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. Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CSTCM) | Content| Admissions
... the admissions requirement of 60 college ... and various Colorado State ... program requires a high commitment to ... within the school. Completed ... a projected graduation date ...
http://www.cstcm.edu/modu ...ent&pa=showpage&pid=3

2. Quetico Adventure School :: Outers
... climbing schools were set up in Germany and in Colorado; and in Ely, Minnesota, a bush school was ... ... service as part of the new high school graduation requirement. Community service hours are ...
http://www.queticoadventu ...The History of Outers

3. Colorado College | Advising Handbook
... available to them at Colorado College. Refer advisees to ... one natural science requirement and at least one ... yet to be met for graduation. Maintain a file for ...
http://www.coloradocolleg ...ces/dean/advisors.asp

4. California high school graduation requirement Student Exchange programs with...
... proficiency test California high school graduation requirement high school football in california and ... ... california st paul high school california is the same as aurora colorado high overland ...
http://www.schoolq.studen ...ation-requirement.php

5. The Guides of DiscoveryTreks.com
... and low and high-ropes courses ... guide on the Colorado, San Juan ... a close second requirement. Although he ... Leadership School (NOLS). Coming ... area. After graduation he went to ...
http://www.discoverytreks.com/our-guides.shtml

6. Proposed endangered eagles will wild bird young bald
... technology graduation requirement pest control ... road pigeon forge tn high school grant science ... technology for middle school pupils american blue ... storage garage colorado blue gray bird ...
http://proposed-endangere ...g-bald.seria.nysa.pl/

7. The Pretense of Airport Security: Newsroom: The Independent Institute
... Resort and Golden Door Spa near Telluride, Colorado, to conduct recruiting interviews. Twenty TSA ... ... had quickly waived its initial high-school-graduation requirement), needed a slight edge to ...
http://www.independent.or ...news/031023Higgs.html

8. Dear Amanda, Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4: CUSTODY BATTLE Although Ben had said he'd probably not have to disconnect from me, the letter in which he'd done so had been dated just nine days after he left Colorado. Although you had ...
http://www.ecentral.com/m ...eller/AEK0100CH4.html

9. schools review nurse info
... schools entrance requirement culinary school ... home school transcript high photography portrait ... driving school dallas colorado driving school ... school of law california law schools graduation ...
http://www.savecow.com/

10. Application for Admissions
... Arkansas California Canada Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida ... 08 High School Graduation Date: 09 High School Location: 10 or ... attended any college, your requirement is a H.S. Transcript or G.E ...
http://classes.uttc.edu/app.asp

11. Politics1 - John Kerry, Democratic Nominee for President
... PERSONAL: Born December 11, 1943, in Denver, Colorado. Married to Theresa Heinz Kerry. Two children ... ... service should become a requirement for high school graduation. Kerry's autobiographical ...
http://www.politics1.com/kerry.htm

12. Family Law Reform Blog
... payments until graduation from college ... do better in school and are less ... a similar requirement. - John Crouch ... the presumably high-priced lawyers on ... Rich Harris, Colorado Attorney Links ...
http://familylawreformblog.blogspot.com/

13. firstamendmentcenter.org: Religious Liberty in Public Schools - topic
... Barnette. ÄúColorado legislators ... would face some high hurdles. (See ... from a coercive requirement to affirm God ... Bible in school Distributing ... literature Graduation ceremonies ...
http://www.firstamendment ...pledge_of_allegiance2

14. Helping America's Youth Conference
... America s youth ( www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints ... as a result of graduation from high school ... graduating from high school? Are less young ... achieving this first requirement. Elliott and ...
http://www.helpingyouthco ...g/speech/session2.htm

15. College Sholarships
... four years. The only requirement to be considered ... million directly from Colorado College. To learn ... or Specs Howard School of Broadcasting Arts ... York offers a Catholic High School Scholarship ...
http://www.stcatherines.k ...elopment/college.html

16. bit-player
... to measure the depth of the Colorado River. The portrait below ... youth I was. When I skipped school, I would take the subway ... at the end of my junior year in high school, I told my parents I ...
http://bit-player.org/

17. Selling Your Home
... the implementation of a new high school graduation requirement because of shortcomings in ... ... php/UHJvZi1Db3VwLVBpZ2ctTG92ZS1IYWxmLVplcm8= Colorado Company Fabricates Largest Mosaic Mural In ...
http://www.finephoenixrea ...0/Page/sellM24081.cfm

