My SD Moms (StatePoint) As so much reading moves into digital spaces, coffee table books with their lavish designs and entertaining content remain a perennial staple in any home, say literary experts.
“Coffee table books are a window into one’s personal tastes and interests,” says Rachel Kempster, DK Publishing’s director of marketing and publicity. “They also make the perfect holiday gift.”
Here are five new titles to consider gifting this holiday season:
Design Love
Designing with LEGO Bricks is all the rage, thanks to “The LEGO Movie.” Be in vogue by giving enthusiasts a copy of “LEGO Architecture: The Visual Guide,” a beautifully illustrated look at the artists, builders, and inspiration behind the LEGO Architecture series.
Packaged in a sleek slipcase, this coffee table book comes with the added benefit of protection against — coffee!
Maps Galore
From Ptolemy’s world map to the latest maps of the moon and even Google Earth images, “Great Maps” provides a fascinating overview of cartography through the ages. Revealing the stories behind 55 historical maps by analyzing graphic close-ups, “Great Maps” also profiles key cartographers and explorers to explore why each map was commissioned, who it was for and how they influenced navigation, propaganda, power, art, and politics.
Fun with Photography
You don’t have to have a special affinity for photography to appreciate, “Photography: The Definitive Visual History.” A celebration of the most iconic photographs and photographers of the past 200 years, this stunning book, written by world-renowned photographer, writer and broadcaster Tom Ang, traces the history of photography from its origins to the digital age.
The Stellar Solar System
Featuring all-new 3D models built using data gathered by NASA and the European Space Agency, “The Planets” is an awe-inspiring journey through the Solar System, from Earth to Mars and beyond.
Viewed layer by layer, planets and other objects in the Solar System are taken out of the night sky and presented on a clean white background, revealing every detail of their surface and internal anatomy in astonishing detail.
Looking at planets, the Sun, hundreds of moons and thousands of asteroids and comets, “The Planets” includes timelines that chronicle all major space missions, right up to the latest Mars rovers, and infographics that present fascinating facts about all planets and the Solar System in a fresh new way.
Heroes and Villians
For pop culture fans, consider “Marvel Comics Cover Art,” which brings together an unforgettable gallery spotlighting the most iconic covers, along with never-before-seen concept art from all over the world. Celebrating 75 years of Marvel Comics, it features the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man, and The Avengers, as well as the writers and artists who gave them life — including Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.
More gift book ideas can be found at www.us.dk.com.
“A beautiful object that serves at once as artwork, information and the all-important conversation starter, is a gift that will never go out of style,” says Kempster.
