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. Dr. Simonton's Home Page
... Grants Programme, Ohio State University ... Harvard Business School Press, Princeton ... the Composition Requirement. Commencement ... for the 1994 Graduation Ceremonies ... 12, Davis Senior High School; born ...
http://psyweb2.ucdavis.edu/Simonton/default.html

2. California Insider - Archive for February 2005
... a national study of high school graduation rates that ranks ... until 2011 and deletes the requirement that any new plan go before ... on the experiences in Florida, Ohio, and now California, it does ...
http://www.sacbee.com/sta ...archives/2005_02.html

3. Senate Democrat News!
... will follow states like Ohio that support and have ... to form a cooperative high school, but do not ... their children go to school. The ICCB already ... purposely ignore the requirement to have a car ...
http://www.senatedem.stat ...enatenews/index.shtml

4. The necklace and author
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5. Covering Religious Liberty in the Public Schools
... graduation ceremony was voluntary and not a requirement to receive a diploma; thus, the students ... ... that in our society and in our culture high school graduation is one of lifeís most significant ...
http://www.facsnet.org/issues/faith/schools.php

6. Non-Profit and University Participation in ATP
... matching-fund requirement; and The ... 2 14 MIT 14 0 14 Ohio State 12 2 14 ... that is needed in high-risk R&D ... Examples are the school calendar ... work), and graduation. Beyond these ...
http://www.atp.nist.gov/alliance/npu_part.htm

7. Native American Heritage Month kicks off in November
... again 16 years after high school graduation. After leaving the ... 7 p.m., Student Center Ohio Room. A discussion about the federal requirement that Native Americans carry ...
http://news.siu.edu/windows/102903/native.html

8. In Loving Memory of Our Friend Terry Crummitt aka SnackBoy
... Michael Ark Cincinnati, Ohio From: PATRICK H. Subject ... is also this clear unwritten requirement, that we all be very ... him, probably since high school graduation. I never forgot Terry ...
http://www.thesync.com/

9. Declaration Alliance :: "Founding of America" Bill
... requirement in the Ohio Revised Code that Ohio's high school students must study the Declaration of ... ... in their 18th century context, as a requirement for graduation, and as part of newly-established ...
http://www.declarationall ...unding_of_america.php

10. Real estates listing in clark county2c virginia
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11. Preparation for Career and College-Lorain County's College Tech Prep
... and use is a fundamental requirement in every CTP program ... LCCC within 2 years of high school graduation, he/she loses the ... Education Act of 1998 and the Ohio General Revenue Fund ...
http://loraintechprep.com ...rep/news/for-parents/

12. Pinoy R.N.
... can be as high as $15,000 to $20 ... and Date of Graduation (Graduates of ... with the PRC your school and building ... removed the requirement of taking ... 2. ARIZONA 3. OHIO 4. NEW YORK 5 ...
http://filipinonurse.blogspot.com/

13. School of Nursing at Ohio University
... course(s) taken after graduation from high school with a letter ... Nurse Coordinator School of Nursing Ohio University Grover ... OH 45701-2979 Admission Requirement for admission to the School ...
http://www.ohiou.edu/nursing/schoolnurse.htm

14. With assessment tests, the stakes are high for testers and testees
... delayed a requirement that high school students pass statewide ... the flexibility of its graduation requirement, approving a list of ... alternative to the state tests. Ohio is considering changing its ...
http://www.post-gazette.c ...000827highstakes3.asp

15. Ohio Governor Bob Taft - Photographs
... During his recent State of the State Address, Taft called for a more rigorous core curriculum, the Ohio Core, to become a high school graduation requirement for all Ohio students. (Photo by Chris ...
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/section4-2.htm

16. OELMA State Report: News You Can Use
... data comply with a requirement under the federal ... identify schools with high achievement and focus ... Students to Stay in School 6/11/2004 State Board ... for passing the Ohio Graduation Tests (OGTs ...
http://www.oelma.org/news/default.asp

17. HandsNet: August 2005 Archives
... access to care problem for Ohio's 1.7 million Medicare ... federal government's testing requirement will not help children but ... has one of the lowest high school graduation rates in the nation ...
http://webclipper.handsne ...es/2005/08/index.html

18. High School Graduation Invitation
High School Graduation Invitation FireRocket Search Related Searches hawaii high school graduation ohio high school graduation requirement high school graduation class graduation invitation address ...
http://www.high2.com/high ...raduation-invitation/

