Great Gifts #3

In this remarkable debut, Bauermeister creates a captivating world where the pleasures and particulars of sophisticated food come to mean much more than simple epicurean indulgence. Respected chef and restaurateur Lillian has spent much of her 30-something years in the kitchen, looking for meaning and satisfaction in evocative, delicious combinations of ingredients. Endeavoring to instill that love and know-how in others, Lillian holds a season of Monday evening cooking classes in her restaurant. The novel takes up the story of each of her students, navigating readers through the personal dramas, memories and musings stirred up as the characters handle, slice, chop, blend, smell and taste. Each student's affecting storypainful transitions, difficult choicesis rendered in vivid prose and woven together with confidence. Delivering memorable story lines and characters while seducing the senses, Bauermeister's tale of food and hope is certain to satisfy. "(Jan.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Horses: In Living Color captures equines ranging from paint-colored miniature horses to towering rich bay Clydesdales and includes the rare spotted Knabstrupper, whose numbers in the United States are estimated at 100. Livingston handles each subject with immense respect and admiration. One painterly portrait captures three white Thoroughbred mares jogging through the brush in Oregon's desert land, while in another, a coal-black Friesian mare whose mane nearly reaches the ground, curiously eyes the photographer.

Updated and enhanced with new descriptions of natural wonders selected by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as World Heritage sites, this beautiful volume takes readers to the most spectacular places on Earthasights and locations so breathtaking that once seen, they are never forgotten. Among them are:
# The iconic rocks and pinnacles of the Arizona desert
# The frozen, majestic Scandinavian archipelagos
# The secluded Spanish wetlands, home to the worldas few remaining Iberian lynx
# The fragile reefs of Australiaas coastline, now threatened by global warming
Written and compiled by a team of the worldas most well-traveled writers, ecologists, photographers, and conservationists, "1001 Natural Wonders " circumnavigates the globe, traveling to the most outstanding locations our planet has to offer. Readers will take an armchair tour augmented by the explosive rumbling of Caribbean volcanoes, and visit places like Bryce Canyon, Utah, a rugged, dramatic national park located just a few hoursa drive from Salt Lake City. Packed with information on the creation, development, and location of each natural wonder, and describing protected areas and endangered species in detail, this comprehensive guide offers compelling insight into our planetas priceless resources. It celebrates hundreds of millions of years of the Earthas turbulent natural history and displays our planetas beauty, which is our unique heritage. Hundreds of magnificent color photos.

8-12 and likes sparkly mermaids? The Tale of Emily Windsnap series.

For "ages 12-21", check out this fast-paced action series (with a hint of science fiction) by James Patterson.

And a girls' school for spies! These books are funny and fast-paced, and have a bit of romance, too. 13-17.