Create some magic with children this holiday season with the gift of a book. As the adage goes, a book is a gift that can be opened again and again. But it's more than that. A good book can whisk the reader away to enchanting places, create laughter, provoke thought, and provide new perspectives and tidbits of wisdom.

What other gift can provide as much?

You might wonder, though, how to decide which books will be just right for the special child in your life. With thousands of children's books to choose from, selecting the cream-of-the-crop is a rather daunting task.

To help you navigate through the sea of offerings in children's literature, below you'll find several top-notch suggestions for every age group; an easy way to check one more item off your list.

Happy Holidays!

"Fluffy chick and friends"by priddy books, St. Martin's Press/priddy books, 2005, 10 pages, $8.95 cloth book.A soft cloth book loaded with bright colors and lots of fun things to touch, babies and toddlers meet a different kind of farm animal on every page and learn a little bit about each one through a simple rhyme.From a chick to a sheep, a cow, a pig and five other animals, this selection is guaranteed to be a hit with your tiniest readers. Don't miss the companion book, "Snowy bear and friends," equally as delightful."Mommy Loves"written and illustrated by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben, Chronicle Books, 2005, 16 pages, $5.95, board book.In a gentle and reassuring way, this lovely little book describes how all mommies love their babies. Featuring several different animal mommies and their babies, this book also serves as a beginning counting book.The finale to this little gem is precisely what all children need to hear, "But most of all, my mommy loves me!" Don't miss the companion book,"Daddy Cuddles,"another gentle statement of the bond between fathers and their babies."My Puppy Book"written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton, Little Simon, 2005, 12 pages, $16.95 cloth book.This snuggly, plush puppy book is so soft, babies and toddlers will carry this selection around everywhere.Six padded cloth pages are in the shape of a dog's head, complete with satin-lined dog ears. Simple, friendly rhyming text even includes a squeeze-it bark (and just the right volume — not too loud!). Let it suffice to say you can't go wrong with this book — charming in every way."Kitty cat"by priddy books, St. Martin's Press/priddy books, 8 pages, $6.95 cloth books.Shaped like a cat and super-soft to touch, this delightful little book contains cloth pictures of a fancy cat, a thin cat, one that is fat, one that is fluffy, and a cat that's spotted and one that's lazy.To make this book even more delightful, the soft tail is elastic and on the end, sports a plastic hook you can attach to a stroller. If cats aren't your choice, no worries — pick up"Dotty dog,"the companion.

"Sleep Tight, Little Bear"by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Barbara Firth, Candlewick, 2005, 32 pages, $15.99 hardcover.One day Little Bear discovers a new cave close to the cave he shares with Big Bear. Little Bear shows Big Bear his new cave, then Little Bear spends the day playing there.When it's time for bed, Little Bear decides he wants to sleep in his new cave, like a big bear does. As he tries to fall asleep, he wonders if Big Bear might be lonely without him. Maybe Big Bear isn't the only lonely one!Perfect from start to finish, young children will immediately identify with the sentiment of wanting to be independent, but not too independent."Big Dump Truck: Floor Puzzle Book"designed by Paul Kepple, Chronicle Books, 2005, 13 pages, $9.95 board books with 2 puzzles.A book with two puzzles, all about dump trucks! Any young child who likes trucks is sure to enjoy this interactive selection. Learn about dump trucks, pop out the puzzle pieces and make your own picture of a big dump truck. Then take the puzzle pieces apart and fit them together again to make another picture of a dump truck construction site. Wow! Three-in-one!"Opposites"written and illustrated by Robert Crowther, Candlewick, 2005, 16 pages, $12.99 hardcover.Lift the flaps, turn the wheels, and pull the tabs to see lots of things transform into their complete opposite. In and out, dry and wet, full and empty, off and on — these and other assorted concepts are presented through colorful illustrations and words in this delightful interactive book that teaches while it entertains."Little Rabbit Lost"written and illustrated by Harry Horse, Peachtree, 2005, 32 pages, $9.95 board book.It's Little Rabbit's birthday, and he and the family are off to a big amusement park to celebrate. Little Rabbit is very excited, and he feels very grown-up.Taking his red birthday balloon along with him, they set off. Little Rabbit's parents keep telling him not to go too far away from them. Little Rabbit replies that he is a big rabbit now, and he won't get lost.But when he finally does get lost, Little Rabbit feels as small as he really is. How will he find his mama and papa?Striking the right chord with little ones who worry about being lost, this choice excels.