18. Office of Admission :: Admission Information > Transfer Applicants
... forest fires in Colorado, guarded prisoners ... high school before graduation to enroll full-time ... must provide the high school transcript, college ... Admission that the requirement be waived ...
http://www.virginia.edu/u ...mission/transfer.html

19. Kansas Families United for Public Education | Myths and Facts
... satisfy the constitutionís requirement to provide enough funds for ... years since TABOR passed in Colorado, its ranking among the 50 ... from 25th to 37th in high school graduation rates, according to ...
http://www.fundourpublicschools.com/mythsfacts.asp

20. Basketball - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... after graduation. In the 2003 ... biddy), to high school, college, and ... player jumps very high, and throws the ... and is a requirement for a player ... Park, Windsor, Colorado Main article ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball

21. First Generation College Students - UIUC Counseling Center
... minimum credit hour requirement for a Bachelor's ... enroll in high school and in college ... one credit hour in Colorado, a student must ... requirements for graduation. Resident/Non ...
http://www.couns.uiuc.edu ...onCollegeStudents.htm

22. http
... graduation requirement. To earn a ... the local graduation requirements ... is underway at the high school level, and ... to change every school in the district ... with the Colorado Department of ...
http://www.parentdirected ...schools that work.htm

23. American Chronicle: Why We Don't Learn Spanish
... foreign language requirement for high school graduation. I contacted all of the school districts ... ... this time, we cannot think of any district in Colorado that requires Foreign Language (particularly ...
http://www.americanchroni ...le.asp?articleID=2568

24. Recent Comments - Michigan Votes
... the Patriot Guard Riders in Colorado. This Phelps thing has been ... Bill 5606 (Mandate high school graduation requirements )] OK ... the school and if they can't meet that requirement they can ...
http://www.michiganvotes.com/RecentComments.aspx

25. AFT Michigan: Take Action: Capitol Report: January 2006
... high school graduation requirements ... language requirement and under ... 00 p.m. Port Huron High School, 2215 ... by March so school districts can ... a proposal in Colorado: State ...
http://aftmichigan.org/ta ...itol/capitolJA06.html

26. Ban Australia & Pretty Soon Everyone Will Want To Come Here at Larvatus...
... a kind of de facto travel requirement by means of the Cold War ... on the day after his high school graduation just as all his ... My heart bleeds for the poor Colorado River& ever read Reisners ...
http://larvatusprodeo.net ...ll-want-to-come-here/

27. ATE News
... college. The requirement that students ... for high school graduation, but their ... 4 of 180 public high schools ... private K-12 school students," the ... said. Several Colorado schools have ...
http://www.ate1.org/pubs/ATE_News.cfm

28. VacationMexico.info: Learn Spanish: Why Americans Dont
... language requirement for high school graduation. I contacted all of these school districts ... ... this time, we cannot think of any district in Colorado that requires Foreign Language (particularly ...
http://vacationmexico.inf ...hy-Americans-Dont.asp

29. WAEA News
... the arts in their high school graduation requirements, either as a requirement or an elective ... ... was formed in 1965 and is located in Denver, Colorado. Helping State Leaders Shape Education Policy ...
http://www.waea.net/news/default.htm

30. Native American Heritage Month kicks off in November
... Studies at the University of Colorado. His books include "Agents ... again 16 years after high school graduation. After leaving the ... discussion about the federal requirement that Native Americans carry ...
http://news.siu.edu/windows/102903/native.html

31. Universal Technical Institute | CollegeSurfing.com - Find The School That's ...
... does not meet the clock hour requirement for NATEF/ASE certification ... Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware ... GED No Equivalent High School Graduation: Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...
http://www.collegesurfing.com/ce/uti/uti.htm

32. Jewish Educational Loan Fund
... University of Colorado because the ... to be the basic requirement for a job ... will not generate high incomes. These ... funding to attend school. In the days ... after either graduation or after you ...
http://www.jelf.org/student_info.html

33. Chiefline, 10/26/05
... California Colorado Connecticut ... Higher High School Graduation ... from public high schools. The ... necessary for graduation from 22 to 24 ... used a 24-unit requirement, many others ...
http://www.ccsso.org/What ...rs/Chiefline/7256.cfm

34. Free Home School Planner | Home Ohio Requirement School | Ione Junior High S...
... have over main street graduation home school supply ... to access suppliers for home school in nc and finalized our ... for money when shopping for colorado high home in program school ...
http://schoolhometextbook ...me-school-planner.htm

