GIFT IDEAS
Let's face it: this is the busiest and craziest time of year. People are frantically shopping, hopped up on sugar, fighting for parking spots, and wondering how it got to be this time of year already. Let us make it easier for you with our holiday gift ideas. We've picked the perfect kids' books and sorted them by age. With free shipping on qualified purchases over $50 and books that are sure to please, it's easy to check those names off your list! Browse our holiday gift ideas here:

for ages birth to 2 for ages 3 to 4 for ages 5 to 7	for ages 8 to 9 for ages 10 to 11 for ages 12 to 13
for ages 14 and up

KIDS' Q&A: JOHN VAN DE RUIT
Spud is the story of a South African choir boy living in a volatile country and challenged by "complex women trouble" and a potentially psychotic roommate. Told in a series of diary entries, John van de Ruit's book captures the humor and agony of the adolescent boy. In our Q&A with this witty author, you'll learn how Van de Ruit's book was originally released to an adult audience, and what he did (or didn't do) during the 2005 tsunami. For a limited time, save 30% off the list price of Spud.

KIDS' Q&A: ALAN GRATZ
Alan Gratz calls his new book "pulp Shakespeare." It's set in the stinky town of Denmark, Tennessee, and follows Horatio Wilkes as he attempts to solve the murder of his best friend's father. Something Rotten, the first of a mystery series involving Horatio and based on Shakespeare's plays, is a sharp, hip remake of Hamlet -- for teens. Read Gratz's interesting Q&A to find out why a writer should "never kill the dog" and save 30% off Something Rotten.

KIDS' Q&A: ERIK P. KRAFT
Miracle Wimp is Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the high school set, and we're not just saying that because of the similar titles. We're saying that because it's funny, there are lots of awesome drawings, and the chapters are short and perfectly suited for those easily distracted like ourselves. All this coming from the mind of a man whose favorite story growing up is called Dooley and the Snortsnoot. Read Erik Kraft's entertaining Q&A and save 30% off Miracle Wimp.

KIDS' Q&A: ANDREA BEATY
Iggy Peck, Architect is just plain stylish, thanks to David Robert's 1960s mod-inspired illustrations and Andrea Beaty's funky, rhyming ode to all-consuming passions -- passions like young Iggy Peck has for building and creating. Lucky for us, we scored a Q&A with Ms. Beaty, and it's a good thing, too, because... well, just read on. You'll have fun and save 30% on the best picture book about aspiring architects in the whole wide world.

KIDS' Q&A: BEVERLY DONOFRIO
Beverly Donofrio, author of Riding in Cars with Boys, makes her children's book debut with Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary. This adorable tale follows the parallel lives of Mary and a mouse as they grow up, go to college, and eventually have families of their own. Imbued with an undercurrent of social change, this book is sure to be one your child's favorites. Read more about this interesting author in her Q&A and save 30% off Mary.

CHRISTMAS CHEER
In preparation for this year's holiday, Santa has brought us some exciting new picture books. Angela and the Baby Jesus is the children's debut of bestselling author Frank McCourt, and it contains his signature heartwarming style. Niroot Puttapipat brought new magic to The Night before Christmas with his dazzling silhouette illustrations. Kate DiCamillo's Great Joy resonates with holiday warmth, and one of our favorite piglets is back in Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer. A couple of our older picture book favorites: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry and Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo. All of these books remind us of the merry specialness of Christmas. Browse more great Christmas books here.

SPIN THE DREIDEL, LIGHT THE MENORAH
What would Hanukkah be without the dreidel? The Golden Dreydl by Ellen Kushner is a new middle reader that imaginatively combines fantasy and tradition. I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxie Baum is a fun, colorful picture book based on the dreidel song, with instructions at the end for how to play dreidel and make potato latkes. Leslea Newman's Runaway Dreidel! is a hilarious tale reminiscent of The Night before Christmas, made even more fun with Kyrsten Brooker's quirky illustrations. Two more wonderful books that embody the spirit of Hanukkah are Sarah Marwil Lamstein's retelling of an old Jewish folktale, Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale, and Eric Kimmel's Caldecott-winning Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.

CHRISMUKKAH
For this lovely hybrid holiday, you only need to know about one book: The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket. This over-the-top tale is so fabulously entertaining to read we dare you to read just one page. It's the heartwarming story of the birth of a latke, who jumps screaming from his frying pan and runs around trying to get the icons of Christmas to understand him. No small feat, as each icons proceeds to snub their nose at him: "So you're basically hash browns," the flashing colored lights say. Hah! We love this gift-quality book; it's great reading for Snicket fans as well as celebrators of Hanukkah, Christmas, and, of course, Chrismukkah.

SIX WAYS TO PEACE
During this busy holiday season we can all use some peace. Whether it's world peace or personal, here are some picture books that address the need for peace in our lives.

• Peace through language: Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz teaches us how to say peace in eleven languages.
• Peace through poetry: Why War Is Never a Good Idea by Alice Walker is a beautifully poignant anti-war book.
• Peace through silence: Shhh! by Jeanne Willis.
• Peace through friendship: The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell.
• Peace through survival: The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter.
• Peace through life-story: The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain is the newest masterpiece from the amazing mind of Peter Sis.

THE GOLDEN COMPASS
As fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy know, December 7 marks the release of the anticipated movie, The Golden Compass. Controversy has been brewing in a big way. Director Chris Weitz stated in the Daily Telegraph that fans who enjoyed the theology of the books might be disappointed and admitted to toning down the anti-organized-religion aspects significantly for fear of offending the Christian Right and the Catholic Church. Avowed atheist and author of the trilogy, Philip Pullman, has denied any specific anti-Catholic themes in his books. Despite this, the Catholic League announced a call to boycott the movie and is even publishing an anti-Pullman book. Make up your own mind and read (or reread) the books from the His Dark Materials trilogy before you see the movie.