alabama State University Albany ...
http://www1.herffjones.co .../graduation/index.cfm

10. Case Western Reserve University
... contact Herff Jones at (412) 331-2562 or place your order online at http://www.herffjones.com/college/graduation. Herff Jones representatives will be on site to answer questions and take orders ...
http://www.cwru.edu/commencement/grad.html

11. Herff Jones College Division
College Division Students/Parents Home Caps & Gowns Announcements Jewelry Accessories Diploma Frames Greek Store Contact Us Help Since 1920, Herff Jones has been providing commencement regalia ...
http://www.herff-jones.com/college/

12. College Graduation Song
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http://www.worshipmusic.i ...lege-graduation-song/

13. Peabody Institute - Student Affairs: Graduation Instructions
... that you are graduating are available for purchase from Herff Jones via http://www.herffjones.com/college/graduation. Buying them is a matter of personal choice and is not required by Peabody. THE ...
http://www.peabody.jhu.ed ...0e543daa87de5b887a883

14. Albany State University: Academic Programs
... NO PERSONAL CHECKS ï Announcements and accessories can be ordered online at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation . (Website will be activated on October 19, 2005.) ï Please allow 3 weeks for ...
http://asuweb.asurams.edu ...rad_announcements.htm

15. Gemstones - Class Rings
... corporate www.herffjones.com Balfour Whether it's graduation products or class rings, Balfour has the products to suit your style. www.balfour.com Class Rings For High School And College BuyClassRings ...
http://www.shopgemstones.com/classrings/

16. NYU > Commencement
... order form is included with the Commencement invitation. Order on-line now at: > herffjones.com/college/graduation Rental Fees according to degree Doctoral (and LL.M.) cap, gown, and hood: $72.00 ...
http://www.nyu.edu/commencement/attire.html

17. STUDENT COOPERATIVE STORE, INC. - College Rings
... Medallion Gift Collection Graduation Central Software ... cart is empty. Checkout College Rings Please contact: Jack ... 215) 997-1435 email: JMMazak@herffjones.com Search For: by: All ...
http://www.co-opbookstore .../main.html&design=564

18. Graduation Announcement
... Announcement.com GraduationAnnouncement.com college and high school graduation announcements and ... ... you graduate. Complete your graduation announcement list.www.herffjones.com/grad_items/etiquette ...
http://www.graduation-are ...n-announcement_2.html

19. Peirce College :: Commencement 2005
... during the Graduate Career Seminar). For more information, visit Herff Jones at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation/. For additional information about diploma frames, visit Framing Success at www ...
http://www.peirce.edu/second/graduate.asp

20. College of Business Office of Undergraduate Affairs - Requirements for Gradu...
... inappropriate. Graduates must order rental academic attire via the web, http:// www.herffjones.com/college/graduation/ through April 25. (Graduation announcements also may be ordered through the Herff ...
http://www.business.uiuc. ...urrent/Graduation.htm

21. Commencement Office
... order announcements and other graduation items click on the link below: http://www1.herffjones.com/college/graduation/index.cfm Be sure to choose Eastern Illinois University as your school on the ...
http://www.eiu.edu/~commence/announcements.php

22. Records Office Graduate Applying for Graduation
... > Records Office of Loyola College Applying for Graduation ... must attend one of the Graduation Fairs or order the cap and ... Herff-Jones at http://www.herffjones.com. Purchasing a cap and ...
http://www.catalogue.loyo ...ds/graduate/grgr.html

23. Class Rings - Links - Autumn Gallery Class Rings Resource
... corporate http://www.herffjones.com/ Balfour Whether its graduation products or class rings ... ... rings, Discount Prices High school class rings, college rings, championship rings, Artcarved ...
http://www.autumngallery.net/links_classrings.html

24. Registrar - SMU
... and announcements may be ordered at the SMU Bookstore or directly from www.herffjones.com/college/graduation These announcements and invitations will contain the name and degree of the ...
http://www.smu.edu/regist ...t/other_comm_info.asp

