Kids’ Gift Books Last Long Past the Holidays

No sooner are the Thanksgiving leftovers wrapped in foil than we start planning and shopping for the children-centered holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas.

At this gift-giving season, may I respectfully suggest that books be high on the list. Yes, I can still recall my childhood delight at receiving a pair of red slippers trimmed with white fur at Christmas.

But the greatest joy was getting books because it meant my parents would have to read to me. The slippers are long gone, but I still have some of those books.

So take the hand of a child and walk into a wondrous store like Adventures for Kids, at 3457 Telegraph Road in Ventura, which has recently remodeled to expand its selection of books, toys and videos.

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For years, George Manory of Simi Valley volunteered his time to read to hospitalized terminally ill children. Because so many stories were either too cute or contained death and violence, Manory decided to write and publish his own stories, which, he said, “would take these afflicted youngsters to a land of make-believe and help them forget the sounds of cold, callous machines trying to keep them alive.”

The result is “The Adventures of Samuel J. Hare,” the first in a planned trilogy. One youngster wrote to Manory, saying, “I got in trouble staying up too late reading this exciting story.” The book is available in bookstores or from Storyteller Publishing, Box 1456, Simi Valley 93062.

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Ray Bradbury’s generosity with his fans rivals his fame as a science fiction and fantasy author. He spends hours in bookstores chatting with fans whenever his schedule permits. Bradbury will sign “Quicker Than the Eye” and “Dinosaur Tales” at 1 p.m. Sunday in Phantom Bookshop, 451 E. Main St., Ventura. Then its on to the Earthling Bookstore, 1137 State St., Santa Barbara, for a 5 p.m. appearance.

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The late Jack Smith, whose column appeared in this newspaper for almost 40 years, wrote about his last illness with clear-eyed honesty and humor. A new collection of Smith’s columns reflects how he came to value the things he once took for granted. His widow, Denise, will sign “Eternally Yours” at 2 p.m. Sunday in Barnes & Noble, 160 Promenade Way, at the new Promenade at Westlake mall at Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards.

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Events at Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks: Ojai resident Mona Brookes will demonstrate drawing techniques and sign “Drawing With Children” and “Drawing for Older Children and Teens” at 2 p.m. Sunday. Photographer Tim Hauf will present a slide show and sign his book, “Channel Islands National Park,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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The Conejo Valley Genealogical Society’s Computer Interest Group will hear a panel discussion on how GEDCOM, a computer language program, is used to exchange and transfer genealogical data, 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Conejo Valley Center, 1025 Old Farm Road in Thousand Oaks. Call 495-9659.

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A century of Ventura history is on display at Books on Main, the books and collectibles shop at 588 E. Main St., Ventura. The special exhibit, titled “Ventura: A Cowtown in the Making,” features historic documents, photos, maps and books that will be on view through December.

In Santa Barbara

Carla Henry and Yolanda Finter will sign their book, “Souper Skinny Soups,” 3 p.m. Sunday at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St. Henry also will present her new book, “Vegetarians in the Fast Lane,” written with her son Travis.

Frances Halpern is co-host with Jon O’Brien of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU-FM (88.3), Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.