Are you looking for some last minute Christmas gifts?  Look no further because I have a collection of outstanding books that will suit everyone in your family. This first book is geared for adults and it’s the quintessential essence and spirit of Christmas. The Shepherd’s Song: A Christmas Story, by Larry Barkdull, is told through the eyes of a humble shepherd, Joshua, and begins with a life-threatening situation as his wife is about to give birth. As he sees that she is near death while in labor, she tells him to leave and ask for God’s help. He begins his journey to Jerusalem where he plans to make an offering to his Father in Heaven. It is through this journey that he learns the true meaning of life. The people he encounters help humble and enlighten him. Something very special is about to happen to him as he nears Bethlehem on the road to Jerusalem. This book only has 124 pages, but the impact on the soul will be very long lasting!

Favorite Songs for LDS Children is a large spiral bound book the size of a large hymnal that contains 58 songs found in the Children’s Primary Song Book.  In this beautifully packaged book there are also colorful illustrations that go along with each song. Most of these pictures are full size. The book is rich with interesting background information behind each song making this not only a gorgeous gift, but a meaningful one as well.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Complete Set, by Rick Riordan, is one of my favorite sets of books written in recent years. Now that Mr. Riordan has just finished writing this incredible series, this is the set to obtain for children ages 9 and above and to read aloud for ages 7 and above. The stories are about Percy, and his struggles to overpower mythical beasts, along with his magical abilities to overcome evil. The entire series is so good kids will not be able to put them down. And – the set has a cool container that resembles a chest.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Numbers Discovery Box, published by Disney, is a smallish sized box with individual small board books that refer to numbers 1 to 25. The short text on each page provides great thinking skills that deal with sequence and inference.

The Eric Carle Mini Library:  A Storybook Gift Set, has four miniature sized books that include “Pancakes, Pancakes” and “A House for Hermit Crab” and each book has the entire story in a reduced version.

Maisy’s Book Tower, by Lucy Cousins, has four tiny board books with few words, the author’s typical bright colors and that are fun to stack.  All books are good for ages up to 5.

The Big Green Book of Beginner Books, by Dr. Seuss, has six great stories geared for early readers that have mastered more than a few words on each page. But the stories are so good that even emergent readers will enjoy learning how to read them.

An Amelia Bedelia Celebration: Four Stories Tall, by Peggy & Herman Parish, and illustrated by Lynn Sweat & Fritz Siebel, is geared for the reader who has mastered chapter books. The four stories included are the typical funny stories that kids love to read about Amelia Bedelia. A CD is included.

Paula Deen’s Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set, showcases the yummiest recipes geared for the youngest chiefs. The easy to follow recipes, along with the rebus pictured ingredients, help to  make this cook book safe and fun!

Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook, by Deanna Buxton, is packed with delicious recipes that you’ll want to bake, cook and eat!  But, it’s the stories and pictures about each recipe that will enthrall and enlighten you!  Here is one cookbook we should not be without!

The next five books are activity books. Dr. Seuss has two new books that are great for ages 3 and up: How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Lacing Cards that includes 5 cards and laces and Puzzle Story: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish that has 4 easy puzzles. Klutz has published three new activity books for ages 8 and above: My Perfect Life: a Fill-in-the-Blanks Journal, by Karen Phillips, The Natural Beauty Book: Create Your Own Natural Spa Experience, by Anne Akers Johnson and Super Simple Sewing: Easy to Stitch Projects.

I complete this review with a favorite type of book that all members of the family will enjoy: pop-up books. Big Frog Can’t Fit In, by Mo Willems, is so big and jumps out so far, you’ll be amazed! White Noise, by one of my favorite paper engineers – David A. Carter – is the fifth book in his color series and it’s filled with an architectural amazement as paper explodes and shifts in intricate ways!  Nursery Rhymes, by another favorite – Matthew Reinhart – brings traditional nursery rhymes to life with his extraordinary abilities through pop-ups. Fairies and Magical Creatures, by two favorite authors – Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda – brings out intricate magical detail as these creatures pop-out. And lastly, The Sound of Music, illustrated by Dan Andreasen, and engineered by Bruce Foster, takes you through the story of the Van Trapp’s as the pop-outs keep readers enthralled.