The Canadian Toy Testing Council is known for rating toys but it also has eight book recommendations just in time for holiday gift giving.

For the youngest children: Dance Baby Dance and Saffy, about a baby giraffe so short that she cannot reach the lowest branches of the tree.

For ages two to five: Bradley McGogg The Very Fine Frog. Phyllis Simon with Vancouver's Kidsbooks says it's a great book for teaching children rhythm and rhyme.

"And they all love to hear about the antics of this frog stuck in his bog," Simon said.

Chicken Pig Cow tells the story of three toy animals and their barnyard home.

A Royal Little Pest is about a prince who's a royal pain to his brothers and sisters: the first of a new series.

The Little Toy Shop is a story about friendship between two toys and the little girl who loves them both.

And no book list is complete without a hockey book. Inside Hockey! is full of great stories, facts, photos and amusing art.

Good-bye Marianne is a moving graphic novel about an 11 year-old Jewish girl living in 1938 Germany.

"Her parents make the ultimate sacrifice of sending her to England when she is quite a young girl. A very interesting story and something to think about," Simon said.

Eight books didn't seem like enough so we asked Simon to come up with another list of half a dozen books by Canadian authors.

They include -- the latest in the Stella series which is celebrating a 10th anniversary: When Stella was Very, Very Small.

The King's Taster: about a dog who has to taste food for a young king.

She also recommends The Rocket.

"In this story....a young boy has an older brother who is a phenomenal hockey player and he kind of lives in his shadow," Simon said.

The boy learns that Rocket Richard's younger brother -- Henri Richard --went through the same thing to become a great player on his own.

For older kids: Stop That Stage Coach is the 13th in The Canadian Flyer adventure series.

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman is also recommended, along with The Hunchback Assignments in a new genre called "steam punk".

"Usually deals with stories set in the past but with technology that is very futuristic," Simon said.

It can be a little scary to younger children.

Finally, a knowledgeable bookstore can help you find books to match your child's interests no matter their age or reading ability.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen.