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Bastet


Kate Spade

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Kids' gifts! HELP! (and small rant)
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I have two cousins, they're girls, ages 8 and 9.  I need to buy them Christmas presents.  Both mothers have specified not to get them DVDs, so I figure a book is the best present.   My mother insists on knowing what I send them because they're from her side of the family and she's paranoid that way.  I am at my wits end!  Every suggestion I've made has been rejected.  My mother has placed the following limitations on my selection:


1) Must be age appropriate (duh)


2) Cannot be "boyish".  This means no: dragons, wizards, pirates, or outer space.  (I completely disagree with labelling these subjects boyish)


3) Must be a hard back because "paperbacks are cheap" (can you see why I'm frustrated yet?)


4) Cannot be Harry Potter (see #2, and also because she thinks the moms already got them HP stuff)


5) I must get them each the same book because "their feelings will get hurt if they like the other one's book better."


6) It can't be too "cerebral", i.e no books on mythology, ancient egypt, etc., even if they're aimed at children. 


Can anyone who has experience with children think of a book that would not be ruled out by one of the above limitations? 


If not, I think Wizardology would be a great book to get them: http://www.amazon.com/Wizardology-Book-Secrets-Merlin-Ologies/dp/0763628956/sr=1-1/qid=1166046900/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2616240-8983369?ie=UTF8&s=books.  Do you guys think 8 and 9 year old girls would enjoy this book?  Please help, I'm going insane trying to think of something! TIA!



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BargainQueen


Marc Jacobs

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OMG, I'm sorry your mom is giving you a hard time!  As if its not stressful enough to shop for another person already.


Do you know what their interests are? Are they involved in any extracurricular activities?  Maybe a book about a famous athlete or team from a sport or activity they're in.


I may be wayyyy outdated, but are Judy Blume books still popular?  Maybe you can get them a boxed set of her books.  "Freckle Juice" is a cute story, or the "Ramona" book series by Beverly Cleary?


What about a craft book like jewelry making, science project book, art/calligraphy book?


Honestly, you should give them what you think they'll enjoy and what you want.  Why should everything be so generic.  I think they'll appreciate that their "cool cousin Bastet" gave them something unique and genuine.


 



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NCshopper


Hermes

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When I was their age, I loooooooooved Shel Silverstein books.  Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up are all classics that I'm sure they'd love.  They're "gender-neutral" and they're hardback too.


My other suggestions aren't hardback, but you could get a set.  I loved these at about that age:


Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby books
Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and there's one other in that series that I can't remember.  Those might be a little bit old for them though, now that I think about it. 
Any of the American Girl books (bonus points if they have one of the dolls already) 



-- Edited by NCshopper at 17:49, 2006-12-13

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bex


Chanel

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my little sis in BigBro/BigSis is 9 years old and she loves several different book series.  She currently is really into "Judy Moody".  I've found that going to Barnes & Noble or any other bookstore really helps.  Just find someone in the section to ask for help and they usually have really good selections to offer that are popular for their age group.


However, I must be a cheapie because I always buy her $5 books that are paperback!!!


OH!  can you get them "Fairy" books?  Lady Cottington's Pressed fairy book is really awesome and would be cool for girls their age... (heck i thought it was cool for a girl MY age!)



http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Cottingtons-Pressed-Fairy-Book/dp/0810959429/sr=8-1/qid=1166058376/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0156792-0922453?ie=UTF8&s=books



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ILoveChoo


Hermes

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what about an american girls box set?

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Kelly


Hermes

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Can't be too cerebral? Okay, most of those limitaations were dumb, but this one especially. If I had kids, I would be thrilled if someone got them a "cerebral" gift!!!

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travelgirl


Kate Spade

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How about The Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket)?  My son LOVED this whole series.

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blubirde


Chanel

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NCshopper wrote:

When I was their age, I loooooooooved Shel Silverstein books.  Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up are all classics that I'm sure they'd love.  They're "gender-neutral" and they're hardback too.


My other suggestions aren't hardback, but you could get a set.  I loved these at about that age:


Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby books
Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and there's one other in that series that I can't remember.  Those might be a little bit old for them though, now that I think about it. 
Any of the American Girl books (bonus points if they have one of the dolls already) 



-- Edited by NCshopper at 17:49, 2006-12-13


Ah! I was totally going to suggest Shel Silverstein books. I just bought my 6 year-old nephew Where the Sidewalk Ends. I think he's maybe a tad bit young for it but my sil reads to him so maybe he'll like it. I loved those books when I was a kid.

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Bastet


Kate Spade

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Thanks for the suggestions, I loved Shel Silverstien too, I think books from him are a great idea! 


travelgirl, I thought of the Unfortunate Events Series, too.  But that was shot down for reasons unknown.  Tara, I'm with you on the "too cerebral" thing too.  My mom's reasoning is that she thinks I'd pick something on the "boring" end of cerebral and the kids wouldn't like it.  I tihnk that during the holidays, common sense evades my mother.   



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Cortney1982


Chanel

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How about something fun like a scrapbook kit from Michaels?  It's a book of sorts and it can only be boyish or cerebral if they make it that way!




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AllieGurl


Marc Jacobs

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ILoveChoo wrote:

what about an american girls box set?


Love that idea! When I was that age I loved those books.

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Jahni


Dooney & Bourke

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AllieGurl wrote:


ILoveChoo wrote:


what about an american girls box set?





Love that idea! When I was that age I loved those books.




Me Too! I still have my "Kirsten" books...and my Kirsten doll...(clam up Kari, she wasn't a "real" doll, more of a historical figure)


Also, Wal-Mart has the hard back edition of Charlottes Web for like $6.00. I just picked one up yesterday, I loved that book as a kid.



-- Edited by Jahni at 07:29, 2006-12-15

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It's pronounced "Johnny," like the boys name....but spelled like an Indian Zuchini.
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