Give Them a Good Story

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And just as older kids savor the Harry Potter books, so too may they enjoy the fantasy worlds conjured in Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke, and Eragon, by wunderkind Christopher Paolini. Inkheart is the suspenseful, darkly comic story of 12-year-old Meggie, who discovers the perils of fictional characters' coming to life. Eragon, by Paolini, who is only 19, is a fast-paced adventure tale that takes place in a fully realized alternate universe inhabited by a stew of dragons, swords and dark forces. By next year, you'll no doubt be able to supplement the literary gifts with Eragon action-figure stocking stuffers.

1. McCain's Prickly TIME Interview
2. Why McCain Picked Palin
3. McCain's Surprise Pick: Sarah Palin
4. The Palin Pick: Bold or Disastrous?
5. Klein: Obama's Speech 'Very Tough'
6. Obama's Risky Stadium Gig
7. Exclusive Poll: Obama's Swing Leads
8. Is McCain Overplaying the POW Card?
9. What Bush Taught McCain
10. Clinton Builds a Bridge to Obama