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. Graduation Speeches - High School Graduation Speeches and Principal Speeches...
... Early To Think About Graduation Or The Speech You ... Student Speeches | High School Principal ... Speeches | Primary School Student Speeches ... Contact Us ©Copyright 2005 Joseph A. Hughes & Son ...
http://www.graduation-speech.com/

2. Online NewsHour: Report Card, FCAT -- June 3, 2003
... allow otherwise qualified high school seniors who failed the FCAT ... three days after graduation at Miami Senior High. home | newshour ... about us | letters Copyright ©2005 MacNeil/Lehrer Productions ...
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3. Parsons High School Graduation Program - 1927
... what's new memorial about Parsons High School Graduation Program - 1927 from the collection of ... ... This site is currently maintained by Jerry L. Butler Copyright © 2004 - 2005, All rights reserved
http://www.tnyesterday.co ...27/grad_prog/prog.htm

4. DaytonDailyNews: Dayton, Ohio, news and information
... glances Saturday at Springboro High School's graduation. J.R. was decked out from hand to toe ... ... Photo courtesy of Springboro High School Copyright ©2005 Cox Ohio Publishing, Dayton, Ohio ...
http://www.daytondailynew .../0602graduation1.html

5. Fenwick High School 2005 Graduation
Fenwick High School 2005 Graduation 5/28/2005 page 1 of 4
http://www.fenwickfriars. ...5graduation/index.htm

6. Graduate Survey Report
... 0 0 0 0 659 643 707 653 825 765 Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 214 0 0 0 Summary Results From the 2005 Graduate Survey School Totals By District Dist. I Dist. II Dist. III Dist. IV Dist. V Totals Total Schools ...
http://www.agriculturaled .../GradSurveyReport.asp

7. VBCPS - Graduation Schedule - Class of 2006
Graduation Schedule Class of 2006 All Graduation Ceremonies will be held at the new Virginia Beach ... ... School 4:30 p.m. Landstown High School Last Modified on Monday, September 26, 2005 DisclaimerSite Map
http://www.vbcps.com/stud ...aduation/schedule.asp

8. Education Information - Your resource for finding great education articles
... High School Graduation Poems (15) ...some will be good and some will be bad; these poems will share powerful memories with the entire class. When someone writes a graduation poem, they usually do so ...
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9. Alabama high school graduation exam
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10. Shades of Fun! High School Graduation Gift Idea :: Fun Sunglasses!
... Welcome to our selection of high school graduation gifts ideas for 2005! We are an unusual company with truly unique products -- kind of what you came to the internet hoping to find. Click on our ...
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11. 2005 Graduation High Quote School
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12. Pike High School's 2005 candidates for graduation | IndyStar.com
... com Local News Star North June 7, 2005 Pike High School's 2005 candidates for graduation Tom Wood Toyota Scion ZERO DOWN DELIVERS on 2005 Siennas, Tundras, 4Runners & 2006 Tacomas at Tom Wood Toyota ...
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13. Quality Certificate, Diploma, Picture Frames : Decor Frames
... you know about Decor Frames. Friday 28 October, 2005 123987 requests since Monday 22 March, 2004 We ... ... gifts, graduation certificates, graduation diploma frame, high school diplomas, high school diploma ...
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14. Grad Week
... Congratulations Courtney Harvey from Bunkie High School! You have been selected to have the ... ... status before 5pm PST on Friday, November 18, 2005. If you know Courtney, make sure she gives us a ...
http://www.invasionzone.com/

15. 2005 Vashon High School Graduation index
... com GoTo Vashon Island Links 2005 Vashon High School Graduation There are a ton of pictures. They're divided into five sets or pages to make for easier viewing. If you're on a slower Internet ...
http://www.finchhaven.com ...ation_2005/index.html

16. ASOY: High school graduation requirements
... html. Philosophy Facilities Early Childhood Graduation Calendar Our Mission Activities Elementary ... ... Administration Tuition High School Contact us Home page © 2001-2005 American School Of Yaounde ...
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17. Leilehua High School
... No conferences. There is no school on Friday. Your last chance to buy Entertainments Books and to support LHS is quickly running out. These make great holiday gifts. Advisory Lesson: Volunteerism
http://www.leilehua.k12.hi.us/

18. Graduation - High School Graduation Gift
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19. High school graduation
... when they graduate from high school. The typical age of ... the same period, the rate of graduation after the typical age fell ... Notices Date modified: 2005-01-08 Summary Geography The ...
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20. Washington State High School Graduation Requirements page. New Graduation Re...
... H.S. Graduation Requirements Application form 1472 (PDF) High School Graduation Requirements 2005 Graduation Requirements Walk through (MS Word) (PDF) 2004 Graduation Requirements Chart Minimum H.S ...
http://www.sbe.wa.gov/graduation.htm

