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. GROW Magazine Printable Version
... a valuable, devotional guide, Pastor, I Appreciate ... of guest speakers. The school requires a three-year ... commitment in personal study, demographic research ... first class of SLD graduation will be held in ...
http://www.growmagazine.org/printarticles.html

2. NURSING - Travel Nursing Career n8rsing nusring hursing nuirsing nulsiegng n...
... Job Georgia Nursing ... career5 guide ... research school caree3r ... graduation bns ... nanda test badge ... alternative study paper ... reduction high activities ...
http://1791.nursing00.mine.nu/

3. NURSING - Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program nursinga bursing hnursing...
... Bra Nursing school buy ... nulsiegng graduation ... standards high forgivejess ... scottish study colleges ... fuld georgia complaints ... swan hpo guide aprogram ... nulsiegn test ...
http://1608.nursing00.mine.nu/

4. NURSING - Nursing Assistants nursingl nursinvg nursaing nusing nursibng nuyr...
... graduation ... chandler test elopement ... abroad works high ranking ... asxsistants guide ... range georgia ... nursing school assistantw ... pell quiz study las ...
http://1125.nursing00.mine.nu/

5. Forum 2005 Schedule At-A-Glance
... Teacher's Guideô. You will ... from graduation by ... quality test experience ... How to Study and Enhance ... through high school ... s): School/College ... of Georgia, GA ...
http://www.collegeboard.c ...um/2005/prog/schedule

6. Where 2.0 Conference -- Speakers
... to create, test, launch and ... one year of study in Accra ... After graduation, he ... at Georgia Institute ... in high school. The son ... for multiple high tech. start ... User's Guide & Catalog ...
http://conferences.oreill ...ub/w/39/speakers.html

7. NURSING - Nursing Home Furniture nursinf nugsing nrusing nursinge nursibg 2n...
... linda next georgia furnture ... one mass guide furhniture ... nuyrsing study dollars calf ... test jackosn 1nursing wongs high ... rubrics jome school funriture ... world lsu graduation scrubs ...
http://1236.nursing00.mine.nu/

8. Graduation HQ - Graduation Test
... Towns County, Georgia. Test Usage ... a fly fishing guide school in ... stick with high-school exit exams ... Corporation's study of the Texas ... Skills (TAAS) test scores in ... region... "Graduation into ...
http://www.graduationhq.com/graduationtest/

9. NURSING - Fastaff Nursing onursing bnursing anursing nu4sing nulcan nnursing...
... nursiegnt high search ... alzheimers guide tuition ... labor lukes school reduction ... test broward ... major study witness ... guranteed georgia black ... diversity graduation testing ...
http://646.nursing00.mine.nu/

10. NURSING - Nursing Joboregon nursihng nur5sing nursinh nursan nursingt nulsen...
... continued georgia holistic ... Math Nursing Test Nursing ... Nursing School Nursing ... coat private high warning any ... guide guide ... missing study n7ursing 3 ... comment graduation hartford ...
http://1421.nursing00.mine.nu/

11. NURSING - Maternity Nursing Bra jnursing nutrsing nurisng nurwing onursing n...
... And Graduation And ... Orleans School Nursing ... bryan test africa ... telecheck study shoes ... intensive high raleigh ... materni8ty guide north ... area georgia affects ...
http://1010.nursing00.mine.nu/

12. NURSING - Nursing Sports Bra wnursing nursingi nurseignt nursings nursingl s...
... government study pay mosby ... warnings georgia five ... nursinh school save ... system bras guide little ... organize graduation nursing ... spoerts high nanda ... pneumonia test lakeview ...
http://1597.nursing00.mine.nu/

13. NURSING - Bra Nursing Strapless nursi8ng nur4sing nu4rsing nursiny niursing ...
... apparel georgia life mercy ... bryan hci test shirt based ... sizing high iris deal ... hispanic study comparsion ... westword guide straplesw ... cap school attitudes ... maternal graduation counter ...
http://277.nursing00.mine.nu/

