All A-Board!

Favorite titles are now available as board books for smallest hands. Upon the original publication, in 1987, of Lois Ehlert's electric-hued Growing Vegetable Soup, PW called it a "zesty introduction to vivid abstract art." With just one phrase per spread, the book makes a smooth transition to board book as it follows the long process of planting and growing ingredients for a truly homemade soup. (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6.95 30p ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. ISBN 0-15-205055-8; Mar.)

What Do You Love? by Jonathan London, illus. by Karen Lee Schmidt, depicts a young puppy and his mother demonstrating various answers to the titular refrain. "What do you love?/ Jumping puddles/ and Mommy's cuddles,/ big trees and rustling leaves,/ read-alouds/ and sunset clouds." Schmidt's soft watercolors show mother and child from sun-up to tuck-in. (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6.95 30p ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. ISBN 0-15-205054-X; Apr.)

PW said of the original edition of Noah's Ark by Lucy Cousins, "The text will naturally have added appeal for those seeking an introduction to the literature of the Bible; however, the book's airy design and playfully rendered creatures should attract a large audience." A new cover design graces this welcome board book edition. (Candlewick, $6.99 22p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-7636-2446-2; Mar.)

Animal Orchestra by Ilo Orleans, illus. by Tibor Gergely, originally published in 1958, offers a grand introduction to members of the brass, strings, percussion and woodwind families. Seal violinists and giraffe cellists, among others, all come under the skillful conducting of "the handsomest Hippo/ In Animal Land." (Random /Golden, $4.99 26p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-375-82775-7; Mar.)

An abbreviated board book version of the 1999 hardcover, Hello, Lulu by Caroline Uff introduces readers to the star's family, pets and favorite snacks at Grandma's. Drawing, playing, dinner and bathtime are all parts of Lulu's Busy Day. (Walker, $5.95 each 14p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-8027-8928-5; -2989-3; Mar.)

PW called the zippy text in Judy Hindley's Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes, illus. by Brita Granström, first published in 1999, "a celebration of the body and what it can do. This book careens from part to part with infectious enthusiasm." Crayon-drawn backdrops allow a cheery-faced multicultural cast to take center stage. (Candlewick, $6.99 24p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-7636-2383-0; Apr.)

New Incarnations

Favorite books are re-released in a variety of editions. A plush polar bear cub accompanies his latest board book adventure in Lars and His Friends Board Book and Doll by Hans de Beer. This addition to the Little Polar Bear stories features the hero and his friends' arctic antics as they play in the ocean and slide down glaciers. (Sterling, $9.95 22p ages 1-3 ISBN 1-4027-1341-X; Mar.)

A mounted mirror shines through the cover of the slipcase for a pair of miniature editions in I Like Me!: Two Mini Books and Mirror by Nancy Carlson. Upon the publication of I Like Me! in 1988, PW wrote, "The formation of a healthy self-image, the cornerstone of a happy and successful life, is what this book is all about." The porcine heroine's mantra, "Hi, good looking!" appears above the package's removable mirror. Similar sentiments of self-assurance are broadcast in ABC I Like Me! (first published in 1999), which goes through the alphabet proclaiming, "Feeling good about me is as easy as ABC!" (Viking, $14.99 32p each ages 4-up ISBN 0-670-03670-6; Mar.)

Stella, Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay also appears in a miniature edition. Of the original 1999 hardcover, PW wrote, "This nonchalant slice-of-life tale with its sunny, eccentric illustrations makes for an enjoyable trip to the seashore." (Groundwood, $7.95 32p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-88899-572-5; Mar.)

Board of Education

New board books introduce educational concepts to youngest booklovers. The friendly yellow puppy is back in Spot Jigsaw Puzzle Book by Eric Hill. A large jigsaw puzzle is built into the right side of each thick, corrugated spread, depicting part of Spot's day at the park. On the left, the text accompanies a small replica of the puzzle picture, offering a visual key to the puzzle's solution. (Putnam, $12.99 16p ages 3-up ISBN 0-399-24239-2; Mar.)