21. Bantucky.net - Bandera High School Graduation - May 27, 2005
... Basketball Cross Country Football Other Soccer Track 2002 and earlier Bandera High School Graduation - May 27, 2005 Gallery: bantucky.net Album: Journalistic Photography Album: Events 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...
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22. High School Graduation Speeches
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23. "TESTIMONY: Regents Learning Standards and High School Graduation Requi...
... ON THE STANDARDS AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS In both 2002 ... student assessments, high quality public schools for all ... 3 through 8 starting in 2005-06 school year. "This requirement ...
http://www.nysut.org/rese ...0031022testimony.html

24. High School Senior Pictures and Wedding Photography by the West Michigan Pho...
... Portrait Family Portrait Children & Baby Photo Photos High School/College Graduation Special Event Business Photography Question or comments © 2005 John Gilroy Photography Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006 ...
http://www.westmichiganph ...uation-pictures.shtml

25. 2005 High School Graduation Song
2005 High School Graduation Song FireRocket Search Related Searches 2005 graduation pin 2005 graduation song graduation idea kindergarten song new graduation kindergarten new song york york ...
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26. Emily and Carmen's Graduation (Pateros High School 2005)
HomeDocuments and ListsCreateSite SettingsHelp True Glory Youth Ministries: A ministry of the Cashmere and Pateros churches of Christ Emily and Carmen's Graduation (Pateros High School 2005) Select a ...
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27. Graduation 2005
2005 Graduation Reception May 15, 2005 BACK Sunday, May 15, 2005 was the day to recognize the high school graduates from Linwood who are the "Class of 2005". Several schools were represented, and ...
http://www.linwoodchurch. ...graduation/index.html

28. BobtheKing Dot Com: Craig High School Graduation Parties
... Sunday, May 29, 2005 Craig High School Graduation Parties I've created a web page for all the Craig High School graduation parties. I seem to be adding them at a pace of about five per day, hopefully ...
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29. 20% of California Seniors Flunk High School Graduation Exam | Digitalfog News
... 20% of California Seniors Flunk High School Graduation Exam Posted October 3, 2005 Updated October 4, 2005 Nearly 100,000 California 12th graders Äî or about 20% of this years senior class Äî have ...
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30. MyMotherLode.com - Local News - Serving Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador Counties
... HS Football Traffic Technology Virus Watch Weather Yellow Pages Web this site Sonora High School Graduation 2005 Friday, May 27, 2005 - 04:35 AM Sabrina Sabbagh News Anchor Sonora, CA -- Last night ...
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31. 2005 Coosa High School graduation
Viewing this page requires a browser capable of displaying frames.
http://www1.romenews-trib ...osa high/FrameSet.htm

32. MCSD Scores - Georgia High School Graduation Test - 2001-2004
MUSCOGEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Spring 2001-Spring 2005 Percentage of 11th Grade Students Who Passed Sub-Tests on the First Attempt HIGH SCHOOLS Language Arts Mathematics Social Studies Science ...
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33.
High School Graduation 2005 hs02.JPG hs03.JPG hs04.JPG hs05.JPG hs06.JPG hs07.JPG hs08.JPG hs09.JPG hs10.JPG hs11.JPG hs12.JPG hs13.JPG hs14.JPG hs15.JPG hs16.JPG hs17.JPG hs18.JPG hs19.JPG hs20.JPG ...
http://www.petefrey.com/hsgrad05/page_01.htm

34. 2005-2006 High School Graduation Ceremonies - Schedule
Home / 2005-2006 High School Graduation Schedule 2005-2006 High School Graduation Schedule High School Ceremonies will take place at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at Old Dominion University ...
http://www.cps.k12.va.us/grad_schedule.html

35. 2005 High School Graduation Pictures
2005 High School Graduation Pictures
http://www.thisiscentral. ...raduationPictures.htm

36. Index of Kuna High School 1919 Graduation, Kuna, ID
Kuna High School 1919 Graduation Kuna, ID Published: 1919 Kuna High School Commencement Exercises ... ... Resource Surname This item was indexed on 1/3/2005. Related resources: USA|ID, Graduation Lists ...
http://www.familytreeconn ...resources/ftc850.html

37. Graduation Requirements
Unity High School Graduation Requirements Course Work: A minimum of 26 1/2 credits is required for 2005 graduates. Students who transfer in from other schools will retain their class status from the ...
http://www.fourstar.lib.i ...aduationrequirements/

38. Freedom Calls Foundation - High School Graduation
... Calls John Harlow, Executive Director of the Freedom Calls Foundation, accepted on March 4, 2005 the Defense Security Service Employee Association's generous contribution to the Freedom Calls ...
http://www.freedomcalls.org/DSSEA.html

