You can really put yourself into these gifts

The holidays are all about good memories and time with family, but this year, innovative companies are finding ways to put a twist on traditions.

Here are three new products I've come across in my holiday hunt for meaningful gifts.

Recordable storybooks

Personally, I love this gift idea, especially for relatives who will be spending their holidays away from family.

Hallmark has rolled out recordable storybooks, in which technology makes it possible to record your voice reading the story out loud.

Then the recipient can read along with you and - better still - enjoy the story and your rendition of it over and over.

The books retail for $29.95. But if you want one, you'd better hurry.

The Hallmark Web site is already sold out, and stores are selling out quickly.

Slideshow greeting cards

New from American Greetings and Target this year, the digital slideshow greeting card combines a digital photo frame and a greeting card.

Each card can hold up to 50 digital images and includes a holiday soundtrack. Senders can record a greeting to complete the card.

The cards really act as smaller digital photo frames, coming with a display stand and a USB cable for recharging. The card will play photos for three hours before needing a recharge.

They retail for $19.99 at Target stores. Postage to send them will run you $2.30.

The gift card storybook

I like this gift for two reasons: First it comes from a local company run by Chris and Lesley Alizieri of Wake Forest. Second, it's a good answer to the annual predicament of how to give someone a gift card without feeling as if they have nothing to unwrap.

The Alizieris have written and illustrated a series of storybooks that have from one to four appropriately placed slots for gift cards. There are holiday-themed books as well as year-round storybooks for various types of recipients.

The company can personalize your book for the recipient or make a special book for your company.

The books are available online at www.giftcardstorybooks.com .

The Alizieris will be at Cary Towne Center today, Saturday and Sunday selling the books near Macy's. Prices start at $14.50 for the blank books. Or, if you want one ready to go, you can order a book online with gift cards included through the Alizieris' Web site. They have about a dozen options such as Starbucks, Target and Sears. Note that the cards available on the site tend to be for higher denominations from $15 to $25.