Illustration from Over and Under the Snowcopyright 2011 with permission from Chronicle

As night falls, Noah’s wife, Naamah, visits all the animals on the Ark to sing them to sleep. Created by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, with comforting illustrations by Holly Meade, Naamah and the Ark at Night (Candlewick, $16.99) is written in the style of the ghazal, an ancient form of Arabic poetry. The soft lyricism and repeated rhythms of this lullaby flow like the gentle rocking of the ocean waves. The author includes a note explaining her choice of poetic style and the inspiration she drew from Naamah of the Bible. Birth through age 3. DMC

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Little, Brown, $16.99) / How I wonder what you are…” begins the classic children’s song full of wonder and possibility. Caldecott medalist Jerry Pinkney (The Lion & the Mouse) transforms the song into a story told through the eyes of a chipmunk in these remarkable watercolor illustrations. The twinkling star appears on nearly every page as the chipmunk embarks on his woodland adventures. Birth through age 6. KLP

One guitar, five tigers, and many toucans populate the pages of 1 2 3 Sí!: An Artistic Counting Book in English and Spanish (Trinity Univ., $7.95). Count to ten as you tour the San Antonio Museum of Art in this bilingual board book. The museum’s diverse collection includes everything from modern paintings to ancient jewelry. Each page features a question to spark conversation about the images’ details, and an appendix gives more information about the art. Ages 1-5. DMC

First Books

Black polar bears, pink rabbits, and orange elephants: one might assume that these fanciful representations of animals are the product of a child’s imagination, but in fact they are all part of famed children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle’s newest book, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (Philomel, $17.99). This simple story, told through illustrations in Carle’s trademark style, is inspired by the art of early twentieth-century painter Franz Marc, the Expressionist artist who painted blue horses. Ages 4-8. JLM

Nigerian-born author Atinuke first caught our attention with the Anna Hibiscus chapter books. Now she and illustrator Lauren Tobia welcome younger readers to the same enchanting world in Anna Hibiscus’ Song (Kane/Miller, $15.99). Surrounded by her family in their home, Anna Hibiscus is so happy that she doesn’t know how to express her joy. She asks all of her relatives – parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins – what she can do. Each of them has a different way of being glad, and Anna tries them all. Finally, she discovers what she can do when she is happy: sing! Ages 3-6. JLM

Every small child has cried out “Mine!” (Knopf, $16.99) on more than a few occasions. Shutta Crum relies on just this word, and charming illustrations by Patrice Barton, to create a series of humorous and realistic scenarios involving two toddlers learning to share. Ages 2-4. KLP

What could be better than having an enthusiastic puppy in your class? Having Bailey (Scholastic, $16.99) around makes school more fun for everyone. Not only is he a dog that eats his own homework, but he also fills his water dish at the fountain, howls through music class, and is great at digging holes for plants in the school garden. Harry Bliss renders a day in Bailey’s life with cheerful illustrations and clever dialogue. Ages 4-7. AJK

How can a chore like grocery shopping become a grand adventure? While Renata Liwska’s words tell the story of an everyday errand, her muted pencil drawings reveal the way Lucy and her friends turn their errand into an escapade with a brand new Red Wagon (Philomel, $16.99) and a lot of imagination. The four woodland creatures sail the high seas, join a circus, and even take off into space on their way to and from the market. Ages 3-5. AJK

“‘Prepare to do battle, brave knights!’ cried King Jack. ‘Protect your king’s castle from dragon attack!’” With these words, Jack, Zack, and Caspar launch an all-day battle against the beasts and monsters of their imaginations. After retreating to their stronghold (a cardboard box filled with snacks), Sir Zack and young Caspar are whisked away by giants (sometimes known as parents) for bedtime. The only ones left as night falls are King Jack and the Dragon (Dial, $17.99), but luckily the dragon is far gentler than the four-legged fright Jack imagines. Peter

Bentley’s rhyming story about the wonders of make-believe is complemented by Helen Oxenbury’s classic illustrations. Ages 2-5. AJK

Picture Books

1

One day in the savanna, Mouse scampers over a mountain only to find that it’s not a mountain at all, but a ferocious Lion. Lion is so angry that he threatens to eat Mouse, until Mouse convinces Lion that he might need his tiny acquaintance one day. Later, when Lion finds himself in a tangle, Mouse scurries to the rescue, showing Lion how powerful even the smallest creature can be. Mouse & Lion (Michael Di Capua, $17.95) is Rand Burkert’s stunning retelling of Aesop’s fable. Nancy

Ekholm Burkert’s paintings convey a beautiful sense of motion, and her expert use of white space captures both the small-scale interactions between the animals and the great expanse of the savanna. Ages 4-8. DMC

How do you make friends when you move to a new town? This boy has no idea where to start. He’s really down in the dumps, but when his mother makes him take a walk around the block, he decides to call out for Neville (Schwartz & Wade, $17.99). When he shouts out this name, the boy unwittingly becomes the talk of his new town, and finds some new friends in the process. G. Brian Karas’s pitch-perfect illustrations increase in color and vibrancy with the boy’s changing mood, and turn bright by the time Norton Juster’s story comes to its surprise conclusion. Ages 4-7. KLP

Rediscover the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm with Eric Carle. In this new collection, Carle’s bright illustrations bring to life “Tom Thumb” (Orchard, $17.99), “The Fisherman and His Wife”, “Hans in Luck,” and “The Seven Swabians” for a new generation of readers. Each of these stories is a reminder that no matter where we are in the world, there is no place quite like home. Ages 4-8. KLP

