What the well-read kid is hoping for this holiday season

Selecting the right books for holiday gifts just got easier than giving a mouse a cookie.

We asked a group of area experts what they'd suggest for the youngsters on your list, and here's what they said:

Babies and toddlers

This age group enjoys being read to with simple texts written in singsong rhythm. Bright colors, eye-catching illustrations and minimal text keep their interest. Words that lend themselves to different voices are fun to read out loud. For a small child's hands-on use, select board and cloth books for durability.

"Snowy Bear and Friends" by Roger Priddy is a seasonal way to capture the hearts of parents and the tiniest infants with it bright colors and big-face smiles. The cloth pages makes it practical for washing and mouthing each charming page.

"Fifteen Animals" by Sandra Boynton is a delightful counting book that tells the story of a boy who names all his 15 animals. Giggles are guaranteed as readers find out that each animal is named "Bob" - well almost.

"Melvin Might?" by Jon Scieszka attracts attention in bright pure colors. Melvin, a cautious cement mixer, worries he can't keep up with the other trucks, but when Rita needs help, it is Melvin to the rescue.

"Are You Ready to Play Outside?" by Mo Willems improves upon the adage "Rain, rain go away" when Elephant and Piggie find there is plenty of fun to be had even in the rain.

"Gingerbread Friends" by Jan Brett uses eye-pleasing illustrations of a runaway gingerbread baby who searches for a friend in a bakery of cookies. A large foldout on the last page accentuates the book's positive message.

"Bill Martin Jr.'s Big Book of Poetry" by Bill Martin Jr. created an illustrated classic of childhood poems by a variety of poets for all ages. "I keep three wishes ready" tells the importance of being prepared if ever you meet a wish-granting fairy.

"It's Time to Sleep My Love" by Eric Metaxas draws on simple rhyming text to coax turtledoves, cows, bees and, with a bit of luck, babies to sleep. Shhhh.

Preschoolers and kindergartners

Repeated phrases, effective rhymes, familiar experiences and memorable stories are high on the list of favorites within these age groups. Some children may begin to read on their own and benefit from the repetition of words, sentence patterns, large type and limited vocabulary.

"Too Many Toys" by David Shannon will please parents who know often the box itself is the favorite part of a gift. Spencer trims down his overabundance of toys except for one he just can't part with.

"Hip Hop Speaks to Children" by Nikki Giovanni with a CD allows children to hear lyrics read by real poets set to a musical rhythm. Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou and Queen Latifah are included.

"Tea for Ruby" by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, tells a delightful tale sure to please all would-be princesses. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser of Fancy Nancy fame, accident-prone Ruby needs all the advice family and friends offer after an invitation arrives to attend a tea party with the Queen.

"Drummer Boy" by Loren Long tells the tale of a little wooden drummer toy that entertains everywhere it happens to go until finally returning home in a most unexpected way.

"Wish" by Roseanne Thong, a world educator who speaks both Spanish and Mandarin, is a lovely book about wishing traditions around the world.

"Babar's USA" by Laurent de Brunhoff is a trip around the U.S. with real photos jumping from Times Square on the east to the Golden Gate Bridge on the west. Readers may pack their own trunks for this elephant-sized adventure.

"Madeline and the Cats of Rome" by John Bemelmans Marciano is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeline book series. Madeline fans will delight in the new story line that has Madeline and her classmates touring Italy spiced with intrigue.

Primary grades

Children ages 5 to 7 enjoy good story lines, character development, humor and nonsense, folk and fairy tales, familiar and challenging words. These early readers take pleasure in easy readers and chapter books with a developed plot and fewer illustrations. Continue to read to these ages.

"A Very Marley Christmas" by John Grogan, a New York Times best-selling author, takes his grown-up story of Marley, a dog, and spins it into a delightful Christmas tale for young readers.

"Maya Angelou: Amazing Peace a Christmas Poem" by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher took the eloquent poem Maya Angelou wrote and recited at the tree-lighting ceremony at the White House in 2005 and with lovely illustrations created a new classic in children's literature.

"Favorite Folk Songs" by Peter Yarrow and Bethany Yarrow ties Peter, of Peter Paul and Mary fame, to quality folk songs too delightful not to pass on to the next generation. The songbook offers guitar chords and lyrics for a bedside hootenanny.

"My Chincoteague Pony" by Susan Jeffers is a heartwarming story of a little girl achieving her dream to own a pony. The message is about hard work, hope and generosity.

"Bee and Me" by Elle J. McGuinness uses animation to make illustrations seem to pop off the page. A lot of bee facts slowly evolve when a little boy is stung by one and is surprised to hear what the bee has to say.

