Stocking stuffers or little gifties

Kasey Cox

‘Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the town, people were scurrying, and rushing around. Counting the last few dollars in purses, despite holiday cheer, I heard a few curses. Last minute gifts, for hard-to-buy folks; stockings longing for more than dollar-store jokes. I want to shop local, so I’ll go have a look. Hark! Lo! It hits me: I’ll go get some books!

Track Pack: Animal Tracks in Full Life Size, by Ed Gray; illustrated by DeCourcy Taylor, Jr.; published by the one and only Stackpole Books. What’s not to like? A small, spiral-bound bound that fits in your pocket, this fantastic nature guide shows a drawing of the animal and a map of its range on the left side of the pages, with a photorealistic, true-to-life-size drawing of the animal’s print on the right side. Whether you’re out power-hiking in the Canyon, or just noticing tracks in your backyard, you can hold this handy little book up right next to the tracks and compare. Extra-cool thing: the pages with the BIG tracks fold out to fit bear paws and moose tracks! This is a great present for kids ages 4 to 104.

Folks who are interested in science, the outdoors, and little resource books that pack a wallop of info might remember the little “Golden Guides.” Recently, St. Martin’s Press started updating and reprinting these treasures. With full-color illustrations, charts, maps, and photos on every page, these pocket-sized guides are fun for kids and adults. Each Golden Guide is individually written by an expert in the field, be it “Pond Life” or “Geology” or “Stars”. Though they are simple enough for kids and beginners wanting an introduction to a subject, I know my brother had to buy the Golden Guide to “The Night Sky” for a college Astronomy class.

In the last two years, the Andrews McMeel Publishing Company has swept the “bestselling” book charts and the gift-giving world with their “-‘Ology” books. These large, hardcover, charming “Guides” include “Dragonology”, “Pirateology”, “Wizardology”, “Egyptology”, and this year’s new favorite, “Mythology”. Intricately decorated, with elaborate script, envelopes to open, “jewels” inlaid on covers and pages, they are a delight for all the senses. Though these books may not fit the stocking, their sidelines may. My favorite is a little red box kit entitled Obscure Spells and Charms of Dragon Origin. This Dragonology kit includes an “ancient sample of dragon dust”, a pretty darn cool Dragon pendant, a miniature book written in “Dragon Runes”, and a decoder for the Dragon languages. If your “kid” is a fantasy or dragon lover, this is the just the ticket.

Finally, you can’t go wrong with a mass-market paperback. Originally sold as “pulp fiction”, mass-market paperbacks were invented to bring fiction to the masses at a more affordable price. Also, during and after World War 2, soldiers could carry their Westerns or classics when they were traveling light, and they didn’t have to worry if the cheaper material fell apart. Today, there are tens of thousands of mass-market paperbacks to choose from. They fit the budget, the stocking, or the suitcase better than the “trade” or “quality” paperbacks of slightly larger size. Too many choices got you all in a flutter? Since Hamilton-Gibson’s next production is Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, grab a copy of the book (by Roald Dahl) instead of seeing Johnny Depp or Gene Wilder being creepy.

So, even if you’ve waited till the last minute to do your shopping, all hope is not lost. The light at the end of the tunnel is not The Polar Express come to run you down.

What snack do you leave for the man in red? Don’t forget to check out the cat’s book. It’s easier to stuff in a stocking than a cat. Miss a column? They are available online at www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com