SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) No matter who you’re shopping for this holiday season, books can make great gifts. Here are five engaging volumes to consider.
• “Writers: Their Lives and Works” features more than 100 biographies of the world’s greatest writers, from Shakespeare to Toni Morrison. Biographical entries trace the friendships, loves and rivalries that influenced each writer, while placing their works into historical context.
Illustrated with portraits, photographs and paintings of writers’ homes, studies and personal artifacts, along with pages from original manuscripts, first editions and correspondence, this book introduces the key themes and literary techniques of its subjects, revealing the imaginations and personalities behind some of the world’s greatest novels, short stories, poems, and plays.
• From its origins at court and the first national ballet companies, to the contemporary scene and the extraordinary venues that stage productions, “Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story” provides an invaluable overview of the history of ballet.
Readers can discover more than 70 of the most famous ballet dances, learn the stories behind renowned companies, explore the lives and achievements of dancers across centuries, and meet composers and choreographers. Filled with rarely seen photographs, this book is well-suited for ballet enthusiasts.
• “Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants” invites you to explore the plant kingdom from the ground up, and from root to leaf tip. This elegant introduction to botany from DK is packed with photos and illustrations explaining the mechanics of photosynthesis, why leaves change color, how cacti store water, and how seeds know when to grow. Filled with fascinating stories of how plant roots and leaves communicate with their neighbors and how flowers use color and scent to interact with the creatures around them, this is an introduction to the mysterious inner workings of the plant world.
• For children who can’t get enough wildlife, consider “An Anthology of Intriguing Animals,” a compendium of the facts, stories and myths behind more than 200 of their favorite animals. Whether it’s how the koala got its name or which animal the ancient Egyptians thought rolled the sun across the sky, readers can learn fun facts while poring over photographs, including detailed close-ups.
• “Robot,” a book for kids, covers artificial intelligence (AI) throughout history, including automata created by Leonardo Da Vinci all the way through to modern-day androids. Discover cutting edge robotics, where science, technology, mechanical engineering and computing meet. Bright graphics and photography help readers learn how robots work, how they are made, and how they help and hinder modern society.
This holiday season, stock the shelves of those you adore with fascinating books on topics they love.
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