Appletree staff have highlighted some favorite gift suggestions for you to consider. As new books arrive daily, these gift selections will change, so check back frequently.
To order a book or several, please view our online store, email us at info@appletree-books.com or call us at 216.791.2665. Your selections can be picked up at the store or delivered if you live in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, University Heights, or University Circle. Complimentary gift wrap is also available.
Atlas of Imagined Places: Froom Lilliput to Gotham CIty
Genre: Social Science
Atlas of Imagined Places: From Lilliput to Gotham City by Matt Brown and Rhys Davies
Description:
Colorful and well-executed fictional geography and topography of buildings, towns, countries, forests, mountains, rivers, oceans from your favorite books, films, and television shows.
Recommended because:
The information presented is articulate, literate, and artful.
Great gift for:
The reader who has a large library, large CD collection, or multi-channel television.
American Comics: A History
Genre: Arts
American Comics: A History by Jeremy Dauber
Description:
Everything you could possibly want to know about the history of cartoons and comics.
Recommended because:
Having encyclopedic knowledge of a “niche” topic is every nerd’s dream.
Great gift for:
The nerd friend you know who loves comic books.
Sense and Sensibility: Illustrations by Marjorie Bastin
Genre: Classics
Sense and Sensibility: Illustrations by Jane Austen, illustrations by Marjorie Bastin
Description:
A beautiful new collection of Jane Austen’s first novel.
Recommended because:
Everyone needs to have a classic; so, why not have the newest, most beautiful version possible of this great novel.
Great gift for:
That one Austen lover in your life.
Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses
Genre: Architecture
Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses by Dominic Bradbury
Description:
400 + houses; 290 + architects; 40+ costumes; midcentury-style showcased in a lavishly illustrated and deeply researched quality book.
Recommended because:
Many people love mid-century houses and style.
Great gift for:
Any house hunter, be they professional or a nosey aficionado.
One Snowy Night
Genre: Children
One Snowy Night (Percy the Park Keeper Story) by Nick Butterworth
Description:
With a nod to Jan Brett and the author’s earlier “Jolly Postman,” Nick Butterworth’s “One Snowy Night” will delight young readers with the animal slumber party with Percy the Park Keeper.
Recommended because:
The illustrations are charming and present the animals with distinctive personalities and expressions.
Great gift for:
Children ages 2-10
The New York City Travel Guide
Genre: Travel
The New York City Travel Guide
Description:
A guidebook that helps you explore New York City in all its complexity and multi-dimensional neighborhoods.
Recommended because:
Good small size, helpful information, well organized with maps.
Great gift for:
Traveler or armchair traveler
Gothic: An Illustrated History
Genre: Art and Literary Criticism
Gothic: An Illustrated History by Roger Luckhurst
Description:
A colorful and well-researched history of “Gothic” style in architecture, literature, and religion.
Recommended because:
It is a thorough and extensive presentation of a stylistic trend in the humanities.
Great gift for:
Sci Fi and Fantasy lovers as well as architectural historians.
The Eco-Christmas Craft Book
Genre: Craft
The Eco-Christmas Craft Book: 30 Stylish Festive Projects that Won’t Hurt the Planet by Marianne Miall
Description:
A good craft boo to make Christmas special and “eco-friendly.”
Recommended because:
Offers inspirational photography and easy-to-understand instructions so anyone can create professional-looking decorations.
Great gift for:
The crafter, recycler, and nature lover.
Sapiens: A Graphic History
Genre: Graphic Novels
Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind (Vol. 1 and 2) by Yuval Noah Harari
Description:
Harari explores the biology and history of the creation and evolution of humans.
Recommended because:
The graphics add a fresh take to understanding the origins of humanity and civilization.
Great gift for:
Science lover and curious readers.
The New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes
Genre: Cooking
The New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton
Description:
This book focuses on the ingredients and the process – “a dah of cayenne,” “a warm oven,” bringing new meaning to and definition of “Bon Appetit.”
Recommended because:
Great photos, easy to follow, no-nonsense recipes.
Great gift for:
foodies, family, the relative who doesn’t cook!
Everyone You Hate is Going to Die
Genre: Humor
Everyone You Hate is Going to Die: And Other Comforting Thoughts on Family, Friends, Sex, Love, and More Things That Will Ruin Your Life by Daniel Sloss
Description:
A comedian’s valid and brutal takes on love, friendship, family, and more.
Recommended because:
It is unapologetically brutal and funny and is harsh.
Great gift for:
That one friend in a terrible relationship you know is going to end badly.
The Lincoln Highway
Genre: Fiction
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Description:
The 50’s road trip of two broken brothers explores the meaning of home and family and what truly matters.
Recommended because:
Multi-layered characters are presented amidst period detail by this talented author,
Great gift for:
Literature lover, a fan of Amor Towles, someone born in the 1950s.
Gender Swapped Fairy Tales
Genre: Fairy tales, myths, and legends
Gender Swapped Fairy Tales by Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett
Description:
Exactly what the title says: fairy tales, but swap the genders, and let’s see what happens.
