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. Prom - Stumps Prom
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http://www.allthingsprom.com/stumpsprom/

2. MacGregor State High School
... 3 Newsletter Evening of Song - Vocal Students Concert 7pm ... School Track Events Day (Whole School Attend) Friday 25 Library ... n' Fret Rehearsal 2 CAD Graduation - 7 pm Thursday 29 Okutama ...
http://www.macgregoshs.ql .../AboutUs/Calendar.htm

3. Chateauroux American High School - Chad Entries - P
... Chandler High School - Chandler, AZ ... Brinkley - 1969 Graduation Year (Chas or ... Graduated: Albuquerque High - NM @ Chas: 1959-62 ... almost re-invents the song here and when it comes ...
http://www.chateaurouxame ...ol.com/Friends/p.html

4. Thunderbird High School
... Class Schedules, School Song, Important Phone ... Schedule for Sports School Calendar Staff email ... Course Descriptions Graduation Requirements *Adobe ... given to Thunderbird High School and some of its ...
http://thunderbird.guhsdaz.org/WelcomeFrame.html

5. Writer's Guide to the PR Universe - Angel Grove High School
... Grove High's new school song. 331-MVA3 Four ... piano at Angel Grove High into Fortissimodo ... people shown in the school; the hallways and ... set up for their graduation at the Angel Grove ...
http://www.rovang.org/wg/aghs.htm

6. OPM Comments
... Hi. I would like to find out who the composer of our High School graduation song (1986). I am not sure of the title, but the first few lines are: "Only you my friend can my life feel so complete. It ...
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7. Calvary Christian School - High School News
... diplomas at the 2005 graduation ceremony held on Friday ... Chorus Refuge, and the High School Chorus Latrevo, all ... a lively version of a top 40s song, and Latrevo honored the ...
http://www.calvaryknights.com/high-news.htm

8. Graduation High School Song
graduation high school song Contact Get Listed Disclaimer Partners Site Map Sponsored Links: Click here to find gifts for graduation! Graduation Graduations for all Neil Young lyrics - High School ...
http://www.karlwallinger. ...high-school-song.html

9. NEIL YOUNG Lyrics - HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
... Mr. soul Hold on to your love Tell me why Time off for good [ See a printer friendly version of this song text ] [ NEIL YOUNG Lyrics ] High school graduation (center text) The brick jail doors that ...
http://www.mp3lyrics.org/ ...gh-school-graduation/

10. Graduation Info : High School Graduation Announcements
... Songs For Graduation Songs For Graduations The Graduation Song University Graduate Programs West Point Graduation ADD CATEGORY High School Graduation Announcements Suggested Items High Quality ...
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11. ASNE High School Journalism -
... goal of expedient graduation. Occasionally we ... members will sing the song for the video. Upon ... News. (He spoke at our school last year, and gave ... sensitivity in the high school newsroom? What ...
http://www.highschooljour ...anId=261&AuthorId=140

12. Welcome to Shorecrest High School, Shoreline, Washington USA
... procedures for classes Graduation requirments Course ... mailings School Spirit Shorecrest mascot Fight song Alma mater ... Shorecrest is a comprehensive high school serving the cities of ...
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13. Dundee Community High School -- Unofficial Site
... Dundee Middle School? School Song On there, Dundee, honor your ... School on Rt. 31 as a Junior High class was the class of 1954 ... at that school and stayed (6 years) until graduation in 1954 ...
http://www.dundeehs.com/dchs_funfacts.php

14. PaulSpaeth.com :: View Forum - Questions
... com High School graduation song 1 ady 295 Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:38 pm Elian Ranel Sheet Music 1 dawn_sister 277 Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:14 pm Elian Ranel autographs? 2 mouse_sd319 447 Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:45 ...
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15. Graduation i : High School Graduation Gifts
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16. Central High School Trojan Hall of Fame inductes Ken Bell, Mel Gee, Hal John...
... fight song with classes. He also regularly visits Oak Park Elementary school. Gee sang in the Traverse City Senior High school choir and also played the clarinet in band. After graduation, he ...
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17. Byron P. Steele, II High School
... Volunteer Application Graduation Requirements Freshman Class ... Congratulations to the Steel High School Band! The band received its ... to the Alma Mater and Fight Song Take a tour of Byron P. Steele ...
http://www.scuc.txed.net/campuses/Steele/

