Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
smiling by the windows looking out
in our directions
back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you
over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you
with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is
– W. S. Merwin
, 
, 
, and the others in the small-child category from last year’s post. Equally, I often give Mary Oliver’s 
) and Dani Shapiro (especially 
) to adults.
(Andrea Beaty) – Both Grace and Whit love this funny, inspiring tale of young Rosie and her unquenchable desire to invent things. She’s briefly daunted by negative feedback but bounces back with positive input from a mentor. I love this book and recommend it to children young and old of both genders.
(Joshua Glenn) – To call Whit obsessed with this book is a ridiculous understatement. We’ve been giving this as a present to any and all birthday parties all fall, and this year many boys close to our family will receive it under the tree. The highlight of Whit’s fall, perhaps, was meeting Joshua Glenn in person. The follow up book, 
, is also excellent.
(Cynthia Chin-Lee) – This book tells the story of 26 women whose lives and work impacted history. The illustrations are a beautiful mixture of collage and drawing. I’m always a fan of books that showcase the often under-reported achievements of women and I think Amelia to Zora does so in an approachable, entertaining way.
(Pseudonymous Bosch) – Whit has devoured this entire series with an enthusiasm I’ve not often seen. A great gift for an elementary-school aged boy (or girl) who is looking for a world to dive into.
(Kelly DiPucchio) – I wish the protagonist in this book wasn’t named Grace, since my adoration of the book (which my children share) has nothing to do with her name. I cry every single time I read it. Every. Single. Time.
(Malala Yousafzai) – Grace loved this book and, having read it, was incredibly excited by and invested in Malala’s Nobel Peace Prize win. Interesting and inspiring non-fiction for tween girls.
(Erin Gates) – This book would make a beautiful hostess gift and would please any design-minded woman on your list. In addition, Erin’s voice is both hilarious and deeply honest and compelling. I wrote 
(Anne Lamott) – I love every book of Anne Lamott’s I’ve ever read, and her newest is no exception. Lamott manages to make me feel like she’s speaking directly to me, and as though she has access to the innermost reaches of my heart and mind. I loved this book.
(Jenny Rosenstrach) – This book isn’t new (though the companion volume, also wonderful, 
, is) but I love it and plan to give it often. Jenny’s recipes are easy and delicious and more than anything, her philosophy is one I embrace. I believe in family dinner and we do it whenever we can (though that’s certainly not every night, and I do think that the outsize pressure to have family dinner every night can be punitive to mothers).
by Anthony Doerr (
by Lily King (
by Emily St. John Mandel (
by Marilynne Robinson (