Celebrate Children’s Literature Week, November 12-18, by reading a new book with your child each day. Here are 50 books from 2007 that Atlanta Parent Magazine’s panel of moms chose for this year’s list. From board books for babies to chapter books for teens, any one of these reads will be a great addition to your home library.

[ Board Books ]  [ Preschool ]  [ Ages 5-8 ]  [ Ages 7-11 ]  [ Ages 12 and up ]
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[ Board Books ]

What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?
by Sandra Boynton (Robin Corey Books, $5.99)
When your little one is in a bad mood, for no apparent reason, you will want to grab the newest release from popular children’s author and illustrator Sandra Boynton. With her signature rhyme and silly sense of humor, this book is sure to bring a smile, even in the middle of an all-out meltdown. Pookie is upset, and his mom has to figure out why. Walking him through a series of simple yes or no questions, Pookie’s mom finally resorts to offering him some fun, and downright outrageous, reasons for his distress. Pookie becomes so distracted that he finally forgets why he was upset in the first place and lovingly folds into his mother’s waiting arms for a warm embrace.

My Very First Book of Motion
by Eric Carle (Philomel Books, $5.99)
Matching is the name of the game with this book. Top and bottom pages can be flipped independently, and children try to match the animal on the top page with the motion that corresponds to that animal on the bottom page (fish with swim, etc.) or the animal on the top page with the food that animal eats on the bottom page in My Very First Book of Food (mouse with cheese, etc.). Your toddler is sure to have fun and learn at the same time with either of these reads.

A Walk in the Rainforest
by Kristin Joy Pratt (Dawn Publications, $7.95)
Take a tantalizing trip through the ABCs of the rainforest with your host, “XYZ the Ant.” See everything from an “amazing Anteater” to a “super-slow Sloth.” The author wrote the book when she was 15 and did the illustrations with only magic markers!

[ Preschool ]

The OK Book
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld (HarperCollins Publishers, $12.99)
Epitomizing the notion that what you do doesn’t have to define you and that nobody is perfect, the book follows the stick figure OK, who is drawn with the “O” for a face and a sideways “K” for a body. With each new thing that OK tries (juggling, roasting marshmallows, etc.), he is always OK at it. OK wants to find out what he will be excellent at, but until then, he’ll still be OK.

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
by Jane O’Connor; Ill. by Robin Preiss Glasser (HarperCollins Publishers, $16.99)
Fancy Nancy’s getting a puppy, and she wants the fanciest one. So she dog-sits her neighbor’s fancy little papillon, which turns out to be too high-maintenance. Then Nancy finds a mutt named Frenchy at the local animal shelter, and he turns out to be fancy enough for her posh taste. The sweet tale is a great way to teach kids “you can’t always judge a book by its cover.”

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle (Henry Holt and Company, LLC, $16.95)
In the final installment of their classic “Bear” series, Martin and Carle again captivate the hearts and imaginations of young readers with their unique version of “I spy.” In this edition, toddlers are introduced to various native North American animals such as a mountain goat, prairie dog and screech owl, all vividly drawn in Carle’s signature style. For 40 years, children everywhere have memorized these beloved books and come to love reading, and wild animals, in the process.

Cock-a-Doodle Quack! Quack!
by Ivor Baddiel and Sophie Jubb (David Fickling Books, $15.99)
Poor baby rooster has a job to do, but he doesn’t know how! He has to learn to wake up the other farm animals, but no one seems able to help him. Through some hilarious mix-ups – “Cock-a-doodle-moo-moo!” – your youngster will love joining in the fun of this noisy book and finally teaching baby rooster the right way to get everyone started each morning.

Together
by Jane Simmons (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $15.99)
This warm and inviting tale of two canine best friends, big Mousse and little Nut, conveys the simple theme of friendship and individuality to toddlers and preschoolers. The illustrations are warm and express a range of emotions the two friends feel for each other as they realize their special friendship should be rekindled after a small rift. Being together is better for these friends and makes for a magnificent day, much better than lonely days because of their differences.

Cutie Pie!
by Matthew J. Kempler (Golden Book, $7.99)
This endearing, interactive book has parents admiring their children’s best attributes and unique personalities while comparing them to all kinds of yummy desserts. Babies and toddlers are treated to colorful illustrations, large lift-up flaps and finally a mirror, showing them the type of “pie” they really are.

