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. USDOE Appointee Give False Information About Test Scores
... above in8th grade math in 2002. None of the high school students who took the end-of-course geometry ... ... of students graduate, and the average graduation rate in Arkansas is 85%. 1000 % of students in ...
http://www.wpaag.org/Test ... USDOE Ray Simon.htm

2. House and content insurance
... disney hotels florida high school graduation test franchise tax ... vin numbers state income tax rate charles river saab ... vitara parts university of arkansas ford excursion 2005 cheap ...
http://house-and-content-insurance.gype.info/

3. GovBenefits.gov - Latest News
http://govbenefits.gov/govbenefits/news.jhtml

4. ANC Foundation
... in-county tuition rate and mandatory ... high school in Arkansas, or Pemiscot ... 10% of their high school graduating class ... and maintains a high level of academic ... following graduation from high ...
http://www.anc.edu/Foundation/scholarships.htm

5. AntiRacismNet: Press Release Archives
... in this country, and your crime rate would go down,î MALDEF ... rights, affirmative action, school desegregation, fair housing ... to be overruled, supporting graduation prayer, and seeking to ...
http://www.antiracismnet.org/prs/archives.html

6. Arkansas/AR High Schools - Public School Review
... summit High School Arkansas Public High Schools: $ H.V. = Median Housing Value, H.S. = High Schools, T:S Ratio = Teacher:Student Ratio County $ H.V. # H.S. T:S Ratio Graduation Rate 1. Arkansas ...
http://www.publicschoolre ...gh_schools/stateid/AR

7. Number 2 Pencil: NCLB Category Archives
... last year. Abrams, an Arkansas City Republican, said he ... Assessment to receive their high school diplomas--including 44 ... Tell me, what was MA's graduation rate before NCLB was ...
http://www.kimberlyswyger ...rchives/cat_nclb.html

8. District Policies
... No. 6 of Garland County, Arkansas 2. Board ñ the Board of ... 4) unexcused absences c. high school ñ Four (4) unexcused ... deny course credit or graduation, at the discretion of the ...
http://www.hssd.net/gardn ...district_policies.htm

9. Moore High School - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma / OK - school information
... also has a high graduation rate." Page 1 of 1 ... Elementary, middle and high school information for ... and charter schools School information by state ... Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California ...
http://www.greatschools.n ...dperl/parents/OK/965/

10. Waterford kettering high school
... inkjet cartridges arkansas real estate schools ... high school graduation schools lees ... waterford kettering high school take thy place and ... the faster or slower rate home, when old age ...
http://waterford-ketterin ...chool.dacus.kepno.pl/

11. Hoopville - Search the 'Ville
... II Southern Arkansas. Bozeman had ... prolific scorer in high school, but he ... a recruit $6,000. School officials fired ... Huskies Pass Graduation Goal ... Academic Progress Rate score to a more ...
http://www.hoopville.com/content/search.asp

12. Southern Regional Education Board Latest Reports
... and budget actions in Arkansas, Maryland and West Virginia ... students, Garden City High School has raised student ... and higher graduation requirements, the dropout rate fell from 15 ...
http://www.sreb.org/main/ ...atestReportsindex.asp

13. Gevirtz News & Review, Vol. 3, No. 1
... in reading scores) and half the disparity in Latino-White test scores seen 12 years later among high school seniors. Disparities in five-year-oldsí early knowledge of numbers and math narrow only ...
http://www.education.ucsb.edu/news/review6.html

14. High School Graduation
... School Graduation Exam Social Study Alabama High School Graduation Requirement Arkansas High School Graduation Rate California High School Graduation Requirement Cap And Gown For High School ...
http://www.mygraduationgi ...highschoolgraduation/

15. Waivers reduce a student
... from New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana or other states ... a lowered nonresident tuition rate when they attend a public ... semesters following high school graduation. Must be used within ...
http://www.tamu-commerce. ...aivers&exemptions.htm

16. Great Commission Resources Links
... a Christian camp in central Arkansas dedicated to lifting Jesus ... 14 Rating: 9.10 Votes: 10) Rate It Camp_Blue_Haven - In the ... the summer of their high school graduation. Activities for ...
http://yourchurchcangrow. ...s/Youth/Church_Camps/

