Great Book Gifts from Martha Stewart Living

“After staring at a screen all day, there’s nothing like the tactile experience of opening a book. Whether it’s about food or fairy tales, the book transports you to another world -- not a bad gift.” –- Carl Germann, managing editor

"Alexander Girard" ($200, ammobooks.com) is an encyclopedic (672 pages!) study of the design guru’s influential style, especially his whimsical table settings.

"The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm" ($40, taschen.com) presents 27 stories from siblings Jacob and Wilhelm, including "Sleeping Beauty" and "Snow White."

The "Great Food" series of 20 gastrocentric titles published by Penguin boasts unforgettable entries such as "A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig" ($12 each, amazon.com).

Lauded Spanish chef Ferran Adria serves up his first collection of home-cooking recipes in "The Family Meal" ($30, phaidon.com).

The basis for "It’s a Wonderful Life," this new edition of the short story "The Greatest Gift" ($25, graphicimage.com) by Philip Van Doren Stern features a new afterword by his daughter.

"Country" ($60, bn.com) by Jasper Conran rhapsodizes on life outside the big cities.

Paul Smith and Bruce Weber penned essays for "Jewelry" (limited edition, $165, deveraobjects.com), a showcase for baubles created or collected by New York City shopkeeper and jeweler Federico de Vera.