Cursed Again!
The popular author-illustrator duo of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith kick off fall with a brand-new book-and-CD package, Science Verse (see q&a, p. tk). The poetry collection, spiced with nearly equal amounts humor and scientific theories and facts, is a follow-up to their bestselling Math Curse. Each entry here is inspired (in format, anyway) by a classic poem, ranging from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe to "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer. An author's note on this device is included in the book. On CD, listeners get their own Jon-and-Lane "concert" as the team reads the poems from their book and also adds the kind of silly, witty, enlightening banter their fans have come to love. (Lane: "That one sounded a lot like 'Jabberwocky' by Lewis Carroll.' " John: "Ah, that's a lot of nonsense.") Some enthusiastic child readers help out in a few places as well. Funniest of all is a bonus section that includes Scieszka and Smith's prank phone call to their editor, Regina Hayes. (Viking Children's Books, hardcover and CD, $16.99 0-670-91057-0, ages 7-up, Sept.)
Calls of the Wild
Birds of a feather stick together—and many of them make long-distance treks south for the winter. The oversize hardcover nonfiction book Winged Migration: The Junior Edition by Stéphane Durand and Guillaume Poyet explores this fascinating bird behavior and is adapted from the Academy Award—nominated French film Winged Migration. The title comes packaged with a CD featuring the sounds of 15 different bird species profiled in the book. One quibble: the CD tracks do not follow the same order as the book entries. But no matter; kids will feel like they're in the middle of a flying flock as they listen along. (Chronicle/Seuil, hardcover with CD, $19.95 ISBN 2-02-063350-7, ages 8-up, July)
A Dog's Days
Just where did Hank the Cowdog, head of ranch security, come from? He's eager to tell listeners all about it on The Homeless Pooch. This new recording contains the tail-wagging tale of Hank's birth in a cardboard box in Texas and his early life, including how he developed his disdain for cats and many other biographical details. Available only on audio, the program features a new original song and the first two Hank the Cowdog short stories ever written. Author John R. Erickson reads his work in the twangy, sometimes cantankerous tone that Hank's followers have come to love. (Maverick Books, 806-435-7611, unabridged, two CDs, two hrs., $14.99, ISBN 1-59188-681-3, ages 6-up, Oct.)
Rhyme Time
Singer-songwriter Paul Lippert serves up songs with a kicky beat that match his exuberant album title: Humpty Jumpty. Several original tunes, most on the silly side, include ditties about Humpty Dumpty's obsession with dancing and the smell of a puppy's ears. The Lippert-penned numbers are at home in the line-up with such traditional fare as "Polly Wolly Doodle" and "Puff, the Magic Dragon." Smooth vocals and solid playing, primarily on guitar and piano, add warmth and color to the proceedings. (Raspberry Records, www.raspberryrecords.com, $16.98, ages 4-8, Sept.)
Humpty Dumpty and all of his pals (culled from the works of Mother Goose and elsewhere) can be found in A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton. A 45-minute CD containing more than 75 rhymes and songs accompanies this trade paperback, which brims with sunny watercolor artwork. (Houghton/Kingfisher, paperback and CD, $12.95 ISBN 0-7534-5710-5, ages 3-mos. to five yrs., Sept.)
Another of the late John Denver's songs takes shape as a picture-book-and-CD package in John Denver's Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin Lullaby, newest in the John Denver and Kids series from Dawn Publications. The tune "Ancient Rhymes," which tells the story of the birth of a dolphin, is the highlight here. A CD containing a recording of that song, as well as "The Music Is You," comes packaged with the picture book. The score of "Ancient Rhymes" is also included for fans who would like to try playing or singing the song at home. (Dawn, hardcover and CD, $19.95, 1-58469-064-X, ages 5-up, Sept.)