17. USATODAY.com - USA in a fragile state of health, report says
... world in infant mortality. The rate is directly related to mothers ... measures ranging from high school graduation rates and violent ... below the national norm: Arkansas, -12.1%; South Carolina, -12 ...
http://www.usatoday.com/n ...07-state-health_x.htm

18. General Bulletin
... a student has moved here from Arkansas or Louisiana but has not ... for the reduced nonresident rate shall be made in the Office of ... s registration. Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program ...
http://www.sfasu.edu/bull ...tin1999/expenses.html

19. The Effects of Quality Child Care on Young Children
... The researchers have examined the relationship between high-quality child care and early education and a variety of factors such as grade retention, use of special education services, high school ...
http://www.nccic.org/popt ...effectsqualitycc.html

20. Faith-Based and Community Initiatives: Grant Catalog - At-Risk Youth
... to apply) are eligible: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine ... ... for the YOG program to increase the high school graduation rate, college enrollment rate, and ...
http://www.whitehouse.gov ...s-catalog-atrisk.html

21. Utah College of Massage Therapy
... to a 97 percent placement rate for graduating students. Most ... Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California ... Zip Code: * Country: * High School Graduation Year: Select one ...
http://utahcollegemassage ...h4careercolleges.com/

22. NURSING - Nursing Name Tag nurceignt nursiong nulcen nurxing nurcin nuyrsing...
... nusing dansko Arkansas e mail nursing ... halloween high education nulsan ... mosbys northern school ethics disorders ... minnieapolis graduation andalusia ... web nuresing goal rate indigent tagf 7 ...
http://1451.nursing00.mine.nu/

23. bloodynose.org - Play with Me
... Public High School Graduation Rate * Percent of ... include: * High School Drop Out Rate * Percent of ... School Staff Who are School District ... Virginia 5 Oregon 36 Arkansas 37 Kentucky 38 ...
http://www.ergh.org/bn/archives/000193.htm

24. Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce
... a ceremony under an oak tree overlooking the Arkansas River, where ashes from the tribeís native ... ... 15th in the nation for the highest rate of high school graduation, and Tulsaís cost of living is ...
http://tulsaok.usachamber ...stom2.asp?pageid=1188

25. www.NASFAA.org NASFAA Annotated Bibliography, 1988-1992
... the high school graduation rate for blacks is at ... under title IV of the High Education Act as ... during the 1988-89 school year from more than 4 ... arts colleges in Arkansas, Mississippi, and ...
http://www.nasfaa.org/Publications/1994/Bib93.html

26. Achieve.org
... Action Massachusetts Arkansas | California ... as part of state high school graduation ... or delay the graduation requirement, but ... 2003, the passing rate for 2003 seniors had ...
http://www.achieve.org/ac ...Project-Massachusetts

27. Article - National News
... report any graduation rates. Seven others ñ Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi ... ... example, New Mexico claimed to have a high school graduation rate of nearly 90 percent. However, it ...
http://www.blackpressusa. ...onal+News&NewsID=4389

28. NURSING - Fastaff Nursing onursing bnursing anursing nu4sing nulcan nnursing...
... israel norfolk rate jnursing ... message nursiegnt high search ... labor lukes school reduction ... fedex lsu arkansas shade line ... miami diversity graduation testing chair ...
http://646.nursing00.mine.nu/

29. r
... education rogers arkansas high school ... bible school rate your teacher ... of rock rio rancho high school ... park elementary school rutherford ... redlands graduation announcements ...
http://www.educationkey.com/education/r.htm

30. 1968 pontiac parisienne
... honda motorcycles of arkansas free cell phone reverse ... luggage pennsylvania mortgage rate calculator antique motorcycle ... free program spyware high school graduation speeches discount car ...
http://1968-pontiac-parisienne.gypd.info/

31. Alliance for Excellent Education
... According to estimates, graduation rates in some of the five ... Herald (Vermont) Teens asked to rate schools: solicit student input ... American High School." Other governors, from Arkansas to ...
http://www.all4ed.org/resources/headlines.html

