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. University Collegiate Jewelry Gifts, College Graduation Gift Ideas
... graduation hat and cap, school house charm, graduation hats ... diploma charms, 14k gold graduation hats and caps pendants, 10k ... bezels, discount Father's Day present, mens Graduation gift idea ...
http://www.jewelry-gifts. ...giate-education-i.htm

2. Home Page for LYnda and Clark Chapman
... But there's been plenty of snow in the high country, and Ginette is enjoying her long- delayed high school graduation present -- skiing at Wolf Creek -- amid tons of snow. Our big news, although we ...
http://www.boulder.swri.edu/clark/Lynda.html

3. 2007 High School Graduation Requirements :: San Diego City Schools
... to present a Senior Exhibition as part of their graduation ... standards. Please contact your school for their specific Senior ... Example. (Source: Patrick Henry High School) Computer Literacy All ...
http://www.sandi.net/depts/osss/grad_reqs_07.html

4. Sample High School Graduation Speeches
Sample High School Graduation Speeches Information and Resources www.speaking100.info Home | Articles ... ... and can?t attend the meeting where I am due to present? What at first may seem like a major disaster ...
http://www.speaking100.in ...-Public-article-8.cfm

5. USATODAY.com - Travel can help mend a fractured world
... My Slovenian friends mused that the world would be smart to establish a scholarship giving each American a free trip abroad as a high school graduation present. While they know that's unrealistic ...
http://www.usatoday.com/n ...04-10-17-steves_x.htm

6. Clear fork High School Graduation Requirements
... will not be granted if deficiencies are present in any of these areas. Regarding Graduation Requirements Clear Fork Diploma To qualify for a high school diploma, students must meet the following ...
http://www.clearfork.k12. ...urses/currguide04.htm

7. ..:: heathbrandon.com::.. Press
... It all began when his sister bought him an acoustic guitar for high school graduation present. Brandon evolved since then into a singer/ songwriter who releases albums on his own label, Swim Naked ...
http://www.heathbrandon.com/press/

8. High School Graduation
... Picture High School Graduation Poem High School Graduation Practice Social Study Test High School Graduation Present High School Graduation Product High School Graduation Project High School Graduation ...
http://www.mygraduationgi ...highschoolgraduation/

9. Money for high school graduation gift
... concentrated among civilized peoples, such as belief whom Caligula reclaimed, present, money for high school graduation gift or in the proscription, and sandals after had seen mediate or conceptual ...
http://money-for-high-sch ...n-gift.bocci.lapy.pl/

10. Whiting High School Graduation Controversy
... to popular teachers. Whiting High school principal Dirk Flick ... prior to the graduation ceremony. Rumors in the school during the ... Monkey Hunting License" was present to physics teacher John ...
http://www.whitingcommuni ...News/sal2002story.htm

11. Only Phones :: T-Mobile Sidekick with Camera Attachment (T-Mobile)
... I recommend this cell phone to be a great high school graduation present, or for any college student! Customer Rating: Summary: Mad proprietary Comment: These guys have great marketing what with the ...
http://www.onlyphones.com ...achment_T_Mobile.html

12. Reader Feedback
... I thought of my high school graduation present, the tears were streaming down my cheeks, and my legs were turning to rubber. ooooo"Dick!" I thought. "Get a hold of yourself!" oooooI literally shook ...
http://www.stayingthecourse.com/excerpt.html

13. Busbones (RECENT) restoration projects
... The Deens had us restore this bus for their sons high-school graduation present. The Bus had been hit hard on the passenger side and nose. Hard enough for us to justify a new nose-clip and a section ...
http://www.busbones.com/r ...9t2kombi/69kombi.html

14. ACCF Missionary Committee is located in Tremont, IL
... These requests started being answered when her aunt gave her a train ticket to Indiana for her high school graduation present. They met on the front steps of the Leo, Indiana Apostolic Christian ...
http://www.accm.org/veschlatter.htm

15. An Inconstant Life
... As a high school graduation present, Aunt Rose and Uncle Tony invited me to join them with cousins Juanita and Tony on a ocean-faring vacation to Europe for two months! This was met with great ...
http://www.vivona.net/1to3/story1.htm

16. The 13th Fret Artist of the Month
... My next guitar was a cream-colored Electra Stratocaster copy purchased in 1976 for around $275 as a high school graduation present from my mom. I still have both guitars and actually played the strat ...
http://www.13thfret.com/aotm/aotm_duke.shtml

17. North Eugene High School: Graduation Committee
... and helps raise funds for the alcohol-free graduation party. The event will take place at the Wild ... ... 689-2787, or click here to download the coupon. Present flyer and we earn 50% of your purchase ...
http://www.nehs.lane.edu/1_parents/grad_commit.htm

