1.   Americana is a natural, inevitable, and popular theme for gift books, and there is an unusual number this season.

2.   An unusual but worthy gift book for people who really like plants.

3.   And every year we appraise the gift books in the seasonal marketplace, in the name of consumer guidance.

4.   And there are gift books explaining how to do that.

5.   Andrews McMeel Publishing, a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, publishes general nonfiction books, gift books and humor books.

6.   Biographies are among the most readable of gift books.

7.   Blank greeting cards are also on hand along with attractive small gift books.

8.   But if a gift book can inspire someone to do more than merely sit back in passive admiration, then the money surely has been well spent.

9.   Christmas gift books are the best read of the year because they help gardeners get through the excruciating indoor months of winter.

10.   Crown publishes fiction and non-fiction books, including inspirational books, illustrated lifestyle books, cookbooks, gift books and language study guides.