RAIN REIGN By: Ann Martin

RAIN REIGN  By: Ann Martin
Rose is not your ordinary girl. She loves to collect homonyms. She has lists of them and every time she finds a new one she has to add it to her list. One night her father brings her home a dog, she names it rain for she was brought to her when it was raining. It also is a homonym, reign. But when a really bad storm hits their house her Dad lets Rain out in the storm and she disappears. When Rose starts to search for her with the help of her uncle, she finds out something that will make her world turn upside down. Brilliantly written. Ages 9-12  $16.99  Feiwel and Friends

CENTAUR RISING By: Jane Yolen

CENTAUR RISING  By: Jane Yolen

Arianne thinks she sees a shooting star land in the fields surrounding her family's horse farm. Then she hears a whinny from one of the horses. About a year later the horse gives birth to a baby centaur. Her brother Robbie loves the centaur right from the start. Robbie was born with a birth defect caused by an experimental drug. He and Kai become instant friends, Robbie reads to Kai and they play games together. But how will they keep him a secret from everyone. They really don't want Kai to become a freak show. A fabulous read, I am sure all children will love. Ages 8-12  Henry Holt and Company  $15.99

PENELOPE CRUMB IS MAD AT THE MOON By: Shawn K. Stout

PENELOPE CRUMB IS MAD AT THE MOON  By: Shawn K. Stout
This book really tickled my funny bone. Penelope just doesn't get the day right for Animal Day at school. She shows up dressed as an elephant, but it is the wrong week. And to top it off she has to learn to square dance with the boy whose known as Lippy Gordon because he has a sweaty upper lip. But things can get worse when you are a terrible dancer. You just have to read it to appreciate all the things that happen to Penelope. Philomel Books Ages 8-10  $14.99

I WANNA GO HOME By: Karen Orloff Ilustrated by: David Catrow

I WANNA GO HOME  By: Karen Kaufman Orloff   Illustrated by: David Catrow
I love this author-illustrator combination. Haven't read one book they have done together that isn't wonderful. This time the grandchildren are sent to Florida to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Alex really doesn't like it and writes to his parents that he wants to go home. But his parents insist he stay as they are in Bora Bora. Alex even says his Grandpa's teeth are fake and they look like killer jellyfish. But when the week ends, Alex and his sister ask if they can stay longer. You will chuckle all the way till the end. $16.99 G.P. Putnam

SMALL BLUE AND THE DEEP DARK NIGHT By: Jon Davis

SMALL BLUE AND THE DEEP DARK NIGHT  By: Jon Davis
Small Blue wakes up in the night and starts to see very scary, hairy things. What will Small Blue do when Big Brown opens the door. He said he saw goblins, but when the light is turned on they disappear. Big Brown knows just what to do. A little scary, but it ends perfectly. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt $16.99

CIRCLE SQUARE MOOSE By: Kelly Bingham Illustrated by: Paul Zelinsky

CIRCLE SQUARE MOOSE By: Kelly Bingham  Illustrated by: Paul Zelinsky

When Moose arrives in the middle of a picture book about shapes, everything goes crazy. He starts to eat the sandwich that is supposed to be a square. What the heck is Moose doing in this book anyway? If you want your children to shout out that they know what the shapes are, this is the book for you. Paul Zelinsky's illustrations make the story perfect. Ages 4-8 Greenwillow Books $17.99

THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES By: B.J. Novak

THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES  By: B.J. Novak

This book has no pictures, but is the biggest hit. I took it to the first grade and read it to the children. With words that make you say silly things, sounds and ridiculous voices. Oh mm goodness, a riotous read. I don't think it should have an age to it as my eleven year old grandson loved it, and so did all the adults and teachers. What a fabulous book to give. $17.99 Dial books.

BACKHOE JOE By: Lori Alexander

BACKHOE JOE  By: Lori Alexander  Illustrated by: Craig Cameron

Nolan is so excited when he finds a backhoe to bring home as a pet. He has a lot of work to do, as the backhoe doesn't always do what it should. Digging in his mother's flower bed is not what his parents think is appropriate. So Nolan sets off to train him. Then one day he sees a notice of a missing backhoe. So he has to return him. His parents say he is finally responsible to have a pet. You'll never guess what he has in mind. Ages 4-8  $15.99 Harper

AS AN OAK TREE GROWS By: G. Brian Karas

AS AN OAK TREE GROWS  By: G. Brian Karas
As a child plants an acorn, so does the oak tree grow. This book shows a next two hundred years of the beautiful tree and all the people who lived near. At the bottom of the pages it has a timeline. A beautiful book for parents and teachers to read to their children. Loved the art work! $17.99 Nancy Paulsen Books  All ages will appreciate this picture book.