39. University Collegiate Jewelry Gifts, College Graduation Gift Ideas
... 14k gold diploma, graduation hat and cap, school house charm, graduation hats and caps on round ... ... 14k gold graduation rings for the following graduate years: 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 ...
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40. good graduation high school song
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41. ASD -- A&E -- HSGQE
... Years Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) 2004-2005 AYP Results EED AYP Info Assessment Results ... ... State Website) School Report Card High School Graduation Qualifying Examination The High School ...
http://www.asdk12.org/depts/assess_eval/HSGQE.asp

42. Alaska's "High School Graduation Qualifying Examination": Web Resources Page
Alaska's "High School Graduation Qualifying Examination" (HSGQE ... funds this year for low-income school districts and teacher ... G., Washington Times, 20 April 2005). The journalist also quoted ...
http://www.srv.net/~msdata/ahsqe.html

43. http://www.cityoftaylor.com/photogallery/trumangrad05/
Click here for a list of 2005 graduates from Harry S Truman High School. The City of Taylor thanks the staff at Truman High School for providing the list of graduates. page 1 of 2

44. Linganore High School Graduation Project
... PTSA SAT Question of the day Graduation Project LHS Blackboard Site ... Alumni Linganore High Profile Entire contents © 2005 Frederick ... are subject to change by the school system at any time. Frederick ...
http://lhs.fcps.org/gradproj/

45. High School Graduation Gifts - WestPortStyle.com
... Measures 7 1/2" x 5 1/2" High School Graduation Gifts 2005 Graduation Mug $14.60 The 2005 Graduation Mug features a graduation cap and diploma design with the words, "2005 Graduate" printed in black ...
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46. Langley High School Class of 2006 All Night Graduation Party
home candygram capitol steps tickets volunteers What: Langley High School All Night Graduation Party When: June 16-17, 2006 Where: Langley High School Every year since 1988, Langley parents, in ...
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47. High School / Graduation Sayings - Rub-ons from Me and My Big Ideas
... By Theme Sale Items Clearance Items High School / Graduation Sayings - Rub-ons from Me and My Big ... ... Boards | Contact | Site Map | Affiliates | Help | Privacy © 2005 Cropaholics. All rights reserved.
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48. http://www.triad.madison.k12.il.us/DistrictPgs/TxtNewsArticles.cfm?NewsID=350
New State High School Graduation Requirements Author: Robert Sudhoff Date: 09-16-2005 New State High School Graduation Requirements Governor Rod Blagojevich recently signed Senate Bill 575 into law ...

49. Jonesboro Jaycees
Jonesboro Jaycees
http://www.jonesborojayce ...radcasino05/index.htm

50. Education Working Paper 8 | Public High School Graduation and College-Readin...
... 8 February 2005 Public High School Graduation and College-Readiness Rates: 1991ñ2002 Jay P. Greene, Ph.D. Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Marcus A. Winters Research Associate ...
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51. Multiple Measures
... copies of Multiple Measures Approaches to High School Graduation can be purchased for $15 each. To order, email us, or call 650.725.0703. October 31st 2005, 05:25 AM © The School Redesign Network ...
http://www.schoolredesign.net/srn/mm/mm.php

52. Anson High School Graduation 2005
Anson High School Graduation 2005 - 05/28/05 Back to home page page 1 of 3 Commencement Exercise - Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 8:30 am Principal - Mr. Michael A. McLeod Valedictorian - Ms. Lisa Marie ...
http://www.wadesboro.com/grads05/

53. Brockton High School Class of 2005 Graduation
BPS Home Page High School - Brockton High School Class of 2005 Graduation Saturday, June 4, 2005, a bright, sunny, warm afternoon, and over 850 Brockton High School Seniors graduated to the applause ...
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54. Matthew's High School Graduation 2005 Images
... Heather Home | Projects | Images | About Me | Links Images Astronomy Home Places Travels Special Events Creative © 2004-2005 Heather Dalton Matthew's High School Graduation Party My brother Matthew ...
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55. Graduation Gifts : High School Graduation Gift : Graduation Gift Ideas
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56. Lamar High School 2005 Graduation Photos
... 2005 All photos on this page are the property of Black Hat Studio. Any downloading, duplication or reproduction of these photos is strictly prohibited. All of these pictures are available as high ...
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57. CPSB High School Graduation Dates
2005-2006 CPSB High School Graduation Schedule School Location Date Time Barbe High Burton Coliseum 5/21/2006 3:00PM Bell City Gym on campus 5/21/2006 3:00PM Career Center Opelousas Street Site ...
http://www.cpsb.org/system/c&i/high/graduation.htm