Young readers will shout Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! (Balzer + Bray, $17.99) when they discover six and a half surprising stories about a young girl and her stuffed animal. Caldecott honoree and Geisel medalist Mo Willems’s magical use of white space and simple lines complement these quiet, silly, and tender stories that will resonate with young audiences. Ages 4-8. MAG

When a moose and a bear unintentionally cause the collapse of two pigs’ little huts, problem-solving saves the day. The unlikely quartet of friends decides to build A House in the Woods (Candlewick, $16.99). Unable to complete the project on their own, the friends enlist the help of industrious beavers to build their home in exchange for peanut butter sandwiches. Inga Moore’s charming pencil and pastel illustrations bring this fanciful tale and its expressive animal characters to life. Ages 4-8. MAG

The Perfect Square (Greenwillow, $16.99) starts its week “perfectly happy,” with four equal sides and four equal angles. Every day, the square is snipped and torn into a new shape – a flowing river, a flowering garden, a bubbling fountain – and every day the pieces come back together again to make a perfect square. Michael Hall’s beautifully realized study in shapes and colors will inspire children to discover what they can create out of a plain square sheet of paper. Ages 5-8. DMC

Young Jane carries her stuffed chimpanzee everywhere, especially when she climbs her favorite tree to read the adventures of Tarzan. Patrick McDonnell’s understated text and pictures in Me…Jane (Little, Brown, $15.99) give the reader a glimpse of Jane Goodall’s intense curiosity about nature and her dream of going to Africa to study the real chimps in their own habitat. The final pages show her as a young woman waking up in her tent and

going out to observe her beloved chimps. Ages 4-7. JKS

Tony Johnston puts a farcical spin on the origins of Levi’s Jeans in Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99). During the California gold rush, miners were beset with a rather serious dilemma: their trousers didn’t hold up to the job! Luckily, the innovative Levi Strauss jumped to the rescue, creating a pair of trousers as durable and pliable as a tent. Johnston, a lover of Levi’s, affectionately refers to her own jeans as “blue skin.” Ages 4-7. DR

Grandpa Green (Roaring Brook, $16.99) was born a very long time ago. His great-grandson knows he grew up loving storybooks and horticulture, and says he never, ever fought with his wife. But as Grandpa became older, some of his recollections began to fade. Luckily, his expansive backyard is full of hedges that he can trim to create artful reminders of

the really important memories. Lane Smith’s illustrations tell a gentle and touching story about growing older and sharing our lives with the ones we love. Ages 4-8. AJK

Before becoming The Man in the Moon (Atheneum, $17.99), MiM was a baby with two loving parents and a loyal friend called Nightlight. Dark days soon arrived and MiM’s life was changed forever. Taking refuge on the moon itself, young MiM grew up to become a faraway friend to all children on earth, brightening the surface of the moon and inspiring other guardians of childhood, including a toymaker, a rabbit, and a fairy. Twenty years in the making, this first book in William Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood series is stunningly illustrated and instantly captures the reader’s imagination.  Ages 5-8. KLP

Picture Books

2

Mrs. Crow is distraught. Every afternoon at half past three while she’s out grocery shopping, a rattlesnake steals her eggs right from her nest. Mr. Crow consults Old Man Owl, whose clever plan should make The Crows of Pearblossom (Abrams, $16.95) very happy. Aldous Huxley’s only children’s story, originally published in 1944, is revived with lively illustrations by Sophie Blackall. Ages 7-10. HWP

Calpurnia’s deep, dark Florida forest has been hit with hard times: there are no fish in the river, and without fish to sell, Calpurnia’s father will have to close his market. Mother Albirtha, the forest’s wisest woman, sends Calpurnia and her dog, Buggy-horse, on a mission to find The Secret River (Atheneum, $19.99) teeming with catfish. Calpurnia’s bravery and generosity, along with her poetic way with words, carry her and Buggy-horse on their journey through the dark woods and back home again. Two-time Caldecott medalists Leo and Diane Dillon’s breathtaking new illustrations add a striking depth to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s 1956 Newbery Honor-winning story. Ages 5-10. DMC

Picture Books

Early Readers and Chapter Books

Piggie is so excited! “It’s the best day of the year!” she cries. Hopeful, Gerald the Elephant asks, “Is it free ice cream day?” No… it’s Happy Pig Day! (Hyperion, $8.99). Piggie starts to celebrate with her pig friends, but Gerald is less than thrilled. He cannot sing like a pig, or dance like a pig, and he certainly is not pink like a pig. He is an elephant, and he does not belong. But Piggie will not let her friend stay sad for long! Mo Willems has outdone himself yet again with this newest installment in the adventures of Elephant and Piggie. Ages 3-8. DMC

Meet The One and Only Stuey Lewis (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $15.99) as he shares stories from second grade. When Stuey has an idea for getting extra Halloween candy, even his big brother Anthony wants in on the plan. Then there’s Stuey’s best friend, Will, who seems like he’s been reading forever; Stuey just can’t get the hang of it. And Lilly the know-it-all doesn’t help, especially when Stuey finds out she’s on his soccer team. Young readers will recognize Stuey as one of their own in Jane Schoenberg’s delightful stories and Cambria Evans’s illustrations. Ages 6-9. HWP

