Books make great family presents. Especially good are reference books, poetry anthologies, and books of projects and games parents and children can do together. Other good choices are books that relate to family hobbies such as bird watching, star gazing, or a favorite sport.

Emeril's There's a Chef in My World!: Recipes that Take You Places by Emeril Lagasse. HarperCollins. ISBN: 0060739266. $22.99. This cookbook is for kids of all ages and adults to use together, with 75 recipes for daily meals, special occasions, and everything in between. You can make a meal with dishes from one region or mix it up for a truly international feast!

The Everything Games Book: 600 Classic Games and Activities for the Whole Family by Lesley Bolton. Adams Media. ISBN: 159337318X. $14.95. Whether players want to review the rules of their favorite classics like Chinese checkers or chess, or gear up for a new challenge with calabrasella or mahjong- this complete guide covers them all.

Exploratopia: More Than 400 Kid-Friendly Explorations and Experiments for Curious Minds by Pat Murphy. Little Brown. ISBN: 0316612812. $29.99. Want to learn how to mummify a hot dog? Break secret codes? Launch a rocket? Exploratopia overflows with things you can explore using the simplest everyday items. A great book to have in every family’s library when kids say, “I’m bored.”

FamilyFun Cooking with Kids by Deanna F. Cook. Disney Editions. ISBN: 1423100867. $24.95. Three hundred kid friendly recipes with cool photos, suggestions for ways kids can participate, and easy to follow directions make cooking and eating together fun for the whole family.

Museum Trip by Barbara Lehman. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0618581251. $15.00. The mysterious, magical art and curiosities of a museum come to life when a boy steps into one of the exhibits. This wordless book is a good one for families to pour over solving the puzzles and spotting the reproductions of familiar art works.