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.
http://www.gatesfoundatio ...s/Announce-050227.htm

2. Melyssa ford
... to give development of speech miami dade public schools ... pen pals volusia county schools free monthly horoscope ati driver ... city escorts alabama high school graduation exam guns and roses ...
http://melyssa-ford.fluky.nl/

3. Centralia College East Programs
... to Sociology, Principles of Speech Communication and Health and ... at college level may, tuition free, begin their college ... while meeting high school graduation requirements. T.E.E.N ...
http://www.centralia.ctc.edu/CCE/programs.shtml

4. Lancaster medical malpractice lawyer
... casino aviation high school long island city new york mustang 2005 high school graduation speech spyware software free articles about victims of drunk driving astronomy course online grants for ...
http://lancaster-medical- ...ice-lawyer.guls.info/

5. Telstra mobile phones
... high school graduation speeches memory stick driver free ... online casino bonuses middle school discipline ideas 2004 income ... against my save a bemantled speech at first a quiet, then a ...
http://telstra-mobile-phones.gzmk.info/

6. Free antivirus software downloads free download antivirus
... oklahoma state university football tickets used gameboy advance sp free online training courses for it high school graduation speech online solitaire games where is the love mp3 voice activated phone ...
http://free-antivirus-sof ...-antivirus.haam.info/

7. National Honor Roll
... Beach, SC Carolina Forest High School Graduation Year: 2006 ... are the freedoms of religion, speech and education. America is ... School Graduation Year: 2009 I am proud to live in America because we are free ...
http://nationalhonorroll. ...m?page=item&itemid=75

8. Right here 1031 tax free exchange
... palace hotel las vegas st paul technical college free mac remover spyware mercedes cdi inu yasha ... ... games davis pontiac faxing with dsl high school graduation speech disney hotels florida kia motors ...
http://1031-tax-free-exchange.gzmk.info/

9. BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Europe diary: Free movement?
... NEWS | World | Europe | Europe diary: Free movement? Home TV Radio Talk ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h ...ld/europe/4970132.stm

10. CNN.com - Valedictorian cited for disorderly conduct - May 25, 2006
... Tennessee (AP) -- A high school valedictorian who interrupted his graduation ... to deliver the speech ...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/E ...aduation.outburst.ap/

11.
http://www.senate.gov/~enzi/news00.htm

12. Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | "The Banger Sisters"
... There's a rousingly inspirational high-school graduation speech, and an instance of one character ... ... People Politics | Sex | Tech & Business and The Free Software Project | Audio Letters | Columnists ...
http://www.salon.com/ent/ ...09/20/banger_sisters/

13. Graduation HQ - High School Graduation Gifts
... High School Graduation Speech High School ... Category High School Graduation Gifts Haddon ... Prendergast Catholic High School on the Web! Find ... products, sports, and free information. Saint ...
http://www.graduationhq.c ...choolgraduationgifts/

14. Free Speech? Yeah, Right! by Conrad F. Goeringer
... nonproselytizing" prayer at graduation ceremonies, found the tough ... gritty venue of a Texas high school football game an ... themselves in the mantle of free speech and the First Amendment ...
http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/goerspch.htm

15. American School Board Journal: November 2001 School Law
... the Establishment Clause bans all religious speech from high school graduation ceremonies. She pointed out that audience members are always free to pray silently at their seats, and students ...
http://www.asbj.com/2001/11/1101schoollaw.html

16. Aigeanta.Net | Hint of Rumored Truth
... to CCCP Donate to CCCP - Free Hosting for Individuals & Non-Profits! Technorati Syndicate Valedictorian Speech I delivered the following speech at my high school graduation. We tend to view the ...
http://www.aigeanta.net/node?from=45

17. Enzi News
... Hearing on Forest Service policies CARA Is A Free Lunch We Can't Afford September August Travel ... ... commits to buy Wyoming wheat Worland High School Graduation Speech Enzi says Senate rule clarification ...
http://www.enzi.senate.gov/news00.htm

18. Reason: The ìValuesî Panic: The right has no monopoly on moralsóor on moral ...
... s behavior, not with living their own lives free from government intervention. Culturally ... ... to a reference to God in a studentís high school graduation speech, often leading traditionalists to ...
http://www.reason.com/0502/co.cy.the.shtml

19. Free Printable Invitation Card For Graduation
... card box graduation photo card graduation greeting card graduation name card free high school graduation speech high school graduation speech graduation invitation card graduation announcement ...
http://www.card13.com/fre ...-card-for-graduation/

20. Merchant account cheap
... memorial hospital-provident-high school diploma-graduation speech-gym-haliburton-hazwoper at home ... ... Affordable web hosting, Cheap Web Hosting, FREE Merchant Account* ($299 Value) with all Website ...
http://merchant-account.a ...ant-account-cheap.htm

21. SENIORS & COLLEGE STUDENTS
... award. Additional Information You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to ... ... Fields of Study 11 th & 12 th GRADE High School Graduation Speech Contest Natavi Guides, INC. Award ...
http://www.homeschoolplusinc.org/Scholarships.html

22. freedomforum.org: Indiana high school withholds diploma after student's surp...
... thanked her after the graduation ceremony, he said. "As far as I can tell this was an illegal action on the part of Whiting High School. This was prior restraint of free speech," he said. "Clearly ...
http://www.freedomforum.o ....asp?documentID=16402

23. http://www.richmondsounddesign.com/txt/joe.txt
... for family attendance at the graduation ceremony, something his ... to church and Sunday school. Auntie would have as many as ... everything else for us. We were free to play and learned to row so ...

