Top-rated gift ideas: Books

Goodnight Marines

Brilliantly illustrated by former Disney Artist, Phil Jones (Tarzan, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch), and written by an award-winning poet and active-duty Marine, this hardcover children's book will warm the hearts of both young and old as the audience is taken on an imaginative adventure that teaches about the culture & traditions of the Marine Corps. ------ A note from the author - Major David Dixon: As a Marine and Iraq War veteran, I feel honored to represent the Marine Corps and the traditions that I hold so dear. I believe that Marines, both active duty and retired, must learn to engage the younger generation and share our proud culture of leadership. In this spirit I authored Goodnight Marines. All who read Goodnight Marines will appreciate the patriotism, heartfelt emotions, captivating illustrations, and richness of symbolism. In this book a young child gazes proudly at a photograph of his father - currently deployed to Afghanistan. The child's room is adorned with toy tanks, planes, radios, and trucks that he plays with to feel connected to his father. Then, as the child says goodnight to his dad and all of his military memorabilia, the toys come alive in his vibrant imagination. Kids, of course, love the quiet protagonist - the child's best friend and stuffed animal Teufel Hunden (Devil Dog). Unfortunately, this young boy cannot yet pronounce such a difficult German word, so he has named his friend "Tuffy Hound." The real spirit of Goodnight Marines culminates on the final page, where the moon shines on the father's picture next to his son - sleeping safely in his room with Tuffy Hound. I hope my fellow warriors enjoy reading this to their children as much as my wife and I do. A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit Tillman Scholars through the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 705 customer reviews

$36.20

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The True Story of Fake News

Is fake news being spread through social media as part of an information war? Are political operatives publishing disinformation to smear the opposition and help their own agendas? Who creates fake news, how does it spread, and can it be stopped?

What are the real world effects of fake news stories that go viral? Did it affect the outcome of the 2016 presidential election? Or is ‘fake news’ a fake problem, designed to justify tighter control over the mechanisms of sharing information online to drive audiences back to brand name media outlets because their audiences and influence are dwindling?

Media analyst Mark Dice takes a close look at the fake news phenomenon and the implications of mega-corporations like Facebook, Google, and Twitter becoming the ultimate gatekeepers and distributors of news and information.

You will see the powerful and deceptive methods of manipulation that affect us all, as numerous organizations and political activists cunningly plot to have their stories seen, heard, and believed by as many people as possible.

The depths of lies, distortions, and omissions from traditional mainstream media will shock you; and now they’re colluding with the top tech companies trying to maintain their information monopolies. This is The True Story of Fake News.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 494 customer reviews

Paperback: $12.42

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Kindle: $7.99

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Crusoe, the Celebrity Dachshund: Adventures of the Wiener Dog Extraordinaire

What?! You've never heard of Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund?! You must be living under a rock!

... Or at least that's what Crusoe thinks. He's the self-proclaimed "wiener dog who thinks he's more of a celebrity than he really is." (until now!) Crusoe is the star of his wildly popular blog of the same name, winner of the 2013 and 2014 Best Pet Blog Award. That's right... two years in a row! Because Crusoe is a talented and ridiculously photogenic miniature dachshund with a big personality, stunning fashion sense, and an insatiable penchant for whimsy. Perhaps you know him better by his infamous alter ego, BATDOG? We thought so.

This is Crusoe's New York Times bestselling book debut, and he's so excited to share it with all of his adoring fans. Now everyone can stare lovingly into his big brown eyes and admire his wit and many costumes any time they choose. Crusoe is certain that his book, featuring hundreds of photos, will make the perfect gift for dog-lovers of all ages. He wants to be accessible to his fans so you can really get to know the mutt behind the mask, the pooch behind that signature sexy pout, the pup with a heart of gold.

Don't miss these amazing photos and stories:

The adventures of BATDOG and Robin;

Cooking with Crusoe;

Dr. Crusoe, the dentist, and malpractice;

International travels with the worldliest of adventure dogs;

Fishing with Crusoe and twin brother Oakley;

Dating advice from the studly pup himself;

Walking in a winter wienerland;

...And many more!

Rating:  5/5 Stars from 438 customer reviews

Hardcover edition:  $10.62

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Kindle edition:  $9.99

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Way of the Warrior Kid: From Wimpy to Warrior the Navy SEAL Way: A Novel

Fifth grade was the worst year of Marc’s life. He stunk at gym class, math was too hard for him, the school lunch was horrible, and his class field trip was ruined because he couldn’t swim. And the most awful thing about fifth grade? Kenny Williamson, the class bully, who calls himself the King of the Jungle Gym.

When Marc’s mother tells him that his uncle Jake is coming to stay for the whole summer, Marc can’t wait. Uncle Jake is a for-real, super-cool Navy SEAL. And Uncle Jake has a plan.

He’s going to turn Marc into a warrior.

Becoming a warrior isn’t easy. It involves a lot of pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, squats, swimming, eating right, and studying harder than ever before! Can Marc transform himself into a warrior before school starts in the fall–and finally stand up to the King of the Jungle Gym?

Find out in Jocko Willink's Way of the Warrior Kid.

Way of the Warrior Kid is a middle grade novel written by #1 New York Times-bestselling author and retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink. Jocko Willink is the coauthor of the adult book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win and the author of Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual. Way of the Warrior Kid is illustrated throughout with art by Jon Bozak.