18. Unique High School Graduation Gift Ideas - Ideas on High School Graduation P...
... Gift Ideas High School Graduation Gift Ideas Passing high school is a time of great joy and ... ... way to acknowledge his/her achievement. The present age is appropriately termed as cyber age ...
http://giftideas.indobase ...ation-gift-ideas.html

19. An Old Friend Gives Up the Ghost [umm... he said]
... wired! The subject of this post, however, was the timer clock he made for me as a high school graduation present, in 1975. It was complete with a digital LED readout, a row of switches for the various ...
http://webpages.charter.net/ummamum/2005/001

20. Graduate Survey Report
... version of this page. This page is designed to present a limited version of the page that is easy on ... ... Report Incentive Funding Summary by District & School Incentive Funding Summary by Quality ...
http://www.agriculturaled .../GradSurveyReport.asp

21. Combo Organ Heaven: Fender
... days. My fondest memory of it was that I talked my folks into buying it for me as High School graduation present. Other kids got cars, but I was much more thrilled with the Rotoverb. It was a bizarre ...
http://www.combo-organ.com/Fender/fender.htm

22. Danielle & Brittany
... e., GrandMa Nancy and I give a trip as a high-school graduation present. A trip to anywhere in the world our granddaughters wish to go. Itís girls only ... GrandMa Nancy and the graduating senior. And ...
http://www.rayjutkins.com/next/index06.html

23. Meet Sgt. Perkins
... She wanted a bulldog for her high school graduation present, so I bought her one. She got married after that, and I lost her two years later. Raising them took all the pain away for me because they'd ...
http://www.marinemascot.c ...eet_sgt__perkins.html

24. NatalieLaughlin.com
... myself. For my high school graduation present, I opted for going to a health spa, where I fasted on only water for 17 days, instead of a trip to Europe. I continued my laxative addiction well into my ...
http://www.natalielaughlin.com/bio/hunger.htm

25. Wannadu - Feature Story
... too. In 1968, for a high school graduation present, I got two guitars for the price of one. I had designed a custom made L5-CES with Super 400 inlays, florentine cutaway, master volume, Tal Farlow ...
http://www.waynewesleyjoh .../page2.cfm?SC=feature

26. Graduation Info : High School Graduation Announcements
... Graduation Prayer Graduation Prayers Graduation Present Graduation Presents Graduation Program ... ... Songs Graduations Speeches Harvard Graduation High School Graduation High School Graduation ...
http://graduationinfo.com ...nouncements/index.php

27. Lopresti's trip: 1 Introduction
... I wanted to take her to Europe as a high school graduation present, but at that time it wasnít possible. Now that sheís a junior in college my wife Terri and I realized that we were running out of ...
http://www.hettyanderson. ...lopresti/writings.htm

28. Hawaii: Islands of Surprise
... Back in the 70s, the California native was given a one-way ticket to Hawaii from his father as a high school graduation present. After stints working in the pineapple and cane fields, Kennedy started ...
http://www.latimes.com/ex ...aiiguide/cuisine.html

29. bed spreads
... high school graduation present. Wont she be surprised. For any questions regarding Bed Spreads please click here. Send mail to someone@microsoft.com with questions or comments. Last modified: 04/10 ...
http://www.mattressdept.com/bedspreads/

30. Ed Wrenbeck - About Me
... I got my first Mac in 1988 as a high school graduation present. It was the first full color Mac, and probably one of the first color PCs altogether. I remember my parents paying around $1500 for just ...
http://www.wrenbeck.com/b ...K-5QBNBM!OpenDocument

31. christmas candy baskets - high school graduation gift
... salad Internets best As with software online good birthday present latest credit report for males and females. high school graduation gift the history of! bridesmaid wedding gift Looking for ...
http://basket.i-gift-bask ...uation-gif/index.html

32. BedSpreds
... We made them into a duvet cover for a very special high school graduation present. Wont she be surprised. For any questions regarding Bed Spreads please click here. Home | Interior Design | Fashion ...
http://www.michigansmom.com/bedspreds.htm

33. The Indy Experience.com - The Ultimate Guide to Indiana Jones!
... In 1989, for his high school graduation present, Jayson went to a Tibetan meditation retreat in Berkeley. Afterwards, Jayson went to study at California College of Arts and Crafts, where he graduated ...
http://www.theindyexperie ...s_adaptation_bios.php

34. Foxtrotter Mares
... Mom looked at her somewhat disappointed and gave her to me as a high school graduation present. I named her Ladís Special Promise. (Mom no longer gives away new foals of any color.) (Zaneís Charming ...
http://www.alfordstables.com/specialpromise.htm

35. Reference Reviews
... Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low . Breakthrough In Cell-Defense Published ... ... have loved it. It really is the perfect shower present. I can't recommend this highly enough--for ...
http://www.booksunderrevi ...ce/Reference_122.html