Giant Pop-Out Shapes
(Chronicle Books, $10.95)
This oversized, colorful book aims to help young children recognize shapes in the everyday world around them. The bold colors, big pictures and surprise pop-outs really bring shapes to life. Children will learn to associate and identify common shapes through things they see every day such as buttons, crackers, leaves and more.

Kindergarten Countdown
by Anna Jane Hays (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $8.99)
Experience the adventure of starting school through the eyes and voice of bubbly, rambunctious 5-year-old Lucy. There are just seven days to go before her first day of school and there’s so much to do – polish her ABCs, recite her numbers and practice writing her name. But then there are the really important things, like what to wear, what to put in her backpack and what to pack for lunch (a banana sandwich and ice cream crunch!). Your pre-schooler will spend the whole week with Lucy enjoying her antics and overactive imagination while gaining the courage and confidence they will need to have a great first day of school.

One Naked Baby
by Maggie Smith (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $15.99)
Work your way through a baby’s very busy day in this fun, on-the-go baby adventure. After his morning bath, baby tears through his day filled with the routine, and not so routine, activities all toddlers enjoy. From “sorting” the laundry, fun time with Mom, and eating to digging in the dirt, jumping in puddles and playing with wet puppies, baby finally ends his day by, you guessed it, taking another bath! The detailed and engaging illustrations are filled with wonderful discoveries and opportunities for counting and recognizing numbers.

We Go Together!
by Todd Dunn (Sterling Publishing Co., $12.95)
What goes together? Toddlers and this book! Youngsters are led through a journey of 23 pairs of things that belong with each other, like piggy bank and money, moon and night, pants and legs, sad and frown, and much more. The easy rhymes and bright pictures help children learn about associations while inviting other observations and much silliness. The final pair of a woman and child embracing provides a sweet ending to this upbeat book.

Whooo’s There?
by Mary Serfozo (Random House, $9.99)
It’s nighttime, and everyone’s supposed to be asleep, but Old Owl can’t get any rest because of all the noises he hears! He spends the night patrolling the forest, finding all kinds of new friends and interesting characters. This book’s bold graphics practically jump off the pages, and children will enjoy figuring out “whooo’s there?” before Old Owl can finally get some sleep!

You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy
by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt (Chronicle Books, $15.95)
Comical illustrations and the feisty spirit of our hard-working, muscle-bound, tooth fairy on her adventures to collect the world’s lost teeth will mesmerize preschoolers. Through nightly obstacle courses, our dental super-heroine always succeeds with the all-important tooth payout. Children will love the variety of technical gadgets she uses in one exhausting, but fulfilling, night of collecting.

Who Will Sing a Lullaby?
by Dee Lillegard (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $15.99)
Feathered friends unite to sooth a crying babe. Each bird takes to the parental task of comforting the crying baby with little success until nightingale sings a beautiful lullaby to hush the baby and bird friends into a night of blissful sleep. Warm colors create a dream-like comfort for readers.

[ Ages 5 – 8 ]

Good Sports
by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $16.99)
This is an exhilarating, kid-friendly book that captures the range of emotions children face on the field, in the pool or on the playground. Prelutsky’s playful collection of short poems delightfully expresses the competitive spirit and sportsmanship of kids. Raschka’s watercolor illustrations present an abstract world of physical feats and accomplishments.

Bad Dog, Marley!
by John Grogan (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $16.99)
Hide your shoes, the food and anything of value, because here comes Marley – the lovable but troublesome pooch from Grogan’s 2005 best-selling memoir Marley and Me. Young and old alike will delight in this new fictional account of how the family pooch’s mischievous antics and attempts to “be good” always seem to land him in more trouble. Right up until the very end, readers are sure that Marley is on his way out, but rest easy, this Labrador’s not going anywhere. When he saves the day, he wins our hearts, and those of his family, in a very big way.

Sadie: The Air Mail Pilot
by Kellie Strom (David Fickling Books, $16.99)
A whimsical tale of a brave and fearless cat pilot who overcomes the elements, and even a plane crash, to deliver the mail. Perfect for reading aloud, and both boys and girls will love to join in Sadie’s rhythmic airmail refrains.

Snow Day!
by Lester L. Laminack (Peachtree Publishers, $16.95)
Who looks forward to snow days more, students or teachers? Readers will have a blast trying to figure out the answer as they imagine what they would do with a whole day off from school. They’ll enjoy not having to get up early, staying in their PJs all day, playing outside and building snow forts. Then reality hits. The surprise ending leaves them as breathless as running around in sub-zero weather.

