The mistletoe is hung, and so are the garlands, the ornaments, window decorations, and lights. You’d be ready for the holidays, too, if you weren’t hung up on a gift for that one certain person.

Now what? Now head to the bookstore with this column in-hand, and look for one of these great books….

FICTION

If your giftee is a lover of memoirs, “Woman at 1,000 Degrees” by Hallgrimur Helgason is a novel she may like, too. It’s told in the voice of 80-year-old Herra Björnsson, who is at the end of her life and she’s in the mood to share… Wrap it up with “The Clockmaker’s Daughter” by Kate Morton, a novel of an archivist, a very old manor, and a bit of a mystery that transcends time.

Your cat lovers will take to “Talk to the Paw” by Melinda Metz like catnip. It’s a little bit romance, a little bit angst, a theft, and a purr-fect ending.

If it’s not too timely to be a good gift, look for “Only Child” by Rhiannon Navin. It’s a book about a school shooting and a mother’s actions when her son is injured in ways that can’t be bandaged.

The short story fan will be glad to unwrap “Sweet & Low” by Nick White. This book is full of Southern fiction, characters you forget are not real, and situations that make a good yarn great. For true short-story fans, pair it with “Everyday People: The Color of Life – A Short Story Anthology” edited by Jennifer Baker.

For the giftee who sometimes wishes for a life-rewind, “The Dinner List” by Rebecca Serle could be a good choice to give. It’s a story about one evening, one meal, a lot of loved ones (past and present) and a chance to make things right. Pair it up with “The Dream Daughter” by Diane Chamberlain, a book about a mother’s first chances.

If you give “The Witch Elm” by Tana French to your suspense-novel lover, be prepared to be ignored for the rest of the day. Not on purpose, but because this is a story of an injured man, a decades-old mystery, and plenty of spine-tingles.

GENERAL NON-FICTION

For the person who can’t get enough of John, Paul, George, or Ringo, “Visualizing the Beatles” by John Pring and Rob Thomas is something they’ll want to hold in their hands. It’s a graphic history of the Fab Four, so lots of pictures, easy to browse, fun to have. Pair it with “The Cutting Edge” by Leslie Cavendish, who was the woman who cut and styled the Beatles’ hair.
For the armchair detective or CSI fan, “The Handy Forensic Science Answer Book” by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Thomas E. Svarney will be a welcome gift this year. In a Q&A format, this book teaches and answers the kinds of questions any detective-show fan can come up with. It may also chill you… Wrap it up with any good murder mystery, of course! Or better yet, wrap it up with “Murder, Lies, and Cover-Ups” by David Gardner, a book about conspiracies and the whodunit deaths of celebrities your giftee will surely remember.

Yes, Earth is a pretty good place to live. Oxygen, water, trees… but what is our presence doing to the planet? “Darwin Comes to Town” by Menno Schilthuizen is one of those books that’ll answer your giftee’s questions while it also invites him to think. How is our world thriving and surviving? Pair it up with “The Simpol Solution” by John Bunzl and Nick Duffell, a book about fixing the global problems we face today and our children could face tomorrow. Consider more with “The Disaster Survival Guide” by Marie D. Jones, a book that’s a good primer for coming out the other side of nature’s worst and mankind’s unthinkable.

For the fashionista, you can’t go wrong when you give “Fierce: The History of Leopard Print” by Jo Weldon. Yes, that’s what this book is about – the evolution of a wild fad that shows no signs of slowing down. You know what kind of paper to wrap this book in, don’t you? Wrap it up for the perfect gift for the giftee who mourns the end of summer from October to May: “Hollywood Beach Beauties” by David Wills. It’s a large picture book full of starlets on the beach, circa 1930 into the 1970s. Not just fun for sun lovers, but for fashion followers, too. Another book to try: “An Atlas of Natural Beauty” by Victoire de Taillac and Ramdane Touhami. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a book of recipes for her to naturally enhance her gorgeous looks.