Third grade is a challenge for Ellray Jakes. His popular classmates are constantly bragging and Ellray wonders how he can join in. Finally, Ellray Jakes is a Rock Star (Viking, $14.99) when he brings his father’s prized collection of crystals to school and gives them away. While his popularity is ensured, his father soon discovers that items are missing and Ellray must retrieve the rocks. Illustrated by Jamie Harper, this second title in Sally Warner’s series will ring true for elementary school readers. Ages 7-9. MAG

When eight-year-old Eleanor Abigail Kane’s baby-sitter moves to Florida, nothing feels quite right. In fact, everything feels wrong, just Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Amulet, $14.95). However, Eleanor manages to get through this upset with a sense of humor, the help of her parents and, most importantly, an exciting new friend. Julie Sternberg’s charming story is further enlivened by Matthew Cordell’s illustrations. Ages 7-9. KLP

Far away from Africa’s big cities is a town so small that traffic almost never passes through. Nigerian-born author Atinuke takes readers to this village through the stories of The No. 1 Car Spotter (Kane/Miller, $5.99). Oluwalase, known as No. 1 because he can identify the model of an approaching car before he even sees it, spends his days trying to help his extended family and friends. Always moving as fast as he can, No. 1’s plans sometimes go awry, but Atinuke masterfully ends each of these four interconnected tales with an unexpected conclusion. Ages 7-10. AJK

Mythology

Lise Lunge-Larsen’s fresh presentation of Greek and Roman myths begins by tracing the roots of English words to their classical origins. A tragic tale of unrequited love gave us the word echo, as well as narcissist. Do you suffer from arachnophobia? Well, once the mortal woman Arachne challenged a goddess to a spinning contest with dire consequences. Arachne learned her lesson, and her descendants spin webs – and scare people who have arachnophobia – to this day. With vigorous illustrations by Gareth Hinds, Gifts From The Gods: Ancient Words and Wisdom from Greek and Roman Mythology (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $18.99) will tantalize lovers of language as well as mythology buffs. Ages 8-13. SB-Z

3

Elementary Fiction

A colossus with an insatiable taste for metal mysteriously appears in a small British village and plagues the community’s farmers by devouring every piece of machinery in his path. Despite this inauspicious beginning, The Iron Giant’s (Knopf, $19.99) friendship with a boy named Hogarth inspires him to become a peaceful member of society and ultimately humankind’s last hope when a terrifying alien threatens Earth’s existence. With Laura Carlin’s new and haunting illustrations, this classic tale of fellowship and peace by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes becomes a thing of unusual beauty – much like the Giant himself. Ages 8 and up. JLM

A family of mice embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when the humans upstairs, the Cranston family, decide to move to England. The Cranstons are in search of a husband for their eldest daughter, whose awkwardness has put off every would-be American suitor. The mice take it upon themselves to help with the search, traveling as stowaways on the cruise liner to Europe. Secrets at Sea (Dial, $16.99) delivers author Richard Peck’s signature wit and Kelly Murphy’s charming illustrations. Ages 8-11. DR

In this revival of a century-old British fantasy tale, Katherine and John Paterson follow the journey of a magical stone charm that turns its possessor into a hard-hearted evildoer. Delivered with wit and grace, The Flint Heart (Candlewick, $19.99) is a comical, grim, and wonderfully absurd story full of unforgettable characters and a subtle yet effective political message. John Rocco’s illustrations add a layer of whimsy that makes this a book to share with younger and older readers alike. Ages 8-11. DR

Darius Bell’s family lives on a sprawling estate that has been in his family for over a century. Once a generation, payment is due for the estate in the form of a gift presented to the town, but the Bells’ money has run out and a magnificent gift is out of reach. When an earthquake breaks open the ground in Darius’s beloved woods, Darius discovers the Glitter Pool. Will the underground treasure help the family save its home? In Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool (Kane/Miller, $15.99), Odo Hirsch tells a story whose sense of wonder makes it a perfect read-aloud to share with the whole family. Ages 9-12. DMC

The King calls for volunteers to kill the horrid Ogre of Oglefort (Dutton, $16.99) who is holding Princess Mirella captive. Eager for adventure, the orphaned Ivo joins an unusual search-and-rescue team made up of a hag, a wizard, and a troll. When they eventually reach the Ogre’s castle, the team discovers that Mirella is not the one in need of rescue: the poor Ogre is so depressed he won’t get out of bed. Eva Ibbotson’s motley band has plenty of work to do to care for him while keeping the army of soldiers and Ogre’s relatives at bay. Fortunately, the resident ghosts help out. Ages 9-12. JKS

Fans of T.A. Barron’s Merlin saga will find in Merlin: The Book of Magic (Philomel, $17.99) an indispensable guide to the mystical people, creatures, places, and talismans that comprise Merlin’s world. What mysteries surrounded Merlin’s birth? Where was Avalon located, and what was its origin? How does one navigate the legendary isle of Fincayra? True enchantment awaits the reader in this companion volume – the secret journal of Merlin himself – filled with maps, charts, color plates, and crucial timelines. Ages 9-12. SB-Z