"The House That Jill Built"by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Delphine Durand, Candlewick, 2005, 18 pages, $15.99 hardcover.The house that Jill built for herself was just the right size for Jill and her cat. But people kept coming to her door, needing a place to stay. Jill was most accommodating, and built one extra room onto her house after another for storybook friends like Little Jack Horner, Old Mother Hubbard, and many others.Before she knew it, Jill's house was no ordinary house. In fact, there wasn't any room left for Jill and her cat!With more than 70 doors and windows and two big pop-up surprises, this funny interactive book is guaranteed to please."The Giant Hug"by Sandra Horning, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev, Alfred A. Knopf, 2005, 40 pages, $15.95 hardcover.For his granny's birthday, Owen wants to give her the best present he can think of — a giant hug from him! Unfortunately, Granny lives clear across the country, but that doesn't stop Owen.He explains his plan to his mother, and with Granny's address, Owen's big hug is passed from one postal carrier to another, all the way to Granny's house. To Owen's delight, Granny passes a special treat back to Owen, exactly the same way.A clever story that's full of smiles and lots of love that will make readers feel good, this fun book is terrific."Minnie and Moo: The Case of the Missing Jelly Donut"written and illustrated by Denys Cazet, HarperCollins, 2005, 48 pages, $15.99 hardcover.Those crazy cows, Minnie and Moo, seem to be in a pickle again. Minnie's jelly donut is missing, and that's bad news — Minnie's treats are VERY important to her. They have one clue — a blue feather, left at the crime scene. Hatching a plan to dress up as chickens and stake out the henhouse that night, the cows had no idea of the series of events that were about to unfold.Hilarious from start to finish, this selection is equally successful as a read-aloud for children age 4 and older and for older, confident independent readers."Hi! Fly Guy"written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, Scholastic, 2005, 30 pages, $5.99 hardcover.A fly was looking for something tasty and slimy to eat. A boy was looking for an animal for "The Amazing Pet Show." The fly and the boy literally ran into each other. The boy caught the fly in his jar, and he was delighted. The fly wasn't, at least not at first, but when the boy gave him a hot dog for lunch, the fly had a change of heart. Maybe this boy wasn't so bad after all, and when the judges at the pet show said a fly wasn't a pet, the fly went into action to prove them wrong!Created as an easy reader, this funny book will be enthusiastically embraced by those hearing the story aloud or those who can read it alone.

