Today's (3/10/2010) New Book Releases on Children's Books

In Suzanne Slade's latest book, What's the Difference?, you can celebrate the huge difference caring people make for endangered animals while you practice subtraction skills. In this sequel to her popular addition title, What's New at the Zoo?, Slade presents a new subtraction problem in each clever rhyming verse. The colorful watercolors include realistic animals set in lush spreads by illustrator, Joan Waites. So join in the celebration of our world's precious animals in this exciting new title, and have fun practicing math skills along the way! The For Creative Minds educational section includes: Endangered Animal Vocabulary; Food Chains and Webs; Missing Links in Food Chains; Endangered Animals; Fact Families.

A young boy and his abuelo push aside their Christmas preparation to rescue a beautiful cardinal during a blizzard. The bird quickly responds to their kindness, regains it strength, and flies off. The cardinal sweetly and unexpectedly rewards the boy, his grandfather, and their entire village with a lifetime of Christmas cheer. The For Creative Minds section contains instructions to create a bird-friendly backyard, simple bird feeder crafts, a Cardinal Numbers math game, and information on what to do if you find an injured bird. Encourages children to care for animals. 2006 NAIBA Picture Book of the Year Award nominee. 2005 ASPCA Henry Bergh Book Award finalist. 2005 NYLA Book of the Season. Christmas Eve Blizzard was vetted for scientific accuracy by Ann Shahid, education director of the Audubon Center at Beidler Forest.

Felina the Florida panther loved growing up in her forest home, until the forest starts to shrink! Trees begin to disappear, and Felina doesn t understand the new busy highway in the neighborhood. Other animals are in danger, too. Will Felina find a way to survive as humans threaten to ruin her home? Environmental science writer Loran Wlodarski gives children a look into deforestation and endangered animals in Felina's New Home: A Florida Panther Story, complemented by the detailed, emotive illustrations of Lew Clayton. Learn whether the animals in Felina s forest adapt to the new human presence and what children can do to keep wild animals safe, happy, and healthy. The For Creative Minds educational section includes: Florida Panther Fun Facts; Florida Panther Life Cycle; Endangered and Threatened Animals; and Match the Animal Information.

If You Were a Parrot is whimsical story that has the child imagining what life would be like if he or she were a pet parrot. The parrot s special feet allow it to climb curtains, bookshelves, and plants. The hooked beak lets the parrot chew all kinds of great food: seeds, nuts, chair legs, popsicles sticks and all, and even a telephone directory! Join the parrot as it goes through its daily routine of climbing, chewing, eating, bathing, and finally, snuggling down for the night after a long day of parrot fun. The For Creative Mind section has parrot fun facts; what is a bird; tips for taking care of a pet parrot; and a make-a-beak craft to supplement learning. 2007 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award finalist.

Red bats are the only bat species that can hibernate or migrate. Should this solitary little bat stay or should she go? That s the question the little red bat ponders as the leaves fall and the nights get colder! Some animals, such as the squirrel, tell her to stay. But what about the dangerous creatures that hunt red bats in winter? The sparrow and others urge her to go. But where? Carole Gerber takes young readers on an educational journey through one bat's seasonal dilemma in Little Red Bat. Imaginative illustrations by Christina Wald give little red bat charm and personality, and children will be waiting and wondering what will happen next. Will the little red bat stay put or migrate south for safety and warmth? The For Creative Minds educational section includes: Match the Bat Adaptation; Bat Fun Facts; How Animals Deal with Seasonal Changes; Red Bats and Seasonal Change; Bat Life Cycle Sequencing Activity.

When a boy and his mother take their dog Miles on a peaceful canoe ride, they find themselves frantically racing to save a mother loon and her family! Join them and watch the surprising outcome of Miles' encounter with the loons. Then witness the boy s moment of wonder when he meets the loon. The For Creative Minds section includes loon fun facts; information about loons in Native American Culture; a Maker a Loon Mask craft; and a Map It, Math It, Measure It section. Encourages children to care for animals. Loon Chase was vetted for scientific accuracy by educators at the Maine Audubon and the Loon Preservation Society. 2006 NAIBA Picture Book of the Year Award nominee.

