Year-Round Holiday Hoopla

A host of books offer glimpses into the history, literature, traditions and activities surrounding various cultural festivities. The wit and whimsy of the Emerald Isle can be found in A Pot O' Gold: A Treasury of Irish Stories, Poetry, Folklore, and (of Course) Blarney, edited by Kathleen Krull, illus. by David McPhail. Poems by James Joyce and words of wisdom from Oscar Wilde appear alongside classic myths, stories and poems about Finn McCool, fairies, leprechauns and saints Patrick and Bridget, among others. McPhail's signature pen-and-ink and watercolor wash illustrations well reflect the mysterious subjects of many of the works. (Hyperion, $19.99 192p ages 7-10 ISBN 0-7868-0625-7; Feb.)

Celebrations/Celebraciones: Holidays of the United States of America and Mexico by Nancy María Grande Tabor offers a bilingual look at a year's worth of holidays in both nations. In English text and its Spanish translation on each spread, Tabor explains some of the differences and similarities between holiday traditions in each country, with illustrations and statements that encourage children to discover the ways in which they are like those of another cultural background: "We celebrate by sharing who we are—our individuality and our diversity." (Charlesbridge, $16.95 32p ages 4-9 ISBN 1-57091-575-X; Feb.)

Children will find a comprehensive holiday resource for projects to do with their parents in Crafts for Kids by Gill Dickinson. From paper decorations (Easter bonnets and party invitations) to pumpkin-carving suggestions to clothing ideas (stenciled and tie-dyed shirts) to recipes (no-bake vanilla fudge or clown cakes), these projects offer detailed instructions, diagrams and photos for lots of simple, crafty fun any time of year. (Hamlyn [Sterling, dist.], $19.95 144p ages 2-6 ISBN 0-600-60692-9; Feb.)

All Aboard!

A slew of board books feature characters new and old. Kevin Henkes's exuberant mouse is back in an original board book for Valentine's Day, Lilly's Chocolate Heart. As Valentine's Day draws to a close, Lilly faces the dilemma of where she should save her very last chocolate heart. Seeking the perfect place to stow her treasure, she ultimately determines that chocolate is made for eating. (HarperFestival/ Greenwillow, $6.99 24p ages 2-up ISBN 0-06-056066-5; Dec.)

A trio of favorite picture books are now available in board book editions. In Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale released as a children's book in 1984, Tomie dePaola places the favorite nursery rhyme in a New England setting. His popular folk-art illustrations, several of them appearing here as wordless spreads, allow young readers to follow Mary and her lamb through their daily activities—especially at school. (Putnam, $7.99 28p ages 1-up ISBN 0-399-24221-X; Feb.)

A Busy Year by Leo Lionni follows a momentous friendship between twin mice Willie and Winnie and Woody, the tree they befriend throughout the course of a year. "In this deceptively simple tale, Lionni characteristically hides a moral from which kids of all ages will profit," wrote PW of the picture book published in 1992. (Knopf, $6.99 26p ages 6 mos.-4 yrs.ISBN 0-375-82737-4; Jan.)

Just right for board book, How Kind! by Mary Murphy received a starred review from PW upon its original publication in 2002: "Streamlined compositions complement the straightforward message in this circular tale in which one good deed hatches another (and another and another)." (Candlewick, $6.99 24p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-7636-2307-5; Mar.)

Animal lovers can laugh at the goofy pictures in the board books Silly Cat and Silly Dog. Each combines a line or two of simple text, such as "Silly cat! What's your secret?" that corresponds to a bold color photograph of animals at play. (Sterling, $4.95 each 14p ages 1-3 ISBN 1-4027-0970-6; -0971-4; Dec.)

Two titles launch the board book component of Alexandra Tornek's So Smart! series (which already includes a trio of videos/ DVDs) to help babies and toddlers learn about sizes and shapes: Big Fish, Little Fish and Run, Round Bear. In the first, youngsters lift flaps to reveal baby animals; children can then compare the offspring to the larger parent (e.g., "Hello big cat!/ Hello little kittens!"). In the second title, round, square and triangular die-cut openings transform a snail into a tree and make a mountain of a hat. Shapes reappear throughout the book, providing multiple opportunities for children to identify them. Both books feature bright, simple illustrations that use geometric shapes to create familiar objects and animals. (PSS, $5.99 each 10p ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. ISBN 0-8431-0580-1; -0582-8; Jan.)

The Funny Fingers board book series by Mark Shulman, illus. by Jenny Harris, features die-cut holes through the middle of each book, so that children's fingers can become part of the scenes. In Amazing Animals, a pair of die-cut holes through the book allows youngsters to create the trunks of two "entertaining elephants," the tentacles of the "outrageous octopus" and more. Fingers become necessary equipment in the die-cut hole for Jazzy Jobs (a carpenter's hammer, a helicopter propeller, etc.); while in Super Sports a finger becomes the kicker's leg in "football fun!" and a club for a "great golfer!" In Wacky Weekend, kids' fingers through the double die-cut holes throughout become the legs of a trapeze artist, skateboarder and dancer. (Sterling, $3.95 each 12p ages 2-5 ISBN 1-4027-0703-7; -0705-3; -0706-1; -0704-5; Dec.)

And Then What Happened?

Popular series return with new installments. Cathy Hopkins's foursome of bubbly teenage girls is back for their fifth adventure, Mates, Dates, and Sole Survivors. Fashion-forward Lucy narrates as she and her girlfriends try to find the perfect boy, balance friendships with budding relationships, and casually debate the merits of "putting out" versus holding out. Line drawings of T-shirts with empowering or amusing slogans separate the chapters (Simon Pulse, $4.99 paper 224p ages 12-up ISBN 0-689-85992-9; Jan.)

