Are you looking for last minute gifts? I've listed some interesting and unusual books that would make you a hit with the gift receiver. All of these books, with the exception of the last one, are perfect for children ages 1 through 8. The last book is geared for ages 9 through adult.

Some of these books are bound together in a unique style. Maisy's Color Collection , by Lucy Cousins, has pages that open into a complete foldout. Each bright and brilliant page completely opens to become twice the size of this small book. The author has another book in the same style of foldout : 1, 2, 3 Maisy.

Here's another unique book. At first glance, Sophia & Benjamin Watch a Train Go By, looks like any other book. But when you begin to open it, you discover that it actually folds out into a long train with 8 cars, 1 engine and a caboose. Ed Brodsky and Ruth Lubell have written and illustrated a most extraordinary book. Each page is bright and the lesson learned is regarding counting.

Frances Barry has written and illustrated two books that will surely become a favorite for youngsters. Duckie's Rainbow and Duckie's Ducklings have an unusual shape. Duckie's Rainbow is shaped in a rounded triangle fashion and opens to a brilliant red. Each page following has a different splash of bright color and becomes smaller in size. The final page opens to see a small portion of all the other pages and the reason for the unusual shape becomes evident: it becomes a rainbow. Duckie's Ducklings has rounded corners on the ends of the book. This counting book has Duckie searching for her ducklings as she heads off in one direction. But upon the turn of each page (the pages get smaller as you turn them) a duckling appears behind the mother. Mother, however, doesn't notice them until the end. This is a darling book that will surely help teach counting to your youngsters.

Petr Horacek is an author and illustrator with a signature style of books. He usually has a window, die-cutouts or pages of different sizes throughout his books . When the Moon Smiled is a perfect example of just this style. The moon on the cover is actually a window that allows you to see the moon on the next page. Cut-out stars become more and more abundant as you read about each of the stars. The colors are bright with crayon and watercolor. Another wonderful book by Horacek is A New House for Mouse .

ABC Animals: A Bedtime Story , by Darice Bailer, is a most unusual alphabet book. Each page opens in the shape of the letter. The combination of the letter shapes and the 3-D collages, by Judith Moffatt, make this ABC book a must for young learners.

The next 4 books have pull tabs, doors and windows that open, letters to read and maps to pour over . The Nights of the World , by Corinne Albaut, and illustrated by Arno, is the ultimate pull-tab book because it enlightens readers about 5 different regions of the world. Each page is filled with midnight blues in hues that spew ambiance. The sleeping child wakes as you pull the tab revealing more detail in the daytime picture now being revealed . Penelope at the Farm , by Anne Gutman and illustrated by Georg Hallensleben, is a cute story about a little koala bear looking for animals on the farm. You get to help by pulling the innovative tabs. The House That Jill Built , by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Delphine Durand, has more windows and doors to open than you can imagine. As Jill's house gets rebuilt to fit her nursery rhyme friends, you will discover a surprise at the end of this clever book. Operation Itchy , by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Penny Dann, is a fun celebration of the written word. Secret Agent Barker is on the scene to solve a mystery and you get to help as you read through letters that open, maps that fold out and clues all along the way.

My last book doesn't look, act or read like a book, but you must read it to enjoy it. It's the popular board game: Cranium. This version is packaged to work perfectly in a car, plane, or to take to grandma's house. The Cranium Big Book of Outrageous Fun ! opens with a magnetic clasp and includes 40 reusable activity pages, 100 game cards, a game board, spinner, timer and cranium clay. Here's your perfect gift for the traveler on your list.