So your giftee likes to have something to take while waiting for his or her part in the community theatre? “Shakespeare’s Ear” by Tim Rayborn couldn’t be a better book, then. It’s filled with interesting tales and little-known secrets from the world of theatre. For your favorite actor, it is to be. Also look for “Messiah: The Composition and Afterlife of Handel’s Masterpiece” by Jonathan Keates.

Where would you favorite pal be without you – or vice versa? In “Text Me When You Get Home” by Kayleen Schaeffer, your giftee will see how female friendships are forged, nourished, and kept strong and what happens when they don’t. Will you-know-who share this book with you? Wrap it up with “Girl Talk” by Jacqquline Mroz, a book about female friendships from a scientific perspective, and she might.

For the giftee who needs a specific understanding boost (and be careful when you give it!), look for “It Takes One to Tango” by Winifred M. Reilly, MA, MFT, a book about fixing a marriage. If it feels right, pair it with “Infidelity: Why Men and Women Cheat” by Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, MD, but be cautious!

The person who loves to explore will love reading “Walking the Americas” by Levison Wood. He’s a British explorer who walked 1,800 miles through eight countries and this is the story of the people he met, the things he saw, and his thoughts on it all. Pair it up with “Tip of the Iceberg” by Mark Adams, a story of a long journey across the wilds of Alaska.

So you say your giftee has been following politics closely. He read “Hillbilly Elegy.” So now give “What You are Getting Wrong about Appalachia” by Elizabeth Catte. This book nicely balances fact from fiction, and it’ll give your giftee more prospective. It could even be a mind-changer. Pair it with something your political watcher will like: “Type R” by Ama Marston and Stephanie Marston, a book about resilience and how to get more of it in today’s world.

For a reader who craves hard, true facts, “A Book of Book Lists” by Alex Johnson might be just the thing. It’s, well, the title is self-explanatory but it also contains a harder look at the classics, literature, and authors’ perspectives on both. Just be aware that it’s very British. Wrap it up with “The Weather Detective” by Peter Wohlleben, making these books a perfect duo for your fact-hungry giftee.

Everybody with a job will love reading “Danger, Man Working” by Michael Perry. It’s a series of essays on having a job. Also fishing, freelancing, living on a farm, veterans, and other things that’ll make you laugh and / or know you’re reading the words of a kindred spirit. A good book to add to the package before you wrap it is “A Little Tea Book” by Sebastian Beckwith with Caroline Paul, illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton. A good book, a cuppa tea, and a good book about tea will all make an excellent gift.

For the political animal in your family, “Hugs from Obama,” edited by M. Sweeney might be just the right gift. It’s filled with pictures and quotations from the Obama years in the White House, including the end. Pair it up with “The Watergate: Inside America’s Most Infamous Address” by Joseph Rodota, for a scandalous look back in history. More books for the current events fan: “Chosen Country: A Rebellion in the West” by James Pogue is a peek at the militia movement in America; and “My Brother Moochie” by Issac J. Bailey is a book on poverty and racism.
The giftee who loves to laugh will love having “Laughter Totally Is the Best Medicine” by the Reader’s Digest folks. Filled with jokes, cartoons, and other funnies, it might also make a great stocking-stuffer. And if your giftee loves to laugh, look at “The Incomplete Book of Running” by Peter Sagal, for a fast chuckle.

And for the cook on your list, “Buttermilk Graffiti” by Edward Lee would make a great gift. It’s part history, part memoir, part foodie paradise with recipes and it’s yummy. Pair it with a brand-new cookbook for a tasty 2019, or wrap up “Moonshine: A Celebration of America’s Original Rebel Spirit” by John Schlimm with it. See what your giftee can cook up now.

MEMOIR / BIOGRAPHY

What does it take to be a man? Can a boy learn it from his father? In “Air Traffic” by Gregory Pardlo, the author looks at the legacy his father left him, and how it made him the man he is today. And if your giftee loves to read about legacies left, wrap up “Jackie, Janet & Lee” by J. Randy Taraborerelli, a book about the former first lady, her mother, and her younger sister.