"The Adventures of Pinocchio"by Carlo Collodi, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti, Creative Editions/The Creative Company, 2005, 192 pages, $19.95 hardcover.This is the original and amazing tale of the wooden puppet, Pinocchio, who wishes to become a real boy, but makes countless bad decisions along the way that hinder his wish from coming true. Despite his trials of being fooled by villains, being turned into a performing donkey, and being eaten by a gigantic shark (among other mistakes Pinocchio makes), he is loved deeply by his father, Geppetto, and the blue-haired fairy. Can this naughty boy change his wicked ways and at last become real?The watered-down versions of this story are what most are familiar with, but you won't know the real Pinocchio until you've read the original version by author Carlo Collodi.Now, with over 50 lavish color illustrations by award-winning illustrator Roberto Innocenti,"The Adventures of Pinocchio"vibrantly and dramatically comes to life for yet another generation of readers."Mercy Watson to the Rescue"by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, Candlewick Press, 2005, 69 pages, $12.99 hardcover.Mercy Watson the pig lived with her human parents, Mr. and Mrs. Watson. The Watson's adored Mercy. She ate to her heart's content (and she was always hungry) and she slept in a human bed. But one night she was afraid of sleeping alone, so she climbed into bed with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. Suddenly, the floor gave way, and the bed began to fall through the floor!Mercy bolted out of bed, looked for something to eat, but found their kitchen to be bare, so she went next door to the old Lincoln sisters.Baby Lincoln loved Mercy, but Eugenia Lincoln did not, and Eugenia chased Mercy through the yard. Suddenly, a fire truck pulled into the driveway and, unbeknownst to Mercy, she somehow was the heroine of the near catastrophe, although all Mercy really wanted was some hot buttered toast!A very funny story with comical illustrations, this choice will strike the funny bone of young readers."Moose Crossing"by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Joe Mathieu, Marshall Cavendish, 2005, 56 pages, $14.95 hardcover.When Moose saw the sign, "Moose Crossing" by the side of the road, he was tickled pink. Imagine being so important! Someone had erected a special crossing sign just for Moose!Feeling quite impressed with himself, he shared his good news with his best friend, Hildy the pig. Hildy knew Moose misunderstood the intention of the sign, and the two got into a row over its meaning, leaving them both insulted. Suddenly, though, tourists were flocking to catch a glimpse of moose (although not Moose himself), and Moose's life changed completely, and not for the better!What will Moose do? And will Moose and Hildy make amends? Comical from start to finish, this terrific story also imparts a subtle message about the dangers of arrogance."The Time Warp Trio: Oh Say, I Can't See"by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Adam McCauley, Viking, 2005, 72 pages, $14.99 hardcover.The 15th book in Scieszka's hugely successful series, "The Time Warp Trio," this adventure warps Joe, Sam, and Samantha back to Christmas Eve in Pennsylvania, 1776 — the day before Washington crossed the Delaware River.Will they be shot as spies for the Hessians, or will they be able to help Washington and his men cross the Delaware and mount their sneak attack on the Hessians? Humm ... American history may never be the same again.Loaded with humor that's right on target for the 7- to 8-year-old crowd, this novel imparts history with fiction that's sure to please.

"Barry, Boyhound"by Andy Spearman, Alfred A. Knopf, 2005, 221 pages, $15.95 hardcover.With particular appeal to boys, this fresh and very funny novel is peppered with gross-out humor, hilarious photos and images, and bizarre twists and turns as Barry, once a normal boy, turns into a dog.When this off-the-wall incident occurs, Barry still looks human, but he no longer acts human. He develops an acute sense of smell (which sometimes freaks him out), eats disgusting things like a "big fat slimy juicy noodley brown worm" (and his mother sees him doing it), and is attacked by a group of psycho squirrels who steal his squashed peanut butter sandwich.Could it get any worse? Yes, and it does. And what has caused Barry the boy to become Barry, Boyhound? Would you believe two fleas?A five-star selection loaded for bear, older kids will devour this crazy and awesome book."Galileo's Universe"by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Tom Curry, Creative Editions, 2005, 18 pages, $17.95 hardcover.This extraordinary pop-up book is as exciting to look at and engage the pop-ups as it is to read — chock full of information that is presented through short, thought-provoking poems.Learn about the extraordinary scientist of the 14th century that turned the world of Aristotle upside upside-down — Galileo Galilei."The Girl with the Broken Wing"by Heather Dyer, illustrated by Peter Bailey, The Chicken House/Scholastic, 2005, 150 pages, $15.99 hardcover.The twins, Amanda and James, were in their attic bedroom, trying to sleep, when they head a splat on the roof that sounded like wet cabbage hitting a wall. The next thing they knew, a girl was tapping on their skylight, telling them to "Open up!"Letting the girl in, the twins were quite surprised to find the girl dressed in a thin white cotton dress. She didn't have shoes and her feet were filthy. Most astonishing of all was the pair of long, white wings hanging from her shoulders.Who was she, and what did she want? She couldn't be an angel, could she? The twins were about to find out!Highly entertaining and loaded with fun, this delightful and funny story will have readers smiling throughout all 150 pages."Three Good Deeds"by Vivian Vande Velde, Harcourt, 2005, 160 pages, $16 hardcover.The old woman lived near the pond loved and protected the geese there, and when she caught Howard stealing their eggs just for fun, she turned Howard into a goose to teach him a lesson.The kids used to joke that she was a witch, and now Howard knew they were right! On top of being a goose, the old woman told him he couldn't go back to being a boy until he did three good deeds. But how do you do that when you're a goose?Hilarious on every page with subtle messages that are important, this book is terrific.