While at play with his dog, Newton, a young boy discovers the laws of force and motion in his everyday activities. Told in rhyme, Lynne Mayer s Newton and Me follows these best friends on an adventure as they apply physics to throwing a ball, pulling a wagon, riding a bike, and much more. With the help of Sherry Rogers playful illustrations, children will learn that physics is a part of their world. They will realize that Newton's Laws of Motion describe experiences they have every day, and they will recognize how forces affect the objects around them. The For Creative Minds educational section includes: Force and Motion Fun Facts; Matching Forces; Who was Newton?; and Newton s Laws of Motion (2 of 3).

Octavia Octopus and her sea-animal friends love playing camouflage games to practice how they would hide from a big, hungry creature. Octavia, however, just cannot seem to get her colors right when she tries to shoot her purple ink cloud. What happens when the big, hungry shark shows up looking for his dinner? This creative book introduces basic colors along with the camouflage techniques of various sea animals a great introduction to marine biology! To top it off, as parents love teaching their children: practice makes perfect! The For Creative Minds educational section includes fun facts about animal camouflage and protection and about octopuses. The craft uses primary colors (paint or tissue paper) to help children learn about blending colors. 2006 SCBA Children's Book nominee. 2006 NAIBA Picture Book of the Year Award.

Pandas' Earthquake Escape is a fictional story based on a real-life event. In real life, XiXi, a giant panda did escape from the destroyed Wolong Panda Reserve when the 7.9 earthquake rocked Northern China on May 12, 2008. Author Phyllis Perry uses the adventures of a mother panda, LiLing, and her one-year old cub, Tengfei, to teach children about earthquakes, animal survival, and to reinforce a mother s instinct to protect her child. After the quake, mother and cub run from the wreckage. Confused and afraid, they get lost! How will they survive outside their reserve? Will they find food? Will they find shelter? And will they safely endure the earthquake after-shocks? The For Creative Minds educational section includes: Endangered Giant Pandas Life Cycle Sequencing Activity; Giant Panda Fun Facts; Shake, Rattle & Roll Earthquakes The Richter Scale and Magnitude Ranges; and Where in the World? Earthquake Chart & Map.

This touching story of a father and child's nighttime excursion to watch a meteor shower is told through the eyes of a child in awe of the night world. Rockliff's vivid descriptions make readers feel as though they too are watching the tiny bits of other, distant worlds blazing into our own. The For Creative Minds section includes teaching trivia about meteors, meteor showers, comets, and asteroids as well as a Meteor Math game, a Five Steps to a Fantastic Meteor Watching Party checklist, and a recipe for comet cookies. 2006 NAIBA Picture Book of the Year nominee 2006 Texas Bluebonnet Reading Award nominee Pieces of Another World was vetted for scientific accuracy by the education department at NASA s Goddard Space Flight Facilities and has been endorsed by members of the American Meteor Association, the Miami Planetarium and the Von Braun Astronomical Society.

This blank journal comes from best-selling children's book illustrator and author Todd Parr, with 3 different sections in three different colors (pink lined paper with drawing space, green graph paper, and purple framed blank paper) and a thicker format than regular wire-o journals produced for adults. It's a 'flip' journal - flip the journal over for a second, totally different cover.

This blank journal comes from best-selling children's book illustrator and author Todd Parr, featuring 3 different sections (blue lined paper with drawing space, green graph paper, and red-framed blank paper) and a thicker format than regular wire-o journals produced for adults. It's a 'flip' journal - flip the journal over for a second, totally different cover.

Dr. Seuss's infectious rhymes, fanciful creatures, and roundabout plots not only changed the way children read but imagined the world. And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, Green Eggs and Ham,The Cat and the Hat, these and other classics have sold hundreds of millions of copies and entertained children and adults for decades.
After graduating from Dartmouth, Theodor Geisel used his talents as an ad-man, political provocateur, and social satirist, gradually but irrevocably turning to children's books. Theodor SEUSS Geisel tells the unlikely story of this remarkable transformation. In this compact and engrossing biography, Donald Pease reveals the evolution of Dr. Seuss's creative persona while offering an honest appraisal of his life. The book also features many of Dr. Seuss's lesser-known illustrations, including college drawings, insecticide ads, and wartime political cartoons-all of which offer a glimpse of his early artistic style and the visual origins of the more famous creatures that later populated his children's books.
As Pease traces the full arc of Dr. Seuss's prolific career, he combines close textual readings of many of Dr. Suess's works with a unique look at their genesis to shed new light on the enduring legacy of America's favorite children's book author.

