Can't Figure out What to Get Your Techno-Crazed Child?

Video games and digital gadgets may be the things that many children want for Christmas or Hanukkah.

But books are“trending this year," said Rose Joseph, owner of Oak Park’s own. “We’re running out of the most popular one,” she said.

But there are a lot of others, and Joseph provided the names of just a few that will make great last-minute holidays gifts:

• Series are popular again. Rick Riordan’s “Gods of Olympus,” with the entries “Lost Hero” and “Son of Neptune” are marvelous reads. And so is his “Kane Chronicles,” with its Egyptian-based magic and myths. Two are “Red Pyramid” and “Throne on the Fire.” They’re great for children from ages 6 to 12, she said.
• In teen fiction, nothing satisfies quite like Suzanne Collins’ dystopian trilogy “Hunger Games.”   A movie’s coming out next year and it’ll be difficult keeping the books in stock, she said.
• For children (and adults) who wish that Dr. Seuss had published even more are in for a treat. Seven stories, originally published in magazines between 1950 and 1951, are now in a collection “The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories.”
• Many of us were mesmerized as children by the adventures of Milo, who was transported on his travels through “The Phantom Toll Booth.” Well the book - written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer – has come out in a 50th anniversary edition. “Adults remember having read it and loving it and are picking it up for their own children,” Joseph said.
• Stories of the Greek gods have mystified readers for generations, and the National Geographic has issued a new collection, “Treasury of Greek Mythology.” The text is by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli; the illustrations, by Christina Balit, “are really nice,” Joseph said.
• Eric Carle, a marvelous author for the preschool age-set, has a new book, “The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse."
• Chris van Allsburg’s “Mysteries of Harris Burdick,” still captures children’s imaginations. Recently issued is the “The Chronicles of Harris Burdick,” a collection of stories by 14 authors who try to explain what they think is going on in the pictures in Van Allsburg’s book. The list of writers is impressive: from Lemony Snicket, Jules Feiffer and Stephen King to even Van Allsburg himself. Rose said it is good for children of all ages, especially those 8 years old and up.
• The story of the “Christmas Tree Ship” the vessel that delivered holiday trees from Michigan and in 1912 became one of this area’s greatest tragedies is now a book for children up to age 10. The work is penned by Rochelle Pennington. “The illustrations are gorgeous, and people are buying this because it’s a Chicago book,” she said.  
• Then there are the standbys: “Winnie the Pooh,” “Little Women,” “Alice in Wonderland” and the “Secret Garden.” So, too are collections of Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.
• And if you just can’t get away from video games, “The Big Red Doodle Book” will keep Angry Birds fans enthralled. “It’s doing quite well,” Joseph said.  

The bookstore, at 141 N. Oak Park Ave., will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. It will be closed Christmas Day.