Christmas reading: Making a list

December is a month for book celebrations. With books galore to read, share and give as gifts, it is often difficult to know what to choose.

The wish lists are in; at least from a few children who are sure that their choices are "musts" on wish lists. Also, some ideas of "tried-and-true" classics as well as new titles will bring lots of pleasure to young readers throughout the year.

My picks for gift-giving

Picture books:

• "Flotsam" by David Wiesner (Clarion). A boy finds a camera that brings the underwater world to life. In this wordless mystery he finds others just like himself. (Ages 5 — 10)

• "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?" by Jon Agee and others (Dial). Fourteen illustrators with unique styles give their own interpretation of a question that's been posed for years. (Ages 5 and up)

• "Lilly's Big Day," by Kevin Henkes (HarperCollins). Lilly fans ("Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse") will be delighted as she becomes a flower girl. Or does she? (Ages 4 and up)

• "Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship," by Isabella Hatkoff and others (Scholastic). Two remarkable animals — a hippo and a giant tortoise — become friends after the 2004 tsunami. Amazing photos. (Ages 4-8)

• Another unusual twosome is presented by Utah author Rick Walton in "The Remarkable Friendship of Mr. Cat and Mr. Rat" (Putnam) with highly animated pictures by Lisa McCue.

• A duo that responds to mothers' untiring love is "Love You When You Whine," by Emily Jenkins (FSG) and "I Love It When You Smile" by Sam McBratney (Harper).

• "The Cow Who Clucked," by Denise Fleming (Holt). The youngest listener will find much humor in the simple pictures and dilemma of a cow who can't make the noise he's supposed to. (Ages 3-6)

• "Castle," by Robert Subuda/Matthew Reinhart (Orchard). Another in the incredible pop-ups that make a three-dimensional world. Others to watch for: "Dragons," "America the Beautiful" and "The Christmas Alphabet." (All ages)

• "Down the Back of the Chair," by Margaret Mahy (Clarion). Where could the car keys be? When the children suggest that they look in the sides of the chair, much else is discovered. (Ages 4-7)

• "Dooby Dooby Moo" by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin (Atheneum). Imagine a group of farm animals entering a talent contest! (Ages 3-8)

• Two picture books that start with a little event that mushrooms into disaster are "Once Upon a Banana," by Jennifer Armstrong and David Small (Simon), and "Oops," by Arthur Geisert (Houghton). In the first, a banana peel causes a whole town to fall apart, and Geisert's pigs cry literally over spilled milk. Both are wordless, but text isn't needed at all. (Ages 5-10)