Friday, December 4, 2009

Book lovers usually love giving books as gifts. The joy of loving books includes the joy of sharing them with others.

I have struggled this year as I've tried to find books for my oldest. He is such a voracious reader that it can be difficult to stay ahead of him. He's almost thirteen, so it's not like there's a shortage of great books out there for him. The challenge is finding ones he hasn't already devoured! :)

My two younger children are still easy to match with books I know they'll love. My second grader is currently in love with Ready Freddy, and my kindergartner is discovering the fun of picture books and early readers that she can read on her own.

I know we writer/reader/bloggers will all have a great time trying to pair those we love with the perfect books this Christmas. So, what I want to know is....

Which books are on YOUR Christmas wish list this year?

If I had the power of Santa and his elves, I'd wish for some of the sequels I'm dying to read! :)

17 comments:

Angela Ackerman said...

For me?

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead (Max Brooks)

and

The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

For your son has he read the Percy Jackson Series?

Another one he might like if he does like fantasy is a series by Katherine Langrish. The first book is called 'Troll Fell' and is kind of a Cinderella story only with a male character--his father dies and he is forced to live with his two evil uncles in a grain mill and do their bidding in a country overrun by trolls. Really good book.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Thanks, Angela. He's read the Percy Jackson books, but not Troll Fell - I'll have to take a peek at that one! :)

Laurel Garver said...

I am hoping hard my husband's aunt and uncle will send a Borders gift card again this year. My top wishlist item is _Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear_ by Ralph Keyes.

Has your son read any of Anne McCaffery's MG Pern books? Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums are enjoyable fantasy reads. Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series is also pretty good.

Laurel Garver said...

Whoops, I misspelled the author of the Pern books--it's McCaffrey. Had the R and E switched. Sorry.

Kasie West said...

Natalie Whipple did a great list yesterday (?) on her blog about books for boys. If you haven't already, you should check it out.

I'm with you, I want all the sequels I'm waiting for. But since that isn't possible, I've been into Dessen lately, and I want to read Suite Scarlett.

My kids are getting Percy Jackson series, and the Unfortunate Events Series.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Laurel - thanks for the recommendation. He's read some of McCaffrey's, but not all.

Kasie - yes, I saw and commented on Natalie's post yesterday - wasn't it wonderful? Thanks!

Roxane B. Salonen said...

Shannon, I was going to point you to Natalie's website too -- she might like hearing from you. I have the opposite issue with my oldest son, sadly. Trying to realize not all boys are created equal and not all boys are readers. Anyway, I have had on my list for a long time a book called "The Thin Places." I'm so intrigued by the concept of this Celtic notion of a thin veil existing between this life and the next, and how we might be more in tuned to it. "The Forest For the Trees" by Betsy Lerner is another that has been highly recommended for writers. BTW, I'm enjoying reading you so much I'm going to add you to my blog list!

Stephanie Thornton said...

Herodotus's histories. I know, how is possible that a history teacher doesn't have a copy, right? But I don't- I only have excerpts in other collections.

I haven't asked for any others- my pile is huge and I'm going to Barnes & Noble tomorrow to buy more!

lisa and laura said...

Hmm...Catching Fire and Beautiful Creatures would be at the top of my list. Ooh, and Under the Dome! I'm going to buy that one for my dad so I can read it first. Tis the season!

Corey Schwartz said...

Good question. I don't have list yet, but I bought books for the last four birthday parties my kids have gone to. Even gave my niece The Secret Garden which was one of my favorites as a kid. So much better than MORE toys!

Unknown said...

We need to rock some testosterone into this blog! j/k... and apologies to everyone I just offended.

@Shannon - I don't know how old your oldest is, but has he read these (there are several levels here):

Artemis Fowl (series)
The True Meaning of Smekday, Adam Rex
The Wednesday Wars, Gary Schmidt
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Girl (Schmidt)
The Bartimaeus Trilogy (Jonathan Stroud)
Gary Paulsen's books - they're all good for boys
And you can't go wrong with Jerry Spinelli. Maniac Magee especially.

Unknown said...

Sorry, that is Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BOY

That's what I get for the testosterone remark.

Tamika: said...

OOh- The Secret Garden was my favorite too Corey!!! What a classic.

For me....My list is so long already. I would love to stock up on some craft books I've been dying to get my hands on.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Oops! I'm falling behind

Stephanie - You are the only person I know (my history teacher husband included) who has ever been dying for Herodotus. But that's exactly why I adore you! :)

L & L - I can't believe you just admitted publicly that you haven't read Catching Fire yet!

Corey - Secret Garden is awesome. I wonder how Tracy's testosterone likes it! ha ha

Tracy - I'm thrilled you dropped by. I LOVE your blog. Love it! You're right - we could use a little more testosterone around here. ;-)

Tamika - You can never have too many good craft books!

Sherrie Petersen said...

I have more than 50 books on my Amazon wish list. Santa's going to need a sack just for me :)

Rosslyn Elliott said...

Oo - Roxane. I'm a closet Celtie too. See what we learn through our blogging community? :-)

Shannon - I don't have a lot of time for cooking, so I am very enthusiastic about some 30-minute dinner cookbooks. They're by the author of "The Cake Doctor," which is a wonderful book that tells us how to doctor cake mixes to make them taste incredible. One of the books I want is called "The Dinner Doctor."

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Sherrie - um, so, maybe I shouldn't admit that I have 8 pages of books on my aAazon wishlist...is that too many? :)

Rosslyn - yum! I might have to take a peek at those books myself!

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