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It's that time of year again. The holiday gift-giving season prompts retailers and advertisers to pummel us with catalogs, sales circulars, and doorbuster deals.

The whole affair propels us into a spending frenzy every December.

Sure, everyone wants a plasma TV, but many people still enjoy simpler, more personal gifts. For a personal gift, how about a book thoughtfully chosen for the recipient?

Many Americans are hip to the book-giving concept. According to the American Booksellers Association, retail book sales usually double in the month of December over November sales.

For the family historian on your gift-giving list, book choices abound. These are some of my favorite books for genealogists that definitely won't be returned or re-gifted:

"Family History 101": For the beginning genealogist, this book by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk outlines the fundamentals of genealogy research in a practical, easy-to-read format. Give this book to jumpstart your friends and relatives who keep saying they'd like to know more about their ancestors, but haven't yet taken the plunge into the genealogy depths.

"The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy": The third edition of this massive and essential reference book was published earlier this year. Edited by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, this book thoroughly reviews the records most used by genealogists. While it may be a bit overwhelming for beginners, I turn to it frequently to refresh and refocus my research strategies.

"The Handybook for Genealogists": Weighing in at 6 pounds, the 11th edition of this tome debuted this year. Here's where you'll find resources for each state and every county. For those of us whose ancestors scattered across the country after they stumbled off the boats, this book, edited by Holly Hansen, is a must-have.

"Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian": This book by Elizabeth Shown Mills takes the prize for The Book I Use Everyday. The title says it all. This reference book outlines how to document our sources.

"Locating Lost Family Members and Friends": When I'm researching 20th century relatives and distant cousins, I turn to this book for ideas about resources to use. Written by Kathleen W. Hinckley, this book is also helpful for finding living people who've gone missing from our radar.

"The Census Book: A Genealogist's Guide to Federal Census Facts": Census records are the lifeline of genealogy research. This book by William Dollarhide gives researchers an inside track for locating census records. The details of the special schedules (records in addition to the general population schedules) are especially helpful.

These are just some of my favorite genealogy books. The family history buff on your gift-giving list will surely be pleased with any of these choices. If your local bookstores don't carry them, all can be ordered online.

Web Site of the Week: New Mexico Genealogical Society bookstore