The Story Goes On

Favorite story lines and characters continue this fall. Clare B. Dunkle spins a sequel to her The Hollow Kingdom, which PW called, in a starred review, "a luminously polished fantasy that starts off strong and just gets better." With Close Kin, Dunkle broadens the story of the sisters, with Kate happily married to the Goblin King, Marak, and Emily joyfully tending to the many goblin children. But when Emily's best friend, Seylin, proposes and she turns him down, he decides to leave the kingdom to search for his elf ancestors. Emily, realizing how much she cares for him, sets out to find him, as Dunkle thrusts readers deeper into the fascinating psyche of the goblins, dwarfs, elves and humans that populate her world. (Holt, $16.95 240p ages 12-up (ISBN 0-8050-7497-X; Oct.)

The Clique goes on, in Lisi Harrison's second series installment, Best Friends for Never. Massie Block remains front and center on the popularity scene and Claire Lyons? Still on the outs. PW said of the launch title, "Middle schoolers who have participated in the 'popularity game' may be drawn to this series opener, which takes cliquish, snobbish behavior to Hollywood extremes." (Little, Brown, $7.99 paper 224p ages 12-up ISBN 0-316-70131-9; Oct.)

Kerry Profitt, first introduced in Witch Season: Summer, is now a freshman at Northwestern University in Witch Season: Fall by Jeff Marriotte. Daniel Blessing, the witch born in 1704 whom readers met in the previous book, is now dead, and the powerful witch Season is gone. Or is she? Kerry's nightmares are back, and her journey to locate Daniel's mother may invite Season's return. (Simon Pulse, $5.99 paper 320p ISBN 0-689-86724-7; Oct.)

In Once Upon a Curse by E.D. Baker, the third book in the series begun with The Frog Princess, Emma is about to turn 16 and therefore will be subject to a curse placed on her family generations back. Attempting to undo the curse, she travels back in time to the day the curse was first placed on Princess Hazel, and though Emma fails in one mission, she succeeds in another. (Bloomsbury, $15.95 256p ages 8-up ISBN 1-58234-892-8; Nov.)

Gift Boxes

Books for all ages come boxed for entertainment pleasure. Kiss Good Night Book and Toy Gift Set packages the board book edition of the title by Amy Hest, illus. by Anita Jeram, with a hand-size plush version of Sam the bear cub. PW said of the book, "Hest pays tribute to reassuring bedtime rituals that assuage a toddler's fears." (Candlewick, $12.99 32p all ages ISBN 0-7636-2524-8; Oct.)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear fans will rejoice to discover the Brown Bear & Friends Gift Set by Bill Martin Jr, illus. by Eric Carle, under wrapping paper this fall. Three hardcover books plus a poster that integrates the starring trio come in a handsome corrugated box. In addition to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, the set also includes Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?(Holt, $49.95 32p each ages 2-5 ISBN 0-8050-7628-X; Oct.)

The Second Captain Underpants Collection by Dav Pilkey packs more fun in a slipcover as the BVDs-clad hero takes to the skies in a quartet of titles: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman; Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Parts I and II; and The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby. (Scholastic, $19.96 ages 7-10 ISBN 0-439-69054-4; Dec.)

The Charlotte's Web/Stuart Little Slipcase Gift Set presents the two titles by E.B. White in an oversize "Collector's Edition." Garth Williams's original artwork is enlarged and colorized by Rosemary Wells. (HarperFestival, $49.99 ages 8-up ISBN 0-06-073940-1; Oct.)

Just in time for the major motion picture—with a tie-in photograph of Jim Carrey et al. on the box—the first three tales in their cloth editions kick off A Series of Unfortunate Events Box by Lemony Snicket. The trio of books, The Bad Beginning; The Reptile Room; and The Wide Window, come packaged with a "two-faced" holographic sticker of Count Olaf (aka Carrey), first smiling, then scowling. (HarperCollins, $35.99 ages 10-up ISBN 0-06-075773-6; Nov.)

Arts and Activities

From handicrafts to writing, new titles inspire creativity in readers. Combining a textual and photographic history with craft projects, American Folk Art for Kids by Richard Panchyk explores the rustic traditions of artisans, sculptors and other often self-taught artists. Along with short biographies of such artists as Grandma Moses and woodcarver Elijah Pierce, Panchyk covers a broad range of categories that include pottery, quilting and the use of "found objects" in artwork—with numerous craft ideas relating to each topic. (Chicago Review [IPG, dist.], $16.95 paper 128p ages 9-up ISBN 1-55652-499-4; Oct.)

In the paper-over-board The Crafty Art Book by Jane Bull (The Rainy Day Book), the opening "crafty kit" section informs readers of the materials needed to do the projects within: yarn, paint, scissors, needles, buttons and fabrics. The author then gives simple instructions (accompanied by step-by-step photographs) for projects that include cross-stitch samplers, bean bag pals (such as Pirate Pete), and patterned papers and decorative boxes in which to wrap up the handcrafted gifts. (DK, $12.99 48p ages 3-8 ISBN 0-7566-0550-4; Oct.)

Calligraphy for Kids by Eleanor Winters demonstrates the basic strokes of calligraphy (with clear diagrams) along with its unique vocabulary. After teaching correct pen position (emphasized throughout), Winters demonstrates Italic, Gothic, Uncial and Roman calligraphy. Guide lines for each style and tips on decoration and punctuation round out this accessible how-to. (Sterling, $14.95 128p ages 8-14 ISBN 1-4027-0664-2; Oct.)

With a title that broadcasts the classic mantra, Show; Don't Tell: Secrets of Writing by Josephine Nobisso, illus. by Eva Montanari, acts as a manual based on the author's writing workshops. Prompts to incorporate tactile, audio and olfactory details help kids focus on their senses when writing; a cast of animal characters—rendered in whimsical acrylics and pencil—lead aspiring authors along with brief tips and words of wisdom. (Gingerbread House [IPG, dist.], $22.95 40p ages 7-up ISBN 0-940112-13-2; Oct.)

A deck of 50 oversize cards stored in a book-shaped cardboard container, Once Upon a Time: Creative Writing Fun for Kids by Annie Buckley and Kathleen Coyle, illus. by Cathy Law, brims with inspiration. Divided into categories such as "How-To," "Genre," "Character, " "Setting," etc., the cards each show a cartoon illustration on the front, pictured above questions, ideas and reading suggestions at three skill levels. The back delves deeper with various brainstorming tools (e.g., "Think of all the ways that we use the word run: running out of time, a river running by, paint running down the canvas"). (Chronicle, $14.95 50 cards ages 6-12 ISBN 0-8118-4227-4; Oct.)

My Paper Memory Quilt: A Family History Pack by Bill Zimmerman, illus. by Maria Carluccio, contains ideas—as well as 24 paper panels—for kids who want to create a paper quilt of their memories, experiences and traditions. Ideas for thematic panels (including those that show off "your best Halloween costume" or "all the things and people that make you happy") pair with collage-like illustrations in shades of peach and blue. (Chronicle, $12.95 paper 40p ages 5-up ISBN 0-8118-3797-1; Oct.)

With a solid dose of French style, Making Faces: A Portrait Activity Kit by Pascale Estellon contains 10 9 1/2" x 13" cards with blank faces, ready to be adorned with the berets, barrettes, bob hairdos and baby blue eyes that can be punched out of the thick cardboard pages included. Estellon's quirky templates offer kids the ability to fashion a host of unusual portraits. (Chronicle/Seuil, $21.95 paper ages 5-up ISBN 2-02-066385-6; Oct.)