Book Sets & Gifts for Adults

I know that we live in the age of technology, but for me, I still like a good book I can hold in my hands. One that I can curl up next to a fire with and sip hot tea or cocoa as I unfold the plot one page at a time.

Every Christmas the top thing on my gift list is books. My husband and I get excited at the prospect of going into book stores for hidden treasures told through stories. We each select a stack that we like and give it to the other person to pay for at the counter, therefore, fulfilling our wish list. For fun, we both select books for one another as a surprise. It sounds funny, but it works for us.

With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's nice to be able to settle down in the evening with a good book. These boxed gift sets make it easy for the shopper, because they cover so many areas and come with a small gift as well.

Whether you like the classics, art, crafts, cooking or computers there is something for the avid reader. Click on the links that will take you to more reading resources and gifts for the family.

* Don't forget to take the fun quizzes!

Image credit Amazon

Copyrighted Material by Favored1. Do not copy. Photo credit byFavored1 or Amazon unless otherwise noted. This artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. When used: Animation by www.glitter-graphics.com, www.photobucket.com and www.animateit.net

Part of what makes Christmas special for me, are the songs of the season. I can still remember piling in the church bus as a teenager going from house to house singing carols to the shut-ins from our congregation.

That tradition still lives on in my heart, and each year I look forward to being able to go to nursing homes spreading the good news of the birth of Christ to its citizens.

You can do the same with this Christmas Carols gift set. It comes with a book of lyrics and a CD so everyone can sing along. Plan your own caroling event by printing out the music from the PDF files that are on the CD. Also included in this book are stories and holiday recipes you'll enjoy sharing as well.

Buy it in the gift set or separately.

Esther is filled with Christmas spirit as she prepares to bake her famous orange marmalade cake for friends and neighbors. But Gene has discovered a problem. The cost of making the cakes has gone up so much that Esther and Gene decide to cut back on their giving.

They are set on their decision, until Esther hears the words of a famous Christmas carol at the Christmas Eve service that causes her to remember what giving is all about.

Image credit Amazon

You won't want to miss the chance of reading this heart-warming Esther's Gift as a reminder of what Christmas represents.

Buy it in the gift set or separately.

It's Christmas in a little town called Mitford, where everyone is getting ready for the holiday.

Snow begins to fall and brings the entire town to Main Street for a fun filled snowman building contest, where everyone enjoys hot chocolate, donuts and fellowship.

Image credit Amazon

Two of the most delightful short stories are brought together in one boxed book gift set from the Mitford novel series. Each keepsake book is fully illustrated and can be read in a matter of minutes.

For more Mitford tales, select from a series of full novels written by author Jan Karon. "At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years)" was the first in this series.

Although I have never read the book, there isn't a Christmas season that goes by that we don't watch Miracle on 34th Street.

To be honest, I didn't know there was a book, but you can imagine how I felt when I actually stood on the corner of it in New York City. It was so many years ago that I wish I had taken a camera with me that day to mark the occasion.

Photo by Google Images

Miracle on 34th Street 1994 Trailer

Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Trailer HQ

Miracle on 34th Street - 1947 - HD Trailer with Maureen O'Hara, John Payne & Edmund Gwenn

Miracle On 34th Street 1955 Wright

Miracle on 34th Street - Holdman Christmas Lights

Holman Light Displays are my favorite, and I found this one that fits perfectly.

The classic film is now colorized. This is my favorite version and the one we watch each year.

There is an updated version of the movie with Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dillon McDerrmot and Mara Wilson, however it has since been removed.

Old time version with MacDonald Carey, Thomas Mitchell as Kris Kringle.

Neat way to introduce a film with the producer interacting with several on set actors about the picture.

Now the 1947 story is retold in this version of the classic tale, where we kindle the fire restoring our faith in doing good unto others. It's a bit different and a little more modern day speaking, but the basis of the book is the same.

This set comes gift boxed with the book and an old fashioned wooden ornament that can be passed down from generation to generation.

A brief description is given describing how the book and the movie debuted at the same time so that it could be made public before Christmas.

You can add to this gift set by including the classic DVD set of the original black and white version, along with the colorized one.

