Gift Books Galore

<p>Who says you can't judge a book by its cover? Check out these recommendations from area booksellers Tom Rider of Goerings Book Store, Ann Haisley of Books, Inc. and Jan Fronk of Book Gallery West. The books are as impressive on the outside as they are interesting on the inside. And there's something here for practically everybody on your list.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><h3>ART, HISTORY AND CULTURE</h3> <p><b>"The Maker's Hand: American Studio Furniture 1940-1990,"</b> by Edward Cooke, Gerald Ward, Wendell Castle, Wharton Esherick and Sam Maloof Jr. (MFA Publications, $60)</p><p>As more and more Americans turned to factory-made furniture during the mid- to late 20th century, a small number of woodworkers and craftsmen bucked the system by producing hand-crafted furniture that was both functional as furniture and as aesthetically pleasing as fine art.</p><p><b>"Regarding Heroes,"</b> by Yousuf Karsh (David R. Godine, $50) </p><p>This Canadian photographer of Armenian descent was one of the most widely acclaimed portrait photographers of the 20th century. His legacy of iconic portraits of Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Einstein and more than 100 other world leaders and celebrities is eloquently captured in this large-format book.</p><p><b>"America and the Tintype,"</b> by Steven Kasher (Steidl/ICP, $58)</p><p>Tintype photography of the mid- to late 19th century became one of the most popular and affordable ways for average Americans to have their pictures taken. This unique collection of sometimes serious, sometimes silly tintypes offers glimpses into the American lifestyle and psyche during the post-Civil War years.</p><p><b>"Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier,"</b> by Carlton Ward Jr. (University Press of Florida, $45)</p><p>Florida has one of the longest histories of ranching in America, a heritage that continues to this day. Every day, the state's Cracker cowboys – largely unseen by most Florida residents and visitors – ride out to work and herd some two million head of cattle on more than seven million acres of Florida ranchlands. In 200-plus pages of photography and text, photojournalist Carlton Ward Jr., an eighth-generation Floridian from a ranching family, has captured the life of the Florida cowboy in all of its hardscrabble splendor.</p><h3>THE GIFT OF GAINESVILLE</h3> <p><b>"A Penny for Your Thoughts: An Album of Historic Postcards of Alachua County,"</b> by Mark Barrow and Murray Laurie (Alachua Press, $39.99) </p><p>This handsome coffee-table book provides a picture-postcard view of early 20th-century Gainesville and Alachua County from Dr. Mark Barrow's extensive collection. The postcards include street scenes, daily life and buildings — some from bygone days and some that are still standing — in and around Gainesville.</p><p><b>"Historic Photos of University of Florida Football,"</b> by Kevin McCarthy (Turner Publishing, $39.95) </p><p>For Gator fans, the text and hundreds of black-and-white photographs in this book chronicle the rise of the "Fightin' Gators." Kevin McCarthy is a professor emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Florida, where he taught linguistics and writing for 37 years.</p><h3>NATURAL WONDERS AND WILDLIFE</h3> <p><b>"Ichetucknee: Sacred Waters,"</b> by Steven Earl (University Press of Florida, $34.95) </p><p>This coffee-table guide features magnificent photos of the Ichetucknee Springs and River by naturalist and park ranger Steven Earl, who has been photographing the Ichetucknee for the past 20 years.</p><p><b>"The Birds of Florida Field Guide,"</b> by Stan Tekiela (Adventure Publications, $14.95) </p><p>This indispensable guide contains beautiful full-page photos and a full page of text for 140 species of Florida birds, including photo inserts of winter plumage, together with range maps showing where each species can be found year-round.</p><p><b>"The Butterflies of Florida Field Guide,"</b> by Jaret C. Daniels (Adventure Publications, $14.95) </p><p>For butterfly enthusiasts, this pictorial guide is ideal for identifying Florida butterflies in your backyard or in the field. It features large, full-color photographs together with life-size silhouettes that help point out key identifying features for 102 species of Florida butterflies. Daniels is assistant director for research at the University of Florida's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity.</p><p><b>"Florida's American Heritage River: Images from the St. Johns Region," </b>by Mallory M. O'Connor and Gary Monroe (University Press of Florida, $44.95)</p><p>For thousands of years, the St. Johns River and its tributaries have been an integral part of Florida's cultural landscape and have helped shape its history. It is the only river in Florida designated as an American Heritage River. This book is a compendium of paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs and other cultural artifacts from the region collected by Mallory M. O'Connor, professor emerita of art history at Santa Fe College, and Gary Monroe, professor of fine arts and photography at Daytona State College.</p>