For the teacher who’s most important in your child’s life, look for “Once a Professor: A Memoir of Teaching in Turbulent Times” by Jerry Apps. It’s a book about education – both of students in the 1960s, and the teacher who watched them protest.

If the first thing your giftee turns to each morning is a weather forecast, he’ll love “The Man Who Caught the Storm” by Brantley Hargrove. It’s the story of Tim Samaras, who was a legend in storm chasing, until his death by…. Uh, nope, read the book.

Another highly-anticipated (and much-desired) gift to look for is “In Pieces” by Sally Field, a book by the girl America has grown up with. It’s filled with behind-the-story stories and celeb names you’ll also recognize. Wrap it up with a “The Flying Nun” DVD or two, or a copy of “Smokey and the Bandit.”

And for the Vietnam veteran on your list, look for “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam memoir” by George Trowbridge. It’s a memoir set in the waning days of the war and what it was like before, during, and after being a solder in the Navy then.

HISTORY

In the middle of World War II, when armed personnel were needed more than ever, the U.S. Army Air Forces finally allowed something that was long overdue: they let their 1,100 female pilots in the air. In “Fly Girls” by P. O’Connell Pearson, your giftee will read about the brave service of those women and how they did what they did – with less pay, harder duty, and no military benefits.

For the political watcher, there’s a lot to choose from this year. One of the neutral books you can give is “Partner to Power” by K. Ward Cummings. It’s a book about the people who have surrounded Presidents, listened to them, and advised them on matters large and small.

The cook who also loves history will enjoy “Stirring the Pot with Benjamin Franklin: A Founding Father’s Culinary Adventures” by Rae Katherine Eighmey. It’s a book that’s perfect if someone on your list likes American history, cooking, or reading while she eats.

For the giftee who loves ancient history, you can’t go wrong when you wrap up “Rome: A History in Seven Sackings” by Matthew Kneale. Yes, it’s about war. But it’s also about natural disasters, Emperors, and travel. How could your giftee resist?

Early American history buffs will whoop when they open “Marooned: Jamestown, Shipwreck, and a New History of America’s Origin” by Joseph Kelly. It’s a big thick history book that will take your giftee back, so remember to wrap up a bookmark, too.

PETS AND ANIMALS

Who doesn’t love a day at the beach? Your dog lover and the dog they love do, so they’ll want to unwrap “Dogs on the Beach” by Lara Jo Regan. It’s filled with photos of doggos in the surf & sand, enjoying warm weather and taking every advantage of summer there is.

Here’s something you don’t have to tell an animal lover: animals have personalities. Even so, your giftee will enjoy “Mousy Cats and Sheepish Coyotes: The Science of Animal Personalities” by John A. Shivik. It’s all about the science, yes, but it’s also about the stories, you know? Wrap it up with “How to Be a Good Creature” by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Rebecca Green. It’s a memoir that includes thirteen animals Montgomery knew and loved.

For the future farmer or the person who is clucking awesome, wrap up “Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance” by Martin Gurdon, a book about raising chickens of all kinds. It’s helpful, interesting, and it contains full-color pictures. Your giftee will crow about it!

PICTURE BOOKS

Here’s a great read-aloud for your little one: “In Your Hands” by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. It’s a quiet, comforting story of holding hands and protecting, and will be a great bedtime tale. Also look for “My Magic Breath” by Nick Ortner and Alison Taylor, pictures by Michelle Polizzi. It’s a book about mindful breathing and calming thoughts.
The birthday kid will appreciate “I Got a Chicken for My Birthday” by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Sarah Horne. Yes, it’s about a chicken and the fun his girl has with him. If the birthday kid is an animal lover, pair it up with “Mela and the Elephant” by Dow Phumiruk, illustrated by Ziyue Chen.

Parents of toddlers will definitely want to unwrap this book: “People Don’t Bite People” by Lisa Wheeler, art by Molly Idle. Yes, it’s about the appropriate use of teeth, in a format that 2-to-3-year-olds can absolutely understand.