Kim Hà and her three older brothers live in 1975 Saigon with their mother. They haven’t seen their father since he was captured during a navy mission nine years ago, when Hà was only one. As the family struggles to make ends meet, their rich friends flee Vietnam on a cruise ship. Finally, their mother calls a family meeting to ask the big question: should we leave our home? And so begins a journey that takes the family Inside Out & Back Again (HarperCollins, $15.99). Thanhha Lai uses short free-verse poems to let Hà tell her story as a refugee in the United States, a place whose language

and customs she feels she’ll never understand. Ages 9-14. HWP

Everything changes when Elise starts middle school. Her friendship with her best friend Franklin suddenly feels awkward, her class is full of mean girls led by Elise’s terrible locker partner, and a new baby displaces her at Uncle Hugh and Aunt Bessie’s house. Then, on her twelfth birthday, Elise discovers the first of the Eight Keys (Wendy Lamb, $16.99). Hidden in every corner of Elise’s life, each key reveals a room left for Elise by her father before he died, and each room helps Elise piece together her parents’ stories – and her own. Suzanne LaFleur’s poignant novel is filled with familiar characters. Ages 10-13. DMC

Everyone in Bernardo’s small Filipino village of San Andres calls him Bernard Carpio, after the giant of local lore. Before he started growing, this was just a joke, but now, sixteen-year-old Bernardo is eight feet tall. For years, he has been living with his aunt and uncle while he waits for a letter from the British Home Office granting him permission to join his family in London. Bernardo’s thirteen-year-old stepsister Andi is short and basketball-obsessed. Bernard and Andi tell their stories before and after their reunion in London. Candy Gourlay’s Tall

Story (David Fickling, $16.99) introduces readers to a condition called gigantism while interweaving culture and family in an original way. Ages 10-14. HWP

4

Over twenty-five years ago, Chris Van Allsburg published The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. The book consisted of fourteen drawings, each accompanied only by a title and a caption. Van Allsburg explained in his introduction that retired publisher Peter Wenders received the drawings from Harris Burdick, who dropped them off and promised to return with a story to go with each one – but he never did. In The Chronicles of Harris Burdick (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $24.99), fourteen authors tell

the tales behind the mysterious drawings. Contributors include M.T. Anderson, Kate DiCamillo, Jules Feiffer, Stephen King, Walter Dean Myers, and Van Allsburg himself. Ages 10 and up. HWP

In Caldecott medalist Brian Selznick’s (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) new masterpiece, two stories, one told in words and the other in pictures, interweave until they converge. In 1977, Ben, coping with hearing loss and his mother’s death, travels to New York City to find his mysterious father. Fifty years earlier, Rose, also deaf, spends time constructing models of New York’s skyline and seeking contact with a film star. Each discovers the American Museum of Natural History and is Wonderstruck (Scholastic, $29.99). The book’s brilliant construction reflects Ben’s and Rose’s silent worlds and assures readers that the bound book will always be wondrous. An afterword demonstrates the author’s passion and extensive research. Ages 10 and up. MAG

Elementary Fiction

In 1930s Elmira, New York, hopes are high for Joe Louis to win the heavyweight boxing championship. Hibernia, Otis, and Willie are strangers, each coping with difficult life changes. As their worlds begin to intertwine, they are bound by their deep love of Joe Louis and the hope he represents. Full of struggles and triumphs, Andrea Davis Pinkney’s artfully woven novel shows the strength it takes to overcome challenges, even when you feel trapped like a Bird in a Box (Little, Brown, $16.99). Ages 11-13. AJK

In a magical version of Portland bordered by a dense wood known as the Impassable Wilderness, a girl named Prue witnesses her baby brother Mac being kidnapped by a murder of crows. Prue and her friend Curtis follow the crows into the forbidden forest, known to its denizens as Wildwood (HarperCollins, $17.99). Once there, they discover that Mac’s fate is inextricably linked with that of this strange land, and with their own. Illustrations by Carson Ellis combine with Decemberists singer Colin Meloy’s text to make Wildwood a modern legend. Ages 10-13. JLM

Liesl & Po (HarperCollins, $16.99) are not typical friends. Liesl is an orphan trapped in her attic by her evil stepmother; Po is a ghost from the other side. Po communicates with Liesl’s father in the afterlife and confirms Liesl’s wish to bury her father’s ashes by the willow tree near her mother’s grave. Meanwhile, Will, an alchemist’s apprentice, loses his job when he bungles the delivery of a magic-filled wooden box – a box that looks very similar to the one that holds Liesl’s father’s ashes. Lauren Oliver tells a magical story filled with humor, adventure, and friendship. Ages 10-13. KLP

It’s not surprising that world-famous pilot Beryl Markham had a childhood that was anything but ordinary. In a thrilling fictionalized account, Michaela Maccoll brings to life Beryl’s adventurous days on a ranch in Kenya. Before discovering her love of flying, Beryl sought adrenaline rushes by sneaking along on midnight lion hunts and riding her father’s fastest horse. With excerpts from Beryl Markham’s journals and newspaper clippings from her trans-Atlantic flight interspersed throughout the book, Promise the Night (Chronicle, $16.99) links Beryl’s early and

later years in a fast-paced narrative. Release date: Late December 2011. Ages 11-13. AJK

When her parents are accused of supporting Communism during the Cold War, Janie is uprooted from her happy life in Los Angeles and the family flees to England. Despite hating post-war London, Janie quickly develops a close friendship with Benjamin, who’s desperate to become a spy. When his dad, The Apothecary (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, $16.99), mysteriously disappears, Ben and Janie figure out how to rescue him. Aided by the apothecary’s ancient book, which gives them recipes for everything from truth serum to invisibility potion, the pair embarks

on an epic, magical mission masterfully related by Maile Meloy. Ages 11-14. AJK

Pictures and Prose

5

Teen Fiction

Jack Gantos grew up on a Dead End in Norvelt (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $15.99), Pennsylvania, in the 1950s. Young Jack is grounded after he accidentally fires his dad’s Japanese sniper rifle from World War II. Jack is only allowed out of the house to help his neighbor, Mrs. Volcker, as she signs death certificates and writes obituaries for the town’s remaining founders. Full of real history, the misadventures of a teenage boy, and the antics of eccentric townspeople, this autobiographical novel will make you laugh until tears are streaming down your face. Ages 10-14. KLP

