Graduation 2018 Gift Guide

Graduation season is upon us, and pretty soon those proud grads will be walking across the stage to accept their hard-earned diplomas. You could congratulate the graduate in your life with a check, but that's no fun. Why not surprise him or her with a smart, practical grad gift that's even better than cash?

We've rounded up books, backpacks, dorm decor and more perfect presents for all the great graduates you know. Whether they're finishing high school, college, graduate school or anything in between, we've got a gift to send them on in style. Happy shopping!

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"Oh, The Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss, $11.39
This is the quintessential gift for the recent grad, whether they're finishing up preschool or a PhD. In it, Dr. Seuss addresses life's ups and downs in a way that's both whimsical and poignant. This heartfelt, uplifting classic belongs on every bookshelf.

Echo (2nd Generation) - Smart speaker with Alexa, $99.99
Dorm life is a whole lot cooler when you've got a smart speaker to play music, set alarms, answer questions, remind you to go to class, order a pizza and so much more. The lucky graduate can also use their Echo to make calls and receive messages from family and friends from back home.

Herschel Supply Co. Pop Quiz Backpack, $48.99
Every student needs a quality backpack to haul those books around, and you can't go wrong with a classic like this from Herschel Supply Co.It has a padded laptop sleeve, plenty of pockets, internal mesh organizers, a key clip and waterproof zipper detail. Available in multiple colors.

"Call Your Mother" Ceramic Coffee Mug, $11.99
This mug offers a piece of advice that's always good: Call your mother — seriously! Give the graduate these words of wisdom on a coffee cup as a daily reminder they should give you know who a ring.

One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book, $11.04
College is all about making new memories, and with this one line a day memory book, keeping track of them is easier than ever. This classic memory keeper is the perfect way to document the ups and downs of everyday life.

MZD8391 50 String Lights/Photo Holders, $15.99
This 17-foot strand of LED-lit photo clips is the ultimate dorm decor! It's great for displaying photos, postcards, art, notes and more stylishly and safely. Each battery powered strand uses has low heat emission, and the LED clips stay cool while in use.

"The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College," $11.80
This fully updated edition of "The Naked Roommate" is filled with practical advice on all the unexpected stuff you're going to encounter in college. It covers dorm life, dating, classes, partying, money and everything in between. If there's one book to read before heading off to school, this is it.

Felt Like Sharing Gray Felt Letter Board (10-inch-by-10-inch) $18.95
Everyone loves letter boards — graduates included! This fun felt display comes with 300 white plastic letters ready to leave messages for the roomies and spell out inside jokes.

HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer, $129.95
Printing off social media photos has never been easier! Just connect your social media accounts to the free-to-download HP Sprocket App to instantly turn those fun photos into colorful prints.

LEVOIT LV-H132 Air Purifier with True Hepa Filter, $89.99
Dorm rooms and first apartments have a way of getting stinky — fast. Fortunately, this compact air purifier is an extremely effective odor eliminator. It also removes 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, smoke and mold spores from the air, and unlike a lot of other air purifiers, it's 100 percent ozone free.

Exploding Kittens Card Game, $19.99
This is an easy-to-play, addictive card game that's sure to be a hit in the dorm. There are kittens, explosions, laser beams and sometimes goats — and there's tons of competitive fun with every round you play.

Multi-Device Charging Station Dock And Organizer, $39.99
When limited space is an issue, the last thing you want is a tangled mess of cords and chargers all over the place. That's why this charging station dock is so great — it does the organizing for you! It's designed to accommodate all your electronic devices and can be powered up from a single external charging unit.

"The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond," $12.56
Going to the dining hall and ordering late-night pizza is fine and good, but at some point, cooking something a little healthier is absolutely necessary. This practical cookbook is chock full of easy, affordable, healthy and delicious recipes for the students short on space and time.

All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change. Patch may earn a commission on some purchased items.