Gift Guide 2011 Part 5: For the Young at Age and Young at Heart

We all know that one does not have to be 12 years or younger to appreciate a good children's or young adult book. The universal themes that run across these stories -- a search for belonging, overcoming a troubled past, an awaiting adventure -- all of these are themes we feel no matter what age or time we are in our lives. For this week's gift guide, I've chosen some titles and items that anyone with a childlike heart may appreciate, anyone whose sense of wonder and thrill never left them! 

For toddlers, I've chosen Marty Mouse's Pop-up Book, and a fresh title from Shel Silverstein, Every Thing On It, to introduce the young one to the wonderful world of drawings leading up to The Giving Tree. We also have the complete set of Thomas the Engine books!

For the curious kids, we have a variety to novelty items: LED 3D puzzles of world famous buildings like London's Big Ben and Italy's the Leaning Tower of Pisal puzzles inspired by storybooks (like the Alice in Wonderland puzzle pictured above), or inspired by art (like the Musee D'Orsay 1000-piece puzzle of Degas' painting).

SES Creative products are also good gift choices for they early do-it-yourself bloomer. We also have fabric markers and window markers!

1.  SES Creative Denim Handbag Deco, P717; 2. Every Thing On It: Poems and Drawings by Shell Silverstein, P699; 3. Musee d’Orsay Museum Collection: Degas Puzzle 1000, P1300; 4. LED 3D Puzzle: World’s Great Architecture: Big Ben, P849.75; 5. SES Creative Tools + Belt, P819; 6. Sargent Art 8 Washable Window Markers, P230; 7. Stikfas Classic Alpha Male, P200; 8. Thomas and Friends: My Thomas Story Library: The Complete Collection with 65 Books, P8999; 9. Marty Mouse’s Pop-Up Book: The Big Eared Elephant, P447; 10. Alice in Wonderland Jigsaw Puzzle, P899; 11. 10 Fabric Paints,  P100.80. 

Here, we have more creative products like face paint and markers, as well as an SES Creative set for a 4-year-old's introduction to using scissors! We also have some build-it-yourself figurines like that of a pirate ship, and educational books about skeletons, words and numbers. 

Two new releases from everyone's favorite children's authors are also the highlight of this bunch: Mr. Men by Roger Hargreaves, and The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr Seuss! 

1.  Sargent Art 10 Jumbo Changing Markers, P200; 2. SES Creative Airbrush Textile Designer, P799; 3. Disney Pixar 2012 Weekly Calendar, P598; 4. Early Learning: Words and Numbers, P452; 5. Hello Kitty 2012 small calendar, P648; 6. Explore within a Pirate Ship, P1054; 7. SES Creative I Learn to Use Scissors, P415; 8. Disney Pixar’s Cars Grand Prix Garage: Storybook and Garage; 9. Sargent Art 10 Bright Fabric Markers, P240; 10. Amazing Dinosaur Discovery, P499; 11. SES Clowny Face Paint, P519; 12. The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss, P599; 13. Mr. Men 40th Anniversary Box Set by Roger Hargreaves, P1040. 

Finally, for the young at heart and young adults at age, we recommend the best books the past year had to offer. To fulfill one's longing for adventure and mystery, we have the new releases, The Scorpio Races, Liesl & Po, and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. And to continue one's journey with already well-loved series', we have sequels The Throne of Fire, The Son of Neptune, The Power of Six, Beautiful Chaos, The Power of Six, Goliath, Theodore Boone: The Abduction. Inheritance is also a highly recommended title, though not without the rest of The Inheritance Cycle. 

For a haunted twist, Abarat: Absolute Midnight, and my personal favorite release of the year, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. 

For younger readers, we have the latest from two famous book series, You Have to Stop This and Cabin Fever! 

Left side, from top to bottom: Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl,  Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver, The Lorien Legacies: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Random Riggs, You Have to Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch, Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, Inheritance by Christopher Paolini.  

Right side, from top to bottom: The Kane Chronicles: The Thone of Fire by Rick Riordan, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, The Death Cure by James Dashner, Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham, The Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan, Abarat: Absolute Midnight by Clive Barker. 

Gift Guide 2011 Part 2: For the Creative Cluster

For this week's gift guide entry, I've chosen to focus on the artist in everyone that screams to realize itself! I believe everyone has a creative side to them, whether it's in one's way of drawing or visualizing, or even in his or her way of coming up with ideas out of thin air. 

These gifts are for anyone you think has that side, too. Maybe a friend whose ideas always impress you needs some inspiration? Or your mom who never had time to be crafty around the house could use a tip or two from those who know best? I had such a hard time curating this list, with all the design and craft accessories in Fully Booked. This list is only really a scratch on the surface of an ocean of art-related books and items to ignite the creative flame in everyone!

For the handy-at-home, Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts and a silhouette-making box set would be a perfect combination of gifts. Some inspiration may also come from PUSH Stichery: 30 Artists Explore the Boundaries of Stitched Art, and from the planners and calendars featuring work of artists Kandisky, Matisse, among others. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by their art all year long? We also have funny post-its from Knock Knock that spice up any working space.

