'GMA' Anchors' Picks: Coffee Table Books

Dec. 20, 2010— -- It's a tried and true "Good Morning America" tradition. Each holiday season, the "GMA" anchors choose their favorite coffee table books of the year.

George Stephanopoulos, Elizabeth Vargas (who filled in for Robin Roberts), Juju Chang and Sam Champion share their favorites below.

CLICK HERE for our special books page full of book excerpts, author interviews and more!

George's Picks

"Dogs"

Photographer Tim Flach captures man's best friend in a new light in this 200-page book. Each dog has his own story to tell in Flach's portraits -- from finely-groomed show dogs at Westminster, to shelter dogs, a litter of sleeping Dalmatians or a loveable Golden Retriever shaking out his wet coat.

"Edith Head"

"Edith Head" shines a spotlight on one of old Hollywood's iconic costume designers. Head worked behind the scenes with the biggest film stars, including Audrey Hepburn, Robert Redford, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly, on some of the greatest movies of all time. During her 50 year career, she designed costumes for more than 1,000 films, earning eight Academy Awards. The book is filled with photos of Head's designs, sketches and outlines her greatest achievements.

"Barbie: A Rare Beauty"

For more than 50 years, the Barbie doll has been a beloved toy and fashion icon. The leggy blonde debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959, and has come a long way, traveling to over 150 countries and becoming a nearly $2 billion brand. The book, from doll expert and collector Sandi Holder, is a guide to everything Barbie, showcasing photos of vintage dolls, fashion sets, prototypes, and many never before seen items.

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Elizabeth's Picks

"Portrait of Camelot"

"Portrait of Camelot: A Thousand Days in the Kennedy White House" takes you into the world of President John F. Kennedy. The book is filled with candid photographs by Cecil W. Stoughton, the first official White House photographer, whose work reveals the personal side of JFK and the first family.

"There's just something so magical about that presidency and the young family at the White House," Elizabeth Vargas said.

"Stephen Sondheim: Finishing the Hat"

"Finishing the Hat" is a collection of legendary composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim's lyrics and memories. Sondheim's Broadway career spanned more than 50 years, including hits like "West Side Story," "Sweeney Todd," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Into the Woods," "Company," and more. Sondheim unearths never-before-published songs from each show, discusses his relationship with his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his collaboration with star talent.

"I'm getting this for my husband for Christmas," Vargas said.

"Ansel Adams in the National Parks"

From world-renowned photographer Ansel Adams, the book is a stunning visual journey through America's national parks and wildlands.

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Juju's Picks

"Earth From Above Tenth Anniversary Edition"

"It's full of all sorts of beautiful images taken from above," Juju Chang said. "It's one of those ones you put out proudly and people can thumb through."

"Baseball: An Illustrated History"

The book looks back on America's favorite pastime, combining more than 500 photographs and historical essays. The photos chart the game's evolution over 150 years and explore baseball in the age of steroids, home-run records and more. The original book, published to coincide with Ken Burns' documentary, "Baseball," was a bestseller. This edition coincides with Burns' new documentary, "The Tenth Inning."

"Hitchcock, Piece By Piece"

This illustrated biography of Alfred Hitchcock takes movie fans into the life and work of the legendary filmmaker. Known for films like "Psycho," Hitchcock redefined the thriller. The book includes photos, letters, memos and from Hitchcock's archive, as well as a foreword by Hitchcock's daughter.

"My husband is a huge film noir fan," Chang said. The book is "really wonderful."

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Sam's Picks

"The History of Surfing"

Dive into the world of surfing in Matt Warshaw's book on the popular sport and surf culture. The nearly 500-page book includes more than 250 rare photographs.

"50 Years at Gombe"

For two and a half decades, Jane Goodall lived among the chimps and observed their lives at the Gombe field site. She devoted her life to animals and the natural world, and her research raised awareness about the state of our planet. To mark the 50th anniversary of the field site, the Jane Goodall Institute has released the book as a tribute to Goodall's life work.

"The Making of Avatar"

This book takes you behind-the-scenes of James Cameron's sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar." From brainstorming sessions to sketches and production challenges, authors Jody Duncan and Lisa Fitzpatrick detail the artistic and technical quest to make "Avatar" a reality.

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Gift Guide: Coffee Table Book Picks in Sports, Entertainment, Comics

GOAT: Greatest Of All Time: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali, $150

True Links, $40

Yul Brynner: A Photographic Journey, $150

Gaga, $24.95

Wonder Woman: Amazon. Hero. Icon., $35

40: A Doonesbury Retrospective , $100

75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, $200

CLICK HERE for our special books page full of book excerpts, author interviews and more!