Dear Present Professor,
We have a tradition in our family that we give to charity as a “main” gift, then we exchange small gifts for fun on Christmas Day. We’re looking for a new idea this year. Any suggestions?

Kids and kids-at-heart love to play with building toys. Check out Magnext, LEGO, Fantasy Blocks, Tinkertoys and Eames House of Cards.

Let’s face it, people. Most of us are slobs. Muffin-loving slobs. Muffin-loving, Internet-surfing slobs. Now, give your muffin-loving slobby friend a USB keyboard vac. You plug it directly into your laptop, making it portable, practical, and perfect for stuffing into stockings. And also, for removing stuffing from in between the keys on your keyboard.

Our favorite books for pre-readers. Check out Stuff on My Cats Presents: Cats A to Z, cats paired with a different item, one for each letter of the alphabet. Because cats really, really love having their pictures taken, especially if you dress them in a sweater first.

For Christmas this year, I’m giving Henry Quackers Natural Duck Dog Treats. Essentially turkey jerky for dogs, Quackers are a unique, healthful gift option for dogs–and not just the ones who live on raw meat. They’re also made from breast of duck and nothing else. So unlike dinner with your mooching best friend, you won’t be stuck with the bill.

Sesame Street Old School, Volume 2, $26.99. Picture it: 1974-79. Mr. Hooper is still alive. Elmo has yet to be formed out of a devilish blaze of red felt. Richard Pryor reinterprets the alphabet. And Fonzie and Richie Cunningham brush their teeth.

Jones Soda in holiday flavors: Candy Cane, Pear Tree, and Mele Kalikimaka. (In keeping with the Hawaiian Christmas greeting for which it was named, the soda has a pineapple/coconut taste.)

Not available this year: Turkey and Gravy. No, seriously, that used to be one of their flavors. Of SODA.