19. Middle and High School Academics
... Pre-Algebra World History Ohio History U.S. History General ... are required for high school graduation. Social Studies 3 ... and Christian Service Requirement The goal at Ridgeville ...
http://www.ridgevillechri ..._rcs_website4_007.htm

20. Arranger/Stylists of Light Music
... like a group vocal, and create such hits as "How High The Moon" and others. Although multi-tracking ... ... a daily solo spot on a popular show. This requirement for something new each day forced Chet to ...
http://www.classicthemes.com/arrangerStylists.html

21. North Union High School Guidance Department TeacherWeb Ohio Grad Test Info
... of the 10th grade; *Meet federal requirement for high school testing. Don't we already have graduation tests? The new graduation tests will eventually replace the Ohio Ninth-Grade Proficiency Tests ...
http://teacherweb.com/OH/ ...nion/MrsWillis/h4.stm

22. Think Progress » Good News For Progressives
... worse, and soon to be the next Dem Senator from Ohio. Comment by Liberal, Progressive. Angry and ... ... to include debt education as a requirement for high school graduation. In addition to my petition ...
http://thinkprogress.org/ ...ews-for-progressives/

23.
http://www.comairacademy.com/faqs.asp

24. ArchPundit
... d throw into a graduation requirement for high ... a class--not exactly a high bar. Posted by ... Act of Kindness Rhodes School Soap Box Chicago Russ ... Liberal Desert AZ Make Ohio Blue Minnesota ...
http://www.archpundit.com/archives/013285.html

25. cantonrep.com
... the bar for high school graduation.î The governor talked ... stating four of every 10 high school students need remedial math ... ranks 21st. The Ohio Core could become a requirement for students ...
http://www.cantonreposito ...?ID=265965&Category=9

26. Government of Ontario, Canada - News
... leaving age requirement," said Kennedy ... before achieving high school graduation ... school graduation diploma should ... attendance at school to receive a ... Mexico, Delaware, Ohio, Florida ...
http://ogov.newswire.ca/o ...?lmatch=&lang=_e.html

27. OWU Online | Daily Bulletin
... to apply for GRADUATION WITH ... Pinney Elementary School located at 9989 ... owu.edu The OHIO WESLEYAN ... It is not a requirement to have a ... Choir, Northland High School band in ...
http://bulletin.owu.edu/

28. Milton & Rose D. Friedman Foundation: About School Choice
... of Wisconsin and Ohio taxpayers ... safety and graduation rates. How ... affected? Since high school students ... district, public school funding is not ... eligibility requirement is that the ...
http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/schoolchoice/

29. Graduation Requirements
... successfully completing high school graduation requirements with a diploma. Since passage of the ninth grade proficiency test is a requirement for receipt of a diploma from Ohio public high schools ...
http://www.ayersville.k12.oh.us/hs_reqs.html

30. Endorsements
... parts of the U.S. as a requirement for graduation from high school. Maybe then we would be ... ... me and I am very grateful." Pam Whitman, RN - Ohio "If 10 people spent 2 weeks and saved one ...
http://www.readiteams.org/page10.html

31. MACAC - Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling
... not an unreasonable requirement, he said. To deal ... John A. Boehner, the Ohio Republican who is ... about retention and graduation rates (The ... information for new high school counselors at ...
http://macac.org/newsletter/29/september-05-muse

32. Hoxworth Blood Center - About Hoxworth - Job Opportunities
... Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45267 email ... to ensure a high quality of ... of technical school with three (3 ... people are key requirement of the ... Graduation from a ...
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34.
http://www.fashion-school ...lead.php?schoolId=362

35. Washington College | Frequently Asked Questions
... is available in high schools and at ... 15 is a requirement for state ... of Medicine Ohio State University ... attend graduate school? A ... year following graduation; approximately ...
http://www.washcoll.edu/wc/prospective/facts.html

36. States fudging high school dropout rates
... North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania ... and improving high school graduation rates is one of the ... high school, or face sanctions. States are "making a mockery" of the federal requirement ...
http://www.stateline.org/ ...eId=1&contentId=39522

37. http://www.theblueline.com/archive-issue/111email.txt
... Must be at least 19 Years of age at time of appointment and High School graduation or possession of a GED certificate. Applicants must posses or obtain a valid Alaska Driver's License by date of ...

