Good books are always treasured holiday presents. McDaniel College Associate Librarian Jane Sharpe presented 27 of the best new books to give and get Nov. 15 to a packed house. Choices included fiction and non-fiction for children and adults, a cookbook, biography, picture book and a coffee table book.

“Books are timeless gifts,” says Sharpe. “There are very few people who wouldn't love a book, especially one chosen just for them. And everybody needs some help holiday shopping.”

Here, in her words, are Sharpe’s picks:

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue.  An adult fairy tale that weaves together the stories of two changelings.

The Collectors by David Baldacci. In this contemporary, fast paced book, there is murder, intrigue and a secret that "could bring America to its knees."

Dark Angels by Karleen Koen. Set in 1670 Restoration England, this book has extravagance, passion, treachery and murder.

Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans. This little book about love is about how people come into our lives for a reason and the importance of sharing a kind word.

The Things that Matter: What Seven Classic Novels Have to Say About the Stages of Life by Edward Mendelson. This is not just a book for the literary critic – it is for everyone interested in how four female novelists write about life.

What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions, Their Answers by Richard Brookhiser. This book presents situations of today to our forefathers – after all, they wrote the user’s manual on America.

Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell by Karen DeYoung. This first full biography of Colin Powell takes us though his life as a child of immigrants, a soldier, secretary of state, and possible presidential candidate.

I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron. Very seldom do I laugh out loud at a book. This is one of those times.

My Life as a Furry Red Monster by Kevin Clash with Gary Brozek. Author Kevin Clash grew up in Turner Station, and has spent 20 years as Elmo. In this memoir, he tells what the character taught him about life.

Weird Maryland: Your Travel Guide to Maryland’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Matt Lake. There are so many strange things about Maryland that you can learn from this book; it will make you want to take a road trip.

Carroll County (Images of America) by Catherine Baty (on behalf of the Historical Society of Carroll County). When you see the old photographs you won’t believe how the places have changed.

Digital Collage and Painting: Using Photoshop and Painter to Create Fine Art by Susan Ruddick Bloom. This is the artists’ point of view of a great new technology, and the pictures are incredible.

Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You’ll Make Over and Over Again by Ina Garten. This cookbook will teach you how to make taste tempting dishes like buttermilk mashed potatoes and cornmeal fried onion rings.  The accompanying photos are great.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga. This is young-adult fiction about a boy who doesn’t fit in at his high school, is creating a graphic novel, and becomes friends with Goth Girl--a tale of teenage angst.

Peter Pan in Scarlet: The First Ever Authorized Sequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan by Geraldine McGaughrean. I was “hooked” by this book, about the Darlings and the Lost Boys all grown up and a must return trip to Neverland and Peter.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. This book  is about Edward Tulane, a  proud rabbit. It has beautiful sepia-tones illustrations.

The American Story: 100 True tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong. This great book for parents and kids has very short stories (and great illustrations) about American history. They are the perfect length for a bedtime story.

Sharks and Other Sea Monsters: Encyclopedia Prehistorica by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. This is another amazing pop-up book from Sabuda that children of all ages will treasure.

Can You See What I See? Once Upon a Time by Walter Wick. This book for preschoolers encourages them to find objects hidden in the illustrations.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen. This book tells the story of a lion visiting a library and it teaches us about rules and when it’s okay to break them.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference! By Lynne Truss (Illus. by Bonnie Timmons). The famous punctuation book with illustrations for kids is so much fun to read.

Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor. A fancy girl in a family of plain Janes decides to "fancify" them with fancy lessons.

Chuck’s Truck by Peggy Perry Anderson. This rhyming picture book has vibrant illustrations.

One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler (Illus. by Tina Macnaughton). This is a touch and feel book for young children, and is all about sharing.

The Snowmen Pop-Up Book by Carolyn and Mark Buehner. This picture book shows what snowmen do at night.

Baby Says Peekaboo! by DK Preschool. Another touch and feel book that lets you find where baby is hiding.

Santa Claus by Rod Green (Illus. by Jon Lucas and Carol Wright). This fabulous coffee table book has everything from a letter you can unseal from Mr. and Mrs. Claus to a cookie recipe, an elf wisdom manual and answers all those questions about Santa.