Gift Shopping
The Holiday Hustle Hassle
Rose Madeline Mula writes: We’ve all heard stories from the old folks of how they used to be beside themselves with joy if they found so much as an orange, instead of a lump of coal, in their Christmas stockings. Today it’s not so easy to please a kid. Unless the eight-foot tree is completely hidden behind a pile of bionic, electronic, computerized, overautomated and overpriced toys that cost more than you used to have to spend to furnish an entire house (real, not doll), they start reading you their Constitutional rights. more »
Isabel, Lolo and Elena's Lists: A selection of fiction and non-fiction books for children and young adult readers certain to make great holiday presents
Jill Norgren writes, This holiday season you may be thinking, iTUNES, or video games, or clothes. My grandgirls suggest that whatever your choices, let there be a book among them. I particularly appreciate that most of the titles they have suggested are available in inexpensive paper editions. And more than a few are books that I would enjoy stealing off with for an hour or two. more »
Science Gift Guide: Top Holiday Picks from the Exploratorium Store
Ideas from our favorite science and math venue: Secrets of famous magicians and illusionists; Science Tarot cards that display images of mitochondria, neurotransmitters & scientists; Ant-O-Sphere Pod Kits use a system of clear and red-colored pods to simulate an “above” and “underground” sensation for the ants; the Pizza Pi Cutter helps serve up a true slice of genius; 25 experiments to learn how an electric motor converts electricity into motion and an electric generator does just the opposite, converting motion into electricity. more »
Culture Watch: J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy and Larson's In the Garden of Beasts
Julia Sneden writes, There is a long line of British novels that aim to raise social consciousness: Dickens springs to mind, as do the mysteries of writer Dorothy L. Sayers, whom J.K. Rowling has said she admires. Rowling’s standards could hardly be higher than those two, and her story comes close to being every bit as distressing and rewarding and inspiring as the books of her idols. In Larson's book, as civil liberties eroded and Jews endured terrifying attacks, US Ambassador William Dodd endeavored to make the State Department aware of what was happening in Germany. His measured, careful responses to the growing chaos did not please the fascists nor, sadly, did they stir up outrage back home. more »