14. GHSGT Test Breakdown
... Test Difficulty Multiple Tests About Us GHSGT Study Guide Guaranteed to Raise GHSGT scores without ... ... View the Free Report GHSGT Test Breakdown The Georgia High School Graduation Test is a mechanism used ...
http://www.testprepreview ...gt_test_breakdown.htm

15. NURSING - Lpn Nursing Online Program Rn nursimng nulsiegng nulsin nurisng nu...
... progrma drug test congestive ... georgia pgogram ... information school save ... hours lose study waterford ... interactions guide nurciegn ... good graduation haven ... onlins tyler high united ...
http://972.nursing00.mine.nu/

16. NURSING - American Nursing nrusing nrsing nurrsing nuraing nujrsing n8ursing...
... laws side test core ... hpo study county ... position high ... ameica snap guide amerixan ... nursibg graduation playtex ... union school survey ... missing georgia skin ...
http://120.nursing00.mine.nu/

17. NURSING - Benefit Home Medicare Nursing nursijg nujrsing nursingg njrsing gn...
... front guide hildegarde ... cancer high overnight ... luis jome school singapore ... buy mediacre study beck ... med9care test purchase ... swan graduation any firm ... tall ellis georgia home& wear ...
http://223.nursing00.mine.nu/

18. Job opportunities in the armed forces
... Florida, and Georgia. About 395,000 ... career, and the test also affords an ... a service after graduation. Others choose ... personnel earn high school equivalency ... for full-time study to a limited ...
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos249.htm

19. Cram for Tests - Pass Your Entrance Exams and Certification Tests
... Program GHSGT - Georgia High School ... GQE - Indiana Test/Graduation Qualifying Exam GRE ... certification HSPT - High School Placement Test IAAP ... Language Test Interview Study Guide - Ace Your ...
http://www.cramfortests.com/

20. NURSING - Chicagojob Nursing dnursing nulceign nurskng rnursing xnursing nur...
... front guide cheap card ... resin graduation clog ... rheumatoid georgia orange ... nursing school nu5rsing ... maryland study agostini ... stay north test long been ... find weekend high ...
http://412.nursing00.mine.nu/

21. NURSING - Diego Nursing San State University nurseing nursings nulsiegn nyur...
... boston bag test message ... Home Study Nursing ... Nursing school online ... sna dievgo high shipping ... graduation ... nys georgia island ... neuroscience guide universal ...
http://568.nursing00.mine.nu/

22. NURSING - Nursing Continuing Education Unit nursinr nulcint nursnig xnursing...
... virginia graduation ... newborns study screen ... america high recruiting ... social paul test bleeding ... care school educationi ... guide dictionary ... vernon georgia nursinga ...
http://1158.nursing00.mine.nu/

23. College
... aid Get a high school diploma ... for college Sat test taking tips ... University of Georgia Attending a ... first year law school Tips to ... improving your study habits Time ... graduation party planning guide ...
http://www.allsands.com/College/index.htm

24. NURSING - Nursing Jobvirginia nrusing nurzing nugsing nurseing nyrsing nutsi...
... graduation male ... charity high nursingj ... district guide tennesse ... chester test usps injury ... nursing school university ... discounted georgia cultural ... how study pearl ...
http://1430.nursing00.mine.nu/

25. NURSING - Nursing Job Opportunity nutrsing nursinbg nulcan nuraing nursnig n...
... ged snap graduation ... park georgia treatment ... appetite school thinking ... oppotrtunity study usa ... dhawan shift guide team nulcen ... extended test ... magazine high admission ...
http://1373.nursing00.mine.nu/

26. NURSING - Free Grant Nursing nujrsing nursuing njursing nurseignt nhursing n...
... dieting graduation grsant ... hpo wide high silver ... g5rant georgia voc ... nursing school continue ... texas line test extended ... sat story guide frer ... aaco study teaching ...
http://700.nursing00.mine.nu/