Children who appreciate the friends they’ve got will love “May I Come In?” by Marsha Diane Arnoml, illustrated by Jennie Poh. It’s the story of a wet raccoon, a stormy night, and the love of a true friend. Wrap it up with “Friends Stick Together” by Hannah E. Harrison, a book about friendship between personalities.

Children who are on the edge of Too Old for Picture Books, Too Young for Chapter Books may still like to see “Nature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story” by Lindsay McDivitt, illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen. It’s a biography in picture form about a Detroit artist and nature lover, and your little one would surely love it read aloud. Wrap it up with “Aim for the Skies” by Aimee Bissonette, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. It’s the true story of two women who dreamed about following in Amelia Earhart’s footsteps and flying around the world.

For kids who are looking for more than a picture book or for the most curious kid you know, wrap up any of the “Tell Me” books by the Barron’s Educational people. These handy-to-have books cover a wide variety of subjects, including geography and science, they’re indexed plainly so answers are easy to find, and they’re written so they’re understandable by kids ages 6 or 7 and up. Here’s a hint: they’re great for parents, too.

MIDDLE-GRADE READERS

For the kid who’s computer-crazy (and what kid isn’t?), “Cool Coding” is the book to find because it teaches without “dumbing-down” and kids, of course, appreciate that. For your 10-to-17-year-old, it’s a “LIKE.” Wrap it up with another science book: “The Hyena Scientist” by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop. It’s perfect for the budding zoologist or die-hard animal lover.

For kids who love books that let them do fun things, why not wrap up “Turn This Book into a Beehive!” by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Anna-Maria Jung. It’s a book that will teach your child about bees and environmentalism, and then it turns into the coolest craft around. Wrap it up with “The Brilliant Deep” by Kate Messner and Matthew Forstythe, which is a nonfiction book about coral reefs.

Remember those old “Choose Your Own Adventure” books that you used to love? Well, those are updated now: imagine what would happen if you took a graphic novel and let kids pick their own storylines and endings? That’s what’s behind “Knights Club” by Shuky, illustrated by Waltch and Novy; and “Hocus & Pocus” by Manuro Gorobei. Are they comic books? Are they games? Your kids might think they’re both!

For the kid who’s interested in animals, “Book of Bones” by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster is perfect. This book takes a look at the skeletons of animals – the biggest, the longest, the thinnest – and the animals who need those bones to live and thrive. Pair it up with “Stuff You Need to Know About the Human Body” by John Farndon & Tim Hutchison, a book about human insides.

And for the child who’s into adventure plus weirdness, look for “The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for The World’s Most Adventurous Kid” by Dylan Thuras and Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Joy Ang. It’s a book filled with maps and sites and places your child can go, even if they do it through paper and imagination.

YA BOOKS

The teen who has embraced STEM will also want to read “Radioactive!” by Winifred Conkling. It’s the parallel story of two women: Irene Curie, who discovered artificial radioactivity; and Lise Meitner, who, four years after Irene’s discovery, learned the secret of nuclear fission. Get it for your teen and read it yourself.

The scientist on your list will love “Junk Drawer Geometry” by Bobby Mercer, especially if she is also a mathlete. This book is full of experiments and gee-whiz coolness. Wrap it up with any other book in the “Junk Drawer Science” series.

For the budding activist on your list, look for “You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the World” by Caroline Paul, illustrated by Lauren Tamaki. This hardcover book offers ideas to create change in many different aspects of society, and it includes places for your teen to take notes and jot down ideas. Pair it with “Illegal” by Eoin Colfer and Adnrew Donkin, a graphic novel about a boy who crosses the Sahara desert and beyond to forge a new life elsewhere.

So there you are. A bunch of different ways to use that gift certificate for fun, learning, and winter reading anticipation. Remember: if none of these suggestions seem to fit that Special Someone on your list, ask your weary-but-smiling bookseller. She’s the one who has all the right answers.

Happy Reading!