Drew has always been a loner. Sure, she has Nick and Swoozie, who work with her at her mother’s cheese shop, and she has Hum, her pet rat, but none of them is the same as a true friend her own age. Everything changes when Drew meets Emmett Crane, a boy with an affinity for strange cheeses and an encyclopedic knowledge of rats, the summer before eighth grade. Slowly, Drew discovers that Emmett has a secret, and that he needs her help. As Dana Reinhardt’s The Summer I Learned to Fly (Wendy Lamb, $15.99) unfolds, Drew learns for

the first time what it means to have a friend. Ages 11-14. DMC

Ella, the only African American at her school, is taunted for a skin disorder and called Camo Girl (Aladdin, $15.99). She seeks refuge in her friendship with Z, who deals with his dad’s abandonment by building a rich fantasy life. When a new, instantly popular African-American student, Bailey, enrolls at the school, he comes to Ella’s defense and befriends her, but Bailey has his own difficulties. Kekla Magoon’s powerful novel intertwines three lives as the characters confront and overcome isolation, bullying, and heartbreak. Ages 11-14. MAG

Uido has grown up on one of the Andaman Islands off the coast of India. She feels a deep connection to her tribe, which has almost no contact with people from the mainland. Chosen to be the tribe’s next oko-jumu, or spiritual healer, Uido begins a physically and emotionally taxing training. When strangers arrive and try to entice her people into selling their resources and giving up their way of life, Uido must find a way to prevent the Island’s End (Putnam, $16.99). Padma Venkatraman’s extensive research fuses

with her lovely prose to create a powerful story about modern imperialism. Ages 11-15. AJK

Travis was always happiest in the woods with his dog, Rosco. But Rosco has died and Travis and Grandpa have moved to a small house in town. The kids at Travis’s old school called him Bluefish (Candlewick, $15.99), after the lowest reading group. Travis has always hated school – and all the more now that he’s the new kid. But Mr. McQueen seems to think Travis is smart, and Vida—Velveeta to her “public”—is interesting and wants to be friends. Both have painful problems, but they may be able to help each other. Pat Schmatz’s story is poignant, funny, and believable. Ages 12-15. HWP

Estranged from her mother after her parents’ divorce, McLean moves with her father from town to town, packing up and abandoning each place without warning and leaving her friends wondering What Happened to Goodbye (Viking, $19.99). For McLean, every move means it’s out with the old, in with the new: new friends, new boyfriend, even a new name and personality. Then, in her fourth town in two years, McLean meets Dave, someone she can be herself with – maybe even someone who can help her figure out who that self is. Sarah Dessen has created a character readers will connect with. Ages 12-16. ESL

In this companion to The Wednesday Wars, Newbery Honoree Gary Schmidt returns to the character of Doug Swieteck, whose abusive, irrational father suddenly moves the family to a new town. The Swietecks are also contending with the absence of Doug’s eldest brother, who is serving in Vietnam, and the delinquency of Doug’s middle brother. Having always struggled in school, Doug would rather be sent out of class than decipher his required reading. Ironically, he finds refuge and friendship at the library, where his fascination with the

illustrations in Audubon’s Birds of America and his desire to find the collection’s missing images give him new purpose. Filled with unforgettable characters, Okay for Now (Clarion, $16.99) is a complex story of discovery and survival. Ages 11-14. MAG

There is nothing Jessica loves more than rounding the last bend of the track and feeling the wind whip her face. So when she loses the lower part of her leg in an accident, Jessica is completely devastated. As she reluctantly begins a long, difficult transition to prosthetics, Jessica meets a new friend who has cerebral palsy and begins to realize that she is still lucky in many ways. In Wendelin Van Draanen’s tough and moving story, Jessica, with the help of her supportive friends and family, learns to redefine The Running Dream (Knopf, $16.99). Ages 14-17. AJK

6

Teen Fiction

What caused Victor Frankenstein’s obsession with creating new life from the dead? In this chilling prequel to Mary Shelley’s classic, Kenneth Oppel masterfully imagines the mad scientist’s childhood. When his twin brother falls ill, Victor is determined to find the Elixir of Life to cure him. With their friends Elizabeth and Henry, the brothers set off on This Dark Endeavor (Simon & Schuster, $17.99), a dangerous quest to find the ingredients for the ancient recipe. Deep jealousy and passion run through the novel, adding psychological twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Ages 13 and up. AJK

Taken from their home in the middle of the night, Lina and her family are among the thousands of Lithuanians forced into labor camps by Stalin’s army. Over the next year and a half, Lina endures brutal living conditions as she is shuffled among camps all over Eastern Europe and fed barely enough to survive. Given hope by the deep love she has for her family and her passion for creating art, Lina tries to look Between Shades of Gray (Philomel, $17.99) to find the strength to persevere. Ruta Sepetys’s moving first novel evokes a tragic period in European history. Ages 14-18. AJK