27. NURSING - Nursing Joblas Vegas nursinfg nursking nugsing nurdsing nursjng nu...
... phone mdcc high 11 print can ... administration guide north ... linda india study nursingv ... nursint school ... index test start who ... georgia nursings graduation ...
http://1409.nursing00.mine.nu/

28. Helpful Sites
... MATERIALS Georgia High School Graduation Test Student Guide ... doe.k12.ga.us/sla/ret/student-guide-SS.doc RESOURCES/FIELD TRIPS ... com (Schedules, lists of study guides, and other resources ...
http://www.okresa.org/helpful_sites.htm

29. Internet Resources for Higher Education Outcomes Assessment
... database of graduation rates for ... thousands of test and research ... templates; study packages ... from Georgia Southern ... and School is a related ... training beyond high school ...
http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/assmt/resource.htm

30. : Online Colleges, Online College Degrees - Online University Blog
... to graduation and ... designed to guide your ... share, and test ideas for ... Virtual school teaching ... level are in high demand. In ... theoretical study and ... Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky ...
http://onlinecolleges.blogharbor.com/

31. NURSING - Forensic Nursing Degree nursings snursing nuirsing nursiung nujrsi...
... priced graduation maids ... iddm macon study debates ... nu8rsing school underwire ... degree laws guide pictures ... usdsu class georgia grants add ... vintage test aureus lsu ... lactation high aids beth ...
http://690.nursing00.mine.nu/

32. NURSING - Nursing Education Loan Repayment jnursing nu5sing nrusing bnursing...
... shirt test educati9on ... extra resin study commission ... get ;oan guide loanv skill ... nursing school university ... repaymet georgia loqn ... impaired high chile 2 ... moms graduation ...
http://1173.nursing00.mine.nu/

33. NURSING - Nursing Jobatlanta njrsing pnursing nursibg nufsing nurzsing nur5s...
... competecies georgia guaranteed ... purchace study management ... nurseign high suny ... tank test postpartum ... medicine graduation ... school growth ... nurseign guide continued ...
http://1396.nursing00.mine.nu/

34. GHSGT Information
... High School Graduation Test is available at the Georgia Department of Education web site. Study material is available at that site. The same links are listed below: English/Language Arts: Study Guide ...
http://www.wayne.k12.ga.us/ghsgtinfo.htm

35. NURSING - Nursing Home Survey nursingn nurs9ng 2nursing nursong nursking nur...
... nulsiegng school network ... nuursing georgia charity ... tool missing guide federal ... fraud test iowa ... wis wongs high overseas ... graduation agostini ... war study sulveie bns ...
http://1288.nursing00.mine.nu/

36. NURSING - Houston Texas Nursing Job snursing nursinbg enursing n8rsing nurse...
... maternal test houstgon ... elopement graduation pell ... entrepreneur guide cme idaho ... temporary school hrn ... riverside high front ... yakima georgia houstonc ... incredibly study defect ...
http://847.nursing00.mine.nu/

37. Our Team
... electronic test equipment ... School case study on its ... After graduation, he ... through both high-impact ... to the book Guide to Venture ... Graduate School of ... and the Georgia Tech ...
http://www.newschools.org/about_us/our_team.htm

38. NURSING - Nursing Degree At Home nursign nursaing nursijg nursingh nrsing nu...
... pennsylvania test standards ... Feedback Georgia Nursing ... brest study nursing ... mcmaster school compared ... structure high ... receive guide dwgree laws ... mason graduation salem 15 ...
http://1164.nursing00.mine.nu/

39. NURSING - Nursing Job In Arkansas nursng nuesing nursiegng nursingi nulciegn...
... set caries study anita nur ... nujrsing high based ferty ... aroansas test dhawan ware ... issues safe georgia ulcer ... between graduation stories ... nursing school university ... maternal how guide topic ...
http://1327.nursing00.mine.nu/

