Happy Birthday, Curious George

Gathering all of the intrepid monkey's tales under one roof, The Complete Adventures of Curious George: 60th Anniversary Edition by Margret and H.A. Rey begins with an introduction by Leonard S. Marcus, continues with publisher Anita Silvey's perspective and follows with the six original tales in their entirety. Photos of the creative couple close the volume. (Houghton, $30 432p all ages ISBN 0-618-16441-3; Sept.)

Presumably seizing this anniversary opportunity, a pair of titles neither written nor illustrated by either of the Reys debut this fall: Margret & H.A. Rey's Curious George in the Big City and Margret & H.A. Rey's Curious George Goes to a Costume Party, both "illustrated in the style of H.A. Rey by Martha Weston." In the first offering, the little monkey gets lost in the big city. Alas, the cover illustration shows George clinging to the top of the Empire State Building, the New York City skyline behind him, with the World Trade Center towers rising majestically on the horizon. In the second, the fellow puzzles over what disguise to wear until he gets tangled in a sheet and winds up a ghost. (Houghton, $12 each 24p ages 4-8 Big City ISBN 0-618-15252-0; $3.95 paper -15240-7; Party -06564-4; paper -06569-5; Sept.)

Come-Back Characters

The Mole Sisters resurface in two new tales by Roslyn Schwartz. In The Mole Sisters and the Moonlit Night, the siblings wish upon a star and land on the moon. The pair pursues something special in The Mole Sisters and the Blue Egg, but they don't know what it is until they find it. (Annick [Firefly, dist.], $14.95 each 32p ages 2-4 ISBN 1-55037-703-5; -705-1 $4.95 paper -702-7; -704-3; Nov.)

Kathryn Lasky's porker takes center stage once more in Starring Lucille, illus. by Marylin Hafner. In this follow-up to Lucille's Snowsuit, the titular piglet's birthday tutu arrives early in the mail. Humorous illustrations chronicle her extended preparations for a birthday performance. (Knopf, $14.95 32p ages 3-7 ISBN 0-517-80039-X; Oct.)

Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman serves up waistband-expanding comedy in this fifth story in the series. George and Harold struggle to pass fourth grade after their comic book imaginings rub their teacher, Ms. Ribble, the wrong way. (Scholastic/Blue Sky, $16.95 176p ages 7-10 ISBN 0-439-04999-7; Sept.)

In Sleepy Time Olie by William Joyce, the robot boy waits for Pappy to tuck him into bed. But when Pappy hits his head the man "comes in/ all unwound" and bound for bed himself. Quickly, Olie conjures up a cure that has the once-unhappy Pappy floating in a bubble of fun. (HarperCollins/Geringer, $15.95 40p ages 2-8 ISBN 0-06-029613-5; Oct.)

The youngest bunny resists his bed in this latest installment, Bunbun at Bedtime by Sharon Pierce McCullough. As his siblings wind down, Bunbun marches about the house with a pair of cymbals. A scary noise finally drives him under the covers. (Barefoot, $14.99 24p ages 4-7 ISBN 1-84148-438-5; Sept.) Altoona Baboona is back in Janie Bynum's follow-up, Altoona Up North. This time around, the heroine and her friends leave their desert "dune-a" and visit Auntie in "north Saskatoon-a." Lighthearted watercolors depict the action-packed plot as Auntie leads her entourage on a surprising voyage. (Harcourt, $14 40p ages 3-7 ISBN 0-15-202313-5; Sept.)

The white and black pups who each starred in their own paper-over-board books unite for Anne Gutman's Gaspard and Lisa at the Museum, illus. by Georg Hallensleben. Teased by their human classmates on a field trip, the puppy pals decide to play a trick—but end up trapped in the museum with only dinosaur bones to gnaw on. Gaspard in the Hospital details the goings-on when Gaspard swallows a key chain and bravely undergoes surgery. (Knopf, $9.95 each 32p ages 3-6 ISBN 0-375-81117-6; -81116-8; Sept.)

Bunny and Bird, who first united in Will You Be My Friend?, are joined by Squirrel and Chipmunk for a game of winter hide-and-seek in Where Did Bunny Go? by Nancy Tafuri. Children will be able to spot Bunny concealed in a hollow log, but Bird and her friends can't. Bird quickly turns despondent, convinced that Bunny ran away—until he emerges and assures Bird of his affection. (Scholastic, $15.95 32p ages 4-7 ISBN 0-439-16959-3; Oct.)

In Will You Still Love Me? by Jean-Baptiste Baronian, illus. by Noris Kern, a follow-up to I Love You with All My Heart, Polo the polar bear is sad because his mother and father are too busy to play with him. Then Polo notices his mother's tummy growing larger, but she reassures him that she and his father will always love him, despite the arrival of a sibling. Kern's spare paintings depict the worried young bear as an endearing character and the story will help comfort prospective older siblings. (Chronicle, $15.95 32p ages 2-6 ISBN 0-8118-3319-4; Sept.)