18. Graduation HQ - High School Graduation Gifts
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19. Isaac Figgs The Graduation Song Lyric
http://www.barberforjudge ...raduation-song-lyric/

20. High School Renewal
About High School Renewal Creating Small Learning Environments Teaching and Learning Signature Courses College and Career Planning Newsletter Site Overview and Resources Home Boston Public Schools ...
http://www.highschoolrenewal.org/

21. POMPANO BEACH HIGH SCHOOL » OUR HISTORY
... The words of the fight song, and the School's Alma Mater ... in the 1980's Pompano Beach High School was closed in 1985, amid ... reunions consistently since graduation, and have maintained ...
http://www.pompanobeachhigh.com/page.asp?id=113

22. Rossville Consolidated School District -- High School
... Circle the State with Song Festival which some of ... in later this school year. Boys Basketball ... my much anticipated graduation, I will be moving ... from Rossville High School in 2001 and ...
http://www.rossville.k12.in.us/highschool.htm

23. Plano Senior High School Web Site
... Daily Newsletter Graduation Class of 2005 ... AEIS Campus Report School Report Card 2005-2006 ... Alma Mater | Fight Song What's Up @ PSHS ... Shepherd, Plano Senior High School Science ...
http://k-12.pisd.edu/Schools/PSHS/

24. Welcome to Point Pleasant High School
... Point Pleasant High School Rt. 1, Box 4 Point Pleasant, WV 25550 (304) 675-1350 School Colors: Red and Black Alma Mater Fight Song Mascot: Black Knight History: First Graduation class in 1894 ...
http://pphs.maso.k12.wv.us/

25. VH1.com : Stevie Wonder : Stevie Wonder Sings At California High School Grad...
... High School in Palmdale, California, as a graduation Sign ... Mumtaz Morris, whom few at the school knew was related to the ... some of the lyrics to the song, such as "Seize upon that ...
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26. John F. Kennedy High School
... School Policies School Song Student Records Events ... traffic either after school or Saturdays at the ... is a requirement for graduation. Physical Education ... History Copyright © John F. Kennedy High School
http://www.kennedyhschica ....jsp?REC_ID=4824&id=0

27. The Essential Barbra Streisand
... This was actually my fourth grade graduation song, as well as my late grandfather's High School graduation song. Beautifl song. THE ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND is the album that all fans can enjoy. So ...
http://music.wenchoice.co ...Barbra_Streisand.html

28. Flower Mound High School Choir
... Conte ñ Drinking Song (men) Area January 7th ... out over the entire school year. Now, if you ... the Credit! Are you a high-achiever? Then you'll ... the FMHS Recommended Graduation Program. The ...
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29. Goddard High School - Class of '82
... The Class Robert H. Goddard High School 701 E. Country Club Rd. Roswell, New Mexico 88201 Phone: (505) 625-8115 Fax: (505) 625-8124 Graduation: May 25, 1982 Song: "Freebird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd ...
http://www.xjs.com/ghs/

30. School - Find Schools - resources, advice and articles
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31. Djs Raleigh NC HS High School, Middle NC, TN, VA (800)870-9465
... 2012 Modify your Event View Song List (800) 870-9465 Cinderella ... Reception, High School Dance and Middle School Dance Party ... Party, Family Reunion, Graduation Parties, New Year's Eve ...
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32. Vada Paris' - High School Grad. 1936
... wagon to a star" & "Quality not quantity" Class Song -- "The Morre We Get Together" Class Yell ... ... written in Vada E. Paris' Seiling High School Graduation program, May, 1936. SIGN Guestbook ...
http://www.okielegacy.org/vada/highschoolgrad.html

33. Glendale Union High School District | Glendale, Arizona
... old SHS! Have your name and graduation year engraved on a brick ... 623) 915-8760 Sunnyslope High School website Year Opened: 1953 ... rapidly changing society. FIght Song Fight on you Sunnyslope ...
http://www.guhsdaz.org/schools/sunnyslope.asp

