My most disappointing present was a dictionary. What on earth would I need one of those for? I'd have much preferred lego or some dolls clothes!
Of course I grew to adore the reference book that my uncle bought for Christmas, Pears Cyclopaedia
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/pears.htm, the Guinness Book of Records, an even better dictionary and eventually at great expense an ODQ (brilliant for finding the rest of the line we had to write - "find "The quality of mercy is not strained ...", finish the sentence and write it 50 times", one teacher barked .. the phone was busy that night!)
I've now become the "aunt" who buys books. The Dorling Kidersley reference books
http://www.mobiusconsulting.com/bookstore/dk.htm are so fascinating and although I'm not always thanked so much when they are given, I'm often thanked later in the year, when everyone is rushing around to find a good book to help with the latest school project as I once thanked my uncle!
