Here are suggestions for good gift books. Some will land on best-of-the-year lists; others are

Here are suggestions for good gift books. Some will land on best-of-the-year lists; others are classic editions or celebrate the holidays, and some are just plain fun.
PICTURE BOOKS
"The Christmas Humbugs." Story by Colleen Monroe; illustrations by Michael Glenn Monroe (Sleeping Bear Press, $17.95, hardcover).
They're itty-bitty things, with messy hair, a big red nose and shiny little wings, who for 20 years lived only in the paintbrush and imagination of award-winning artist/illustrator Michael Glenn Monroe. No longer. Monroe and his wife, Colleen, have teamed up to give the world a glimpse of these magical little creatures in "The Humbugs Christmas." In a simple narrative poem kindred to " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," Colleen conveys the story of the mischeivous Humbugs, who legend has it come out each Christmas season to play tricks and test the Christmas spirit. Monroe's vivid and whimsical artwork brings the little tricksters to life in technicolor glory. The holiday pictorial is the second collaboration by the Monroes. Their first was "A Wish to be a Christmas Tree" (Sleeping Bear Press, 2000), where again Colleen provided the story and her husband the illustrations.
"Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet" by Matt Napier. Illustrated by Melanie Rose (Sleeping Bear Press, $19.95, hardcover).
Matt Napier, son of NHL player Mark Napier, and Canadian artist Melanie Rose team up to educate and entertain children about hockey in "Z is For Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet," the first in a series of sports pictorials from Sleeping Bear Press. The premise is simple enough: Each letter of the alphabet represents an aspect of the sport, be it a player, a team or as in the case of Zamboni, hockey-related item. "Zamboni" is truly a book for all ages, or at least one that will grow with a child because it is written on two levels. Napier presents each topic in a simple rhyme that young readers and listeners will find appealing. He expounds on each topic deeper in expository sections of text which accompany each verse, so even parents and older children may learn a thing or two. Rose's colorful and realistic artwork adds to the book's overall appeal making it a beautiful addition to any book collection.
"Cardinal Numbers: An Ohio Counting Book" by Marcia Schonberg, Bruce Langton, illustrator (Sleeping Bear Press, $17.95 hardcover).
Ohio native and award-winning journalist Marcia Schonberg and illustrator Bruce Langton follow-up "B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet" (Sleeping Bear Press, 2000) with "Cardinal Numbers: An Ohio Counting," another colorfully illustrated and informative picture book. Following the format of her previous work and that of Matt Napier's "Z is for Zamboni," "Cardinal Numbers" teaches math concepts using Ohio natural history and social studies set forth in simple rhymes and sidebars on two reading levels. It ends with a section that asks children to creatively solve math problems while talking about Ohio. Schonberg, a frequent contributor to the Columbus Dispatch, lives in Lexington.
PRESCHOOLERS
"One Beautiful Baby" by Martine Oborne (Little Brown, $14.95)
One beauty of a book. Oborne and illustrator Ingrid Godon have created a darling book to celebrate beautiful babies, counting all the special things they do.
"Please, Baby, Please" by Spike and Tonya Lewis Lee (Simon & amp; Schuster, $16.95)
Filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, team up to produce an engaging picture book that follows a doll of a little girl through her day. Artist Kadir Nelson's warm and joyful illustrations will have little ones asking you to please, please read it again.
"Give Me Grace" by Cynthia Rylant (Little Simon, $6.99)
The perfect stocking stuffer and offers a prayer for each day.
"Knick-Knack Paddywhack!" by Paul O. Zelinsky (Penguin Putnam, $18.99)
The counting song ,"This Old Man," comes alive with moving parts in this fabulously engineered and illustrated book for toddlers.
"Treasury of Picture Book Classics." Stories by various authors (HarperCollins, $24.99)
Treasuries and anthologies make special gifts. This one features 12 stories, including classics such as "Goodnight Moon" and modern favorites such as "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."
"Giggle, Giggle, Quack" by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Betsy Lewin (Simon & amp; Schuster, $15.95)
If you haven't shared this one with your little one, you'll want to. The book is the fun follow-up to Cronin and Lewin's Caldecott Honor book, "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type"
"William's Doll" by Charlotte Zolotow (HarperTrophy, $5.99).
Thirty years ago, Zolotow shocked the world when she published a picture book about a boy who wants to play with a doll. The book may be small (about the size of an adult paperback novel), but it strikes a large blow against sexism. William's dad is adamantly against his son playing with dolls. But William's grandmother understands what he really wants: to learn how to nurture, just like his dad.
"Dear Zoo" by Rod Campbell (Little Simon/Simon & amp; Schuster, $10.99/hardcover, $6.99/board book)
A perfect lap-time book for babies and toddlers. Written and illustrated by Campbell, this classic "lift the flap" book opens with the writer's request to the zoo to send a pet. The zoo complies, sending animal after animal until finally it sends the right one-- a puppy. Young children love this 20-year-old book because they get to "open" the box or crate holding each animal sent.