Young Kate “Puck” Connolly plans to run her island pony in The Scorpio Races (Scholastic, $17.99) this November alongside the wild, carnivorous water horses, and the whole town thinks it’s a mistake. Orphaned at a young age when the water horses killed her parents, Puck’s desire to keep her brother from moving away drives her to participate in the races. Luckily, Puck finds a friend and mentor in Sean Kendrick, who has a special way with the monstrous beasts. Maggie Stiefvater’s thrilling tale has roots in Irish, Scottish, and Manx mythology. Ages 14-18. KLP

There is no doubt about it: the Wolfe brothers are Underdogs (Arthur A. Levine, $19.99). They don’t have good grades, a cheery family, or great luck with girls. Despite these handicaps, the brothers’ deep bond with each other makes their days more bearable. This compilation of Markus Zusak’s earliest three books chronicles the boys’ high school years. The youngest, most sensitive brother, Cameron, tells the story of the duo’s constantly shifting relationship as they do everything from competing in an underground boxing tournament to developing crushes on the same girl. Ages 14-18. AJK

Sam Border and his younger brother Riddle have been bouncing from town to town with their outlaw father for years. Sam’s learned never to put down roots, but everything changes one day when he hears a girl named Emily sing the Jackson Five’s I’ll Be There (Little, Brown, $17.99). As the Border boys grow close to Emily’s family, they find the love and companionship they’ve always sought. When their father tries to uproot them again, the brothers embark on an epic journey to make their way back home. Holly Goldberg Sloan’s cinematic story is full of warmth and complexity. Ages 14-18. AJK

Blink is a desperate young man who, while trying to scrape by alone on the street, accidentally witnesses a crime he doesn’t understand. Caution is a young woman on the run from her past. When Blink & Caution (Candlewick, $16.99) finally meet, Caution finds herself strangely drawn to Blink and joins him in his determination to unravel the mystery surrounding the crime he witnessed. Told in Blink and Caution’s alternating voices, Tim Wynne-Jones’s newest book is a thoughtful and suspenseful thriller. Ages 14-18. KLP

Comics and Graphic Novels

Lost & Found (Arthur A. Levine, $21.99) is an art gallery within a book. Shaun Tan’s intricate visual meditation on subjects as varied as depression and colonialism consists of three stunning stories, including “The Lost Thing,” which was the basis for Tan’s Academy Award-winning short film. Each of these poignant stories is filled with warmth and humanity. Part picture book, part Dada graphic novel, Tan’s ominous and fantastical paintings will engross readers. Ages 10 and up. ES

Thomas Stevens went by bicycle; Nellie Bly opted for trains and ships; Joshua Slocum sailed. Inspired by Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg, all three aspired to go Around the World (Candlewick, $24.99), and all three succeeded. Matt Phelan’s captivating graphic triple biography tells the true story of these nineteenth-century adventurers, each with his or her own means of transport and unique motivation. With a chapter devoted to each person, Phelan provides maps of the journeys, incorporates quotes from his subjects’ autobiographies, and relays the thrill of adventure with words and pictures. Ages 10 and up. HWP

7

Poetry

Ever notice how many spirals there are in nature? This clever shape helps with all kinds of different tasks, allowing tornadoes to funnel up water and monkeys to cling to trees. From ocean waves to octopus legs, Joyce Sidman’s poetry and Caldecott medalist Beth Krommes’s intricate and colorful line drawings reveal the ways spirals unfurl Swirl by Swirl (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99). Informative back matter makes this a great book for readers of many ages. Ages 4-8. AJK

What could be better for a lover of literature than a collection of poems about books? Lee Bennett Hopkins has compiled a wide selection of poetry that celebrates the written word. These poems illuminate the way books can transport us to new worlds, comfort us, and make us think. Yayo’s illustrations cleverly place books in unlikely places. I Am the Book (Holiday House, $16.95) is a lighthearted treasury and a sincere

commemoration of our favorite thing. Ages 6-10. AJK

In this haunting collection of poems, Eloise Greenfield gives us a glimpse of The Great Migration: Journey to the North (Amistad, $16.99). Influenced by the poet’s own childhood, the collection explores the thoughts and emotions of African Americans as they tried to escape the hardships of the South by migrating north. Though some people find the idea of leaving their lives and land behind bittersweet, one compelling poem tells of a woman who is eager to go: “Goodbye town. Goodbye,/ work all day

for almost no pay,/ enemy cotton fields, trying/ to break my back, my spirit.” Jan Spivey Gilchrist’s evocative illustrations are the perfect complement to Greenfield’s candid poems. Ages 6-10. KLP

Art and Architecture

When Tony was a little boy living in England, he had a friend named Pablo Picasso. Tony’s mom was a photographer and his dad was an artist. Picasso visited them on their farm and drew inspiration for his paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the animals he saw there, including their bull, William. Although they were friends, Tony once got overexcited and became The Boy Who Bit Picasso (Abrams, $16.95). And Picasso bit him back! Antony Penrose tells the story of his personal relationship with the world-famous artist,

illustrating the narrative with photos of their families and Picasso’s work. Ages 5-10. HWP

Imagine a log cabin in the woods of New England, or a house on stilts off the Pacific coast of Chile. Imagine a pueblo built of adobe clay, or a whitewashed village on a Greek island. Imagine If You Lived Here (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99). Giles Laroche explores the lives of people all around the world through the houses they live in. Each dwelling is depicted in a cut-paper collage and accompanied by basic facts: where is this house located, what is it made of, and who lives there? Ages 7-11. DMC

