Power, passion and play

Black Issues Book Review, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Gwendolyn E. Osborne

Bibliophiles have an unabashed regard for the power of words to enlighten, empower, educate and entertain. Here are some gift suggestions for the "word people" on your holiday list.

Merriam-Webster Electronic Dictionary and Thesaurus offers more than 100, 000 words and 500,000 synonyms. From Franklin Electronic Publishers ($59.95, www.franklin.com. ISBN 1-590-74261-3).

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Vintage Books offers reprints of the works of Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison. The collection includes Morrison's most beloved stories with a new introductions: Sula (1973), Song of Solomon (1977), Tar Baby (1981) Beloved (1987) and Jazz (1992). The price ct each is $6.99. Create a set or complete your library.

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Romare Bearden's painting Up at Minton's, 1980, is the featured work in this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. From Pomegranate ($17.95, 800-227-1428, ISBN 0-764-92913 5, www.pomegranate.com).

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For all the Scrabble players in the house, the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary provides brief definitions for more than 100,000 words. From Franklin Electronic Publishers ($59.95, www.franklin.com, ISBN 1-590-74200-1).

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Speak, So You Can Speak Again; The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. Lucy Anne Hurston, the neice of Hurston, and the Estate of Zora Neale Hurston, brings the adventurous writer to life with a wonderful compilation that contains memorabilia, never-before published poems, and a CD of Hurston talking about her life as a writer and singing a railroad workers' chant. From Doubleday ($29.95, ISBN 0-385 49375 41.

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Test your knowledge of African American culture with Brain Quest [R]Black History (Ages 9 & up). The new and updated edition includes 850 questions and answers about important figures and events in black heritage. From Workman Publishing ($10.95, www.brainquest.com, ISBN 0-0-761-12355-5).

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