I received a Birthday Gift Essentials Prize Pack for this review/feature. Opinions expressed are my own.

Birthdays are always a fun thing both for the birthday kid and all the other children attending the party. For people looking for gift ideas I always suggest books! Books open their minds and will often hold their interest more effectively than the latest cheap toy. National Geographic Kids Books has several new titles that make gift giving easy!

ands-on projects, advice from National Geographic explorers, interviews with experts, weird-but-true facts and tips for aligning your interests and personality to your job and more, this new book in the popular "100 Things" series is a great way to get kids thinking creatively about what their exciting future has in store for them.

?From beekeeper to ice-cream taster, forensic psychologist to Hollywood animal trainer, conservation biologist to Chief Happiness Officer, this book features 100 of the coolest, wackiest and most amazing jobs out there (greeting card maker?? Yes, you can!). ?H

100 Things to Be When You Grow Up ?(ages 8-12, $9.99) - No better time to think about all the possibilities the future holds than a birthday!? ?From beekeeper to ice-cream taster, forensic psychologist to Hollywood animal trainer, conservation biologist to Chief Happiness Officer, this book features 100 of the coolest, wackiest and most amazing jobs out there (greeting card maker?? Yes, you can!). ?H ands-on projects, advice from National Geographic explorers, interviews with experts, weird-but-true facts and tips for aligning your interests and personality to your job and more, this new book in the popular "100 Things" series is a great way to get kids thinking creatively about what their exciting future has in store for them.

Cat Tales: ?True Stories of Kindness and Companionship with Kitties?(ages 9+, $12.99) features cats from around the world, each one with an amazing story to tell about their compassion, ingenuity and bravery. ?Ask an Expert? sections throughout the book offer insight into understanding the curious world of cat behavior, ways to keep your favorite feline happy both mentally and physically and even the trick to taking great cat photos (because the internet does not have nearly enough!:)). And are you curious as to why we love those cute cat videos? ?Page 57 explains the science behind the obsession.

Ultimate Space Atlas?(ages 8-12, $12.99) ? Attention Space Lovers!? Blast into space to explore our solar system and beyond. This out-of-this-world atlas takes readers through maps of the solar system, the Milky Way, and deep space, giving them a close look at and locations of planets, supernovas, and other universes. Sky maps will help kids spot these objects in the night sky and maps of planets and our solar system give the kind of incredible detail that National Geographic is known for. It's the perfect book for space fans and budding astronauts.

Chomp! (ages 7-10, $12.99) -? National Geographic Explorer and snake wrangler Dr. Brady Barr has been bitten by a lot of creatures over the years. So this book is born from first hand ? er, tooth ? experience of getting close to some of the biggest biters in the animal kingdom. ? It turns out that there's a lot more to biting than meets the eye. Physical features and the how (and when and why) an animal bites reveals much about the animal itself.?Chomp!?highlights an array of awesome creatures with a diversity of chomp styles ? from shredders and slicers to grippers and gulpers. Then it shows how tooth type, bite force, jaw shape, and food source all come to together to make each an incredible member of the animal bite force!

Awesome 8 Extreme?(ages 8-12, $12.99)?? Got a kiddo in mind?that always wants to know the who/what/where of the coolest things on the planet? Check out the Top 8 lists in the latest Awesome 8! This lively book features 50 different topics with dazzling photo, such as the 8 most awesome Monster Fish, Dressed Up Dogs, Supersize Sculptures, Rad Replicas, Coolest Pools, Serious Stadium Snacks, Thrilling Theaters, Dazzling but Deadly, Hair Through History, Volcanoes We Lava, and so much more. It's so graphically?engrossing, you truly have to see it to believe it!