34. VIENNA HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY & SONG
... practice and for games. Graduation classes were becoming so ... Allen became principal of the high school and coach. Miss Maxine ... the students choose the school song in 1942. Vienna High School ...
http://www.hwy28spur.com/vhs.html

35. More about Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony Songs by Beautiful Home...
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36. West Jefferson High School - Academics
Office Student Handbook WJHS Constitution Bell Schedules Class Schedule School Song Library Counselor's Office Grades and Graduation Requirements Course Descriptions Idaho Colleges Idaho CIS Username ...
http://www.wjsd.org/wjhs/academics.htm

37. RandyThomas.info » Blog Archive » BRAVO - Being Bobby Brown
... Even my high school graduation song was The Greatest Love of All After tonights show, all I can say is I am just stunned. There was so much pain evident. I wont watch it again not because of bad ...
http://www.randythomas.in ...vo-being-bobby-brown/

38. Taft High School Virtual Band Reunion
... playing the Ice Cream Man song on the glock, and dropping the ... due to that problem. After High School, I attended Harvey Mudd ... SC, Tommy Johnson. After graduation I was a high school band ...
http://www.taftbandreunio .../people/70sgrads.html

39. The Rock and Roll Geek Show: Rock and Roll Geek Show 4/17/05 Podcast
... That song was, OF COURSE, my High School graduation song back in 1980..all 20 some odd minutes of it. Great song. It's too bad people want to make it into some kind of elevator-decay music. Well, I ...
http://www.americanheartb .../archives/000234.html

40. New
... york graduation kindergarten lyric song graduation kindergarten pre song 2005 graduation lyric song 2005 high school graduation song announcement graduation kindergarten wording announcement ...
http://www.new28.com/

41. Kingstree Senior High School -- Student Handbook
... 1990) Here O Kingstree, our song of praise Alma mater _ Ever ... Vision Kingstree Senior High School is a learning community, a ... and prepares for life after graduation. Mission Kingstree Senior ...
http://www.kingstreehigh.com/handbook.php

42. Bell By Graduation Lyric Saved Song
... at graduation four freshman graduation day lyric saved by the bell lyric graduation high school graduation song lyric vitamin c graduation friends forever original version lyric vitamin c ...
http://www.dolphinriver.c ...ion-lyric-saved-song/

43. Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation
... careers immediately after graduation. A donors explains why he ... the lyricism and beauty of the Song of Solomon which still ... 1996-2004 Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation ...
http://www.lafn.org/educa .../foun/foundation.html

44. Craig High School: Accelerated Reader Quizzes
... 0 Brian's Return Paulsen, Gary 5.5 4.0 Brian's Song Blinn, William 5.1 3.0 Brian's Winter Paulsen ... ... Zusak, Markus 3.6 4.0 Final Friends 3: The Graduation Pike, Christopher 4.1 9.0 Final Friends: The ...
http://janesville.k12.wi. ...an/arlists/arlist.htm

45. Columbus High School (CHS) Yearbooks And Logs Historic Columbus Indiana
... the "Class Yell," the school song, physical training, Hi-Y and ... on a "new" Columbus High School on 25th Street, and showed ... yearbook. The 1957 senior graduation class walked through the ...
http://www.historiccolumb ...arbooks/yearbooks.htm

46. 2005 High School Graduation Song
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47. Good High School Graduation Songs First of and more about Good High School G...
... FONT=Arial][SIZE=7][COLOR=red] there ra lot of good ones that r IÂ¥m looking for thatold song, usually played in the graduation of High School, or Junior Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day ...
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48. graduation graphic
... christian free graduation christian graduation card christian graduation gift christian graduation graphic christian graduation high school song christian graduation invitation christian graduation ...
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49. http://song.abkb.info/
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50. High School Graduation Song
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51. Yeshivat Hamivtar - Orot Lev | Features |Excelsior
... I remember my high school graduation song (Malden High, Class of '68) 'The Impossible Dream.' In it Don Quixote proclaims that a man must live with 'his arms reaching upward.' Our image of the ladder ...
http://www.yhol.org.il/features/excelsior_walk.htm