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For ages 2-4 Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young Selected by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Marc Brown (Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 98 pages, $19.95) Children's poet and anthologist Jack Prelutsky has selected more than 200 wonderful children's poems for this volume. The works of Vachel Lindsay, A.A. Milne, Joan Walsh Anglund and Prelutsky himself are included. The illustrations by Marc Brown, creator of the "Arthur" series of books, are humorous and playful. The volume was originally published in 1986, and now boasts a jazzy new cover. For ages 2-5 A Busy Year By Leo Lionni (Alfred A. Knopf, board book, 26 pages, $6.99) Leo Lionni, a four-time Caldecott Honor artist, celebrates the seasons in this charmingly illustrated book. Twin mice, Willie and Winnie, befriend a talking tree in the wild. They follow her through the months and the different seasons - when the branches are bare, when they are flowering or bearing fruit, and when they become bare again as winter approaches. As the mice celebrate Christmas with their friend by bringing gifts, they are happy to know a brand-new year is coming when they can have fun all over again. Wake Up & Time for Bed By Sue King (Chronicle Books, board books, $5.95) Children can follow a little boy through his morning and evening routine by wiggling the book's pages and watching the lenticular screens of the illustrations change magically. The illustrations, rendered in watercolor, are sweet and simple. Pumpkinhead By Eric Rohmann (Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 32 pages, $14.95) Wonderfully imaginative, though this may be the slightest bit scary for the very youngest of children. "Pumpkinhead" tells the story of Otho, a boy born with the head of a pumpkin. All is well until he loses his head - literally - when a bat decides it would make a good home. We follow Otho on his journey - into a fish's stomach, into a fisherman's boat, in the fish market for sale. It's an offbeat and very droll tale; the illustrations are multiple-color relief prints made on an etching press. The author is a multiple Caldecott winner for "Time Flies" and "My Friend Rabbit." On the Mountain By Maurice Pledger (Silver Dolphin Books, board book, 16 pages, $12.95) Hop aboard with various woodland animals and birds on a mountain trail in this touch-and-feel adventure book. The sturdy foldout pages open up to even more wonderful illustrations of wildlife, in which children are asked to count the number of animals they see on the page, or to identify different creatures. The rhyming text will appeal to a child's imagination. And children will get a kick out of being able to spot the lynx and chipmunk hidden on each page. This Little Light of Mine By Raffi; illustrated by Stacey Schuett (Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) This is the latest entry in children's entertainer Raffi's series of Songs to Read books. This one features the lyrics to the famous old Sunday school song, set in a school theater as the children of varying ages and cultural backgrounds prepare a play for an audience. The song celebrates a child's uniqueness and individuality, while emphasizing the importance of working together as a community. A CD of several Raffi songs is included in the book. Happy Halloween! By Melissa Lagonegro (Golden Books, paperback, 23 pages, $3.25) The simple and sweet illustrations along with the easy rhyming text are perfect for preschoolers, who will identify with all the little children in the book getting ready for the big night. There's nothing scary here - just plenty that's adorable. Wake Up, City & Goodnight, Country By Susan Verlander (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 20 pages, $13.95 each) The first of these two rhyming volumes takes a look at a big city as it awakens, while the second one shows a farmhouse family in the country getting ready for bed. The graphic illustrations in these two books, rendered in Adobe Illustrator by Susan Verlander, are vivid and contemporary-looking, all angles and bright colors. For all ages The Alphazeds Written by Shirley Glaser; illustrated by Milton Glaser (Miramax/Hyperion Books, hardcover, 34 pages, $19.95) This is an enormously entertaining look at the alphabet by illustrator Milton Glaser, the founder of New York magazine, and his wife, writer Shirley Glaser. Their letters all have personalities and lots of attitude. They enter the pages one by one with a flourish as they eventually fill a room. But when all 26 are there, they fight, yell and jostle for position. They find they are useless until they work together to spell words. The illustrations are wonderfully playful; the Glasers seem to be having tons of fun with the typography as well. BEST READ: For ages 10 and over Eragon By Christopher Paolini (Knopf Books for Young Readers; 514 pages; hardcover; $18.95) For those readers who have read this New York Times bestseller and want a glimpse into the second of young writer Christopher Paolini's trilogy, it is here. A special Deluxe Edition of "Eragon" includes a preview chapter from "Eldest," an expanded language guide, and a foldout map of Alagaesia, the magical land for the book's setting. Paolini has received national coverage to match his inaugural book's success, which he wrote at age 15 and first self-published. Surely he'll need some life experience to continue his success, but for now, he lives with his family in Montana and is completing "Eldest," set for publication next fall. The story of "Eragon" is not unusual - a boy, a dragon and lots of adventure, but the writing is unusually fine. Written by a teen in a teen's voice, the pages move quickly. My 10-year-old son, struggling through "Call of the Wild," read the first chapter in a single sitting, and couldn't wait to get going on Chapter 2. - By Craig Reem |
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