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When Mom, Dad and baby cuddle up with a book, a wonderful world of adventure and learning begins. Atlanta Parent’s picks for great reads in 2014 will get you started with infants and preschool-age children and guide you into the elementary and middle school years. All along the way, these books will keep kids engaged.

Reviewed by Amanda Allen, Felicia Barman and Sherry Crawley.

Baby

Dinnertime for Chickies by Janee Trasler (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $8.99)
This rhyming board book captures a child’s imagination from its opening lines, “Dinnertime, Chickies, let’s all eat. Wash your wings and take a seat.” The chickies in the story are fussy eaters – until they’re coaxed to take a bite and discover that peas, macaroni and even broccoli taste great. – Amanda Allen

Run Home, Little Mouse Written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup (Kids Can Press, $14.95)
Little Mouse wants to get home to his family. He meets some interesting animal friends along the way! Your young reader will be thrilled by guessing what animal could be looking at Little Mouse in the dark. With fun repetition and night-time colors, this book is a fun way to end any day. – Sherry Crawley

I Say, You Say Colors!
I Say, You Say Feelings!
by Tad Carpenter (Little, Brown and Company, $6.99)
Your child can get in touch with their inner feelings and learn their colors with these interactive lift-the-flap books that are perfect for little hands. Toddlers will enjoy turn-taking to see what lies beneath each flap as the parent reads catchphrases like “I say sky, you say … blue!” – Felicia Barman

Who? What? Where? When?
by Leo Lionni (Random House Children’s Books, $5.99)
Each title in this collection of four adorable board books will answer the popular questions that toddlers love to ask when hearing a story – “Who? What? Where? When?” The books lend themselves to a fun exchange between parent and child with simple questions and illustrations. As a result, young readers are introduced to new concepts like interesting animals, objects, seasons, and even prepositions. (SC)