36. Luminary
... The Glasers explain that they paid for Alex's trip to Alaska as a high school graduation present. Frank then makes his way to the bedroom of Alex's younger brother, Ian, where the boy busies himself ...
http://www.fourthhorseman ...s/Episodes/epi212.htm

37. Paula Eve Kirman - Today I Lit A Candle - Singer/Songwriter
... 50 at a local music store, later followed by a 12-string model that she got as her high school graduation present. She started writing songs almost immediately, and created a large body of work that ...
http://www.calypsoconsulting.com/paulabio.html

38. White Guitars, Gallery page Fourteen
White Guitars #29 & 30 As a high school graduation present, I decided to build father and son book-matched electric guitars for my son, Tristan, and myself. We took a piece of flamed maple and sawed ...
http://www.whiteguitars.com/gallery14.htm

39. The Elizabeth Hotel London, England: Hotel Reviews by Guests
... I've brought my daughter, Kendall, with me as a high school graduation present for her. I knew, when planning this trip, that ONLY THE ELIZABETH HOTEL would do. It is absolutely charming, warm & ...
http://www.elizabethhotel.com/comments.html

40. Larry's Family Photos
... I'm giving my brother David his high school graduation present: a new car! Sort of. Picture 3 of 15 December 1992. Here's Mom and me at Christmas. Picture 4 of 15 February 1981. Mom, Dad, and David ...
http://www.larrymcp.com/phfamily.html

41. Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Titleist DCI 962 Irons at Pricetool.com
... s. I was given these clubs by my father for a birthday/high school graduation present. Before, I had been playing with... Read the full review Product Rating: Shaft Flex: The Sweetest Club to Swing by ...
http://www.pricetool.com/ ...rons/display_~reviews

42. 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 ...
http://users.telenet.be/education/

43. Jared Carter Poetry :: Background :: "A Brief Biography"
... For a high-school graduation present, Carter's parents had given him an Olympia portable manual typewriter made in West Germany. It weighed eighteen pounds and came in a silver-gray, molded-plywood ...
http://www.jaredcarter.com/background/bio/

44. The Lost Luggage Tales : Travel the World
... it was my high school graduation present. i had quite an adventure. imagine being 18 and let loose on a 14 hour flight where liquor was free. and that was just the start of the trip. imagine going ...
http://lostluggage.blogsp ...tluggage_archive.html

45. Geography/World History Course Requirements for High School Graduation
... exam in social studies required for high school graduation. 19 TEX. ADMIN. CODE ß 74.11, ß 74.42 ... ... Such tests are World History: 1000 A.D. to the Present and World Geography. 8 VA. ADMIN. CODE 20-131 ...
http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/39/02/3902.htm

46. High School Graduation Project
... is issued. Review panels for graduation projects will be comprised ... final review. The student will present to the adviser the final ... any) for this career, e) the high school education needed, f) what ...
http://www.centralcolumbi ...raduation/project.htm

47. IMAGES of Mt. Juliet, TN - 2006 Edition
... Mt. Juliet s Star Erika Jo Heriges got a great high school graduation present in April 2005. The 18-year-old graduate of Wilson Central High School became the first female and youngest winner of USA ...
http://www.mtjulietmag.com/

48. Personalized Special Occasion Books - Ann's Personalized Books
... Gift Personalized College Graduation Present Personalized Kindergarten Graduation Present Personalized High School Graduation Present Personalized Preschool Graduation Present Personalized ...
http://www.anns-personali .../special-occasion.htm

49. Initial purse, cheap and wholesale handbag
... This handbag would also be a wonderful gift for a high school graduation present. It may be a cheap purse for you to purchase; but a great handbag for a college freshman. So, stop watching the crowd ...
http://purses-and-handbag ...om/initial-purse.html

50. Hook Line & Sinker Guide Service
... Your service however has left us with one problem: my oldest son wants to return to KY to fish with you for his high school graduation present. Thanks again, The Varga Family --Original Message ...
http://www.kentuckylakebarkley.com/hook3.html

51. Ivy League Publishing
... Effy Oz's cartoon supported guide to business-a perfect high school graduation present. Nuggets of wisdom includes his observation that "Objectively, your performance may be excellent, and yet ...
http://www.ivylp.com/book_oz.htm

52. GoNOMAD: Rick Steves: Travel can mend a fractured world.
http://www.gonomad.com/fe ...steves_on_travel.html

53. Links to Zephyr-related sites
... It was his high school graduation present! A Great Image of a 1937 Sedan External Site Check Out the Fabulous Interior of Don Elson's '39 Limousine Dick Bolt's Zephyr Site External Site A Full-Dress ...
http://www.lzoc.org/links/links.htm