32. The Chronicle: Daily news archive
... bias lawsuit against U. of Arkansas at Fayetteville ... News ... s values ... Harvard Law School lifts limits on military ... by hurricane ... Default rate on student loans drops once ...
http://chronicle.com/free/newsarch.htm

33. Graduation - graduation invitation sample
... 2005 Graduation Charm 2005 Graduation Song 8th Grade Graduation Party After College Graduation Announcement Card Graduation Arkansas High School Graduation Knight Player Rate Graduation Open House ...
http://www.graduationrc.c ...tioninvitationsample/

34. NURSING - Nursing Job Usa nulseign nursingh nursingc nurzsing ynursing nulsa...
... dieting rat rate peplau's discount ... cases tale open school troy eight ... been shepherd arkansas paisley nrusing ... progressive graduation jov issues ... west services test high work study sam ...
http://1387.nursing00.mine.nu/

35. Metro areas with the highest graduation rates
... community name: State: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware ... ... ranking, in descending order of high school graduation rate, was drawn from the 2002 American ...
http://www.epodunk.com/to ...ation/grad_chart.html

36. Facing South: You Think Education is Expensive ...
... Think Progress Working Life Southern Blogs AR: Arkansas Daily Blog FL The Buzz/Florida Politics FL ... ... from Alabama today: "Alabama's public high school graduation rate has declined substantially from 1991 ...
http://www.southernstudie ...tion-is-expensive.asp

37. GAO-05-879, No Child Left Behind Act: Education Could Do More to Help States...
... States were selected to capture variation in high school graduation rate definitions, geographic location, and types of interventions with the potential to increase graduation rates. We conducted a ...
http://www.gao.gov/htext/d05879.html

38. Education & the Workforce
... total number of high school graduates in the school year by the ... Graduation Rate Rank State Graduation Rate 1 Vermont 92.1 26 South ... 74.4 46 Tennessee 62.5 22 Arkansas 74.3 47 Louisiana 62.5 23 ...
http://www.brt.org/press.cfm/915

39. Office for Education Policy - What's New in Education Policy?
... Required) UAs Graduation Rate Hits High Of 56% ( Arkansas ... To Masters, Each Other ( Arkansas News Bureau, 10/4/05) Masters Bring Up School Consolidation ( Arkansas News ...
http://www.uark.edu/ua/oep/headlines.html

40. Private schools in vermont
... air conditioning theory south arkansas community college canadian ... bank commercial loan company rate sheets games to play with your ... control problems ohio high school graduation requirements ...
http://private-schools-in-vermont.gype.info/

41. Southern Business and Development
... 278,000 Kansas 252,000 Arkansas 238,000 Mississippi 220,000 ... s average high school graduate rate was nearly five points behind ... In 2001, the national high school graduation rate was 84.1 percent ...
http://www.sb-d.com/issue ...10accomplishments.asp

42. cd rates colorado
... Enterprise Zones & The tax rate for beer is 8 cents per & Find ... Alabama rates; Alaska rates; Arkansas rates; Arizona rates ... Links peak flow rates high school graduation rates monetary rates ...
http://www.johnstonsc.org/cd-rates-colorado.html

43. Making Schools Work with Hedrick Smith . Help For Your Community . Timeline ...
... forces with Bill Clinton, then Governor of Arkansas, to hold the very first National Education ... ... start school ready to learn. 2. The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90%. 3 ...
http://www.pbs.org/making ...hyc/bor/timeline.html

44. Introduction to Civics
... high school graduation rate for all public school ... disparity in the graduation rates of white and ... graduated from high school with a regular ... a group of 13 statesóArkansas, Georgia, Indiana ...
http://pphsp.uis.edu/intro_to_civics.htm

45. ThisNation.com--State of the Union Address
http://www.thisnation.com/library/sotu/1990gb.html

46. Defeat the Capitalist Onslaught Against Public Education!
... school. At the current pass rate, the chancellor says that ... DLC), the lobby led by then Arkansas governor Clinton which ... grade, and to deny high school graduation to those who dont ...
http://www.internationali ...liceducation0601.html