"I, Coriander"by Sally Gardner, Dial, 2005, 279 pages, $16.99 hardcover.Part fairy tale and part historical novel, this extraordinary story is told from the perspective of the gutsy heroine, Coriander.The daughter of a rich silk merchant in 17th century London, Coriander's life revolves in and out of mysterious circumstances that involve the fairy world, her once privileged life in London that has turned to shambles, and the struggle against evil that seems determined to succeed.Through vivid characters and flawless writing, readers are treated to a tour de force of magical powers, a handsome prince, an evil fairy queen, kidnapping, murder, romance, an evil stepmother, and more. It doesn't get much better than this!"The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives"by Michael Buckley, illustrations by Peter Ferguson, Amulet Books/Abrams, 2005, 284 pages, $14.95 hardcover.After their parents mysteriously disappear, the sisters Grimm are sent to live in Ferryport Landing with their grandmother Relda who they didn't even know existed.They soon discover that this is no ordinary place — it is filled with strange and magical and dangerous happenings, and the sisters are intricately involved. They are the last living descendents of The Brothers Grimm, and their job is to keep peace between humans and Everafters — the living characters from The Brothers Grimm fairy tales.Giants, flying carpets, the man in the mirror, Prince Charming and so on — they're all here. But who is a friend and who isn't? And what are the residents of Ferryport Landing battling over?A page-turner that incorporates humor, tension, suspense and a wild cast of characters, readers will have trouble putting this novel down."The Ghost's Grave"by Peg Kehret, Dutton, 2005, 210 pages, 16.99 hardcover.Josh thought his summer with his Aunt Ethel would be dull as dust. After all, she was 70 years older than Josh, and she lived in an old coal-mining town in the middle of nowhere.But Josh quickly learned living with Aunt Ethel was anything but boring. When Josh meets the ghost of coal miner, Willie, killed in a mine explosion decades ago, Willie asks Josh to help him. He needs Josh to dig up his leg and rebury it with the rest of him so that at long last, he can rest in peace.Josh reluctantly agrees to Willie's plan, but when he digs for Willie's leg bones, he also finds a buried box of cash in the grave. Who buried it there? Will they know Josh has dug it up, and if so, how far will they go to get it back?Full of just the right amount of tension and suspense, this spooky novel is a delicious treat."The Sea Singer"by Craig Moodie, Roaring Brook Press, 2005, 165 pages, $16.95 hardcover.Set back in the time of the Vikings, young Finn anxiously waits for his father and older brothers to return from the sea. They have been gone much too long and Finn is worried. Going against the orders of his father to remain with his mother to help tend the sheep and the farm, Finn decides to sneak aboard Leif the Lucky's ship, which is bound for the same unexplored land that his father had set off to find — "Wineland."There are perils at sea that Finn is not prepared for, but he shares in the duties of the other men as they make their way through uncharted waters. Among his other tasks, Leif the Lucky has designated Finn as the "skald," a poet who recites great tales of the Viking's deeds and their journey.Once they put ashore in the new, unexplored world, a different kind of danger is waiting for them, and Finn finds that he is no longer a boy but has become a man and a true Viking.A rich and satisfying novel on many counts, this selection is full of adventure on every page.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.