24. www.i-essay.com - essay free persuasive speech
... speech, or even a graduation speech. eCheat.com Essay ... MLA | APA ... to its customers. Free for Custom Essay customers ... Debate, Persuasive Speech Topics, High School and College 21 Nov ...
http://www.i-essay.com/es ...ersuasive-speech.html

25. harris tweed sportcoat
http://harris-tweed-sportcoat.ly.cyberdomino.com/

26. Reason: The "values" panic: the right has no monopoly on morals
...
... s behavior, not with living their own lives free from government intervention. Culturally ... ... to a reference to God in a student's high school graduation speech, often leading traditionalists to ...
http://www.dynomind.com/p .../is_9_36/ai_n13628890

27. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs
... children from birth through high school graduation. We offer three communication approaches, Oral/Aural, Total Communication, and Cued Speech. Please feel free to explore our pages. MCPS ...
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us ...rtments/deafservices/

28. Poem For A Graduate
... poems daughter graduate poem high school graduation speech Search results for "poem for a ... ... Day Greetings,Friendship Day Greeting Cards,Free Ecard,Friendship Quotes From ...
http://www.campusy.net/poem-for-a-graduate/

29.
http://www.quotablelincol ...rs_Resources_sub.html

30. Links
... from pregnancy to high school graduation and everything in ... Babble video was developed by speech pathologists and includes a parent tutorial. Free developmental charts and ...
http://www.babysocute.com/linkpage.htm

31. Poem And Song For Preschool Graduation
... party table decoration high school graduation party decoration ... graduation announcement free clip art art clip graduation ... preschool preschool graduation speech graduation invitation ...
http://www.barberforjudge ...preschool-graduation/

32. Graduation Speech
... Graduating Class of 1998 Graduation Speech by Chris (with a little ... So, now that I am graduating high school as an honor student, ready ... and independence are not free, that I must pay for them with ...
http://www.come-over.to/FAS/class98.htm

33. High School Graduation
... Early High School Graduation Example Of High School Graduation Speech Florida High School Graduation Requirement Free High School Graduation Poem Free High School Graduation Speech Ga High ...
http://www.mygraduationgi ...highschoolgraduation/

34. mass media funk
... candidate is an act of free speech that should be protected by the Constitution. Only 18% disagreed when asked whether a prayer should be said at high school graduation if the majority favors it ...
http://www.skepdic.com/refuge/funk13.html

35. Karen Ruffner REALTOR: East Brunswick High School Graduation 2005
... best. Graduation Photographs East Brunswick High School class of ... Ruffner enjoys Mr. Cibrian's speech Angela Ying Ross Cohen ... Map Real Estate - Selling Homes Free Market Analysis - Find your ...
http://www.eastbrunswicki ..._ebhs_graduation.html

36. 1992 honda civic hatchback
... high school graduation speech datatech inkjet ... cheap meridia kingwood high school xbox wireless ... people against school uniforms makeover ... auto accident lawyer free higher education ...
http://1992-honda-civic-hatchback.haam.info/

37.
http://www.quotableemerso ...rs_Resources_sub.html

38. Hopes & Dreams
... Summer 1996) 1999 John Hersey High School Graduation Speech by Michael Paul Shay (Fall 1999 ... ... of Degenerative Diseases (Fall/Winter 2003) Free Computer for People with Disabilities (Fall ...
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~rd13/hd/hopes.html

39. Looking for Dodge ram charger ?
... hosting transfer distance learning uk kids free games online maple creek elementary school ... ... cheap jewelery vibrating seiko watch high school graduation speech coventry health plan clearwater ...
http://dodge-ram-charger.haam.info/

40. High School Graduation Gift Idea
... food idea graduation speech idea graduation ... results for "high school graduation gift idea" 1 ... Cars GT Sports Cars High Performance Karting ... kids activities and free team building games ...
http://www.idea7.com/high ...graduation-gift-idea/

41. Right here Software discount for college student
... school diagnostic report for speech therapy free shanghai games ... online escort new hampshire free download of norton anti virus ... odyssey accessories high school graduation slide show 1966 ford ...
http://software-discount- ...ge-student.hade.info/

42. A is for Apiculate: December 2003 Archives
... the gallery system remains free, maintaining the autonomy of ... endeavors. While in Grad School I collaborated with a ... December 02, 2003 Graduation Speech In High School I wanted to ...
http://www.alanmurdock.co ...es/2003/12/index.html

43. http://vls.law.vill.edu/locator/3d/May1996/96a1319p.txt
... as one impacting upon the students' right of free speech as opposed to a dispute over the ... ... constitutionality of prayer at a public high school graduation. Version D of Policy IKFD does state ...

