Wrap it up! - Review - book review

The best way to avoid holiday mall crowds? Cover everyone on your gift list with these reads.

Instant Gratification: Jewelry

by Annie Guthrie

Chronicle, $15.95

Craft enthusiasts, get psyched for these super-cool jewelry ideas that go way beyond your basic bead-on-a-string. You'll find classic designs for a wide range of tastes and styles, including necklaces, bracelets and hair charms. Make a Cleopatra choker, eclipse earrings or a "magic" floating pearl necklace that will turn heads. Whether you're a beginner or aficionado, you'll love these fast and fabulous projects. Best of all? They won't burst your budget.

The Bedroom Astronomer

Klutz, $14.95

Have a brother with his head in the clouds? Give him something to gaze at with this cosmic guide to the galaxies. It's packed with tidbits and trivia on supernovas, black holes, constellations and the myths behind them. It also comes with glow-in-the-dark stars and a guide to sticking them to the ceiling to replicate the real ones in the sky But the person who gets this might thank his lucky stars for the "Most Important Fact in This Book," which basically says you should never clean your room because it could hasten the death of the universe. Stellar.

d.i.y. Beauty

by Karen Bressler and Susan Redstone

Alloy, $5.99

Treat your BFF or fave sis to this do-it-yourself beauty guide written by teens-in-the-know. Girls like you contributed these excellent ideas to Alloy.com, one of the hottest teen sites on the Web (check it out!). Beauty specialists follow-up each suggestion with do's and don'ts. From silky tresses to dazzling toenails, the tips are quick and easy. Plus, celeb interviews, funky facts and beauty horror stories make this an all-around fun read.

Mirror, Mirror

by lane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

Viking, $24.95

A heart-to-heart may be just the ticket for forging a better bond with a busy or stressed-out mom. These 40 folktales from around the world are meant for moms and daughters to share. Who knows? They may lead you into never-before-ventured convos. Maybe you can get to the heart of Mom as a teen, her random acts of rebellion or how she feels about dating. Whether for Mom, Stepmom or Grandma, this book will bring you closer and give new insights into that leading lady in your life.

A Father's Journal

by Linda Kranz

Northland, $16.95

Has Dad ever told you how he walked 10 miles to school in the snow--uphill both ways? If you didn't buy that one, get the real dirt. With the help of "thought-starters," Dad can record memories to let you know what life was like when he was just a boy. Discover his fears, his teen years, challenges he faced, what school was really like and much more. Ya never know--he could pen the next Pulitzer prize-winning memoir.

Kids and Grandparents

by Ann Love and Jane Drake

Kids Can, $14.95

Your grandfolks are roots, connecting you to history, and this book can dig up untold treasures about you and your family. Give this as a gift, get it out whenever you visit, and you'll get the dish on some pretty crazy stories. Create a family map, design a crest, learn the true-life adventures of your ancestors and use their memories to make new ones. Play games, talk, laugh and lull away in some good ol' quality time.

Dream Journal

Klutz, $14.95

Do dreams predict the future? Do they reveal dark truths and secret desires? Or are they just brain static with no meaning whatsoever? Treat yourself or your favorite dreamer to this nocturnal journal, specifically designed for recording those far-out nighttime visions. Scattered among its pages are hints for remembering your dreams, and bits of lore and science, like why people are always falling or appearing naked in their dreams. Some pages are blank, others have prompters. Midnight black pages and a silver pen complete the package.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Monarch Avalon, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group