We often say that we eat with our eyes. That refers, of course, to the appeal of a dish, whether it's a splendid photo or the real deal, fragrant on the plate before us. But consider this: Are we not eating with our eyes as we page through a cookbook, looking at nothing more than the printed page and a laundry list of ingredients? That's not so different from reading a novel or listening to a story on the radio when our imagination takes over. In this case, our taste buds do. This year's stellar crop of books will make your stomach rumble. While hunting for books to give away, you may want to consider giving one to yourself. It's that kind of year, one for cooks with healthy appetites. — LEE SVITAK DEAN