The Monster Who Did My Math
by Danny Schnitzlein (Peachtree Publishers, $16.95)
What if signing on the dotted line could solve all your math problems? One little boy finds out in this gripping tale about the hefty price of taking the easy way out. A smooth-talking monster sweeps in to rescue the “lucky” student from all his homework woes, but trouble erupts when the boy is called to the front of the class and put on the spot. Then there’s the issue of the monster’s fees. Students everywhere will benefit from this book’s life lessons about working hard and applying oneself in school.

What Are You Hungry For?
by Emme (HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99)
Helping children make good choices is at the heart of this book by plus-size supermodel and health advocate Emme. Through vivid illustrations, and a spunky narrator, readers learn to gauge the source of their cravings and how to choose healthier fare, whether at home, school or while relaxing with friends. She also helps children put into words what they’re really hungry for and how to satisfy both their bodies and their souls. Boys and girls alike will relate to simple pleasures such as cuddling with pets, a pat on the back, bear hugs and playing ball while also experiencing the joys of good food and special treats in moderation.

Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star
by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Schwartz & Wade Books, $16.99)
While other kids memorized letters, Edson memorized scores of soccer matches. While others practiced addition, Edson practiced kicking an imaginary ball. This book is an inspiring picture book that proves hard work, determination and passion can make any dreams achievable.

Eloise in Hollywood
by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss; Ill. by Ted Enik (Simon and Schuster, $14.98)
Lights, camera…ELOISE! Join everyone’s absolute favorite 6-year-old as she goes behind the scenes in Tinseltown. Based on Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight’s 1957 idea, and adhering closely to the original duo’s style, this new tale follows Eloise as she heads out West to visit her mother’s Hollywood movie mogul friend. With witty narration and detailed illustrations, this book is worthy of Hollywood stardom.

Ginger Bear
by Mini Grey (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $15.99)
A yummy British ditty about a sweet treat that comes alive, has a wild night of adventure and a close escape from the hungry jaws of a household pet. Ginger Bear’s text and whimsical illustrations intrigue the minds of youngsters as they follow Horace, a boy with a taste for cookies. Horace’s dream of devouring the delicious treat disappears, but a clue leads him to a happy, unharmed Ginger Bear once again.

Never Tease a Weasel
by Jean C. Soule (Random House, $15.99)
A blend of original text and quirky, doodle-looking illustrations makes this reissued classic a treat for a new generation. Animals are captured in silly circumstances while rhyming words echo the “never tease” theme carried throughout the book. Never Tease a Weasel is an entertaining way to teach your children about teasing without taking it too seriously.

Josephine Wants to Dance
by Jackie French (Abrams Publishing, $15.95)
Dance enthusiasts and other readers with aspirations of performing will love the inspiring Josephine, a dancing kangaroo. Warm illustrations feature the numerous spins, twirls and extraordinary ballet moves Josephine practices and enjoys. Her brother, Joey, chants “Kangaroos don’t dance,” but our dancing dreamer never listens to her skeptics. As fate would have it, a lead dancer is injured, and Josephine follows her dream of performing to the delight of an audience of admirers. Afterward, Josephine’s star performance and fortitude inspire others to follow their own dancing dreams.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
by Carmen A. Deedy (Peachtree Publishing, $16.95)
A sure-to-be classic, this book transforms a cockroach into a beautiful, clever and endearing character. Well-known author Carmen Deedy delivers a rhythmic text of repetitive banter between our bride-to-be, Martina, and her not-so-chivalrous suitors. Martina’s Cuban grandmother shows her a coffee trick to determine the intent of her suitors. In the end, Martina meets her love on his terms. Beautifully detailed artwork adorns the pages, as the expression of each character is apparent through eyes, body language and posture. Integrated Spanish words are defined through context clues and reveal a sense of Cuban family culture and dialect.

Tico and the Golden Wings
by Leo Lionni (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $16.99)
Themes of envy, sacrifice and generosity anchor this story as a classic fairytale. As a little bird, Tico wishes for and receives wings of gold, but his envious friends alienate him. Tico grows and learns to help others during this time of hardship by giving his golden feathers to those with greater needs than he. Wings of gold are soon replaced with wings of black and the self-realization that his differences and humanity make up his unique memories and dreams.

