Pete Seeger Encore!

Folk singer Pete Seeger's adaptation of the South African folktale Abiyoyo, first recorded in 1956, now comes with a sing-along CD (see Children's Audio, Sept. 10)—in honor of the book's 15th anniversary. Michael Hays's artwork depicts the global villagers who drive a magician and his ukulele-strumming son to the edge of town only to invite them back when they make Abiyoyo the giant disappear. Seeger partners with Paul DuBois Jacobs to profile the same town 30 years later in Abiyoyo Returns, also illus. by Hays. Here, the father-son team is drafted to bring back Abiyoyo; they believe the giant alone can help them in their efforts to build a dam and save their town. (S&S, $19.95 48p all ages ISBN 0-689-84693-2; Abiyoyo Returns $17 40p -83271-0; Oct.)

Baby's Coming!

Big brothers and sisters seeking reassurance will appreciate Baby on the Way by noted adult authors Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears (The Baby Book; The Pregnancy Book) as well as Christie Watts Kelly, illus. by Renée Andriani. Physical and emotional realities of pregnancy are likened to things a child can understand. Morning sickness, the authors explain, is similar to "the way your tummy feels yucky when you eat three slices of birthday cake and ice cream." Sidebars throughout suggest things siblings can do to prepare for baby's arrival, such as visiting the doctor with their mother, or asking her "what it felt like when you were growing inside her." An endnote offers tips to parents and suggests additional resources. What Baby Needs, from the same team, helps siblings adjust to having the new baby in the house. (Little, Brown, $12.95 each 32p ages 4-8 ISBN 0-316-78767-1; -78828-7; Sept.)

When You Were Inside Mommy by Joanna Cole, illus. by Maxie Chambliss, also explains pregnancy and childbirth in language young children can understand and presents pertinent details in a matter-of-fact manner. Chambliss's palette in soft tones of pink, blue and lavender conveys the happiness of the expectant family and several detailed drawings of a developing fetus reveal some of the mystery. The small trim size makes the paper-over-board book comfortable for lap sharing while the "Note to Parents" in the back offers advice on talking to children. (HarperCollins, $5.95 32p ages 2-4 ISBN 0-688-17043-9; Aug.)

Leaving Home

Joanna Cole addresses separation issues for youngest children in When Mommy and Daddy Go to Work, also illus. by Chambliss. During her time at day care, the child narrator imagines what her parents are doing while she paints pictures, eats lunch and takes a nap. The closing "Tips for Parents," which suggest specific actions to help lessen a child's separation anxiety, should help ease the transition. (HarperCollins, $5.95 32p ages 1-4 ISBN 0-688-17044-7; Aug.)

Be Gentle, Python! and No, Biting Puma! by Jeanne Willis, illus. by Mark Birchall, teach gentle lessons to the littlest learners. Part of the Be Nice at School series, both books present cute but impish creatures as they wreak havoc on their first day of school. Python has a habit of squeezing his classmates too tight; Puma likes to bite. In the end, their classmates turn the tables and stop the unwanted behavior. (Lerner/Carolrhoda, $7.95 each 28p ages 3-8 ISBN 1-57505-508-2; -509-0; Aug.) Beginning with "Monday," in which a preschooler is surrounded by a "tricycle," "computer" and "clay," My Week by Josie Firmin covers all seven days. The pages unfold almost like a cootie-catcher to reveal Richard Scarry-like watercolors, all labeled in fine print. Each square page depicts four different activities and their accompanying elements, and cover universal activities such as going to the park, visiting the zoo and bathtime. My World progresses from the child, to his family, home, street and town. (Candlewick, $6.99 each 12p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-7636-1548-X; -1547-1; Sept.)

Urban Verse

Carol Boston Weatherford observes the urban scene through the eyes of a child in Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City, illus. by Dimitrea Tokunbo, a collection of 20 original works. On the street where "dreams take root/ in concrete" readers watch "As little girls jump double Dutch,/ [and] beaded braids swirl and click." Tokunbo's realistic illustrations in thick colorful outlines depict all the landmarks that define a neighborhood, from the Laundromat to the barbershop to the stained glass windows of the church and its gospel choirs on Sunday. (Boyds Mills, $15.95 32p ages 8-12 ISBN 1-56397-084-8; Aug.)

Francisco X. Alarcón celebrates a San Francisco winter in Iguanas in the Snow: And Other Winter Poems/ Iguanas en la nieve: y otros poemas de invierno. The title poem describes a family delighted "to see snow/ for the first time/ on the Sierra Nevada/ all dressed in white/ like a bride." Illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez captures the vibrant colors of the city and its people; English and Spanish verses sit side by side. (Children's Book Press, $15.95 32p ages 6-up ISBN 0-89239-168-5; Aug.)

Refashioned Favorites

Picture book newcomer Diana Mayo gives a fresh coat of paint to The House That Jack Built. She illustrates the time-honored cumulative rhyme with crisp lines, detailed vistas and zesty colors, and the human expressions on the beleaguered animals add to the fun. (Barefoot, $15.99 24p ages 4-7 ISBN 1-84148-251-X; Aug.)

Comic book aficionados will appreciate master Will Eisner's latest adaptation, Moby Dick. It may not begin, "Call me Ishmael," but the story otherwise remains true to Herman Melville's classic, with Queequeg, Ahab and the great white whale all making their entrances on cue. The cartoon panels that chronicle the final showdown between the captain and the giant fish are particularly spectacular. (NBM, $15.95 32p all ages ISBN 1-56163-293-7; Oct.)