Graduation season is almost upon us. Students young and old will be preparing for the next step in their lives, from elementary to high school to college and beyond. It’s a time of great excitement but also uncertainty, a period that many of us are all too familiar with. So, it’s also an excellent opportunity to give some advice and good vibes to the ones we love when they need them the most.
Books are, of course, always a welcome option for such occasions! Here are eight books, from advice nonfiction to encouraging picture books, that will make the ideal gift for the graduates in your life.
I Wish You More
Since its publication a decade ago, I Wish You More has sold more than one million copies and has become both a beloved children's picture book favorite and a common gift for grads in the same way as titles like Oh, the Places You'll Go! Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld create a rich and inspirational story for people of all ages, focused on finding peace and curiosity in the big wide world where nothing seems certain.
Black Boy, Rise
From the celebrated author of Black Girl Rising and Colors of Me and the four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and multiple award-winning illustrator of Trombone Shorty, this moving picture book is the perfect story to share with young graduates.
Black Boy, Rise is full of references to poets and writers whose voices have lifted and defined the Black experience, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and Lucille Clifton. Accompanying these words of wisdom are elegantly rendered watercolor illustrations that show the beauty of Black boys past and present.
In-Between Places
Sometimes you know just where you are going. Sometimes you don’t. Often, you end up in that liminal space, in-between security and uncertainty, and you have no idea where to go next. This beautifully illustrated picture book, the perfect gift for grads of all ages, encourages those of us on the path forward to take that big leap into the great unknown and find solace and satisfaction in that in-between space and time.
How to Be a Grown Up: The 14 Essential Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed (Until Just Now)
It's tough to be a proper grown-up in the current age, one where twenty- and thirty-somethings are better educated than ever before, but job options are thin on the ground, and we're less likely to be taught practical skills such as creating a budget and filing taxes. Entrepreneur Raffi Grinberg offers a crash course on Adulting 101, based on his popular course at Boston College.
As Raffi tells his students, “I want you to have a quarter-life crisis now so that you won’t have a mid-life crisis later.” His tips include dealing with essential life skills like ensuring your credit score doesn't tank, not blowing your monthly budget, and keeping your parents happy!
Say Yes: Find Your Passion, Unleash Your Potential, and Transform Your Life
Poet and bestselling author Kwame Alexander has won a slew of awards for his poetry and children's novels. Adapted from a commencement speech he gave at American University, Say Yes is his call to action for young people to embrace the transformative power of saying "yes".
Through anecdotes and inspirational stories, including experiences from his own life, Alexander shares how every "no" from his past shaped his future, and how saying "yes" in the face of adversity and immense challenges can help you fuel your passions and turn rejection into success.
Where's Your Buffalo?: A Recruiter's Guide to Getting the Career You Want, Earning What You're Worth, and Doing What You Love
The buffalo of this curiously titled book is a metaphor for your perfect career. Author Tom Johnston has spent over 35 years formulating his methodology as a search consultant at some of the world’s most influential firms. Where's Your Buffalo? seeks to help readers identify the career they want and a course towards reaching it through a variety of means, including bettering your skills and researching the ideal companies to apply to.
From Classroom to Career: How to Network, Nail the Interview, and Navigate for Success
For any Millennial or Gen Zer entering adult life after school, there are plenty of perils and pitfalls to avoid. The old rules of employment and the traditional workplace are dead in the age of working from home, AI, and the gig economy. How do you even begin to find your first job in this terrifying ecosystem?
Shirley Morrison offers this highly readable guide to students seeking their future careers. It offers helpful tips on things like how to write a business email, write a strong CV, and stand out in an interview. All of the basics you'll need to navigate the treacherous job market are contained within this book.
Uncovering Your Path: Spiritual Reflections for Finding Your Purpose
Charles "Chaz" Lattimore Howard is the University Chaplain for the University of Pennsylvania. It's a position that has put him in contact with countless students, all seeking advice as they make the leap from campus life to the real adult world of responsibilities and uncertainty.
“What should I do with my life?” is a question that every graduate has asked themselves. Howard offers his own guide on how to tackle those grand queries and carve a path into a bright if uncertain future.
Featured image: RUT MIIT / Unsplash
