It’s all about the holidays and making lists (yes – more lists!). Whatever floats your boat, we’re sure to have it for you with our run of stories. Check out what we’ve in store for you:

• Not everyone gets books in their most literary form, but for those who do, we’ve got a list of the best poetry books for you this holiday season.
• The Seattle Times is taking care of all the performing artists and fans with a list of the best books and DVDs worthy of some quality couch time.
• Holidays are a special time of the year – most especially for kids. This year, no matter what they’re celebrating – Christmas, Hannukah or Kwanzaa – make sure to check out this post on the best holiday books for tots.
• The Chicago Tribune staff came up with their top picks for the ultimate best books to buy this holiday season.
• JoAnn Bauer may not be alone with her thoughts. She tells us that when thinking of gifts for our young ones, books are a no-brainer choice. Not only do they teach lessons – they are also the most enduring ones to give.
• Finally, we get it down with more lists this holiday season, not that you haven’t had enough! Find out which books will make for the best gifts for your family, friends, kids, or yourself! This Christmas, it’s time to get Listed!

Most of you have probably had had enough of lists by this time (think: Christmas shopping!) – but we’re here to talk some more about them in a different light. Books never go wrong, given the right amount of interest and given the right kinds of books, of course. To help you out with the best book titles of the past year (whether you’re still up for some super late Christmas shopping or for any other reason under the holiday sun), we present you with some “best book” lists this cycle:

• The best poetry books of the year are compiled for all lyric and rhyme fans out there by The Independent.
• The Seattle Times gives us their ultimate suggestions for performing arts books and DVDs for the more artsy hearts out there.
• Don’t forget the kids! The Holmdel-Hazlet Patch’s list of the best holiday books for children – whatever the celebration might be – makes it to our list of lists.
• The Chicago Tribune’s list is a definite must when considering buying books. Not only is it put together by their best writers and editors, it also includes titles which are noteworthy (and somehow missed most of the other “best book” lists out there).

For sure, most of you are head over heels trying to decide which toy or game to give your kids, nieces, or nephews this coming Christmas. Why not consider giving books this year, if only for a change. After all, JoAnn Bauer thinks books are the most enduring, if not the best, gifts for kids.

This cycle, we talked about books of the past, present, and even the future. Do you remember your childhood favorites? What mystery books do you like today? Do you think Amazon could AutoRip books of the future? All of these questions and more were asked in this cycle’s articles:

• What makes a strong mystery book? Roberta Alexander talks about several different mystery books, explaining the plot of the story and why it’s a great book to read.
• Amazon now ‘AutoRips’ CDs, giving you a digital copy of the CDs that you’ve bought. What if they could do the same thing with books? What if Amazon could give you an ebook version of every printed book you purchased from them? Megan Rose Dickey asks that question in her article.
• Dan Brown, the author of bestsellers such as Da Vinci Code, is planning on writing a new book called Inferno. Nick Clark talks about his plans and other books that this famous author has written.
• A movie has just come out about Lincoln, it’s about time that we saw some books as well. Maggie Craig reviews a couple of books that talk about Abraham Lincoln’s afterlife in this article.
• Sara Foss talks about her visit to the bookstore to buy some books for a twelve year old boy, and then recalls some of her favorite children’s books.
• What books shaped your life and interests? These two new books about Abraham Lincoln not only entertain their readers, but also educate them about our history.

You may have gone weary from all the best book lists of the year, but if you’re looking for one that comes from people who have a knack for good writing and literary taste, then the Printers Row editor’s picks should be perfect for you. The list starts with The Round House. Read more about Louise Erdrich’s book and a whole lot more from this Chicago Tribune column post by Courtney Crowder .

We’ve tackled lots of lists of the “best books” this year for different interests – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and even for the performing arts. This time, we also go into the best titles to give our kids. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hannukah or Kwanzaa, we’ve got you (and your young ones) covered. The Holmdel-Hazlet Patch gives us their top picks.

Who says performing arts fans don’t have their spot in literature and DVD racks? As the year ends, we talk about the best titles to give out – possibly as holiday gifts – to performing arts enthusiasts and artists. The first on Misha Berson’s list is Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand by William J. Mann, followed by The Chronicles of Downton Abbey, written by the show’s director’s niece, Jessica Fellowes. See the full list and more from the Seattle Times’ compilation.

For poetry fans, 2012 was a big year. We take a peek at which books made it onto The Independent’s list of the best poetry books of the year. James Fenton’s Yellow Tulips and John Fuller’s New Selected Poems top the list. The Independent and Fiona Sampson  gives us more titles and details for those interested in reading new material (aside from the whole Shades of Grey brouhaha).

This week, we talk about movies, outdated advertisements, outlawed books, graphic creations, and having a good laugh. Take a look at our stories:

• Books converted to films are a major franchise these days. Keep up with your reading agenda for the fall before their big screen counterparts hit the theaters. Here are the 15 movie tie-ins to watch out for this year, brought to us by BuzzSugar.com.
• Ever wondered how authors and publishers got the word out way back when TV and online advertising did not exist? Check out Maria Popova’s gallery of old school book advertisements.
• Adam Kepler takes us to the graphic corner of books with The New York Times’ list of the best graphic novels ever. The Invisibles is on top of the list. Read more from the full post.
• People love lists, and you do too. Admit it. Here’s our dose of short list – heaven this week – check out the Top 10 Banned Books of all time.
• Every now and then, it’s nice to break off from all the drama and darkness, be it in movies, real life, or books. Gina Barreca shares her personal list of the funniest books from her column on Psychology Today.
• We go darker and deeper this week as we tackle the social non-conventions that has moved authorities to ban some books off bookstores and libraries. Read more in our commentary, “How Much Fictionis Too Much Fiction?”