The Best Coffee-Table Books of 2006
Dec. 21, 2006 — -- A coffee-table book can make a great last-minute gift.
The anchors of "Good Morning America" revealed some of their favorite coffee-table books this year.
Robin Roberts' Picks:
"TV Land Legends" -- $35
"TV Land Legends" celebrates America's greatest television characters -- and the performers who made them "legendary." The oversize collectable book features photographs by Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger, Herb Ritts, David LaChappelle, and more. It includes essays by Billy Crystal, Mary Tyler Moore, plus quotes from one celebrity on another -- including David Letterman on Johnny Carson, Jon Stewart on Bob Newhart, and Megan Mullally on Carol Burnett.
"Bird Songs" -- $45
"Bird Songs" includes 250 illustrations of the most notable North American birds. Its built-in digital audio player features songs and calls of each bird. Material in the book is drawn from world-renowned Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology collection. It's great for the bird enthusiast in your family and will inspire children's curiosity about nature.
Chris Cuomo's Picks:
"Cars of the Sensational '60s" -- $29.99
With the help of more than 300 photos and vintage ads, the author tells readers "what made [1960s] cars great and explains how the cars reflected their times." The book comes at a time when the popularity of '60s cars is on the rise -- Camaros, Mustangs, etc., have been sold at auction for more than $100,000. The Big Three automakers are planning "pony cars" -- affordable, compact and highly styled cars with a sporty- or performance-oriented image.
"Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom" -- $75
This book features exquisite photographs of a view of Ellis Island few have seen, such as the ruins of the island's long-abandoned hospital complex. It shows readers what detainees first saw of America with the help of 77 pictures, all shot with natural light.
For more information, visitEllisIslandghosts.com.
Sam Champion's Picks:
"Africa" -- $125
Photographer-editor Michael Poliza was a child actor and Internet entrepreneur, and is now a nature photographer and filmmaker. His latest work is "Africa." The 12.5-pound book features 180 vivid animal portraits and vistas from nearly every African country.
"Ocean" -- $50
"Ocean" features photographs and information from many contributors, including an introduction by Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques.
It is the ultimate informational book on the ocean -- its behavior, inhabitants, drama and beauty around the world. In-depth features on subjects ranging from man-made islands to global warming and coral reefs to tidal races answer every question you could have about the ocean. The book is a must for young students and nature enthusiasts.
Kate Snow's Picks:
"Life: A Journey Through Time" -- $49.99
Wildlife photographer Frans Lanting set out on a personal journey to photograph the evolution of life on Earth. From crabs to jellyfish, diatoms to vast geological formations, jungles to flowers, and monkeys to human embryos, his best pictures are compiled in "Life."
"The Ugly Duckling" -- $85
"The Ugly Duckling" and a similarly styled edition of "The Little Engine That Could" are the first two volumes in a new book series called Callaway Classics. The classics are numbered, limited editions of 10,000 copies that all come in a collectible gift box.
"The Ugly Duckling" is the classic contemporary story by Hans Christian Andersen about a duckling, notably larger, clumsier and uglier than the other ducklings in his brood. The story was first published in 1843.
'GMA' Also Featured the Following Books:
"Born to Run: The Unseen Photos" -- $39.95
It has been more than thirty years since Bruce Springsteen's album Born to Run was released, but now a new book reveals the unseen photographs of that album photo shoot. This book contains over 100 black-and-white photographs drawn from the more than 700 that photographer Eric Meola took that day, including the cover shot. "Born to Run" is a must for any Bruce fan.
"Greetings from E Street" -- $35.00
Greetings from E Street is the first and only collective biography of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band written with participation from its members. In an illustrated interactive format, it celebrates the life and work of one of the world's best-loved bands. Over 200 photos, documents, handwritten notes, and souvenirs help give readers a full picture of one of the most iconic bands of all time.
"Bruce Springsteen on Tour" -- $39.95
"Bruce Springsteen on Tour" is a three-decade celebration of the greatest live performer of all time. It is a way to slow down the Springsteen phenomenon and hold onto a bigger piece of his legend than has been previously captured in print, photographs, recordings or on video. Authorized by Springsteen, it is an intimate look at the touring life of one of America's most beloved musicians from the man who knows him best.
Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour -- $40
Elvis Presley's beloved Graceland is celebrated in a new book, GRACELAND: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour (Quirk Books, $40), created by Chuck Murphy with a foreword by Priscilla Presley. The book is an illustrated pop-up tribute to one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Readers can flip through a photo album, browse Elvis's record collection, change channels on the television or peek inside the refrigerator.
The Audrey Hepburn Treasures -- $49.95
A style icon, a humanitarian and an actress, Audrey Hepburn's legacy serves as a shining example to her legions of fans. Your fascination with the actress can be sated by The Audrey Hepburn Treasures.The book features never before seen family photos from the Hepburn estate along with reproductions of charming mementos and documents, including her "Breakfast at Tiffany's" script with hand-written notes, a letter she sent to her husband Mel Ferrer while preparing for "A Nun's Story" and a birth announcement marking the arrival of her first son. It also features more than 200 full-color and black-and-white images.