The Bible tells of Wise Men or Magi that brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child representing the first Christmas (Matthew 2:11). Over the years I have given each of these gifts to many individuals, but not in a set. Thanks to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art you can give samples of all three of the gifts, plus the beautifully illustrated hardback book in this collector's set.

You will be fascinated by the historical facts and biblical information behind this passage that was presented in the Gospels. Every gift is a representation of a greater meaning, which is disclosed in this compact book. Although they describe these gifts as representative of the Holy Trinity, it must also be stated that the herbs are symbols of the cross and Jesus' burial.

The holiday season begins with the lighting of this spectacular tree. Take a look at 2012's ceremony.

There's nothing like being wrapped up in the festivities of Christmas in New York City. My family is from upstate New York and the holiday season there is always filled with glorious scenes, whether it is through nature or decorations.

For those who grew up in NY City, they know that the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was there long before the city grew to what it is today. The tradition began back in 1931 when a group of construction workers decorated a small balsam fir tree with paper chain garland and tin cans.

It's been a long time since the tree's humble beginnings, and is now recognized as an icon in the history of Christmas traditions.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree book walks the reader through the event from the selecting of the magnificent tree to its removal. You will learn about the wonderful families who give the tree, and after the holiday season it is donated to Habitat for Humanity.

I grew up a short distance from Cape May, New Jersey. My sister even worked in the small town and on the Ferry for several years. It's a beautiful place, and no wonder that resident Ron Clancy of North Cape May had visions of beautiful music and photography based on his surroundings.

Ronald had an idea of taking the music of Christmas, wintery days and the fascination of carols and pulling them altogether in a gloriously illustrated coffee table book. His concept would become a reality when he founded his own publishing company known as Christmas Classics, where he was able to bring his vision to life.

This is not an ordinary Christmas CD collection, but works of art to be cherished and collected. Full color illustrations, songs with the story behind it, songbook and CD's are all part of this holiday gift set.

I think it's been almost 40 years that my sister has been collecting Hummel's of all sorts. That is one reason why I selected this book and porcelain ornament gift box set.

If you know of someone who collects either (or both) angels or Hummel items, this is the right gift for them or a beginning collector.

With the economy in disarray, it's nice to be able to buy something that is inexpensive, but has great meaning and a name of integrity behind it.

Many of us have grown up reading wonderful classic stories by gifted writers such as Leo Tolstoy, O. Henry and Charles Dickens, so when I found this set I was pleased.

It was my appreciation of these authors that I introduced a few of their works to my own Language Arts classes. Certainly a favorite of mine and now of my student's, was the wonderful story "The Gift of the Magi." Over the years it has been one of the most told stories in book form, stage and cinema.

Paraclete Press has compiled a short story gift set combining the works of these three authors and has included a musical CD featuring a Gregorian chant of the four masses for Christmas.

If you are not familiar with these works, take a look at the videos I've provided. There you will be able to listen in part and/or full some of these pieces that have been included in this gift set.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Audio Reading

Where Love Is, There God Is Also - Leo Tolstoy

The Seven Poor Travelers A Charles Dickens Christmas Audiobook Review

Adaption reading of the classic story written by O. Henry.

A story of faith, love, suffering, courage and patience... for where love is, there God is also. Leo Tolstoy

What's it like in the mind of a six year old boy? Calvin let's us know ...

The imagination of a child is wonderful. It can take us on the most amazing adventures and into the most remote parts of the universe. So it was with the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. Although it may have only been around a short time, these best buds made their way into our hearts.

We were first introduced to these guys back on November 18th, 1985, when cartoonist Bill Watterson made them public in 2,400 newspapers. Calvin is a six year old boy (named after theologian John Calvin), who is rather sophisticated in his intelligence, but not in behavior as he gathers a boat load of trouble everywhere he goes. Hobbes is his toy stuffed animal that at will becomes an imaginary friend. Their relationship is give and take, with a little lopsidedness by Calvin, but Hobbes doesn't seem to mind.

It's hard to believe that the comic strip was around for a little over a decade, because they have continued on in some other form. Sadly the last comic strips were run on December 31st, 1995 when the founder retired, leaving a little emptiness in our hearts.

Don't be too disappointed thought. I am pleased to share with you that the entire works of Mr. Watterson of the comic duo lives on in this hardcover book gift set.

Information source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Hub Page Articles as well as my Daily Favor Blog.