1.  Kandinsky 2012 large calendar, P1848; 2. Hokusai 2012 small calendar, P648; 3. Setting the Scene: The Art & Evolution of Animation Layout, P2699; 4. Will Barnet: A Book of Postcards, P299; 5. LS Lowry 2012 teNeues Planner, P698; 6. Henri Martisee 2012: Art & Silhouettes small calendar, P748; 7. More Graphic Simplicity: Cool, Natural, Sweet, Colorful, Modern, P3375; 8. Someday: Mini Sticky Notes by Knock Knock, P399; 9.  PUSH Stitchery: 30 Artists Explore the Boundaries of Stitched Art, P838; 10. Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with DetailedInstructions and Endless Inspirations, P1375; 11. Silhouettes: The Art and Craft of Papercutting, P754; 12. Deluxe Holiday Cards from Peter Pauper Press, Inc., P675.

To my delight, I found a compilation of all the paintings found in the Louvre! A bulky, but beautiful gift for anyone with an appreciation for the art classics. We also have a few design books to inspire graphic professionals.  My personal favorite is a new arrival, Menagerie by Sharon Montrose, for her simple, but striking animal photos. 

For the frustrated, but willing artist-at-heart, Sark's New Creative Companion may be a good way to help them get back on track. For the already established ones, we have quite a selection of Cretacolor artist pastels and pencils, fresh from the box for new art in the new year.

1.  Martha Stewart's Crafts 2012 Planner, P698; 2. Nifty Notes: Sweet Nothing by Knock Knock, P199; 3. Typography Sketchbooks by Steven Heller and Lita Talarico, P2475; 4. Color & Collage: Origami Art, P840; 5. Picasso 2012 small calendar, P648; 6. Cretacolor Artist Studio 12 Soft Pastels, P499; 7. The Louvre: All the Paintings, P3375; 8. Sark's New Creative Companion: Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit, P599; 9. Word as Image by Ji Lee, P560; 10. Monet 2012 small calendar, P648; 11. Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring 3D Bookmark, P80; 12. Klimt 2012 teNeues Planner, P698; 13. Van Gogh 3D Bookmark, P80; 14. Never Use More Than Two Different Typefaces: And 50 Other Ridiculous Typography Rules, P1170; 15. Menagerie by Sharon Montrose, P660.

 

New stock of The Marvel Encyclopedia has just arrived, perfect for the comic book lover brother you might have! The Disposable Skateboard Bible and Realities by Ronald Ventura might also make a good gift for him. A Bansky 2012 Calendar for any street art fan will be a jem for the new year.

We have Letraset markets for those who not only appreciate, but draw their own work. Dan Roam's Blah Blah Blah: What to Do When Words Don't Work and Keep Calm and Carry On are also my recommendations for the quirky gifts, while some difficult origami may also be a good exercise for them.  A nice, sleek, Miquelrius 2012 planner is also available, for the minimalist artist!

1.  The Marvel Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded, P1680; 2. Banksy 2012 small calendar, P698; 3. Ryan McGinnes 2012 small calendar, P698; 4. Realities by Ronald Ventura, P2450; 5. Letraset ProMarker Comic Art 2, P799; 6. Blah Blah Blah: What to Do When Words Don't Work, P1120; 7. Book & Paper Deluxe Origami Set, P950; 8. The Disposable Skateboard Book, P2299; 9. Keep Calm and Carry On, P360; 10. Miquelrius 2012 Gray Planner, P450.

 We have restocked our shelves with the Transformers Vault for fanatics who would prize the compilation. A book about the evolution of stickers into art would also be a funky addition to any shelf! A cute Spider-Man gift card set I found had to be in this roster, as well as a large-sized Miquelrius notebook with a cool scribble design. For more serious artists, we have a 24-color set of Tria markers, and more Letraset markers for inking. 

Funny post-its from Knock Knock, a Banksy 2012 planner, and The Book of Holiday Awesome wrap up this pile of artsy books for artists! 

1. Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art, P1575; 2 and 3. Transformers Vault: The Complete Transformers Universe, P1450; 4. Tria Manga and Comic 24 Marker Collection + Wallet, P3599; 5. Miquelrius Large Notebook, P550; 6. Bansky 2012 teNeues Planner, P698; 7. Status Update: Keep it Simple Stickies by Knock Knock, P150; 8. The Book of Holiday Awesome, P799; 9. Letraset Blending Set Muted, P999; 10. The Amazing Spiderman: 20 Assorted Notecards and Envelopes, P628.

Our last group for the creative cluster includes movie art books from Kung Fu Panda 2, Toy Story 3 and my personal favorite from the bunch, Up! Take any animator friend you might have behind the scenes of the best Hollywood studios with The Art of Pixar. We also have the 75-year compilation of the best of Life magazine, and a planner with cartoons from The New Yorker. These cute tote bags with Bob Dylan and Woody Allen would also be perfect for the movie maven in everyone! 

1.  Letraset ProMarker Skin Tones, P430; 2. Life: 75 Years: The Very Best of Life, P149; 3.  Bob Dylan Tote Bag, P499; 4. The Art of Toy Story 3, P1799; 5. The Art of Pixar: The Complete Colorscripts and Select Art from 25 Years of Animation, P2250; 6. Leonard Maltin's 2012 Movie Guide, P399; 7. Woody Allen Tote Bag, P499; 8. Cartoons from The New Yorker 2012 Calendar, P588; 9. The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2, P1798; 10. The Art of Up, P1799; 11.  Letraset ProMarker Brights, P399.

This gift guide implies all products are available as of Saturday, November 19, 2011. Please call 8587000 or email me at lucy@fullybookedonline.com for inquiries. You may also visit www.fullybookedonline.com for more book details.