"Christmas Cookies" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal offers readers bite-size holiday lessons while defining words such as anticipation, gratitude and perseverance.

"Paula Deen's My First Cookbook" by Paula Deen of Food Network fame turns her cooking prowess to young readers. She offers easy-to-follow recipes with illustrations of needed supplies. Chocolate-covered pretzels and peanut butter balls sound like good beginners choices.

Middle grades

Children ages 8 to 12 are now reading on their own and enjoy appropriate novels, informational books on topics of interest and sophisticated picture books. A challenging chapter book can generate a fun discussion between parent and child.

"Science Fair: A Story of Mystery, Danger, International Suspense and a Very Nervous Frog" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson stars an eighth-grader trying to create a successful science project when the president of Kprshtskan infiltrates the school science fair in order to take over the U.S. government. Humor wins out.

"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick is a spellbinding mystery and 2008 Caldecott Medal winner. Hugo is a young orphan secretly living in the walls of a train station where he labors to complete a mysterious invention left by his father.

"Zorgamazoo" by Robert Paul Weston reads with a Dr. Seuss sense for rhyme. It is a bit stranger than strange as Katrina eludes her maniacal guardian to help Morty, one of the vanishing breeds of fabled zorgles.

"The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg" by Rodman Philbrick is set during the Civil War when a series of fascinating events help Homer save his older brother from the Union Army.

"Mary Engelbreit's Classic Library series: Alice in Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables" are two literary classics in a series that introduce authors such as L. M. Montgomery and Lewis Carroll to a new generation of readers. Buy it for the timeless tales, and not for Engelbreit's delightful illustrations because the only one is on the cover.

"Magic Tree House #40: Eve of the Emperor Penguin" by Mary Pope Osborne continues the quest of Jack and Annie for secrets in the popular series for boys and girls. This time it is off to the Antarctic where penquins may hold the answers. There is a separate research guide that enhances the reading experience.

"Tales of Beedle the Bard" by J. K. Rowling is a must for Harry Potter fans as translated by young witch Hermione Granger. Each of the tales reveals a lesson of trusted friendship, love and true magic.

Teens

With this age group reading independently, they enjoy appropriate fiction and nonfiction in areas of interest with complicated plots or concepts. These growing areas of young adult books are so well-received, many adults enjoy reading them as well.

"39 Clues: Book Two: One False Note" by Gordan Korman is the second in a series of 10 multi-author adventure books that will tell the story of 39 hidden clues around the world to guard the Cahills family power. Readers play a game and compete for prizes. "Maze of Bones" by Rick Riordan was first in the series.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins is a first in a new trilogy by this favorite author. In this extraordinary story, 16-year-old Katniss accidentally becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games.

"Inkdeath" by Cornelia Funke is the last in a trilogy and soon to be a movie. "Inkheart" and "Inkspell" preceded it. With 114 characters in dark magic, it was Meggie's father Mo who first read several villains right out of a book. Be prepared for suspense.

"Ranger's Apprentice: The Sorcerer of the North" by John Flanagan tells the story of Will, now a full ranger, who joins Alyss on a secret mission. It seems the king is critically ill and a sorcerer is to blame until the pair make other discoveries.

"The Instant Help Books for Teens" by Barbara Cooper is a series of workbooks that help teens work through several issues.

"Paper Towns" by John Green follows his successful "Looking for Alaska." Margo Spiegelman takes her neighbor, senior Quentin Jacobson, on an adventure and then mysteriously disappears.

"The Tomorrow Code" by Brian Falkner is a fast-paced thriller with cryptic instructions to decipher the clues to save the planet. The author uses his computer knowledge and life in New Zealand to his advantage.

These books and continuing series are under suggested age groups for gift-giving ideas. Spend time reading the picture books and get a good handle on the young adult books before putting them in the hands of a child. Treat yourself after the gift is open to find a comfy easy chair and read the book together.

Our panel

Here's a look at who we asked to recommend books for your child to read:

• Jan Dundon, children's coordinator for Anderson's Bookshops in downtown Naperville and Downers Grove for the past 12 years, is a former librarian and is in sync with what kids like to read.

• Nanette Wild, children's department-lead for Barnes and Noble in downtown Naperville, brings her credentials as a grandparent to the job.

• Kerrilee Meeker is the community relations specialist at the same store.

• Emily Wilhite, the lead children's bookseller for Border's Books and Music on Route 59 in Naperville, is a mother of two and helps coordinates children's events at the store.