Recommended because:
It’s an interesting and fresh take on the classics, with beautiful illustrations.
Great gift for:
The young literature lover and critical thinker.
At the Heights of the Moon
Genre: Children’s Poetry
At the Heights of the Moon: A Book of Bedtime Poetry and Art by Annette Roeder, Alison Baverstock, and Matt Cunningham
Description:
A beautiful compendium of bedtime poems accompanied by art reproductions.
Recommended because:
This book presents an opportunity to share beautiful words and pictures with children at bedtime.
Great gift for:
Parents, grandparents, and children
Simply Christmas
Genre: Seasonal
Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays: A Devotional by Tama Fortner
Description:
A seasonally inspired 31 days devotional providing calm amid holiday chaos and clutter.
Recommended because:
It is a small, beautiful book offering inspiration and reflections to make the holidays more manageable.
Great gift for:
Aunt, Mom, Sister, Granny, or anyone who works hard to make Christmas a happy holiday for everyone.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks – Super Easy!
Genre: Cookbooks
The Pioneer Woman Cooks-Super Easy! 120 Shortcut Recopies for Dinner, Deserts, and More by Ree Drummond
Description:
Family favorites re-designed to cook faster and easier.
Recommended because:
Ree takes classic favorite family recopies and reminds us why we love them and how we can make them in less time.
Great gift for:
Busy families
Antiquarian Sticker Book: Bibliophilia
Genre: Crafts
Antiquarian Sticker Book: Bibliophilia
Description:
A sticker book for the adult book or art lovers.
Recommended because:
Stunning images from different eras relating to books and typography.
Great gift for:
Crafter, scrapbooker, ephemera lover.
Louis Vuitton: Extraordinary Voyages
Genre: Fashion
Louis Vuitton: Extraordinary Voyages by Fancisca Matteoli
Description:
Oh, where all those fabulous Louis Vuitton suitcases and trunks have been!
Recommended because:
One of a kind book.
Great gift for:
Travel and design aficionados
The Beer Bible
Genre: Cooking
The Beer Bible by Jeff Alworth
Description:
Everything you have ever wanted to know about your favorite beverage in a single book.
Recommended because:
It is graphically interesting and incredibly informative.
Great gift for:
The beer-loving person in your life – Dad, brother, etc.
Egg Marks the Spot
Genre: Children Middle Reader
Egg Marks the Spot (Skunk and Badger 2) by Amy Timberlake and illustrations by Jon Klassen
Description:
The adventures of Skunk and Badger, the odd couple, continue.
Recommended because:
A compelling story combined with friendship, adventure, and humor. Starred Kirkus review.
Great gift for:
adventure-seeking kids ages 7-10
John Derian Paper Goods: Wrapping Paper & Gift Tags
Genre: Gift Item
John Derian Paper Goods: Wrapping Paper & Gift Tags
by John Derian, New York designer and tastemaker
Description:
Stunning papers useful for wrapping, framing, or crafting.
The Secret of the Magic Pearl
Genre: Children Early Reader
The Secret of the Magic Pearl by Elisa Sabatinelli
Description:
An Italian fantasy about a boy who loves the ocean and dreams of diving like his father and grandfather.
Recommended because:
Stunning illustrations and a magical storybook.
Great gift for:
Fantasy and adventure lovers, ages 6-10.
The Lost Apothecary
Genre: Fiction
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Description:
Debut novel of two women in different eras (contemporary and 18th century London) seeking vindication, definition, and perhaps forgiveness.
Recommended because:
Well woven parallel stories with sympathetic characters.
Great gift for:
Historical fiction lovers and feminists.
Great Circle
Genre: Adult Fiction
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
Description:
Historical fiction with a strong female character, an aspiring aviatrix attempting to circumnavigate the globe longitudinally.
Recommended because:
One of a kind characters, persevering against many challenges.
Great gift for:
Female friends looking for an engrossing story.
1984: The Graphic Novel
Genre: Graphic Novel
1984: The Graphic Novel by George Orwell, adapted and illustrated by Fido Nesti
Description:
An incredible graphic adaption of George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel.
Recommended because:
A powerful and timely adaptation of a classic. Sure to be one of the year’s most notable graphic novels.
Great gift for:
Graphic novel lovers; the friend who’s sure that Big Brother is here now or on his way; any lover of dystopian fiction who for some strange reason has not read Orwell.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
Description:
In an alternative 1980’s London, a young woman searches for the father she’s never met and finds a stranger world than she could have imagined.
Recommended because:
This is a really fun read, with interesting characters, great story, cool magical system, and a big secret revealed.
Great gift for:
Teen or adult who loves urban fantasy and magic.
Gastro Obsurca: A Food Adventurer’s Guide
Genre: Cooking/Adventure
Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras
Description:
A fun and educational guide about what and why we humans eat.
Recommended because:
Fascinating information for anyone interested in food and the history of foods around the world.
Great gift for:
Foodies, historians, travelers, adventurers, and the curious.