EARLY ELEMENTARY
"I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem" by Jamie Lee Curtis (HarperCollins, $15.99)
Elementary students are learning to read -- and learning to like school and themselves. Celebrity author Curtis teams up with illustrator Laura Cornell for another fun and funny picture book, which shows the ways the little things make you special, whether it's a good or bad day.
"When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Me" by Sandra Magsamen (Scholastic, $19.95)
Popular artist Magsamen celebrates girl power potential in this work. Her familiar heart-shaped faces and whimsical touches share a message that's great for girls.
"The Little House" by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton Mifflin, $20)
"House" is celebrating its 60th year and has been reissued as part of a treasury of Burton's works in "Mike Mulligan and More." Four favorites are included in a handsome gift book with its instantly recognizable art by Barbara Elleman.
"Junie B. Jones" series by Barbara Park (Random House, various prices)
Among series books, Park's Junie B. Jones is a well-known character. In paperback, you'll find adventures from her kindergarten year individually and in boxed sets. But Junie B. is growing up.
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst (hardcover published by Atheneum, $15; paperback edition by Scott Foresman, $5.99)
Thirty years ago, a young boy named Alexander woke with gum in his hair, tripped on a skateboard getting out of bed, and dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. And that was just the first few moments of his day, which proceeded to get worse and worse. But Alexander's mother, author Judith Viorst, knew a story when she saw one. The result: "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Children can readily identify with this story of Alexander's bad day, which can also offer a much-needed sense of perspective for harried parents.
"The Stinky Cheese Man & amp; Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by Jon Scieska (Viking, $16.99)
Fractured fairy tales are all the rage now. But author Jon Scieska and illustrator Lane Smith launched the craze 10 years ago with their Caldecott Honor book, "The Stinky Cheese Man & amp; Other Fairly Stupid Tales." In this marvelously silly book, characters wander in and out of each other's stories, the table of contents falls from the sky, and the book's type ranges from tiny to huge.
UPPER ELEMENTARY
"Double Fudge" by Judy Blume (Dutton, $15.99)
Judy Blume is back for the first time in 12 years with "Double Fudge." This time Fudge is obsessed with money. For fans of Judy Blume, or anyone with a little brother, it's a delicious treat.
"Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf, $15.95)
Carl Hiaasen makes his debut for young readers in a page-turner involving a middle schooler standing up to a bully. "Hoot" is a hoot of a story involving everything from school life to environmental issues and corrupt adults.
"What Would Joey Do?" by Jack Gantos (Farrar Straus & amp; Giroux, $16)
Jack Gantos' third and final installment in the Joey Pigza series arrives just in time for the holidays. "What Would Joey Do?" ties up the story of the engaging big-hearted boy with a dysfunctional family who learns to be comfortable in his own skin.
"Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson (HarperTrophy, $5.99)
In this Newbery Medal-winning classic, Paterson takes a grim subject -- the accidental death of a child -- and weaves it into a marvelous story about the friendship between Jess, a poor local boy, and Leslie, an imaginative, spunky girl who moves into the area. The two create a secret, magic kingdom (Terabithia) in the woods, and when Leslie drowns trying to get there during a major rainstorm, Jess feels responsible.
"The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke (Scholastic-The Chicken House, $16.95)
Another page turner for older readers. This adventure takes place in Venice, where two brothers are on the run from an aunt and uncle who want to split them up. They find shelter with street kids, including the leader known as the Thief Lord.
"Triss" by Brian Jacques (Philomel, $23.99)
Wondrous woodland critters battle evil in this, the 15th book of Jacques' "Redwall" series.
"The Carnivorous Carnival" by Lemony Snicket (HarperCollins, $10.99)
Fans of the "Unfortunate Events" tales told by Lemony Snicket will enjoy this, the ninth book in the series, as well as its two boxed sets.
"Kaya" by Janet Shaw (Pleasant Co., $34.95)
For girls, the Pleasant Company has introduced a new doll and and set of stories featuring Kaya, a Nez Perce girl living in 1764, with the boxed set "Kaya: An American Girl" by Janet Shaw. Books are also sold separately.
"From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" and "Jennifer, Hectate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth" by E.L. Konigsburg (Aladdin, $5.99 and $4.99, respectively)
Thirty-five years ago, Konigsburg pulled off a major literary feat by simultaneously winning the Newbery Medal and the Newbery Honor for two different books. The medal-winning novel was "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," which tells the story of two children, Claudia and Jamie, who run away from home and spend a week living in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Konigsburg has just published a new edition of the book, including an "anniversary afterword." Her honor-winning book of the same year, "Jennifer, Hectate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth."
"Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr (Putnam, $16.99)
Twelve-year-old Sadako Sasaki was the star runner in her school when she became gravely ill with leukemia, a result of the Hiroshima bombing. After hearing of a folk tale that creating 1,000 paper cranes will make a sick person well again, Sadako set about on the task with the determination she once put into her running. Sadako couldn't stave off death, but she did inspire her classmates -- and through them, several generations of children -- to work towards peace in the world, symbolized in the creation of paper cranes. This new edition of the 25-year-old classic, features illustrations by Ronald Himler, an afterword on how Coerr came to write the compelling story, and instructions for folding a paper crane.