For the Very Young
A smattering of new series titles teach toddlers some basics. Kit Allen surveys the seasons in a quartet of board books: Galoshes (spring), Swimsuit (summer), Sweater (autumn) and Longjohns (winter). Each depicts a boy getting dressed, then enjoying activities appropriate to the season, with minimalist art outlined in black and one word of text per page. In Swimsuit, "sun" shows the boy stretched out on a towel on the sand; in Longjohns, "snow" shows the boy in a similar pose, decked out in snowsuit, boots, mittens and hat. (Houghton, $4.95 each 24p ages 1-3 Galoshes ISBN 0-618-22997-3; Swimsuit -26371-3; Sweater -26370-5; Longjohns -22996-5; May)
It's Spring and It's Summer by Jimmy Pickering complete the author's cycle of seasons books, starring Sally and her dog, Sam. In the first, "Sally and Sam see that something is strange:/ The snow-covered landscape's beginning to change." Retro graphics simulate a collage treatment, with textured lavender skies and two-toned tulips and daffodils sprouting up from the spot illustrations and full-bleed compositions. Sunflower and vegetable gardens overtake the artwork in Summer. (Tallfellow/Smallfellow [SCB, dist.], $16.95 each 32p ages 2-8 ISBN 1-931290-22-9; -23-7; Apr.)
Todd Parr presents a motley mutt named Otto in two paper-over-board titles, Otto Goes to the Beach and Otto Goes to Bed. In Beach, Otto is lonely until he finds a girl dog who likes to play with him; in Bed, Otto doesn't want to go to bed until he realizes he can dream about all his favorite things. Both books feature Todd's signature simplified figures in neon colors and thick black outlines—and close with a personal lesson signed "Love, Otto and Todd." (Little, Brown/Tingley, $9.95 each 24p ages 3-6 ISBN 0-316-73870-0; -73873-5; May)
Nicky the kitten is back in a board book lift-the-flap edition of Nicky's Noisy Night by Harriet Ziefert, illus. by Richard Brown, originally published in 1986. Restless Nicky can't sleep, so he tours the house, discovering the sources of noises, such as a nibbling mouse, under large flaps. Naturally, after his nocturnal prowl, he's ready for Mama to tuck him into bed. (Handprint/Blue Apple [Chronicle, dist.], $6.95 14p ages 2-4 ISBN 1-929766-79-3; May)
More Fun for Fans
Popular series continue to develop with new titles. Based on the graphic novel series created by Neil Gaiman and artist John Bolton (books 1—4), Carla Jablonski's The Books of Magic: The Invitation follows the exploits of 13-year-old Tim Hunter. Danger threatens this seemingly ordinary young man at every turn on his quest to become the most powerful magician of his time. (HarperCollins/Eos, $5.99 paper 240p ages 12-up ISBN 0-06-447379-1; May)
Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas, the third title in the series by Cathy Hopkins, focuses on Nesta, who is more than keen on handsome, sweet Simon. Nesta tries to keep up with Simon's wealthy lifestyle and fend off his snobby friend Cressida, the ultimate designer diva, in this light teen confection sprinkled with British slang. (Simon Pulse, $4.99 paper 208p ages 12-up ISBN 0-689-85546-X; June)
Adèle Geras's funny feline chapter-book series, The Cats of Cuckoo Square, returns with two new entries: Geejay the Hero and Callie's Kitten, both illus. by Tony Ross. In the first title, a new family moves in next door, banishing Geejay from what he considers to be his garden. In the second, Callie looks forward to the arrival of a new human baby in her family. But the reality turns out to be anything but pleasant. Both titles take a cat's-eye view of human foibles with a dry British humor, animated by Ross's witty and expressive line art. (Dell/Yearling, paper $3.99 each 96p ages 6-9 ISBN 0-440-41817-8; -41816-X; Apr.)
Luli Gray brews up another compelling fantasy concoction in Timespinners. Fig and Allie Newton, 10½-year-old fraternal twins, embark on an amazing time-travel adventure when they step into the lynx exhibit at New York City's American Museum of Natural History. Trapped first in 1913 and then in 35,000 B.C., the twins desperately try to get home again, even as they hope that changing the past will alter a terrible present, where their mother lies trapped in a coma. (Houghton, $15 160p ages 10-14 ISBN 0-618-16412-X; Apr.)
Gossip Girl dishes all the dirt that's fit (or not) to post in the newest catty installment, All I Want Is Everything by Cecily von Ziegesar. It's Christmastime in the Upper East Side world of Blair, Serena and company, who continue to party hard in Manhattan, chasing away the chill with a trip to sunny St. Barts. As always, the anonymous gossip girl chews over all the comings, goings, couplings and uncouplings on her Web site, with her signature sign-off—"You know you love me." (Little, Brown, $8.99 paper 240p ages 15-up ISBN 0-316-91212-3; May)
The utterly outrageous girl named after a Greek muse, who made her debut in Meet Calliope Day, returns in Calliope Day Falls... in Love? by Charles Haddad, illus. by Margeaux Lucas. The resourceful heroine is thrown for a loop when she discovers a love poem to her best friend, the incredibly rich Noreen Catherwood. Can the mystery poet be bratty Rodney, who always seems to be—literally—bumping into the girls? Brainiac Kevin is another possibility. Calliope causes plenty of absurd crises as she uses all of her considerable imagination to crack the mystery. (Delacorte, $14.95 128p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-385-73070-5; May)
The Cirque Du Freak saga continues in a fifth installment, Trials of Death by Darren Shan. Once again the protagonist takes readers into the heart of the vampire world, where he must face the Trials of Initiation to prove himself worthy of being a half-vampire—or die trying. The gory tale ends with a "to be continued" teaser and an excerpt from book six. (Little, Brown, $15.95 180p ages 10-13 ISBN 0-316-60367-8; May)
The title characters of Lenny and Mel return with more silly shenanigans in this jocular account of Lenny and Mel's Summer Vacation by Erik P. Kraft. "Too bad camp wouldn't take you back.... They'd have plenty for you to do," says the twins' father when he finds them loafing around the living room. They do a stint at an animal shelter and the library before setting out with their parents and grandmother to a cabin so tiny that only one of the three sleeper couches can open up into a bed. Kid-like drawings echo the siblings' inane sense of humor, adding to the caper's goofy good fun. (S&S, $14.95 64p ages 7-10 ISBN 0-689-85108-1; May)