The creators of Doctor Coyote: A Native American Aesop's Fables and In the Trail of the Wind: American Indian Poems and Ritual Orations offer a third collection, Is My Friend At Home?: Pueblo Fireside Tales retold by John Bierhorst, illus. by Wendy Watson. These seven friendship-themed stories, originally told around Hopi firesides in northern Arizona, are reminiscent of fables, though many more strongly resemble pourquoi tales. Watson's animated renderings of the wide-eyed animal characters add zip to the pages. (FSG, $16 32p ages 4-up ISBN 0-374-33550-8; Sept.)

One of the Problems of Everett Anderson, the eighth by Lucille Clifton, illus. by Ann Grifalconi, gently and sensitively addresses the issue of child abuse. After Everett notices bruises and scars on his new friend, Greg, he doesn't know what to do. "I could tell the teacher," he says. "[But] I don't want to make it bad for Greg or for his mom and dad." Finally, Everett tells his mother, who helps Everett "to understand that one of the things he can do right now is listen to Greg and hug and hold his friend." Grifalconi's muted illustrations poignantly evoke the fear and uncertainty of the situation. An excellent choice for opening up a challenging conversation. (Holt, $16.95 32p ages 4-8 ISBN 0-8050-5201-1; Sept.)

Beginning Reader Buddies

In his latest adventure, Marvin arrives late on the first day of school and his teacher tells him there's no more room in Marvin One Too Many by Katherine Paterson, illus. by Jane Clark Brown. To make matters worse, he doesn't know how to read and his parents don't have time to help. Colored-pencil illustrations capture the boy's wide-ranging expressions. (HarperCollins, $14.95 48p ages 4-8 ISBN 0-06-028769-1; Sept.)

All the animals are running scared when a thunderstorm strikes the barnyard in Denys Cazet's Minnie and Moo Meet Frankenswine. The two courageous cows unmask the mystery of a reputed monster on the premises. This seventh book about Minnie and Moo, a series formerly published by DK Ink, joins the I Can Read books series. (HarperCollins, $14.95 48p ages 4-8 ISBN 0-06-623748-3; Sept.)

The favorite feline stars in Rosemary Wells's Yoko & Friends School Days series, which debuts with two titles, Mama, Don't Go! and The School Play, illus. by Jody Wheeler. In the first, Yoko won't let Mama leave the classroom until her classmate gives her courage. In the second, an unhappy Yoko is assigned the role of the cavity in the class play about dental hygiene, but an inspired idea creates sweet success. Simple text and familiar fuzzy-faced characters soothe the school-age set. (Hyperion, $9.99 each 32p ages 5-7 ISBN 0-7868-0720-2; -0721-0; Volo paper $3.99 each -1526-4; -1527-2; Sept.)

Gentle Lessons

Two additions to the Harper Growing Tree series encourage little ones to settle down for the night. Cat's Pajamas by Thacher Hurd (for ages 1½-up) boasts a rhythmic, hand-clapping text (Cool cats, hip cats, kitty cats/ MEOW!/ Bopping down dark streets/ Looking for CHOW!) and inventive illustrations (brightly colored cats against a photo collage of dusky cityscapes) leading up to the moment when the felines crawl under the covers. One Sleepy Baby by Pamela Levine, illus. by Stephanie Milanowski (for newborns and up), counts up to 10 and to slumber: "1 sleepy baby/ 2 tired eyes./ 3 bedtime stories, a special lullaby." Crisp illustrations of Mama, Daddy and baby complement the tender verse's dreamy tone. (HarperFestival, $5.95 each 14p ISBN 0-694-01058-8; - 01564-4; Sept.)

Two paper-over-board books starring a benign green monster address common childhood experiences: Molly at the Dentist and Molly and the Birthday Party by Angie Sage. Bold, full-color illustrations and sturdy flaps help to address little ones' feelings. When the dentist asks a grinning, wide-eyed Molly if he can have a closer look at her teeth, youngsters lift the flap to find her answer: "No!" she says, her tiny fangs tucked inside her tightly pursed lips. But her fear dissipates when the dentist gives her a toothbrush. In the second title, the heroine learns to share. (Peachtree, $9.95 each 12p ages 6mos.-4yrs. ISBN 1-56145-247-5; -248-3; Sept.)

Fans of Nancy Carlson will embrace How About a Hug? In her latest effort, Carlson reveals all the reasons, big and small, for giving and receiving the loving squeezes. "It's for cold Monday mornings when you have to get up for school. It goes really well with pancakes and eggs. What is it?" Turn the page to find out: it's "A Good Morning Hug!" Carlson's engaging animal characters brighten the pages of this warm and fuzzy title. (Viking, $15.99 32p ages 3-up ISBN 0-670-03506-8; Sept.)