Grandfather’s Wrinkles
by Kathryn England (Flashlight Press, $15.95)
Travel through decades of love and family memories with Lucy and her grandfather. With illustrations that resemble photographs, readers will stare at the shadowing and technique with amazement. Watch how fashion, automobiles and hairstyles change while the theme of life’s most poignant family memories resonate in the story. Grandfather’s Wrinkles is also a great catalyst for starting family memory conversations and family oral histories with your own children.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
by Margaret McNamara (Schwartz & Wade Books, $14.99)
It’s a classroom experiment where everyone predicts which pumpkin has the most seeds. Readers learn to count the seeds by twos, fives and tens, and it’s loaded with cool pumpkin facts. The surprise ending offers a wonderful lesson on how size doesn’t matter. Readers learn science facts, simple math and that appearances are not always what they seem.

Diary of a Fly
by Doreen Cronin (HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99)
Journal entry-style writing gives insight into the life of a fly, who wants desperately to be a superhero. In Cronin’s third book, complete with comic-strip art and buggy humor, readers learn about the life of a small but big-hearted fly and her impact on the world. Fly learns, with the help of her friends, worm and spider, that maybe she is already a hero.

Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One
by Judy Blume (Delacorte Press, $12.99)
Abigail, a third grader, is called the Great One by her younger brother, Jake. A first grader, Jake is called the Pain by his big sister, Abigail. Filled with bickering and bantering between the two, Soupy Saturdays shows the special relationship between siblings in classic childhood situations, like getting a haircut, riding a bike and playing soccer.

The Secret of the Painted House
by Marion Dane Bauer (Random House, $11.99)
In this eerie story, Emily discovers an abandoned playhouse in the forest behind her new house. Its interior is painted to look exactly like the surrounding forest, but when Emily enters she learns that a girl named Penelope lives on the painted walls. Abandoned as a young girl, Penelope is a lonely ghost who lures Emily and her little brother into a mysterious world. The siblings must work with Penelope to find their mother so they can be freed to return home.

[ Ages 7-11 ]

Ivy and Bean Break The Fossil Record
by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall (Chronicle Books, $14.95)
Soon after Bean discovers a book of world records, everyone in her second-grade class starts competing to do the most cartwheels, fit more straws in their mouth or shatter a glass by screaming. In order to get their names in the record book, Ivy and Bean take on the daunting task of trying to become the youngest people ever to discover a dinosaur.

Squirrel World
by Johanna Hurwitz (Chronicle Books, $14.95)
This personal narrative offers a squirrel’s eye view of the world in Central Park. Lexi agrees to follow his cousin, Lenox, to find the streets they were each named after. The two squirrels brave the streets of New York City on their adventure, learning about subways and riding a bus. Soon they are captured and placed in a storefront to attract business. Saved by their 400 relatives, the pair learns that Central Park is a terrific place to call home.

One Beastly Beast (Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales)
by Garth Nix (HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99)
A collection of short, funny fantasy-adventure stories, this book offers readers four stories: A girl befriends a fierce serpent who is frightening her entire town; a boy is transported into a world of pirate rats; a princess faces a beastly beast lingering outside her castle walls; and aliens try to adopt a boy inventor. It’s adventure mixed with magic and fantasy in this fun, quirky read.

Night of the Howling Dogs
by Graham Salisbury (Wendy Lamb Books, $16.99)
On the Big Island of Hawaii, Dylan’s scout troop hikes down into the desolation of an ancient lava flow to camp on a small, remote beach below the volcano. It’s based on the true events of six Boy Scouts and four troop leaders who experienced a 7.2 earthquake in November 1975 that caused the south coast of the Big Island to drop 12 feet into the ocean and generated a tsunami that rushed inland. The author’s cousin offers his real-life experience after miraculously surviving.

Toby Wheeler, Eighth-Grade Benchwarmer
by Thatcher Heldring (Delacorte Press, $14.99)
Toby Wheeler loves playing basketball, especially at the local rec center where there are no coaches or practices, just nonstop action with his best friend, JJ. But when Toby decides to join his friend JJ on the basketball team, things change. On and off the court, Toby learns lessons about the importance of being a team player. It’s a heartfelt story intermingled with triumphs and losses in the life of an eighth grader.

Isle of Swords
by Wayne Thomas Batson (Thomas Nelson Publishers, $16.99)
With pages resembling treasure map paper, this captivating pirate tale takes readers on a high-seas adventure where battles rage, storms brew and a long-dormant volcano awakens. It’s a tween fiction novel packed with courage, danger and sacrificial love.