In Gary Paulsen's latest, Brian's Hunt, Brian has traveled back to his beloved Canadian wilderness. Although Brian's Return (2001) was to be the last in the series, here the acclaimed hero hunts for a bear that has attacked his friends. With an ever-reverent view toward the power of nature, the author delivers another suspenseful adventure. (Random/Lamb, $14.95 112p ages 10-up ISBN 0-385-74647-4; Dec.)

PW called the first of Sally Gardner's Tales from the Box, The Countess's Calamity, a "diverting and clever fantasy, sure to attract a following." In her second in the series, Boolar's Big Day Out, readers return to the park with Mr. and Mrs. Mouse and the five dolls in the box next door. Boolar, tempted by the allure of starring in the puppet theatre, ultimately realizes who his true friends are. Gardner's intriguing illustrations set her characters against photos of three-dimensional backgrounds. (Bloomsbury, $14.95 120p ages 6-10 ISBN 1-58234-833-2; $6.95 paper -857-X; Dec.)

The African-American heroine first introduced in the picture book Amazing Grace returns for her fourth adventure, a chapter book: Encore, Grace! by Mary Hoffman, illus. by June Allan. Grace and her group of friends face a number of changes, including a new classmate, the school play, the death of a family friend and a dangerous afternoon when the gang skips school. Grace grows and matures as she deals with these and other major events. (Dial, $14.99 112p ages 7-11 ISBN 0-8037-2951-0; Dec.)

Four of Andrew Clements's most popular books have been gathered into a boxed set, called School Days. The Janitor's Boy; The School Story (which both garnered starred reviews in PW); Frindle and The Landry News are the titles included, and there's a sneak preview of the author's upcoming book, The Report Card. (S&S/Aladdin, $19.95 640p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-689-03329-X; Dec.)

Just the Facts

Several nonfiction books introduce a variety of topics. The latest in DK's series of animated cartoons and comics, Looney Tunes: The Ultimate Visual Guide by Jerry Beck—illustrated with a spectacular collection of animation sketches, artwork and cels—celebrates the history, stories and personalities of beloved characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester the Cat and Porky Pig. The book also introduces the directors, animators, writers and voices behind the scenes, plus a look at merchandising and publishing as well as wartime cartoons. (DK, $24.99 144p ages 8-up ISBN 0-7894-9758-1; Dec.)

In Story of the Nile: A Journey Through Time Along the World's Longest River by Anne Millard, illus. by Steve Noon, readers travel from the river's source at Lake Victoria north to the Mediterranean Sea, covering more than 4,000 miles and 4,500 years, with full-bleed spreads of slaves and kings, monuments and of course the river itself. The author includes a visit to the royal city of Meroe, c. 50 AD; present-day tourists at the great temples in Abu Simbel; the funeral of King Khufu in Giza, c. 2500 BC; and more. (DK, $19.99 32p ages 3-5 ISBN 0-7894-9871-5; Dec.)

Trucks and heavy machinery are the stars in Knuckleboom Loaders Load Logs: A Trip to the Sawmill by Joyce Slayton Mitchell, photos by Steven Borns. From the feller buncher that cuts down the trees to the knuckleboom loader that places the logs onto the trucks, as well as the head saw, chipper, planer and other machines that process the wood, this book incorporates full-color photos alongside snippets of text to help readers understand how trees are turned into usable material for building. (Overlook [Penguin, dist.], $15.95 40p ages 8-12 ISBN 1-58567-368-4; Dec.)

Young readers can travel due north in Journey into the Arctic by Bryan and Cherry Alexander. From a North Greenlandic village to the Canadian Arctic to Siberia and the North Pole, the route readers travel offers full-page vistas via the authors' crisp, clear photographs of the animals, indigenous peoples and stunning landscapes. One spread ("Polluting the Arctic") deals with environmental effects of oil drilling and global warming on the region's ecosystem. (Oxford, $18.95 48p ISBN 0-19-522005-6; Dec.)

Former astronaut Sally Ride offers an expansive text for would-be astronauts, astronomers and scientists, Exploring Our Solar System, co-written with frequent collaborator Tam O'Shaughnessy. The book teems with scientific information about the history, development and exploration of this tiny section of the universe: the sun, each of the nine planets, various moons and asteroid belts. Clear, dramatic photographs, many of them courtesy of NASA, help readers visualize the far reaches of space. (Crown, $19.95 112p ages 10-up ISBN 0-375-81204-0; Dec.)

Budding historians may well enjoy two additions to the paper-over-board Great Cities through the Ages series. New York by Paige Weber holds an array of facts and illustrations about the birth and growth of the city, including the construction of numerous landmarks (plus a timeline of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge), descriptions of milestone events and famous people (such as Andy Warhol); factoids include fun trivia (e.g., 3,500,000 people use the subway daily in New York City). Paris by Renzo Rossi does the same for the French capital, an area with a history dating back before the Roman Empire (when it was known as Lutetia Parisiorum). Information includes the historical origins of the area, details about the French Revolution and the city's world-renowned art and architecture. (Enchanted Lion [FSG, dist.], $18.95 each 44p ISBN 1-59270-003-9; -004-7; Dec.)

Made You Look: How Advertising Works and Why You Should Know by Shari Graydon, illus. by Warren Clark, is a thought-provoking resource for children who daily face a sea of marketing. The book details the history of promoting products, controversial methods of advertising and ways that children are exposed to and affected by ads targeted directly at them. The author delivers the information in an understandable, entertaining manner. (Annick [Firefly, dist.], $24.95 120p ages 9-12 ISBN 1-55037-815-5; paper $14.95 -814-7; Nov.)