25. Herndon High School - Home Page
... questions on financial aid for college. This workshop is open to all ... Graduation Orders Place your graduation announcements & accessories ... yours please go to: www.herffjones.com/theordercenter OR call ...
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/HerndonHS/index.htm

26. Academic Programs
... fastest service, announcements should be ordered on-line with Herff-Jones at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation . You will select Brewton-Parker from the schools list and then place your order ...
http://www.bpc.edu/regist ...r_graduationS2005.htm

27. Montclair State University - Commencement 2005
... Masters degree candidates must order their regalia through Herff Jones at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation by March 1. Masterís robes are $57. They may pick up their order at the University ...
http://www.montclair.edu/commencement/

28. Commencement, UNC-Chapel Hill
... Cosby himself went back to college, long after he had achieved ... complete $59.99 Generic Graduation Announcements can be ... Herff Jones at http://www.herffjones.com. C O M M E N C E M E N ...
http://www.unc.edu/commencement/info.html

29. Pepperdine University - Graduate School of Education and Psychology - News a...
... visit www.herff-jones.com/college Master's Cap, Gown and Hood ... hood. This is a RENTAL for graduation day only; after the ... contact Herff Jones at www.herffjones.com Doctoral Cap, Gown and ...
http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/newsevents/graduation/

30. Commencement 2005
... Where to order: Online from Saturday, March 5 through Friday, April 8 at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation. When to pick up your cap & gown: Wednesday, May 18: 9 a.m. 7 p.m. Thursday, May ...
http://www.gwu.edu/~grad05/capgown05.html

31. Student Life Newsletter, Office of Student Life, TWU - Houston
... we are already making plans for December Graduation here at the Houston site. Ring Day on ... ... and may be of interest to you: www.herffjones.com/college. This year for the first time, a ...
http://www.twu.edu/housto ...entLifeNewsletter.htm

32. Orrville City Schools
... PRIOR to your visit! Get a College Visitation Form from Mrs ... and taking orders for ìGRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTSî for Career ... card, you can visit www.herffjones.com/theordercenter. There ...
http://www.orrville.k12.oh.us/hs/guidance/

33. College Graduation Present
... jones.com college graduation herffjones.com college graduation college graduation rate college graduation card college graduation ring adult college graduation gift college graduation gift suggestion ...
http://www.presents1.com/ ...e-graduation-present/

34. CMPS Graduation
... Center For other information, visit the Graduation Information website: http://www.urhome.umd ... ... can be placed online at http://www.herffjones.com/college/. FACULTY/STAFF REGALIA RENTAL ...
http://www.cmps.umd.edu/graduationinformation.html

35. Metropolitan State U: Events Calendar - Graduation Deadlines
... For product information and to order cap and gown, visit the Web site www.herffjones.com/college/graduation and for your framing needs go to www.FramingSuccess.com. Home | Contact Us ...
http://www.metrostate.edu/events/commence.html

36. College Graduation Idea
http://www.idea7.com/college-graduation-idea/

37. State University of New York at New Paltz: Commencement - Questions
... are graduation announcements sold? The Campus Bookstore sells announcements. You may also send electronic announcements. Personalized announcements may be ordered at www.herffjones.com/college and ...
http://www.newpaltz.edu/c ...cement/questions.html

38. Herffjones.com College Graduation
Herffjones.Com College Graduation FireRocket Search Related Searches college graduation picture college gift graduation man college athlete graduation rate college graduation etiquette cheap college ...
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39. College Gift Graduation Man
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40. Greek Licensing
... bandanas, pens, paddles, graduation stoles, business card ... lithograph print of your college/university. Legacy Division ... legacydivision.com edcote@herffjones.com njstevens1@herffjones ...
http://www.greeklicensing ...p?clientID=8&catID=34