Muddle Earth
by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell (Delacorte Press, $16.99)
Joe Jefferson is an ordinary schoolboy from ordinary Earth, until something strange happens when he is walking his dog. Now he’s Joe the Barbarian, a warrior-hero summoned by Muddle Earth’s leading wizard to slay ogres, wrestle dragons and bravely confront villains. When big problems arise, Joe must save the people of Muddle Earth. Filled with sly Tolkien references, readers get three fantasy novels in one.

[ Ages 12 and up ]

In the wake of the Harry Potter series, Pirates of the Caribbean and a resurgence of super hero movies, many books for tweens are following in the fantasy footstes of this popular trend. Five fantastical books made AP’s list.

The Seems: The Glitch in Sleep
by John Hulme and Michael Wexler (Bloomsbury USA, $16.95)
Follow 12-year-old Becker Drane as he lands a job as a “fixer” in the secret world known as “The Seems.” Controlling everything from the weather to keeping the other side of your pillow cool, The Seems are responsible for keeping our world running smoothly. But when a glitch is detected in the Department of Sleep, The Seems call on Becker Drane for his first mission: saving the world from an endless, sleepless night. This junior action/spy thriller is sure to keep your tween intrigued.

The Man with the Red Bag
by Eve Bunting (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $15.99)
In a post-9/11 world, this book explores questions about racial profiling through the eyes of 12-year-old Kevin. As a fledgling mystery writer, Kevin is always looking for material, even while on a boring trip with his grandmother to see historical Mt. Rushmore. So when Mr. Charles Stavnos boards the bus with a heavy red bag that he keeps under lock and key, Kevin’s suspicions are aroused.

The Sorta Sisters
by Adrian Fogelin (Peachtree Publishers, $15.95)
When Anna, a foster kid who has never found a permanent home, receives an unexpected letter from Mica, who lives on a sailboat and goes to school by mail, an instant friendship follows. Through their letters Anna and Mica draw close because of the things they share, like a love for science and a sly humor. But most of all, their bond starts with the knowledge that they have found someone else who can relate to feeling adrift. The heartwarming tale will make young girls appreciate their bonds with others and maybe create unexpected friendships.

Dead Water Zone
by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $6.99)
When Paul’s little brother, Sam, goes missing in the slums of Watertown, Paul sets out to find him. However, his search uncovers a disturbing truth about Watertown: The water is mutating residents into something inhuman. Follow Paul as he races to find Sam before it’s too late.

White Magic: Spells to Hold You
by Kelly Easton (Wendy Lamb Books, $15.99)
After Chrissie’s dad dies, her mom moves them from Vermont to Malibu for a fresh start. But Chrissie feels lonely in her new surroundings. That is, until she meets Yvonne. Half gypsy, half witch, Yvonne and her shy friend Karen literally pull Chrissie into the world of spells. While the girls are outsiders as individuals, this trio of “good witches” forms a magical friendship.

The Right-Under Club
by Christine Hurley Deriso (Delacorte Press, $15.99)
As a way to cope with the problems of stepparents, half-siblings and custody battles, five preteen girls found The Right-Under Club and adopt the motto, “We R There 4 U.” The themes of friendship and resilience shine through in the girls’ weekly tree house meetings as they openly discuss and work through the problems they face.

Giving Up the Ghost
by Sheri Sinykin (Peachtree Publishers, $15.95)
Like most 13-year-olds, Davia fears the unknown. Whether it’s something as grave as her mom’s cancer returning or something much less serious like stepping foot in an unfamiliar place, Davia fears it. So when Davia sees a ghost write on the window of her great-aunt’s creepy Louisiana plantation home, her fear nearly gets the best of her. Learn how Davia copes with her fears, interprets the ghost’s message, and even confronts the phantom who calls herself Emilie.

Vendetta, The Runestone Saga
by Chris Humphreys (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, $15.99)
In this adventure, Sky must use the ancient Norse magic taught to him by his grandfather Sigurd against Sigurd himself because he has revealed a murderous plot. After Sigurd possesses the life of Sky’s cousin, Kristin, Sky travels to the island of Corsica in the hopes of discovering a way to rescue her. The journey leads Sky back in time, where he meets a treacherous Dream Hunter who could be the only one that can help him save Kristin.

Gabriel’s Triumph
by Alison Hart (Peachtree Publishers, $14.95)
Set in the Civil War era, 12-year-old Gabriel, a recently freed slave, wants to make a name for himself with his competitive spirit and natural talent for racing horses. Gabriel braves the Saratoga Chase with an unpredictable horse named Aristo. In this historical look at the business of high-stakes horse racing, Gabriel also learns the difficult lesson that being freed is not the same as being free.