Some Books are Safe Bets for Gifts

Books make versatile gifts because they allow you to target special interests, and Granite Staters are famously interested in both weather and beer.

Stocking stuffer or stocking stretcher, “Be Nice to the Weather Guy” is perfect for kids or weather watchers of any age. Written by WMUR weather guy Josh Judge and illustrated by Ginger Nielson, all profits from the book go directly to CHaD (Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth). $19.95 from Peter Randall Publisher

The craft beer craze in New Hampshire and beyond is, generally speaking, all about the hops. Butch Heilshorn of Portsmouth’s Earth Eagle Brewings sees thing a little differently. He took a deep dive into the history of beer and discovered that before hops, there was gruit — a style of beermaking that uses herbs, not hops. His new book “Against All Hops” offers insight into this ancient style of brewing, along with 13 recipes, tasting notes and lists of ingredients from lemon verbena to spruce tips. $18.99 from Page Street Publishing