A pair of titles by Peter Mandel, illus. by Edward Miller, explore vehicles of the sea and sky. Boats on the River covers everything from "shiny showboats" to "slice-snow boats," with rhymed text and simple computer-generated illustrations featuring largely geometric shapes. Planes at the Airport depicts the gamut—loud urban "whirly-bird planes" and rural "barely heard planes." (Scholastic/ Cartwheel, $6.99 each 8p ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. ISBN 0-439-56415-8; -56416-6; Mar.)

Two oversize board books with pull tabs in the Curious Creatures series by Shaheen Bilgrami, illus. by Sally Chambers and Patricia Ratié, take readers on a tour of exotic habitats. Dinosaur Rumble depicts the prehistoric creatures running and hiding when they hear "the loud one" coming (the "T-rex," shown on the final page; with a pull of the tab, dino fans can view its terrible teeth). In Icy Antics, youngsters meet penguins, seals, polar bears and more as they shiver their way through day-to-day life. (Sterling, $12.95 each 12p ages 2-5 ISBN 1-4027-0821-1; -0820-3; Feb.)

Five large square board books now being published by Pelican (previously published by Budding Artists Inc.) feature child-friendly works by acclaimed artists as part of the Great Art for Kids series, edited by Margaret E. Hyde. In perhaps the most accessible title for a young audience, Cassatt for Kids presents 12 tender scenes of children at rest and at play. Each book offers no text other than the painting's title and, in small type, its location, medium, year of completion and size. Other painters featured: Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and Van Gogh. (Pelican, $8.95 each 12p all ages ISBN 1-58980-202-0; -204-7; -205-5;-206-3; -207-1; Feb.)

Hands-On

Kids get a lesson in managing their money in the paper-over-board The Kids' Guide to Money Cent$ by Keltie Thomas, illus. by Steve MacEachern. Readers follow three students with different spending and saving habits. As they prepare a report for school, the trio (and readers) learns about managing cash flow, getting a job, banking and credit cards, as well as scams. Quizzes (e.g., "What's Your Money Personality?"), sidebars, tips (called "2¢ Worth"), and historical trivia help to demonstrate the points. (Kids Can, $14.95 56p ages 8-12 ISBN 1-55337-389-8; $7.95 paper -390-1; Mar.)

More fashionable crafts are explained in The Crafty Diva's D.I.Y. Stylebook: A Grrrl's Guide to Cool Creations You Can Make, Show Off, and Share by Kathy Cano-Murillo, illus. by Carrie Wheeler, photos by John Samora. This handbook offers more than 50 projects, separated by type of diva—the "Drama Queen," "Flashy Fashionista" and "Garden Goddess," among others. Diagrams, photographs of the finished projects and thorough instructions (including a skill level indication) help guide girls through the array of ideas. (Watson-Guptill, $12.95 paper 144p ages 8-13 ISBN 0-8230-6993-1; May)

For those without an ink-ling, Stamp It! 50 Amazing Projects to Make by Joe Rhatigan and Rain Newcomb makes basic stamping projects do-able, with photo-laden instructions. This latest in the Kids' Crafts series gives suggestions for carving original stamps, as well as coloring, inking and stylistic tips. Projects ideas include decorating picture frames, clocks, clothing and other items. (Sterling/Lark, $19.95 112p ages 8-14 ISBN 1-57990-504-8; Mar.)

Fashion, beauty, crafts and party advice aplenty brim from the pages of Planet YumthingDIY: Create, Design, Reinvent, and Make It Yours! by Ela Jaynes and Darren Greenblatt. This handbook-style paperback features instructions and illustrations for making clothes and handbags out of old jeans or T-shirts, concocting natural facial products and planning creative parties, plus recipes and many other crafty ideas. (Bantam, $12.95 96p ages 10-14 ISBN 0-553-37595-4; Feb.)

A die-cut cover of an open door fittingly opens the way to The Fairy Spotter's Handbook by Rosalind Kerven, illus. by Wayne Anderson, which provides a glimpse into the history and lore of the "Little People." Along with a description of Fairyland ("There are golden palaces, farms with fat milk cows, and orchards full of huge, juicy fruits. Everything is perfect") appear stories about people who reportedly have had contact with fairies and suggestions of ways to protect against wicked fairies. Anderson's illustrations add an appropriately mystic charm. (Frances Lincoln, $14.95 48p ages 5-9 ISBN 1-84507-152-2; Mar.)