44. Indiana university dental school
... north carolina dog bit victim lawyer high school graduation speech harbour town golf course web sites ... ... cell phones in cars lowcost web hosting download free spybot spyware chattanooga used car dealerships ...
http://indiana-university-dental-school.guls.info/

45. Mid Term Papers: Term Papers on GRADUATION SPEECH
... GRADUATION SPEECH Below is a free term papers summary of the ... per page double spaced) 6 GRADUATION SPEECH It is a privilege to be ... to think about "What would a high school graduating senior want to ...
http://www.midtermpapers.com/18872.htm

46. Looking for Lasik vision correction ny ?
... conversions online music dunlop crybaby rack free ub40 mp3 downloads list us banks south carolina ... ... contract loan processing company high school graduation speech air travel canada mazda 6 ...
http://lasik-vision-correction-ny.haam.info/

47. Native American Rights Fund, 1999 Summary Annual Report
... to free speech, equal protection and due process. An evaluation of the Education Code and Department of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota cited major improvements in high school graduation and ...
http://www.narf.org/pubs/ar/sar99.html

48. Urban Dictionary: Press
... song lyrics spark controversy at practice London Free Press Ye old lexicon gets an infusion of pop ... ... Weekly Acey: Not Alone amonstrosity High school graduation speech Murphy's Lore Andy Ihnatko The Mac ...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/news.php

49. The HooK: HOTSEAT- Tornado's life: Graham rules Valley e-news
... embarrassing moment? Delivering a high school graduation speech that I wasn't supposed to give Best ... ... s Fastest Geo-- it doesn't slow it down: "Newt Free Zone." Chris Graham PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO PHOTO ...
http://www.readthehook.co ...nadosLifeGrahamR.html

50. Active forex trade
... thai mp3 cellular color free phone wallpaper ... pictures high school graduation requirements ... code print media and school violence nursing home ... cases and freedom of speech motorcycle accident ...
http://active-forex-trade.guls.info/

51. Free Graduation Invitation Preschool Printable
... student high school graduation speech graduation high idea school speech sample high school graduation speech free high school graduation speech high school graduation speech clipart free ...
http://www.free19.com/fre ...-preschool-printable/

52. Matthew Lesko .com -Government Grants for School
... therapists, speech language ... student with high SAT scores School ... student loans School Grants- graduate ... nurse anesthetists Free Government Money ... facility after graduation Scholarship ...
http://www.matthew-lesko. ...ee/school-grants.html

53. Information on honda civics 92 99
... homestead tax high school graduation speech salt lake county ... quizzes on web pages back to school for adults toshiba toner how ... home equity line of credit work free mp3 search engine information ...
http://information-on-hon ...vics-92-99.guls.info/

54. Antique ford 800 tractor
... car tracks toyota sequoia recall high school graduation speech vw r32 performance upgrades ford ... ... mazda protege 5 interest mortgage rates free character education citizenship lg portable air ...
http://antique-ford-800-tractor.guls.info/

55. Religious Movements Homepage: Christian Coalition
... would "allow voluntary, student and citizen-initiated free speech in non-compulsory settings such as courthouse lawns, high school graduation ceremonies, and sports events." The Contract further ...
http://religiousmovements ....edu/nrms/xicoal.html

56. Parent Pundit
... Read it! If members wish to only use their daily FREE messages and do not want to receive premium ... ... doesnÄôt fly with me. I gave the High School graduation speech on the advantages of a liberal arts ...
http://www.parentpundit.com/

57. free graduation invitations -- free graduation invitations
... top-publishing-g.html High School Graduation Gifts ... Try ... 4.875" x 3.5" Acid and lignin free. $5.99 Invitations Graduation ... co ...stock/graduation.html after dinner speech links 2 ... com ...
http://www.linvitations.c ...raduationinvitations/

58. High school graduation speech
... speech see high school graduation speech right here ... information homeschool home school music education products ... services west la college free dsl speed test water pumps ...
http://high-school-graduation-speech.guls.info/

59. Phonics - 7 Dragon Naturally Speaking Listings
... Speaking Free Best Man Speech Free Game Online Phonics Free Game Phonics Free Graduation Speech Free High School Graduation Speech Free Hooked Phonics Free Kindergarten Phonics Worksheets Free ...
http://www.phonicshq.com/

60. Satellite Dish TV - Sirius Radio
... radio fcat florida high school graduation test ... free-dating ... transportation ski vacation free online thesaurus world atlas ... boot disk the harvard law school speech and john heston book 6 ...
http://www.allsatellitedishtv.com/siriusradio/