35. Education Articles by Supt. Horne
... of Education to Host High School Summit" - Arizona Capitol ... is Possible in cases like Colorado City Schools" - Arizona ... If we were to drop the graduation requirement, it would be a huge ...
http://www.ade.az.gov/adm ...ntendent/articles.asp

36. SillyLife: Graduation
... DC - 16 minutes ago ... Colorado schools, Conrad writes that ... encouraged by results that high school graduation rates have ... Achievement Test graduation requirement. ... Grads dig up ...
http://graduation.sillylife.com/

37. EXECUKOS-helping leaders, organizations and communities develop their wisdom...
... Talking Story, on his high school graduation yesterday! Yesterday ... professors in Greeley, Colorado, they became faculty ... to meet a foreign language requirement, I rebelliously chose to ...
http://execukos.typepad.c ...eflections/index.html

38. arizona federal district court Resources
... the implementation of a new high school graduation requirement because of shortcomings in ... ... officers in the twin polygamist communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah, to cooperate ...
http://www.courtgateway.c ...raldistrictcourt.html

39. Exchanges: List of Contributors
... His work experience included high school teaching and civil ... her position in the Hutchins School, which has an innovative ... fulfilling the Graduation Writing Requirement. In addition to ...
http://www.exchangesjourn .../ex_contributors.html

40. Scholarship Listings
... duty service requirement of at least ... careers. Upon graduation, recipients ... Contact: Your high school academic ... in an accredited school of nursing. Web ... Eskimo descent Colorado Legion ...
http://www.minoritynurse. ...ial/scholarships.html

41. Leadership To Keep Children Alcohol Free - Legislation
... Parents who hold a graduation or post-prom party ... the support of the Colorado Licensed Beverage ... impose an additional requirement that the offender ... and enforcing school districts to develop ...
http://www.alcoholfreechi ...s/legislation_sta.cfm

42. Emily Post Best Question Archive
... and some will send a card, but there is no requirement that they do so. Announcements are a great ... ... announcement for a cousin's high school graduation. He lives in Colorado , and we live in California ...
http://www.emilypost.com/ .../question_archive.htm

43. Announcements - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
... quality smaller high schools and ... Working with the Colorado ChildrenÄôs ... Four national school developers will ... to raise the graduation rate from 59 ... has become a requirement for our ...
http://www.gatesfoundatio ...s/announce-051214.htm

44. Cleveland Municipal City School District schools - district elementary, midd...
... a high school graduation requirement (thus ... Elementary, middle and high school information for ... click to expand) School information by city ... cities, CA schools), Colorado schools (CO cities ...
http://www.greatschools.n ...h/district_profile/56

45. legislative link
... will actually make it worse. Colorado passed a similar measure ten ... the requirement to pass AIMS to graduate high school if the ... met all the goals prior to graduation or if the student has: 1 ...
http://www.lagunapto.org/legislativelink.html

46. Monitor Miniatures
... a student at the Colorado Center for the ... high school graduation. With good ... California high school, having ... brought on by high electricity costs ... There is no requirement to be a ...
http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm02/bm0211/bm021114.htm

47. Competency Testing: Encyclopedia of Everyday Law
... an attendance requirement, and (in an ... ARKANSAS: Arkansas high school students must meet ... that must be met for graduation. Additionally ... program diplomas. COLORADO: There are no state ...
http://law.enotes.com/eve ...aw-encyclopedia/89934

48. The Garden Club
... I live in Thornton, Colorado with my husband of 11 years ... I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Stan for 16 ... when I had to do a graduation requirement in High School, and ...
http://imaginecreatescrap.com/gardenclub.html

49. Press Releases
... that high school graduation rates ... to decline and graduation rates for ... University of Colorado, Boulder, and ... associated with high-stakes testing ... Yearly Progress Requirement of the Federal ...
http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/press_releases.htm

50. Advocacy Updates [CAAE]
... teachers, and a high school graduation requirement. The hearing ... a key place in the overall school reform." To read the full ... for Arts Education 495 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena CA 91101 ...
http://www.artsed411.org/ ...d/jtcommittee2002.stm

51.
http://www.thorntonh.adam ...g/news/counseling.htm

52. American Public Power Association - Career Center
... the full experience requirement has been completed ... completion of Lineman school and four (4) years of ... manner; provide timely, high quality, cost ... in Fort Collins, Colorado. BachelorÄôs degree ...
http://www.appanet.org/ap ...fm?sn.ItemNumber=2049