As war crept through China and the world became more and more dangerous in the 1930s, Ed Young and his brothers and sisters were all safe in Shanghai in The House Baba Built (Little, Brown, $17.99). This autobiography tells the story of life in wartime China through episodes, photographs, and collages of keepsakes and found objects from the artist’s childhood. Truly a tribute to the author’s father, the architect of his happy childhood, this book is an inspiration to all budding artists. Ages 8-12. DMC

Jill Rubalcaba opens her newest book with the story of a young boy born in 1917 in Canton, China. Before he turns fourteen, he must deal with his mother’s death, his father’s virtual abandonment, and his relocation to his extended family’s home. A move to America for college takes him one step further along the path that will ultimately lead him to become I.M. Pei: Architect of Time,

Place, and Purpose (Marshall Cavendish, $23.99). This in-depth and moving biography does justice to I.M. Pei’s genius with photographs, sketches, and floor plans that combine to make a beautifully designed book. Ages 12 and up. JLM

8

Science

While skiing with her dad, an observant child discovers the world of animals that live Over and Under the Snow (Chronicle, $16.99). Kate Messner’s lyrical text contrasts the little girl’s experiences as she journeys over the snow with the activities of the vole, shrew, hare, and other animals who winter under the surface in the subnivean zone, as well as those who prey on them. The crisp silence of the snow-covered woodland and the close up cross-sections of the “secret kingdom” below are strikingly rendered in Christopher Silas Neal’s mixed media illustrations. Ages 4-8. MAG

Discover why 50 is the perfect number to create a dragonfly, why 22 makes a walking stick, and why 2500 means termites when you read Bugs by the Numbers (Blue Apple, $19.99), by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss, the award-winning creators of Alphabeasties. From its intriguing endpapers and surprising fold-out pages to its fascinating facts, this is a book that effortlessly marries art and science. All ages. MAG

What can happen in Just a Second (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99)? In the time it takes you to read this review, the Apollo 10 spacecraft could have traveled more than seven miles, and four babies will be born. In just one minute, a skydiver freefalls two miles and a sloth carries itself about ten feet. Steve Jenkins gives time a tangible context with his informative text and bold illustrations. Ages 5-9. KLP

Thomas F. Yezerski brings the beauty and unique history of the Hackensack, New Jersey, Meadowlands (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99) alive in this heartening story of survival and renewal. Children will learn about the connections between species and the complex relationships that have emerged in this particular ecosystem. While outlining the drastic consequences of human

development for the Meadowlands, Yezerski also highlights the ways humans have maintained and revitalized this space. The author’s green and gray watercolor illustrations strike the perfect tone to depict this estuary of the Hackensack River. Ages 6-10. KLP

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins joins forces with illustrator Dave McKean to present The Magic of Reality (Free Press, $29.99), a wonderful assortment of answers to the most frequently asked questions about our universe. From Darwin’s theory of evolution to the science of rainbows and earthquakes, Dawkins’s ability to unravel the most complex scientific concepts for his readers is a sort of magic in itself, and the book’s accessibility is further boosted by McKean’s quirky, graphic-novel style illustrations. Ages 12 and up. DR

Biography

Who is your favorite Muppet? Big Bird, Kermit, Fozzie, Rizzo the Rat, or the Swedish Chef? Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets (Random House, $16.99) was beloved by millions for his groundbreaking creations. Kathleen Krull’s biography begins with Henson’s childhood of backyard plays and storytelling. After honing his craft in college, Henson was invited by the new Children’s Television Workshop to use his Muppets to produce revolutionary educational programming on Sesame Street. Illustrators Steve Johnson and Lou

Fancher capture the cheerful character of Henson’s Muppets and the artist who created them. Ages 7-10. KLP

Have you ever seen the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, when the sky fills with breathtakingly enormous Balloons over Broadway (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99)? Melissa Sweet tells the story of Tony Sarg, the creative genius behind the floating puppets. From the age of six, Tony was fascinated with discovering innovative ways to make things work. As he grew older, he began designing puppets and eventually constructed characters for the Macy’s parade. Sweet’s vibrant illustrations are a perfect homage to Sarg’s whimsy. Ages 7-10. AJK

9

Biography

Even the youngest student of World War II knows the names Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, but fewer are aware of the historic meeting between the two great men that took place over Christmas in 1941. Arriving in Washington, D.C., days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Prime Minister Churchill struck up a friendship with the President; the pair soon began to call each other Franklin and Winston (Candlewick, $16.99). Stocked with information and anecdotes about the leaders and the war itself, this account, written by Douglas Wood and illustrated by Barry Moser, brings its two charismatic protagonists to life. Ages 9-12. JLM

Long before Allen Say won awards for his gorgeous, detailed picture books, he grew up in a small fishing town in Japan. From the very beginning he loved drawing, but his family discouraged it, saying it would never help him make a living. Determined to pursue his dreams, he secretly began studying with Noro Shinpei, a famous cartoonist. In Drawing from Memory (Scholastic, $17.99), Say has recreated these formative years of his life in a magical book full of detailed illustrations and old photographs and cartoons. This treasure is a perfect source of

inspiration for young artists and illustrators. Ages 10 and up. AJK

When his father was sent to debtor’s prison, Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $18.99) were forced to work in factories to survive. The lasting impact of this experience resonated in Dickens’s publications, which were read by rich and poor alike. In this well-researched introduction to Charles Dickens and how the plight of poor children in Victorian England influenced his life’s work, Andrea Warren traces the renowned author’s life and the ways his books effected

social change. Quotes, period paintings and photographs, a history of child labor, and a bibliography complete this accessible biography. Ages 10-12. MAG

