Purple: The Color

Difficult to resist this little purple dragon that can fit in the palm of your hand. Created from glowing, iridescent purple glass, this tiny creature perches on crystalline "rocks" on a small mirrored base. An enchanting little talisman for your desk or dresser -- this deceptively delicate dragon is made from sturdy purple glass that has overtones of iridescence that throw back a rainbow of hues.

Hang this beauty in a window or anywhere else you want to add a little magic. This blown glass witch ball (which is also available in other color combinations -- check out the green and purple or the Tree of Life) swirls with intense purple and blue. Each one will be a little different because each is hand blown.

Alice Walker's novel about a poverty-stricken, physically and mentally abused black woman won a Pulitzer prize the 1980s. It later was made into a wonderful movie starring Whoopie Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey (see sidebar link). A book that's both wrenching and uplifting, it chronicles the transition of Celie from an emotional slave to a strong individual.

The Harold books will just charm you. This is the first in the series about Harold who ends up in all kinds of adventures from which he extricates himself by drawing his way out with his trusty purple crayon. Inventive and engaging, Crockett Johnson's Harold stories (of which this is the first) have captivated children (and their parents) for more than 50 years -- and are still fresh. Gotta love Harold with his big head and chubby cheeks and the imperturbable way he meets and conquers his numerous challenges. These books are great gifts for children of any age and will be treasured by those who received them as children into adulthood -- when they will read them to their own children.

Prince's semi-autographical film was a big hit in the 1984, even garnering Prince an Oscar for the music. The film (and its related album) is arguably some Prince's best work. This 2-disc set contains the film and a host of great bonus features. There is a less expensive single-disc version available, but I recommend this one for the extras and for the higher quality.