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Just add children's books to your holiday lists

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As you go about your holiday list-making, you may encounter a name that brings a blank stare. Whatever can you get for that someone who truly has everything? Perhaps you want to let that someone know they are special but they already have a house full of knickknacks and precious things and you don't want to burden them with more. You can use your creativity to find unique gifts for these people who mean so much to you.

Who says that children's books are just for kids? Here are some classic stories that make wonderful gifts for people of all ages.

“The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” by Beatrix Potter, is the classic tale about the mischievous rabbit who gets into trouble in Mr. McGregor's garden. This is a morality story where the rabbit gets what's coming to him in the form of chamomile tea while his sisters, who did as they were told, get bread and fruit for supper. How about placing this book in a basket with bread, fruit spread, and some chamomile tea? If this is for one of your parents, you might want to add a little note apologizing for any trouble you caused in your growing-up years!

For the chocolate lover on that list you can pair up “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl with a box of chocolate goodies or some hot cocoa. This story about a boy who is good and all his dreams come true is great for that person on your list who deserves it all. Children like to watch the movie after reading the book and perhaps design their own candy factory on a poster board with markers.

If you have a music lover on your list, why not give him or her “The Trumpet of the Swan” by E. B. White with some music they would enjoy? This is the story of the swan who could not trumpet in the usual way to win his love, so his father stole a brass trumpet for him. Louis spends his life learning to play the trumpet, earning money as a camp counselor, Boston swan boat entertainer, and in a night club, all to pay the debt he owes to the owner of the music store his father robbed. The theme is love and goes well with most music choices.

Is there someone who taught you what love is really all about? “The Velveteen Rabbit”, by Margery Williams, is a traditional classic about love. This is the story of Rabbit, the stuffed animal who gets thrown away when his owner recovers from scarlet fever. He learns what it means to be real from the wise old skin horse toy. If it has been a while since you read this classic, you will enjoy it once again when you share it with someone you love. Keep the tissues handy - you might need them.

Your children may like to read these stories to their grandparents and older relatives as part of the gift. They may want to put on a play or skit to go with one of these stories too.

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