Serving Up Sequels

Redwall lovers, rejoice! The epic continues with Taggerung, the 14th book in Brian Jacques's popular series. An otter born in Redwall Abbey is kidnapped by members of an opposing clan who believe he is destined to be a great Taggerung, or warrior hero; Tagg later rebels against his adoptive tribe and goes in search of his true home. (Philomel, $23.95 448p all ages ISBN 0-399-23720-8; Sept.)

In A Redwall Winter's Tale, a picture-book follow-up to The Great Redwall Feast, a troupe of traveling entertainers visits the abbey to commemorate the arrival of Snow Badger, Lord of Wintertide. But a fanciful bedtime story leaves Bungo the molebabe wondering what is real and what is fantasy. Christopher Denise's illustrations capture the waning sunlight and complement the alternating prose and verse. (Philomel, $18.99 80p all ages ISBN 0-399-23346-6; Sept.)

In The Vampire's Assistant, the second installment of the series begun with Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan, the hero returns to the old-fashioned freak show where, thanks to Mr. Crespley, he became a "half-vampire." Darren once again struggles against the urge to feed upon the human blood his health requires. (Little, Brown, $15.95 256p ages 10-up ISBN 0-316-60610-3; Sept.)

From Robin Jarvis comes The Crystal Prison, the second book in the Deptford Mice Trilogy that began with The Dark Portal (see Fiction Reprints below). Finally, the evil rat Jupiter is dead. But with the sewers still infested with his minions, the mice flee the city for the country. However, a rash of murders blights the once idyllic setting, forcing the mice to confront the accusing townspeople and the evil lurking in their midst. (North-South/SeaStar, $17.95 256p ages 10-up ISBN 1-58717-107-4; Sept.)

Akiko in the Castle of Alia Rellapor marks the final installment in Mark Crilley's interplanetary series. Fourth grader Akiko and her crew at long last make it to the castle where Prince Froptoppit is imprisoned. But unforeseen problems threaten the mission, including a meeting face to face with Alia Rellapor herself (and her secret identity is revealed). Crilley's b&w illustrations, reminiscent of Japanese anime, pepper the pages. (Delacorte, $9.95 176p all ages ISBN 0-385-32728-5; Sept.)

Great-Aunt Matilda, Simon's guardian from No More Nice, is back in No More Nasty by Amy MacDonald, illus. by Cat Bowman Smith—only this time she is the new substitute in Simon's fifth-grade class. The hero and his classmates are in for a surprise as their classroom is turned upside down and her cockeyed view makes learning fun. (FSG/Kroupa, $16 176p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-374-35529-0; Aug.)

Dan Gutman's The Million Dollar Kick does for soccer what his The Million Dollar Shot did for basketball. Whisper Nelson, a seventh grader living in Oklahoma City, enters a competition to create the best slogan (the Million Dollar Kick Contest at the Donut City) and wins "the chance to take a single shot against the Kick goalkeeper Carmen Applegate for a million dollars." Once again the author works into the story line a plethora of tips and facts about the game, making this a book for reluctant players and soccer fans alike. (Hyperion, $15.99 208p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-7868-0764-4; Sept.)

Francisco Jiménez continues the moving tale of his early youth begun with a dozen autobiographical short stories in The Circuit. Breaking Through chronicles the author's teenage years. At the age of 14, Francisco and his family are caught by la migra (immigration officers) and forced to leave their California home, but soon find their way back. The author explores the prejudice and challenges they face while also relaying universal adolescent experiences of school, dances and romances. (Houghton, $15 208p ages 10-up ISBN 0-618-01173-0; Aug.)

The adventures of five Australian teenagers continue in the sixth installment in the Tomorrow series, The Night Is for Hunting by John Marsden. While trying to care for a group of ungrateful orphans, Ellie and her friends struggle to survive against enemy invaders. (Houghton, $15 278p ages 12-up ISBN 0-618-07026-5; Aug.)

Return of the Rainbow Fish

Marcus Pfister's famous fish stars in a crop of new titles. In the paper-over-board Rainbow Fish and the Sea Monsters' Cave by Pfister, the big blue fish and the little blue fish bravely enter "the most dangerous place in the entire ocean" to help cure an ailing "bumpy-backed fish" whose only hope is the red algae that grows on the other side of the sea monsters' hideout. Judiciously placed psychedelic scales on the aquatic creatures create a sense of movement (and glamour). (North-South, $18.95 32p ages 5-8 ISBN 0-7358-1536-4; Sept.)

A mini-book edition of Rainbow Fish to the Rescue! by Pfister (the second adventure in the series) includes the complete text and the same glittering illustrations, as Rainbow Fish and his friends help the little striped fish avert a shark. (North-South, $8.95 32p ages 5-8 ISBN 0-7358-1481-3; Sept.)

Rainbow Fish & Friends kicks off with a quartet of titles by Gail Donovan, illus. by David Austin Clar Studio, that introduce the students in Miss Cuttle's underwater class. Tug mimics everything Rainbow Fish does in The Copycat Fish and then gets separated from the class on a field trip in Lost at Sea. Angel challenges Puffer's exaggerated stories in A Fishy Story; and no one can agree on what makes something a treasure in Hidden Treasures. Each book features a holographic foil-stamped cover (though no glitter appears inside) plus a sheet of full-color holographic foil stickers. (North-South/Night Sky, $3.99 each paper 24p ages 3-6 ISBN 1-59014-000-1; -002-8; -001-X; -003-6; Aug.)

Fun Facts

With an abundance of information on a wide range of topics, such as animals, computers, inventions, movies and TV, religion and sports, The World Almanac for Kids 2002, edited by Elaine Israel, covers loads of educational entertainment. In addition to the facts, the colorful and lively format, including photographs, illustrations and maps; the volume also offers puzzles, brainteasers and activities. (World Almanac [St. Martin's, dist.], $19.95 336p ages 9-12 ISBN 0-88687-869-1; $11.95 paper -868-3; Aug.)

The accomplishments of Thomas Alva Edison, Elvis Presley and Bill Gates number among the Boys Who Rocked the World: From King Tut to Tiger Woods by the editors of Beyond Words Publishing, illus. by Lar DeSouza. This spiral-bound book features 30 boys, past and present, who have made a difference in society before reaching the age of 20. For example, at the age of 15, Louis Braille "had just switched on the light of learning for blind people forevermore." For further inspiration, there is a section called, "Boys Who Are Rocking the World Right Now!" (Beyond Words, paper $8.95 144p ages 9-16 ISBN 1-58270-045-1; July)

Learn how 50 different things, among them false teeth, parking meters and Post-it notes, came to be in The Kid Who Invented the Trampoline: More Surprising Stories About Inventions by Don Wulffson. Leotards, for example, were named after Jules Léotard, a 19th-century French circus acrobat who was "in love... with himself." Designed with a retro look, the book offers two- to three-page sections for each invention and includes illustrations, period photographs and factoid sidebars. (Dutton, $15.99 128p ages 9-up ISBN 0-525-46654-1; July)

Amazing Pair

Based on a real black Labrador retriever named Perry and his owner, Sarah Gregory Smith, Looking Out for Sarah by Glenna Lang tells about the relationship between a blind woman and her lead dog. Perry guides Sarah to their favorite grocery store, the post office and then a nearby school. Sarah tells the children, "Yes, she and Perry once walked from Boston to New York to show the world what a guide dog can do for a blind person." Lang's warm gouache paintings convey the trusting and affectionate friendship between the two. (Charlesbridge/Talewinds, $15.95 32p ages 3-8 ISBN 0-88106-647-8; Aug.)