Born on Christmas Eve 1920, John Langstaff probably heard his first family caroling party from the womb. By the age of seven, Jack was a boarder at Grace Church choir school and had committed his life to his music. After a successful career as a concert baritone and teacher, Jack’s interest in tradition music and dance made him The Magic Maker (Candlewick, $22.99). In 1971, Langstaff created the Christmas Revels, a celebration of the winter solstice that incorporates traditional music, dance, and drama into a communal performance with audience participation. Susan Cooper’s portrait of Langstaff shares the Revels’ “theatrical magic” and the man behind the enchantment. Ages 14 and up. HWP

History

How do you tell a child about the Holocaust? Marisabina Russo provides a nuanced yet age-appropriate example in I Will Come Back For You (Schwartz & Wade, $17.99). Based on the author’s mother’s experiences in Italy during World War II, the story is told through the framework of a grandmother explaining the charms on her bracelet to her young granddaughter. Each charm represents

an episode from her wartime childhood and commemorates her parents’ determined struggle to keep her and her brother safe. Through text and illustrations, Russo deftly interweaves tragic events with a sense of love and an abiding hope. Ages 7-10. JLM

When Dinga’s wife dies in childbirth, Dinga embraces his newborn son and vows to raise him himself. He calls on the Mother Elements, Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind, to help him. Musafa grows tall and strong, but is captured in the slave trade. Dinga mourns and begs the Mother Elements to find his son. Musafa is one of the lost ones, gone, but Never Forgotten (Schwartz & Wade, $18.99). Patricia McKissack’s original story, told in verse and powerfully illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, blends elements of African history and folktales with a Caribbean legend. Ages 10 and up. HWP

10

History

Terror grips a small town: a curse has been laid on the inhabitants, and no one knows whom to trust. Accusations fly as neighbor turns against neighbor in a desperate attempt to discover the culprits. This story is not fiction; this is Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem (National Geographic, $16.95). Rosalyn Schanzer’s treatise on America’s first witch hunt adeptly depicts the havoc that fear can wreak on even the closest-knit communities. Stark white-on-black scratchboard etchings with touches of red, also by Schanzer, vivify the darkest period of Salem’s history and make this small volume a treasure. Ages 10-15. JLM

Heart and Soul (Balzer + Bray, $19.99) tells the story of African Americans from slavery to the civil rights movement, culminating in the election of President Barack Obama. Kadir Nelson’s prose conveys the voice of a grandmotherly Everywoman and sets the tone for a historical survey that feels more like a personal memoir. Most striking are Nelson’s gorgeous portraits and illustrations. To look at one of these paintings is to peer

into history and to feel the struggles, steadfastness, and passion that mark the path of African-American history. This is a book to be pulled out time and again, to learn from, marvel at, and discuss with everyone, young and old. Ages 10 and up. KLP

When the copper mine collapsed in Copiapo, Chile in 2010, it left thirty-three miners Trapped (Atheneum, $16.99) underground. This fast-paced and informative book poses and answers questions about every aspect of the disaster: how was copper formed under the ground to begin with? What actions did people take to try to rescue the workers? And, perhaps most intriguing of all, what was happening 2,000 feet under the earth as the miners waited to be rescued? Timely and accessible, Marc Aronson’s newest book explores the truth and

consequences of recent history. Ages 12 and up. AJK

On June 7, 1942, Japan invaded Alaska. When a ship was spotted just outside Attu’s harbor in the Aleutian Islands, the inhabitants couldn’t tell if it was American or Japanese. But when they saw the flag and 2,000 soldiers, they knew the Japanese had arrived as Ghosts in the Fog (Scholastic, $17.99). Samantha Seiple uses photos, maps, and first-person accounts to tell the compelling story of the strategy behind the invasion, the ensuing battles, and the impact on the Alaskan natives and other inhabitants of the islands. Ages 13-18. HWP

Sports

Baseball fans young and old can relive The Unforgettable Season: The Story of Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams, and the Record-Setting Summer of ’41 (Putnam, $16.99). With illustrations by S.D. Schindler, author Phil Bildner recounts this incredible season of baseball, when Joe DiMaggio’s fifty-six-game hitting streak and Ted Williams’s batting average of .406 redefined the

record books. In almost seventy years, no player has been able to break the records set by these men, but the next record-breaking season could be just around the corner. Ages 6-10. DMC

In 1896, when young ladies were expected to be demure, Agnes Morley was playing guard for Stanford in the first women’s intercollegiate basketball game. The all-female crowd (it was improper for men to see ladies sweat) cheered to welcome the teams: Stanford and UC Berkeley. The ladies played with a big stuffed leather ball. After the first half, the score was tied: 1-1. In the end, a free throw determined which Basketball Belles (Holiday House, $16.95) won the game. Sue Macy narrates this exciting moment in college sports. Matt Collins’s illustrations remind readers that the uniforms, ball, and spectators have changed dramatically over the past hundred years. Ages 7-10. HWP

5015 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20008

202.364-1919800.722-0790202.966-7532 (fax) email: books @ politics-prose.comweb: www.politics-prose.com twitter: @politics_prose

Owners: Bradley Graham & Lissa Muscatine Founding Owners: Carla Cohen (1936-2010) & Barbara Meade

®