The Cultured Vultures Book Christmas Gift Guide is back. I don't want to make you feel bad about the passing of time, but I'm sorry to tell you that it's time again. If it's even possible, 2021 has been a more crazy year than 2020. At least we still have books. And books are still the best gifts because they are easy to wrap, send, and there is a book for almost everyone. This is why books are still the best gifts.

Best Books For Secret Santa

101 Things To Do Instead of Playing on Your Phone – Ilka Heinemann

Is it possible that you don't know the person who will be your Secret Santa very well? I bet they spend too much time on their phone.

Give them this light-hearted book that wants to help us all get rid of our phone addictions as well as give us a chance to do some creative things instead.

Pandemonium: Some Verses On The Current Predicament – Armando Iannucci

Armando Iannucci, who has written some of the best comedy writing in the last twenty years, has turned his hand to poetry this Christmas. You can be sure that it will be a good time, though.

In this book, you can find out if your Secret Santa has a sense of humor or strong opinions about the chaos in our lives.

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions – Randall Munroe

Munroe is the person who came up with xkcd.com, which is very popular and very funny. How long could a nuclear submarine last on a space mission? Or could we make jetpacks out of downward-firing machine guns? These are important questions that he talks about in his book, "What If?"

In this book, your Secret Santa will be able to learn a lot about the world around them.

Rubbish Pet Portraits – Hercule Van Wolfwinkle

People would be happy to get Rubbish Pet Portraits for Secret Santa because it's just so silly, but it does what it says on the tin.

They say Van Wolfwinkle draws bad portraits and then says "People will say what they think about this picture." The reviews, which are both funny and to the point, are what makes this book a hit.

Best Books For Kids

The Hugasaurus – Rachel Bright and Chris Chatterton

The Hugasaurus is a book that any parent will be grateful for. They will thank you even more for trying to spread the message that kindness is the most important thing.

The little Hugasaurus is going to the playground. She finds that her new friends fight and break up a lot. A kind person brings them together.

Daughter Of The Deep – Rick Riordan

Daughter of the Deep is Rick Riordan's new middle-grade book. It's always been one of my favorite books. This time, Riordan isn't writing about mythology, but about science. The reviews are all over the place.

Riordan is a good way to get points with middle-grade kids. You can also give them the most recent book from their favorite author.

The Last Bear – Hannah Gold and Levi Pinfold

The Last Bear is Hannah Gold's first book. It's about climate change, which is a big problem that we have right now. But it's also a great story for middle-grade kids to read.

On Bear Island, the last bear is starving and alone. April decides it is up to her to help him because he's the only one there. This book is set in the cold Arctic and is a great Christmas read.

You Are A Champion – Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka

Marcus Rashford is more than just a football player. He is also a political activist and a champion for the people. There is a lot to admire about his work ethic and dedication to a cause. This book, written for older kids, tries to make them think about how they can be good people, too.

Rashford used to be a kid in Manchester, just like any other kid. He has teamed up with a journalist and a performance psychologist to show young people how they can be like him.

They Both Die At The End – Adam Silvera

During the last few years, TikTok has been a surprise marketing tool for books. Most likely, your teen has seen this book on the platform.

They come together to spend their last day together in a world where everyone knows when they will die.

Best Books For Bookworms

Lore Olympus: Volume One – Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus is a comic book that started out on Webtoon, which is a free app that lets you read comics. Your bookworm might not know about it. They retell the Hades and Persephone myth, and it's a lot of fun to read!

It's the first time the brand new first volume has been made into a book.

The Appeal – Janice Hallett

This quirky mystery book has been a surprise hit. A lot of people have read it, but the book world has been very quiet about it.

Make sure your bookworm has read this and wait for them to thank you in a big way.

The Cat Who Saved Books – Sosuke Natsukawa (Translator: Louise Heal Kawai)

Bookworms love reading about more than books. This little book is for people who know that books are worth more than the paper they are written on.

His grandfather's bookshop has just been passed down to Rintaro. It looks like he'll have to close the store down. That's when Tiger comes out and gives him a secret assignment. It shows how important it is to care for other people, as well as to read.

Piranesi – Susanna Clarke

After the huge success of her first book, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Clarke went on a long hiatus. But then she came back with Piranesi, a book that smashed the Women's Prize, and it was a big hit.

Make sure your bookworm has read this new book from one of the most interesting authors of her time.

Best Books For That Friend Who Doesn’t Read Much

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Another TikTok favorite, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, has become a huge hit. Your friend may like this book if they don't like to read. It's a good thing too, because it's a great, easy-going book that you can't put down.

Star of Golden Age movies Evelyn Hugo comes out of the woodwork to talk about her life, and what a life she has had!

Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 – Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

If you haven't been living under a rock, Dune is the most popular movie of the year. A graphic novel might be a good way for your friend to get into reading if they like movies as much as you do. If you don't read much, the book can be a little scary if you don't read very often.

When you see the illustrations in this book, you know that Frank Herbert's most important work is in good hands with his son.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries Vol. 1

Batman and the Mystery Inc. team up comic is a lot of fun for a friend who wants to read something easy. Whether you are a big fan of pop culture or not, this comic book is for you!

This is volume one. Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby go back in time to help solve the mystery of Batman's lost purple gloves.

Best Books For Awkward Parents/Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents

Could You Survive Midsomer?- Simon Brew

We all know that living in Midsomer is about the most dangerous thing a person could do, because of all the horrible murders that happen there all the time.

It's a great way to give your older relative a fun gift. This interactive book puts the reader in the shoes of a Midsomer CID officer, who is trying to solve the crime.

Windswept & Interesting: My Autobiography – Billy Connolly

When Billy Connolly's Christmas autobiography comes out in 2021, he'll be a favorite of British Boomers again. It might be the right book for an older relative who likes comedy, or who likes to read about their own lives, if this is what they like.

In Connolly's case, he's had a pretty interesting life. His writing is going to be as interesting as his comedy.

This Much is True – Miriam Margoyles

It's also worth noting that Miriam Margoyles has written a book about her life. If you've seen any of her interviews, you'll know that she has some interesting stories and opinions that you should listen to and read about.

Martyles is a great thing for the country, and he would probably be the first to admit it. But all the best people are, and reading her autobiography is sure to be a lot of fun.

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