Praise for Way of the Warrior Kid:

"Willink, a leadership instructor and retired SEAL, places worthwhile emphasis on physical activity, mental sharpness, and hard work." ―Publishers Weekly

"In this first installment of a new series, Willink, a retired decorated Navy SEAL officer brings his training in fitness, learning, nutrition, and tactics to a new level―the middle-grade level young readers will enjoy. Although the topic meant to inspire kids, seriousness is eased with Willink’s sense of humor and with Bozak’s hilarious comic-style illustrations." ―Children's Literature

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 401 customer reviews

Paperback Edition: $7.99

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Kindle Edition: $9.44

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The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook: 120+ Everyday Recipes for the Healthy Home Cook

In Laura Lea Goldberg's new cookbook, The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook, the rubber of old-fashioned home-cooking meets the road of new healthy-food. With over 120 approachable, comforting, make-ahead recipes, this first cookbook from the creator of the popular "LLBalanced" website reaffirms that balance is possible: you can find the joy, relaxation, and healing of cooking for yourself, family, and friends during these frenetic times.

All of the recipes in The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook are simple, familiar, and no-fuss. The majority of the recipes come together in thirty minutes or less and all are appealing to kids and adults alike, can be modified for picky eaters or can be proudly served at a dinner party. The food isn't dogmatic: a little of everything is used and flexibility is the key. With a focus on quality and moderation, the healthy aspects don't hit you over the head. They just make you feel good.

With helpful shopping lists and easy-to-follow menu plans, The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook will help any home cook create a foundation in the pantry and kitchen that will make the prospect of healthy cooking accessible and exciting, not stressful. It doesn?t overthink things and focuses on consistency instead of perfection. In the end, The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook will have you discovering the balance of cooking delicious, healthy meals at home while re-connecting with yourself, family, and friends.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 339 customer reviews

Hardcover: $20.40

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One

Blue is a quiet color. Red’s a hothead who likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple don’t like what they see, but what can they do? When no one speaks up, things get out of hand — until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count. As budding young readers learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, they also learn about accepting each other's differences and how it sometimes just takes one voice to make everyone count.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 285 customer reviews

$12.56

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Martha's Vineyard - Isle of Dreams

In the winter of 1982, long before she became the watercolor artist and author we know today, Susan Branch, 34-years-old and heartbroken from the sudden and unexpected end of her marriage in California, "ran away from home" to the Island of Martha's Vineyard hoping to gain perspective.

It was meant to be temporary, a three-month time-out from the daily grind of being broken up and miserable, but within days of her arrival, alone and not quite in her right mind, Susan "accidentally" bought a tiny one-bedroom cottage in the woods ~ which is how she discovered she was moving 3,000 miles away from everyone and everything she had known and loved.

Funny, observant, touching, and addictive (you are not going to want this book to end), based on the diaries she has kept all her life, Susan Branch relates her inspirational tale of lost love and self discovery, her search for roots, purpose, and destiny with laugh-out-loud honesty. A road map for overcoming loss, following your heart, and making dreams come true, charmingly hand-lettered and watercolored in Susan's inimitable style, there are diary excerpts, recipes, and hundreds of photographs.

Printed in the USA, in full color with a ribbon bookmark, Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams is book number two of a continuing story . . . Book one was The Fairy Tale Girl which came out October 2015, and book 3, which was written first, was A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside published in August 2013.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 275 customer reviews

$22.66

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Lynnie and the Gentle Dragon

Lynnie and the Gentle Dragon is a magical tale of adventure and everlasting friendship.

Young Lynnie is swept from her bed one night by a witch and escapes only to find herself lost in an unfamiliar world of dragons and enchantment. In her search to find a way home, she discovers so much more: dragons can be clever and kind, friends show up in the most unlikely places, and love spans beyond space and time. This sweet bedtime story will delight the magical child in us all.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 269 customer reviews

Hardcover Edition: $21.99

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Kindle Edition: $8.99

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My Baby is a West Coast King

Laine Loren is an aspiring model, hoping to somehow make it out of South Side, Chicago, and away from her predator uncle and cheating boyfriend Tarik. When she gets the chance to move away to Los Angeles, she hops on it and doesn't look back. Laine's plans to focus only on her career and nothing else, are suddenly thrown to the wind when she meets the dangerous and unbalanced Mischief. Mischief, a music producing banger from Compton, only cares about three things; music, his money, and his brothers. Having to be raised by his aunt, because he was born to unfit parents, he's callous, rude, frank, and downright out of his mind. Upon meeting Laine, Mischief finds himself interested in the tough beauty, while trying to still maintain the life he has lived from day one. With secrets, lies, and betrayal laced through each page, this budding love story between the Chicago beauty and the Compton terrorizer is sure to keep you on your toes.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 266 customer reviews

$14.99

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GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart

GraceLaced is about more than pretty florals and fanciful brushwork—it's about flourishing. With carefully crafted intention, this beautiful volume of 32 seasonal devotions from artist and author Ruth Chou Simons encourages readers in any circumstance to become deeply rooted in God's faithful promises. GraceLaced extends a soul-stirring invitation to draw close to God while...

resting in who He is

rehearsing the truth He says about you

responding in faith to those truths

remembering His provision to sustain you, time and time again

More than 800 individual pieces of art came together in the crafting of this book, including dozens of new, hand-painted Scripture vignettes that Ruth is known for.

Who we are and who God is never changes, even though everything else rarely stays the same. Let this book point you to truth as you journey through the changing seasons of your heart.

Rating: 5/5 Stars from 233 customer reviews

$23.50

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