Timeless Books as Gifts for Graduates

As spring arrives and countless graduations approach, parents and loved ones will soon begin searching for the perfect gift to honor the occasion. While some will think big, most will focus on the sentimental or timeless gifts that will remind the graduate of not only the accomplishments made, but also the potential of the future ahead. And for those who decide to give a book to their graduate, remember that not just any one will do. It needs to have a message that encourages graduates to keep dreaming, keep working, and keep recalling who they are.

Buying the perfect graduation book has little to do with finding one that challenges the reader; instead, it must penetrate their thoughts on the future and the past. The book should either make them see what lies ahead as exciting, or it should let them look back with a heartwarming fondness. So, whether it is a children's book complete with colorful pictures, cute rhymes, and shorts words or an adult read with metaphors for all facets of life, a book represents the near perfect gift for any graduate. Unlike buying them a car or giving them money, a book, one that you inscribe yourself, will forever travel with them, from bookshelf to bookshelf, from home to home. It will never get old and rusty, nor will it be spent on frivolous things. No, a book will always make that graduate remember who he is and from where it is that he hails.

The list below offers a variety of types, from children's reads with simplistic yet critical messages to adult reads with meaningful symbols and interpretations. You cannot go wrong with any, so pick the one best suited for your graduate and let the memories begin.

Leaving the Nest by Mordicai Gerstein. A perfect child's story that has a young girl, a kitten, a baby blue jay, and a squirrel all on the edge of gaining their new freedoms. The psychodrama is simple yet didactic, as Gerstein turns a backyard into a microcosm of the world with the characters forced to make difficult decisions about independence and maturation. With poignant touches of humor that do not dispel the required tension, the book succeeds on so many levels, and it is a quintessential example of what it means to grow up. Remember that every adult has a little child lurking inside who once had to make these decisions. While normally priced at $16.00, you can find it for $5.63 on http://www.amazon.com

Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. No one can deem a list of memorable books complete without a selection from the classic children's author Dr. Seuss. The book, although designed for children, has adult themes and teaches us all that life is in fact one large balancing act that will teach us all we need to know. With beautiful art and his trademark phrasing, Seuss brings to life the good and the bad, but seems to remind us by the end that life will involve plenty of fun, so always believe. Not only will this book make your graduate reminisce on times gone by while thinking about the future ahead, it will someday rest in his or her hands when they read it to your grandchildren. You can find it online for $11.69 at www.barnesandnoble.com.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. An Andalusian shepherd boy sets out on a journey to find buried treasure. In his travels he meets countless significant people, all of whom direct him toward his desires. Yet, along the way, he searches within and begins to uncover the true treasure for which he needs, not necessarily the physical one he has been hunting. Inspirational in its complex simplicity, the book reminds us all to listen closely to our hearts and to fall in love with our dreams. You can buy it for $12.56 online at www.borders.com.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom. The story of Charles Benetto, a former pro ballplayer who falls into alcoholism after his mother's passing, pulls at the heartstrings while making us realize the truly important parts of life. After nearly killing himself in a suicidal car wreck, Charles encounters a ghost who turns out to be his mother, and she walks him through poignant moments that alter his remaining life. Emotional and important, the book communicates the meaning of commitment, family, and personal contentedness. You can find it for $12.00 at www.borders.com.

Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wishes, and Wisdom by Susan V. Bosak. This high school level book covers all the stages in life, and Bosak takes the voice of everyone from babies to elders to tell this inspirational tale via free-verse poetry. The book is both visually and poetically appealing, and the motivational quotations that live within its pages will certainly make any graduate think about the beautiful possibilities the future holds. You can find it for $12.21 at www.amazon.com.

These five books all can help to brighten days, change lives, and motivate thinking. Books exist always in the present tense, which makes them timeless. So, if you want a gift that will continue to give to your graduate each time they use it, buy them a book. Let them drift back at their leisure into a world of nostalgia and memories, of potentials and possibilities.

In addition to the websites imbedded above, you may also wish to consult the following:

www.half.com

www.booksamillion.com

www.bookcloseouts.com