The holidays will be fast upon us, and good girls and boys will be looking for a little something under the tree or in their stockings. Books are the gifts that keep on giving all year long. Some educate, entertain or spark creativity and very good ones will do it all. Here are just a few suggestions that could make Santa’s job a little easier.

A Cowgirl and her Horse is a picture book written and illustrated by Jean Ekman Adams. It is a delightful story that takes place in rural Arizona. This, her fourth children’s book, is fanciful and fun. Adams’ first book, published in 2000, called Clarence Goes Out West and Meets a Purple Horse, was selected by The Smithsonian for their Notable Books for Children list.

Adams’ colorful art is whimsically detailed and complements the story about a cowgirl who also is a pig and has a horse as her best friend. The action describes all the chores she must do for her pal: Pick out good food, pick new shoes and keep him warm at night. Parents reading the story will laugh at the cowgirl’s quirky list of responsibilities. This book could be a great dialogue opening for children who are clamoring for a pet.

Another appealing picture book is Tia’s Tamales, written by Ana Baca and illustrated and translated by Noël Chilton. This bilingual tale is about Luz, who lives in northern New Mexico and is facing a snow day with nothing to do until her abuela (grandmother) arrives with a story and an idea for fun. This multigenerational tale teaches Luz about Abuela’s father Diego and his tia (aunt) and the family tradition of making tamales from whatever food supplies are available. Tia’s Tamales includes a history of the tamale, glossary of Spanish words and several tasty looking recipes. This is a fanciful and entertaining book sure to appeal to budding family chefs.

Local preschool teacher and award-winning songwriter Melanie Milburn wrote I Love You More Than Chocolate earlier this year. The story evolved from a song and nighttime routine Milburn used while tucking her children into bed and off to dreamland. The book is colorfully illustrated by local artist Cindy Coleman and includes a CD with Milburn’s recording of the story/song. The recording has a country flavor with guitar providing the prominent musical accompaniment. Sleepy preschoolers will love hearing that they are more important than trips to the mall, birds that sing, baseball and, of course, chocolate.

Moving on to older readers, Aztec author Uma Krishnaswami gives us The Grand Plan To Fix Everything. Welcome to the world of Dini and her best friend, Maddy, who live in Maryland. Both girls are fascinated and in love with Bollywood and especially talented and famous actress Dolly Singh from Bombay/Mumbai. Dini’s parents are from India. Out of the blue, they inform Dini that they are moving to the tiny mountain town of Swapnagiri in southern India for two years. The girls are crushed but start to plot ways that Dini might get to meet their idol, Dolly.

What follows is a fantasy-filled and fun romp with the story plotted by Dini as a Bollywood script. Filled with great characters, including mischievous monkeys, stuttering postmen, movie stars and unexpected Bollywood fans, the story tumbles ahead as Dini grows to realize that life is messy and follows no script, no matter how well-written. This is a wonderful read with charming illustrations by Abigail Halpin. It would appeal to mostly middle school readers.

Starfish, a first novel by James Crowley, is a wonderfully evocative story from 1909 and Montana’s Blackfeet reservation. The book was nominated by the Mountain and Plains Independent Booksellers Association for the Reading the West Book Award.

Lionel and his older sister Beatrice are orphans living in a boarding school run by priests and soldiers. Beatrice resists the rules and honors the old ways of their people and is constantly testing the boundaries of the priests’ patience with her quiet, stoic rebellion. Lionel, on the other hand, doesn’t remember much of his traditions and tries to just get by. One day as Lionel goes to his chore of watering and feeding Ulysses, the captain’s horse, he discovers a frozen elder in the horse’s pen. The elder is holding a bear claw necklace that he seems to offer to Lionel. This unsettling discovery sets off events that have Beatrice and Lionel escaping the school on the back of the speedy Ulysses.

Thus begins an adventure of life on the run and survival in the wilderness and a return to the old ways. This beautifully written story depicts a vivid sense of place and reflects the attitudes of the time toward Native Americans. This book should appeal to boys and girls. This story could be a great enticement for reluctant readers because it is sure to capture the imagination of young tweens and teens interested in Native Americans and history.

These books are only a few of the abundant stories available to parents, grandparents and children this holiday. Remember, these gifts should survive well past the New Year and have a bonus: no batteries required.

Freelance reviewer Leslie Doran may be reached at sierrapoco@yahoo.com.