47. Oh, That Liberal Media: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Archives
... Flowers received an Arkansas job after ... s first term should rate near the bottom among ... his explosives in a school bag. The army said ... that some of the state's other high-profile
http://www.thatliberalmed ...ostintelligencer.html

48. NURSING - Job In Nursing Home vnursing nursinmg bursing nursking nursikng nu...
... School dallas Arkansas Nursing ... suppressant school price url deals ... memorial bermuda rate vanderbilt ... personal grads graduation rush h9me ... midwifery similar high assignment ...
http://919.nursing00.mine.nu/

49. NURSING - Care Cultural Nursing Patient Satisfaction ursing n7ursing dnursin...
... Schoolnursing rate Association ... american Arkansas Mail Nursing ... Nursing School Care Nursing ... promotional graduation cultueral ... carw andalusia high jersey ...
http://348.nursing00.mine.nu/

50. Public High School Graduation and College Readiness Rates in the United States
... and only 20% of all black students and 16% of all Hispanic students leave high school college-ready. The graduation rate for white students was 72%; for Asian students, 79%; and for American Indian ...
http://www.educationrevie ...3GraduationRates.html

51. Liberty's Outpost
... have been cheaper than the ridiculous airline rate structure, and avoids most of the garbage that ... ... hurricanes, create a mound and cap about 50 feet high (30 feet above sealevel) and build a new city ...
http://libertys-outpost.blogspot.com/

52. Henry ford museam
... courses high school graduation mitsubishi eclipse wheels 2004 mortgage rate calculator 1993 ... ... chatham schools statement private school and diversity arkansas city high school inflatable games ...
http://henry-ford-museam.gyle.info/

53. Varsityedge.com, athletic scholarships, college athletic recruiting, high sc...
... Basketball. GO Arkansas Fayettville Punished ... University fire forces school to make changes. GO ... NCAA Publishes New Graduation Rate Figures. GO - 9/3 ... 2004. GO - 9/03/2003 HIGH SCHOOL NEWS NFHS ...
http://www.varsityedge.co ...n/v+news?opendocument

54. Americans for Legal Immigration - ILLEGAL IMMIGRATIONÄôS THIRD WORLD MOMENTUM
... now. ÄúFor example, did you know that besides Arkansas, we have one of the lowest high school graduation rates? We have a very high teen pregnancy rate. And that in the county I live, we have the ...
http://www.alipac.us/modu ...&file=article&sid=810

55. Education - North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development
... 7 21.0 21.4 Graduation Rate 51.9% 77% 64.6% 78.6 ... Percentage of High School Graduation/ACT Composite ... Day Adventist Church School (Mountain Home) - 1-8 ... 3074 North Central Arkansas Regional Economic ...
http://www.ncared.com/education.htm

56. NURSING - College Iowa Nursing University nurseing nulcan nuresing rnursing ...
... Of Texas School Of Nursing ... Nursing Job In Arkansas email Nursing ... order abuse graduation collegr ... vetern's life high purchase ... greensboro rate orleans addicts ...
http://453.nursing00.mine.nu/

57. A.E.Schmidt History
... by the time of his graduation from public school ... 00 per day, the current rate for labor, and bought ... graduated from High School and joined his ... in Eastern Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana ...
http://www.aeschmidtbilliards.com/page.history

58. Duluth Business University
... Over 90% average placement rate Financial assistance is ... Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California ... Zip Code: * Country: * High School Graduation Year: Select one ...
http://duluth.search4care ...p=&kw=&acctid=&ovkey=

59. WARRIORS DON'T CRY. Free term papers for college, book reports and research ...
... was underfunded and didn't boast a very high graduation rate, let alone much of a college acceptance ... ... Melba Patillo Beals set off for school. The governor of Arkansas, Orvel Faubus, had sent National ...
http://www.gettermpapers.com/essay/018743.html

60. The Black Informant » Blog Archive » High School with high gradu...
... School with high graduation rate for black males ... CA is a very good high school for blacks and ... Alliance of Black School Educators National ... The Meter (Univ. Arkansas at Pine Bluff)The ...
http://blackinformant.com ...rate-for-black-males/