Reviews: Grandparent Gift Books
Three Books to Give, Receive and Read Aloud
Sometimes you need a simple gift to express something warm and fuzzy. Here are reviews of three gift books from Willow Creek Press.
Just Grandparents: When a Child Is Born, So Are the Grandparents
Compiled by Bonnie Louise Kuchler
Published by Willow Creek Press, 2004 - ISBN 1-59543-058-X
$14.95 -- 110 pages
My life is blessed; I have held my children's children. So opens this little gem of a book with a quote from Jeremy Taylor a 17th-century English bishop. There's a lot to like about this one, an eclectic mix of comments and quotations from mildly famous observers to wildly famous authors. From Maryland Ransom whose grandson, an organ donor, died at age 5 days; to poet/philosopher Kierkegaard.
The illustrations are photographs from the animal world, depicting parents and offspring in wonderful, unposed attitudes. Images are sharp, clear, quite colorful, fun to look at. But the text draws you and holds you.
For example, "I could never understand why people were so batty over their grandchildren until mine came into my life. Everything they do, everything they are is precious." -- Sally Stuart, American author.
Grandparents is thoughtfully put together. The pictures enhance the words; the words enhance the pictures. I didn't care for the paper quality. It's slick and thinner than I like to see in art books. For the book's size, about 7 x 7 inches, an upgrade on paper would be well received. Overall, a nice gift -- something every grandparent can look at over and over, remembering why it's such fun.
Free, Fearless, Female: Wild Thoughts on Womanhood
Edited by Andrea K. Donner
Published by Willow Creek Press, 2004 -- ISBN 1-57223-885-2
$14.95 -- 110 pages
Overall, the text here is entertaining -- feminist thoughts from famous women all over the world. I laughed out loud at comments like this one from Margaret Mitchell (Gone with the Wind): "Until you've lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was."
Artistically speaking, more attention should have been paid to the photographic excellence this book might have had. Image placement and cropping is clunky. Vertical photographs extend off page tops and bottoms with margins left and right. Horizontals do the opposite. Descriptive text about authors of quotes were ochre ink against charcoal colored paper - little contrast and nearly unreadable in a tiny font.
Female would be an approriate gift for a senior or grandmother struggling with a new life alone. A divorcee or a widow. You could give it to your best girl friend or your favorite daughter, too. The book works; it's thought provoking and often amusing.
Women and Cats
Edited by Andrea K. Donner
Published by Willow Creek Press, 2004 -- ISBN 1-59543-056-3
$14.95 -- pages not numbered
Because so many senior women are bonkers over their cats and kittens, I was drawn by the front cover tagline: "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." The book doesn't keep its promise.
I expected a strong statement, full of romping witticisms, tinged with a bit of good-natured sarcasm. Not so. Here's one: "Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable." -- Brenda Ueland.
Ueland's name doesn't ring a bell. The editor chose not to tell me about her. The comment was as inspiring as a deodorant commercial voice-over. To top it off many of the photographs are stock from commercial collections of all-occasion images. Nothing special. And if you can't present awesome pics of cats....
Willow Creek Press books are usually worth their price and appropriate for gift giving -- I'd skip this one.
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