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Instead of fighting the Black Friday crowds, take a look at these suggestions for the favorite people on your list from the Tulare County Library.

They are all in the library, so you can even examine them in (non-virtual) reality!

For children

“Guinness World Records 2015″ by Guinness World Records” — A go-to crowd-pleaser for middle and older readers. Already have the 2015 edition? Go for the recently published Gamer’s Edition. (Ages 7+)

“Minecraft: The Complete Handbook Collection”

Four of Minecraft’s handbooks (Essential Handbook, Redstone Handbook, Combat Handbook, and Construction Handbook) are packaged together in this fancy boxed set. Purchase if you haven’t already given in to your child’s begging and pleading for Minecraft books, since one of these was published last year and the others months ago. (Ages 7+)

“The Book With No Pictures” by B.J. Novak — As the title indicates, this book has no pictures, just bold text that commands adults to read aloud, no matter what the words say. Novak (television writer and actor) relies on comic timing and the reader’s tone to create this hilarious (no) picture book. (Ages 3-8)

“The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale”

The first in a promising series, this beginning chapter book introduces Princess Magnolia—a princess with a secret superhero alter ego. She sneaks away from her royal duties to battle (not-so-scary) monsters and keep her kingdom safe. The large, colorful illustrations are the icing on the cake. (Ages 5-8)

“Twas Nochebuena” by Roseanne Greenfield Thong — This rhythmic re-interpretation of “The Night Before Christmas” incorporates Spanish vocabulary without skipping a beat. A wonderful celebration of family, holiday cheer, and Latino traditions wrapped up in a picture book. (Ages 4-8)

For adults

“Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson — The first book by “The Blogess” is a laugh-out-loud combination of stories that are too awkward and horrifying NOT to have happened. A unique combination of memoir and taxidermy remembrances that will cause you to embarrass yourself in public!

“The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion

The first novel by Simsion (soon to be made in to a film) covers the pitfalls of dating without any knowledge of social appropriateness. At times funny and at others heart-wrenching, this book will teach you something about love.

“The Book of Life” by Deborah Harkness (third book of the All Souls Trilogy) — The last book of the All Souls Trilogy brings “closure” to the story of star-crossed witch, Diana Bishop, and vampire, Matthew Clairmont. Harkness blends fiction, science, and history into a very plausible world where the things that go bump in the night don’t just live in the dark. It all began with “A Discovery of Witches” and continued with “Shadow of Night.”

“A Little Something Different” by Sandy Hall — Sometimes it takes a little perspective to finally understand someone else’s viewpoint. In “A Little Something Different,” it takes fourteen different perspectives all seeing the same thing for those involved to see it for themselves. At times painful (you remember high school and college, don’t you), and at other times cute, this book is great for romance fans of any age, but it’s geared more toward the college crowd.

“A.D. 30” by Ted Dekker — A war that rages between kingdoms on the earth and in the heart. Step back in time to the year of our Lord…A.D. 30. The outcast daughter of one of the most powerful Bedouin sheikhs in Arabia, Maviah is called on to protect the very people who rejected her. She must secure an unlikely alliance with King Herod of the Jews. But her path leads her unexpectedly to another man. His name is Yeshua…

“The Fatal Tree” by Stephen R. Lawhead

The questors are spread throughout the universe. Kit and Cass are back in the Stone Age trying to reach the Spirit Well. But an enormous yew tree has grown over the portal, effectively cutting off any chance of return. Unless someone can find a solution — and fast —all Creation will be destroyed. In this final volume of the fantastic Bright Empires series, Stephen R. Lawhead brings this multi-stranded tale to a stunning and satisfying conclusion.

“Legend of Sheba” by Tosca Lee — In the 10th century B.C., the new Queen of Sheba has inherited her father’s throne and all its riches. Solomon, the brash new king of Israel famous for his wealth and wisdom, will not be denied the tribute of the world — or of Sheba’s queen. The one woman who can match wits with Solomon undertakes the journey of a lifetime in a daring bid to test and win the king.

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