More About Alice

'Tis the season for journeying down rabbit holes. In addition to Sabuda's and Seibold's pop-up editions (see Children's Forecasts, Sept. 22). Ralph Steadman portrays the curious girl in spirited illustrations that bring new life to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Steadman's imaginative pen-and-ink drawings, which first appeared in a 1968 British edition, have here been restored, reformatted and updated. The White Rabbit's anxiety at his tardiness seems insurmountable in an opening portrait; the bottle labeled "Drink Me" unmistakably resembles a classic Coca-Cola bottle; and the artist depicts Alice outgrowing the White Rabbit's house as a wordless spread of the girl in a dark interior, with only a window as the source of light. His artwork deftly blends contemporary ideas with timeless psychological portrayals. (Firefly, $29.95 128p all ages ISBN 1-55297-754-4; Sept.)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland gets another makeover in a new edition illustrated by Iassen Ghiuselev. Beginning with a gouache painting that combines elements from the entire story into one fantastical scene, Ghiuselev's illustrations continue by alternating seemingly gilded paintings of Alice interacting realistically with Mouse and Duck and Dodo, and burgundy-hued pencil drawings, all of which emphasize the dreamlike qualities of the text. This large-trim (9½"× 13"), limited edition includes a bookmark. (Simply Read [Words, dist.], $29.95 136p ages 9-up ISBN 1-894965-00-0; Oct.)

Science 101

The story of the first lunar landing unfolds from an unexpected perspective in The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story ofApollo 11Astronaut Michael Collins by Bea Uusma Schyffert. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, Collins maintained control of the command module, orbiting the moon 14 times. Featuring an eye-catching design and foil jacket, this book includes facts, checklists, personal notes and photos taken from Earth and from space, revealing what Collins saw, did and thought about during Apollo 11's historic mission. (Chronicle, $14.95 80p ages 10-up ISBN 0-8118-4007-7; Sept.)

Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Kristan Lawson explores Darwin's life and work, from his historic trip around the Galapagos Islands, which helped shape his controversial theory of evolution, to an explanation of the theory itself to the challenges the theory raised... and continues to face. Hands-on activities encourage budding scientists to explore some of the concepts themselves, from going on a Botanical Treasure Hunt to making fossils and more. (Chicago Review [IPG, dist.], $16.95 160p ages 9-up ISBN 1-55652-502-8; Oct.)

Stunning color photographs by Philip Plisson capture the beauty, danger and mystery of the deep in the oversize volume The Sea: Exploring Life on an Ocean Planet, adapted by Robert Burleigh, text by Yvon Mauffret, illus. by Emmanuel Cerisier. From fishermen braving the currents to playful dolphins, lighthouses, shipwrecks and more, these dramatic photos, printed on glossy paper, document the many experiences of sealovers. The text provides brief commentary about the subjects in the photos. For landlubbers, photographs of eruptions fill the pages of a companion volume, Volcanoes: Journey to the Crater's Edge, photographs by Philippe Bourseiller, adapted by Burleigh, text by Hélène Montardre, illus. by David Giraudon. (Abrams, $14.95 each 80p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-8109-4591-6; -4590-8; Sept.)

Young Naturalist's Handbook: Insect-lo-pedia by Matthew Reinhart, an addition to his other handbooks, Beetles and Butterflies, takes a lighthearted look at creepy-crawlies. The volume examines everything from their common anatomy to peculiarities of individual species. Young mantids, for instance, can actually regrow a lost leg and Bombardier beetles spray attackers with a gas heated to nearly 100°F. (Hyperion, $15.99 48p ages 7-9 ISBN 0-7868-0559-5; Oct.)

From the puffed-up porcupine fish on the cover to the enormous elephant endpapers, the paper-over-board Amazing Animal Facts: A Visual Guide to the World's Most Incredible Creatures by Jacqui Bailey brims with eye-catching animal photos. Using a q&a format, the volume, divided into sections on mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, insects and fish, answers a wide array of questions, such as "Which mammal has the most offspring?" (mice and rats) and "Why do hummingbirds hum?" (the humming sound is generated by the vibrations of the wings flapping). (DK, $12.99 64p ages 5-8 ISBN 0-7894-9870-7; Oct.)

The Kids' Guide to Nature Adventures: 80 Great Activities for Exploring the Outdoors by Joe Rhatigan, suggests a variety of ways to commune with nature. Pointers help youngsters choose the best campsite, cite animal trails and discover the differences between butterflies and moths. Hands-on activities include making a homemade backpack, doing animal calls with a blade of grass and a rubber band and recording night sounds. Photographs capture plants and animals in the wild and also help to illustrate the activities. (Sterling/Lark, $17.95 paper 128p ages 8-12 ISBN 1-57990-373-8; Sept.)

Created in association with the American Museum of Natural History, two Flip Out and Learn books by Christine Corning Malloy, illus. by Aaron Leighton, introduce science and nature topics tucked into a sturdy slipcase. The Solar System extends into a long panorama of the sun, moon and planets. The backs of the sturdy cardstock panels record brief facts about the solar system, and an attached eight-page booklet offers more detailed information. The Blue Whale pulls out to depict one very large mammal plus accompanying points of interest. (Chronicle, $12.95 each ages 6-10 ISBN 0-8118-3488-3; -3489-1; Sept.)