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!

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6. NYS Ed Dept. Admits High School Graduation stats Were Wrong
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7. Current Query | Raising The Roof
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8. Office of Academic Support and Diversity -- 20/20 Report
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9. Public Services and TABOR In Colorado, 1/13/05
... 1992. Nor can it be said that the decline in K-12 spending is solely to blame for Coloradoís falling high-school graduation rate. Nonetheless, the stringency of TABOR limits did remove the option of ...
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10. Rhode Island Kids Count: 2005 RI Kids Count Factbook
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13. http://www.mum-umc.org/aboutus.html
... grade. Even more astounding and encouraging are the program participantís dropout and high school graduation rate figures: 94 percent of children served have remained in school and to date one hundred ...

14. Pryce Sponsors Bill to Encourage High School Graduation
March 14, 2005 Pryce Sponsors Bill to Encourage High School Graduation Bill focuses on increasing graduation rate among low-income students WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper ...
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15. "TESTIMONY: Regents Learning Standards and High School Graduation Requi...
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19. Goals and Indicators
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20. High School Graduation - Vote Hunting
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24. Extra Mile Education Foundation
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25. Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce :: Edmond, Oklahoma
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30. Carnegie Reporter, Vol. 1, No. 2 | Meeting the challenge of the urban High S...
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31. Current and Recent News
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32. NEA: Good News About America's Public Schools -- Iowa
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39. Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement
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40.
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47. Arlington Public Schools - General Information
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48. RISE: Realizing Intellect through Self-Empowerment
... that. Through mentoring, academic support, and the enhancement of life skills, RISE increases the high school graduation rate of African American students and helps students embark on a path to post ...
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49. About IHAD - East Palo Alto
... Success Leads to New Dreams This first program has, by all accounts, been successful with a 100% high school graduation rate, compared to the 50% typical of students from similar neighborhoods and ...
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50. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce
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52. U.S. Senator Patty Murray - Murray Introduces PASS Act to Boost High School ...
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53. U.S. Department of Labor - Find It By Topic - Youth & Labor - Resources ...
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