Learning to play the acoustic guitar like a pro will be much easier when you know how the makeup of the wood affects the sounds you produce.
In fact before you buy a guitar you would do well to research the qualities of the woods the manufacturer uses to give the instrument the tonal qualities you enjoy.
Take time to play a few notes and listen for how sharp the highs are, how mellow the mid tones feel, and how the bass tones resonate in your chest.
Most of all take note of how the guitar makes you feel.
You will be playing it for many years to come, so you should choose the one that first fits your budget, but more importantly makes you want to play it.
The most common acoustic guitar is the dreadnought.
Named after the popular battleship of the time, the dreadnought, like the battleship, was deeper and larger than the common guitars of the day.
The result was a deeper resonant tone.
Throughout the mid-20th Century it was primarily used by folk musicians and is now the instrument of choice for most bluegrass guitarists.
Like I said, the type and quality of the wood will make a huge difference in the tones, depth, and gusto of the experience you will have playing your guitar.
Here are a few tips about the woods most commonly used in guitars and the tonal effect each has: Guitar Body Woods

• Basswood - A soft wood that subdues the sharp tinny high-end and the low-end as well.
  leaving a good solid mid-range tone.
  
• Alder - Much like Basswood.
  The qualities of the wood sustain more of the high range.
  
• Ash - Very resonant wood, but because of density variations in the wood, the sound of the guitar can vary one to the other much more than is the case with Basswood or Alder.
  Tip: If you are looking at two ash body guitars...
  the lighter of the two will be the better bet for deeper lows and crystalline highs.
  
• Mahogany - Produces nice lows and highs and is more consistent from instrument to instrument than is Ash.
  Produces a more heavy mid-range tone than Basswood or Alder with a more plush high range than either.
  

Guitar Body Tops The wood used as a Body Top will have a cumulative effect with the wood used in the body for example:

• Basswood Body + Maple Top = Brighter highs than just plain basswood all around.
  
• Alder Body + Maple Top = Brighter Highs and mid tones.
  
• Mahogany Body + Maple Top = This is the staple of Les Paul style guitar.
  Smooth and clear this is a great combination of woods.
  
• Rosewood + (your wood choice) = adds tonal support to the Body wood giving it a polished sound.
  

There is much more to take into consideration that cannot be covered here.
There is choice of neck wood as well as choice of fret wood.
Suffice it to say that the choice of wood and the effect it has on your ultimate sound can't be overlooked.
Hopefully this little primer will give you a head start in the selection of your first acoustic guitar and will prepare you to play the acoustic guitar like a pro.