38. bit-player
... Another time, at the end of my junior year in high school, I told my parents I was going to the beach for the summer, a fib I had concocted so they wouldnt worry about me; I actually ran away to the ...
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39. Crestwood High School
... Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) will be administered to all sophomores and a select group of juniors on Monday, March 13 th through Monday, March 20 th . The OGT is a state requirement for high school ...
http://www.freewebs.com/crestwoodhigh/

40. ATE News
... college. The requirement that students ... for high school graduation, but their ... We believe high school reform is ... Constitution. View high-resolution images ... Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon ...
http://www.ate1.org/pubs/ATE_News.cfm

41. Will a state-mandated high school curriculum ... [Michigan Education R...
... at-risk teens in Ohio Jenisonís money woes ... high school. These graduation requirements must ... requires that all high school students take the ... This on-line course requirement has gained national ...
http://www.educationreport.org/7635

42. Education Information - Your resource for finding great education articles
... kingdom in general; is one of... High School Graduation Poems (15) ...that has taken place over the ... ... junior high and high school to colleges; the department is in charge of it all.... Ohio Department Of ...
http://users.telenet.be/education/

43. Access
... graduation rate reporting -- the famous NCLB requirement to report disaggregated results. The authors ... ... high school graduation rates, overall, and especially dismal rates for minority students. For example, Ohio ...
http://www.accessednetwor ...pschoolrealities.php3

44. california high school profiency exam - Number 1 Resource For California
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45. Transition from High School to College and Work for Tech Prep Participants I...
... 1900 Kenny Road Columbus, Ohio 43210 University of Minnesota ... prep core curricula to high school graduation requirements that go ... in consortia where this requirement occurred. In a related ...
http://www.nccte.org/publ ...sition-Bragg ALL.html

46. Dropouts And Drivers License
... No attendance requirement ... High school ... TARGETS DRUNK DRIVERS Ohio has revised its drunk ... of absent students ... High school drivers ... Public School Dropout ... NEW! Graduation ...
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47. LWVCA: Funding Public Education in Ohio
... promotion or graduation. Moreover, in Ohio ... about the 40% of Ohio school children who may ... the new reading test requirement. Almost all of the ... are over-age by junior high school are the ones ...
http://www.lwvcincinnati. ...gPublicEduInOhio.html

48. Number 2 Pencil: ExitExams Category Archives
... has only been a requirement for graduation for ... that are too low for graduation. Students can ... will graduate from high school. Like a jury ... scale for the new Ohio Graduation Test, which ...
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49. Storytelling: The Art Form Of Painting Pictures With Your Tongue
... Which teachers did you enjoy most in school, the teachers who could spit data out like a computer, or the teachers who told funny and interesting stories? Whose information do you best remember ...
http://www.hollowtop.com/Articles/storytelling.htm

50. UGA Alumni Association Online Community E-Newsletter
... the 100 Days to Graduation Celebration on ... will meet the requirement for project ... Keller Graduate School of Management in ... in Dublin, Ohio and was catered ... Commerce, 129 S. High Street, Dublin ...
http://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/e-news.html

51. FatMixx » 2005 » February
... Clarett, formerly of (THE) Ohio State (University), should go ... young for the minimum age requirement to play in the NFL Age 20 or 3 years post high school graduation), I feel very ...
http://www.fatmixx.com/2005/02/

52. http://www.green.k12.oh.us/webpages/NewsLetter.htm
... Address, Governor Taft is calling for a more rigorous curriculum to become a high school graduation requirement for all Ohio students. The goal is to better prepare students for post secondary ...

53. Guidance
... public and chartered non-public school students in Ohio take the Proficiency Tests. Passage of this test is a requirement for high school graduation; the first quarter of the school year is a time of ...
http://www.cchs.sbd.pvt.k12.oh.us/guidance.htm

54. Goals Program Learn the
... should be a requirement for high school graduation. Learning ... summarize and concentrate on high value life choices. No hype ... Eastern North Dakota-Western Ohio-Akron Ohio-Cincinnati Ohio ...
http://www.selfhelpgoals.com/Goals12.aspx

55. oklahoma home school
... HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT ... Suite 318 ... elementary, middle and high school information ... TIERS (Star-Gazette) SCHOOL NEWS ?Alicia J ... University in Ohio. Cooper plans to major ...
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