What are some of your favorite books to give friends and family as gifts or to share during the coming holiday season?

For the new parents on my gift list I've selected two of my favorite stories.

For Mom - Five Minutes' Peace by Jill Murphy. This is the story of a Mom in search of five minutes of alone time that she hopes to find in a relaxing bath and a warm cup of tea. It's not to be of course, because she's soon joined by her three active children who all want to help.

For Dad - Once Upon a time, the end" (asleep in 60 seconds) by Geoffrey Kloske. The title pretty much says it all. This will be a fun preview of what's in store for a first time Dad who will eventually be hearing that familiar bedtime plea - "Please Daddy tell me just one more story."

And now...Friday's Famous Firsts:

1. "Roy would not have noticed the strange boy if it weren't for Dana Matherson, because Roy ordinarily didn't look out the window of the school bus."

Can you name the title and author?