AUBURN – The Auburn Public Library has announced its annual suggestions for holiday gift book purchases. Most of the items are in stock, or can be ordered through a local bookstore.

Cookbooks

“Soup! Hot and Cold Recipes for All Seasons,” Pippa Cuthbert. The enticing photos in the book will encourage even reluctant cooks to get simmering, while the simple recipes and tips will see them through to delicious results.

“Express Lane Meals: What to Keep on Hand, What to Buy Fresh for the Easiest-Ever 30-Minute Meals,” Rachael Ray. The Food Network darling and best-selling author shows how even the busiest can prepare successful meals that are quick, healthy and smart.

Craft books

“The Knitting Answer Book,” Margaret Radcliffe. What avid knitter hasn’t come across a problem or question – usually at the most inconvenient time – at some point in their knitting? With its clear, detailed answers to hundreds of knitting quandaries, this book will come to the rescue.

“Imperfect Lives: Scrapbooking the Reality of Your Everyday,” Tara Governo. Scrapbooking enthusiasts will appreciate this master class-in-a-book, in which 60 artists show how to create rich, innovative layouts to document a broad range of life’s experiences.

General nonfiction

“This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women,” edited by Jay Allison. When National Public Radio asked listeners to submit short, personal essays describing the credos by which they live, they weren’t prepared for the number of responses. This book collects some of the best.

“Eminent Mainers: Succinct Biographies,” Arthur Douglas Stover. This book’s brief, informative descriptions of Mainers who made contributions to American life – from the profound to the downright quirky – will delight trivia buffs and history lovers of all ages.

Biographies

“Moving the Chains: Tom Brady and the Pursuit of Everything,” Charles P. Pierce. Fans of the New England Patriots will enjoy this account of their challenging 2005 season, in which adversity made the leadership qualities of their star quarterback even more apparent.

“L.L. Bean: The Making of an American Icon,” Leon Gorman. The grandson of the Maine company’s founder and its current CEO, Gorman brings readers up-to-date on the company’s history with a discussion of its core values and business strategies.

Kids’ picture books

“What Do Wheels Do All Day?,” April Jones Prince, with illustrations by Giles Laroche. Sure to fascinate curious preschoolers, this book’s striking, paper-cutout illustrations portray many types of wheels and the important jobs they do.

“Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Partners,” Erica Silverman. The humorous, buoyantly illustrated adventures of a feisty cowgirl and her lazy but lovable horse continue in this exuberant chapter book for young readers in grades one and two.

Kids’ chapter books

“Julia’s Kitchen,” Brenda A. Ferber. After losing her mother and sister in a tragic house fire, 11-year-old Clara struggles to deal with her pain, until her decision to carry on her mother’s home-based baking business helps her begin to heal. For readers age 10 and older.

“Dear Max,” D.J. Lucas, aka Sally Grindley. Told through letters and postcards exchanged between a famous writer and her young fan, this touching story for readers in grades two trough four has rich lessons about how to meet life’s challenges and how to write a good yarn.

Teen paperbacks

“Duckling Ugly,” Neal Shusterman. In this dark tale that borrows from such classics as “The Ugly Ducking” and “Beauty and the Beast,” a young girl tormented over her physical appearance escapes to a mystical dream space, only to learn that the solution to her predicament may come at a terrible price.

“Raider’s Night,” Robert Lipsyte. In a story that could be taken from today’s headlines, Matt Rydek, co-captain of his high school football team, has to make a fateful decision when the team’s coaches and parents decide that winning must be achieved at any cost.

Teen graphic novels

“Fruits Basket,” Natsuki Takaya. Full of fun, martial arts and a touch of romance, this manga series tells the story of Tohru Honda, an orphan who is taken in by a family as a housekeeper.

The most popular boy in school lives there, and one day when she gives him a hug, he turns into a cat.

“Avatar,” Michael Dante Dimartino. In this manga series for all ages, the Avatar, master of earth, wind, air and water – and the only one who can save the world from the horrible Fire Nation – is missing. But when two young brothers rescue the last member of a vanishing race, they soon realize he may be more than he seems.


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