SPIRIT'S KEY By: Edith Cohn

SPIRIT'S KEY  By: Edith Cohn
Spirit is a young girl who lives on an island with her father.At twelve she thought she would inherit her father's gift to read the future. But when she tries nothing happens. Then her pet Sky dies and when she touches his dog tag, she sees him. He is trying to tell her something. Is this the start to seeing the future? The islanders don't like that Spirit had a wild dog, they felt that all of them should have been killed. Then islanders start to become sick and so does her father. They are blaming the dogs. Locking up the people who are sick and Spirit is trying to figure out how to help. Will she be able to figure out the future before disaster strikes again. Ages 8-12 Farrah Straus and Giroux $16.99

I'M BRAVE By: Kate and Jim McMullan

I'M BRAVE  By: Kate and Jim McMullan
"Whaddya call a big red engine with a siren, eeeeeeeeowoooooooo and a horn, honnnnnnhhhhhhkkkk a tank full of waster, sloosh, slosh and a whole lotta, Whole lotta hose? Good Lookin', that's what." The McMullan team does it again. I'm Brave is a great little story with a lot of heart. How one fire engine can save the day. I am sure your child will love this book as much as my grandson does. The jacket says ages 4-8, but I read it too my not quite two year old grandson and he said, again. You know it is good if you need to read it more than once. Balzer and Bray. $16.99

LAST KING OF ANGKOR WAT By: Graeme Base

LAST KING OF ANGKOR WAT  By: Graeme Base
Graeme Base has fabulous illustrations with a great story. How four animals want to become the King of Angkor Wat. The elephant tells them they must go to the temple at the top of the hill. So off Tiger, Water Buffalo, Gecko and Gibbon go. As they race to be the first to get to the temple they forget that Elephant told them it takes strength, compassion, resilience and courage. And as they move through the jungle those qualities are tested. Of course they get to the temple and Elephant is already waiting. Will one of them become King? Read it to find out. $17.95 ages 4 and up. Abrams

HUG MACHINE By: Scott Campbell

HUG MACHINE  By: Scott Campbell
Everyone watch out the Hug Machine is on the loose. He hugs everything and everyone. Make sure you get your hugs in too! Ages 4-8  Atheneum Books for Young Readers $16.99

LOUISE LOVES ART By: Kelly Light

LOUISE LOVES ART  By: Kelly Light
Louise is an artist extraordinaire. She is sure her art work needs a place of honor in the house. So she looks around for the best place. While she is searching her little brother has taken over her piece of artwork and cut it into paper dolls. When Louise finds out you would think that everything would blow up. But to your surprise she takes a different approach. A great book to teach children there are lots of ways to handle problems on your own. $17.99 Balzer and Bray Ages 4-8

FLEABRAIN LOVES FRANNY By: Joanne Rocklin

FLEABRAIN LOVES FRANNY  By: Joanne Rocklin
Franny receives her first letter from Fleabrain while she is recovering from polio. Of course Fleabrain is a flea that lives on the tail of her dog. The year is 1952 and while Franny was in the hospital in an iron lung she is given the book Charlotte's Web. So coming home to a talking flea is a real possibility. She is determined to talk to Fleabrain who is an avid reader too, Thus begin a great friendship between the two. You learn all about her struggles to try to walk, and how children aren't allowed to go near her for fear they will contract polio even though she is cured. A great read. $16.99 Ages 8-12
Amulet Books.

GRAHAM CRACKER PLOT By: Shelley Tougas

GRAHAM CRACKER PLOT  By: Shelley Tougas

Daisy's father is in prison for a crime she is sure he didn't commit. You find this out right away when each chapter begins, Dear Judge Henry. This is Daisy's punishment for trying to break her father out of prison with the help of her friend Graham. Thus the Graham Cracker Plot. But things take a twist when everything goes horribly wrong, a big thunderstorm, breaking into a house, knocking over a fridge, stealing a mini-pony and more. An entertaining read. $16.99 Roaring Brook Press Ages 8-12

COUNTABLOCK By: Christopher Franceschelli

COUNTABLOCK  By: Christopher Franceschelli  Art by: Peskimo

Best board book this season! A simple concept that becomes brilliant. Picture a squirrel on one page looking at an acorn. "One Acorn becomes......." turn the page "One oak tree" all the way to 100. The art work matches the text perfectly. My grandson who is almost two really enjoyed the book, especially the cardboard fold out pages. A must for any long child's library. Abramsappleseed. $10.95