He may as well have thrown in a slice of apple pie and a John Deere tractor—Sheeler’s book is about as American as baseball. His characters exude a down-home goodness, eschewing corporate jobs and urban lifestyles in favor of small towns and agriculture. To the modern, career-driven American, these “ordinary” people may not seem to have much to offer, though Sheeler somehow manages to convince even the most die-hard city-dweller that there is something of great worth in these pages.

—Rachel Smucker

From a comic book in hand wafts the scent of history; on those cheap pages, illustrated in bright colors, muscular detail, and terse language are captured a country’s pride and might, its fears and paranoia. Well, a country’s state of mind from a particularly boyish point of view, that is. This is the book for those who remember that smell fondly. It collects the highlights of Marvel’s history; its art, its artists, and its reproduced tangibles that every geeked-out kid wanted (a membership card in the Merry Marvel Marching Society to Peter Park and Mary Jane’s wedding invitation). It also covers (with the help of Captain Marvel, Spider-Man and others) the business end of the Marvel comics industry. This really cool book will appeal to the elder, who remembers spending his allowance on comics, yes, but also the coming of age pop culture geek with nary a trace of fuzz on his upper lip, nor a zit on her chin.

—Karen Zarker

The South isn’t just the birthplace of American music, it’s also home to some of America’s greatest food. Edge offers something compelling and different from standard cookbook fare in this travelogue/ social history/ restaurant guide. Traversing all the most delectable corners of Dixie, Edge highlights the best restaurants in the South and provides tips on cooking many favorites.  Very much in the tradition of classic Southern storytelling, he also manages to weave the cultural history of the region while spinning his tales.

—Sarah Zupko

Superhero comics have struggled to confront the war on terror in a variety of ways, and everybody from Batman to Deadpool has grappled with the issues faced by a post-9/11 world. But few recent series have done so as elegantly as London Falling, which doesn’t force its social commentary and doesn’t disfigure its characters in order to fit them into a political framework (although most of the characters are so obscure that few readers would probably notice if they had). The miniseries is also one of the best revitalizations of a character in years, almost reaching the level of quality seen in Doctor Strange: The Oath—it’s the kind of read that leaves you wishing for a regular Union Jack series. What do you say, Marvel? Like John Lennon said: “A working class hero is something to be.”

—Jon Kirby

Just the thing for your favorite eco-conscious consumer pal, this mini coffee table book highlights practical, whimsical, and artistic objects, each made from recycled materials put to innovative use. Divided into sections like ‘fashion’, ‘house’ and ‘outside’, the sheer variety of things created from materials that could have become trash or actually were reclaimed from the local dump is amazing. From ‘elephant poo poo paper’ (prettier than it sounds) to a ‘sun trap handbag’ crafted with a solar panel in the base that gently glows when opened, allowing you to find your keys at the very bottom, these objects are both usable and sustainable. Don’t miss the snazzy bottle openers made from recycled bike chains or the oddly mesmerizing ‘giggles bracelet’ created from the slightly creepy faces of discarded Barbie dolls. 

—Lara Killian

Fans of satirical news will find nothing to be disappointed with in this hilarious collection of stories and images from The Onion news source. Originally published in 1999, the editors define political issues as only The Onion can. Presenting the best fake news stories from the twentieth century, read headlines like “Death-by-Corset Rates Stabilize at One-in-Six” and “Congress Reduces Work Week to 135 Hours”. Always relevant, always thought-provoking, this book makes a great gift to open again and again. 

—Lara Killian