For the star-gazing younger members of the family (Grade 7 and up who are already starting to miss school)

Stargirl
By Jerry Spinelli
The latest book by award-winning author Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl is a great look at teenage life in a school setting. I'm sure none of us have forgotten what it was like in school with all the cliques -  feelings of wanting to fit in and be "popular" were what mattered most of all. This book shows how trying to make someone fit in may not be what is best for him or her. It’s always better to be just who you are and to be proud of that no matter what others might think. A great book for teens.

For Dad (when he’s not fishing— or fixing the outboard motor)

The Complete Angler: A Connecticut Yankee Follows in the Footsteps of Walton
by James Prosek

This is the chronicle of a young man's tour through England, fishing the waters that are no longer open to the public. Along with wonderful tales of good times, great fishing and fine eating, this trip becomes an exploration of Waltonian ideals: how to live with humor, wisdom, contentment and simplicity. This is a latter day follow up to the Izaac Walton classic written in the 1600’s, titled The Compleat Angler.

Running to the Mountain: A Midlife Adventure
By Jon Katz

Katz used the works of Thomas Merton as inspiration for his own inner journey. He describes the pleasures of living on the mountain, learning that he has the wherewithal to restore a broken-down cabin and experiencing solitude in a natural landscape.

For Mum (when she’s finished hanging Dad’s fishing vest up to dry…)

The Action Heroine’s Handbook 
By Jennifer Worick

For every woman who wants to be as tough as Lara Croft, as nimble as the Bionic Woman and as babe-a-licious as Charlie's Angels, The Action Heroine's Handbook shows how to conquer the bad guys in virtually any situation. This sequel to The Action Hero's Handbook features step-by-step illustrations and instructions on profiling a serial killer, going undercover as a beauty queen, navigating white water rapids, outwitting a band of house invaders, and more.

Cottages : The New Style 
ByJames Grayson Trulove

In this nicely photographed volume, Trulove puts contemporary touches on 16 classic country houses. For example, he takes a rustic house on the Minnesota-Canada border, which has "a rich Scandinavian … heritage," and brings simple lines and brightness to the interior with such details as light wood paneling and a modern stairway to a sleeping loft; outside, he attaches modern additions of dark wood and window casings to the house. " Each of the book’s cottages is presented with topographical site plans, floor plans and black and white sections of various angles of the house, and color photos…”

For an Aunt and Uncle (who just “dropped in” for a 6 week visit)

Road Trip USA : Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways
(Road Trip USA)
By Jamie Jensen

… and their annoying children

Go fly a kite: the kite builder's manual
By John C. Boxtel

Written by kite lover John Boxtel, this little book will be invaluable for anyone of any age who enjoys the magic of kite flying. Boxtel is an artist and high school teacher, with the result that the text not only explains (with excellent diagrams) how to build twelve different kinds of kites, but also discusses the best materials for their construction, be they wood, paper, cloth, plastic, glue or string. There is also advice about kite tails, the right kind of wind, and basic rules of kite flying.

For Grandma:

Grandma, Do You Remember When?: Sharing a Lifetime of Loving Memories--A Keepsake Journal
Illustrated by Jim Daly

In this keepsake journal for grandma to fill out, grandchildren can discover the experiences, happy moments and cherished events that shaped their grandmother’s legacy. Old–fashioned paintings by Jim Daly will sweeten every grandmother’s stroll down memory lane as she shares her thoughts on the lined pages filled with questions including: tell me your favorite story about our family, what is your prayer for me and what makes you happiest about being a grandmother?

For Grandpa:

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
By Mark Twain