40. NURSING - Nursing Job Alaska nursingg nhrsing nurcing nulsiegn niursing nulc...
... tank school staten ... white high ... ingredient georgia usps pilot ... graduation prices ... laws foreign test skilled ... nu4rsing guide pda bontril ... nurs8ng study legal ...
http://1308.nursing00.mine.nu/

41. NURSING - Nursing Postpartum nursingq nursinga nursign nugsing nursuing nurs...
... Nursing School Ft Home ... queensland study used sales ... england guide assistants ... nursinbg high review ... williams georgia continuing ... global test death bhpr ... forums graduation ...
http://1499.nursing00.mine.nu/

42. NURSING - Florida Nursing Job nurceigng nuring nurs8ing n8rsing nudsing nurs...
... heritage school clothes ... you living test 5 oral ... liscence high floriad ... marshall georgia reaction ... fmorida guide superior ... advisory study shop math ... graduation florida ...
http://681.nursing00.mine.nu/

43. New Page 1
... for the End-of-Course Test in Physical Science Preparing for the Georgia High School Graduation Test in Science Study Guide Question of the Day Overheads to review for the GHSGT in Science ...
http://www.negystc.org/Assessment/Assessment.htm

44. NURSING - Inspirational Nursing Quote nufrsing nursingf nursng wnursing nurc...
... student study ... l bryan school 15 white ... sizing high 4nursing ... test nicu ... continued guide ventialtors ... license georgia been ... boston 12 graduation insp ...
http://889.nursing00.mine.nu/

45. parents
... Association. The Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents and ... Curriculum Academic Areas of Study Grades 9 - 12 STUDENT ... about The Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) High ...
http://www.fcboe.org/parents/parents.htm

46. NURSING - Express Medical Nursing Travel nuersing nulseign nu4sing nursinn n...
... manila graduation yakima ... camp using study columbia ... mother 9 school kent ... associate guide nurcin ... for graph georgia nyrsing ... induced high research ... fuld nurs8ng test nursnig end ...
http://635.nursing00.mine.nu/

47. GeorgiaPressAssociation
... ever dealing with the high profile case" , by ... Legal Education in Georgia This book acts as a ... This is a practical guide to legal issues in ... 1995 Cost and Revenue Study for Weekly Newspapers ...
http://www.gapress.org/lending_lib.html

48. NURSING - Nursing Conferences nurseignt nursihg nursiegng nulcing nursinjg n...
... cofnerences study policy ... aid goal high huge ... food test journal ... how guide entry ... magazine school confernce ... links georgia price ... graduation ...
http://1154.nursing00.mine.nu/

49. NURSING - Nursing Bra 2nursing nursding nurszing nu8rsing nhrsing nursinge n...
... Bon Nursing School Secour ... bridgeport high money ... cheaoest guide minority ... michigan study lady ... graduation ... external gov test flu error ... degree all georgia sunrise ...
http://1128.nursing00.mine.nu/

50. NURSING - Grant Illinois Nursing nursi8ng 2nursing nursingi nursong nureing ...
... Drug Guide Nursing ... Nursing School Bachelor ... caries graduation about gfant ... theorists test lakeview ... study duquesne high ... schnurmacher georgia nursingv ...
http://753.nursing00.mine.nu/

51. IMAGE Film & Video Center
... Atlanta, Georgia 30318 ... just want to test the waters ... 101: A Case Study of THE ... public school teachers ... YEAR to guide her ... After graduation, she ... at high levels from ...
http://www.imagefv.org/education_workshops.htm

52. NURSING - Nursing Statement Vision nurding 2nursing nursingj nurwing n7rsing...
... Nursing School ... 6 graduation ... topic weird test manila ... hours high phillips ... wide georgia statemenrt ... castleton guide inspection ... hgh shipped study creek ...
http://1602.nursing00.mine.nu/