Imagine finding turtle eggs in your sandbox! When a mother diamondback terrapin lays eggs in a young girl's sandbox, the girl becomes a turtle-sitter to help the babies safely hatch. She raises the teeny hatchlings until they become big enough to fend for themselves in the wild. Then, with the help of experts, she releases them. Along the way, she learns about these unique animals and that she has made an important contribution to their survival. The For Creative Minds section includes terrapin fun facts; where in the world are terrapins?; and a turtle habitat craft. 2006 ASPCA Henry Bergh Picture Book Award finalist.

In Suzanne Slade's latest book, What's the Difference?, you can celebrate the huge difference caring people make for endangered animals while you practice subtraction skills. In this sequel to her popular addition title, What's New at the Zoo?, Slade presents a new subtraction problem in each clever rhyming verse. The colorful watercolors include realistic animals set in lush spreads by illustrator, Joan Waites. So join in the celebration of our world's precious animals in this exciting new title, and have fun practicing math skills along the way! The For Creative Minds educational section includes: Endangered Animal Vocabulary; Food Chains and Webs; Missing Links in Food Chains; Endangered Animals; Fact Families.

When Beryl decides to look for a family that will love her just the way she is, from her pig nose to her curly tail, she bravely sets off on a journey that will ultimately change her life forever.

Away from the cruel and ill-tempered pigs on the farm where she grew up, Beryl finds her preconceived notions of wild pigs-- and everything else--put to the test. And with the help of the many unlikely friends she meets, Beryl discovers, at the cost of some heartache, that there just might be a place she could call home after all. If she could only get there . . .

In the rolling asteroid rings above a remote planet, General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker play a deadly game of cat and mouse against Separatist droid fighters - and a squadron of highly skilled human pilots who have pledged their guns to Count Dooku. Find out why Anakin is known as the greatest pilot in the galaxy! Also in this volume, Jedi Master Luminara Unuli and her Padawan Barriss Offee race against time to evacuate farmers and their families before the droid forces of General Grievous overrun their village. When Barriss and her squad of clone troopers are caught in the path of the enemy army, only fast thinking and steel resolve can save the day! Incredible action, hot art, and lightning-fast pacing are coming your way in this new take on the Star Wars galaxy!

As the Clone Wars continue to rock the Star Wars universe, the Republic's forces, led by the Jedi, find themselves drawn ever-deeper into Darth Sidious' evil web. With stories covering all aspects of the Clone Wars - from the trials of the revered Jedi Master Yoda, to the tribulations of the lowliest Clone Troopers fighting on the front lines, to the wicked machinations of the dreaded Count Dooku and General Grievous - these fast-paced tales feature a unique look into the world of Star Wars and at the events that shook the galaxy far, far away...

It's easy and fun to be green! Printed on 100 recycled materials and developed in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, this one-of-a-kind activity book encourages kids to reduce waste and make their homes, schools, and neighborhoods more environmentally friendly. It's packed with plenty of in-book and out-of-book activities and 2 pages of stickers. Kids will have a blast while they develop an understanding of local and worldwide environmental challenges.

Conceived by a shy British don on a golden afternoon to entertain ten-year-old Alice Liddell and her sisters, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass have delighted generations of readers in more than eighty languages. “The clue to the enduring fascination and greatness of the Alice books,” writes A. S. Byatt in her Introduction, “lies in language. . . . It is play, and word-play, and its endless intriguing puzzles continue to reveal themselves long after we have ceased to be children.”

The King has grown old and lonely and is ferociously hated in his Kingdom. When a servant attempts to poison him, an all-out search begins for those who resist his rule. Meanwhile, the King's only daughter despises her life in the castle. She dreams of returning to a town she once visited, but is forbidden to take one step outside of the castle walls. Her plans to escape strain her relationship with her fiance who has sworn to protect the King. Her only hope falls on an absent-minded servant hired within the castle to do construction. With his help, she hopes to recapture the freedom she so briefly felt. With a fairy-tale-like setting, combined with modern themes of isolation, obligation, and longing, Birdhouse is a magical debut graphic novel from new talent Vernon White.

Buffy Season Eight Volume 6 showcases the first failure of the Slayer legion. Vampires have solid footing at the top of the totem and Slayers have been crushed to the bottom - in short, no one likes Buffy anymore... least of all this season's mysterious Big Bad, Twilight, who is hot on her magical trail! Now that it's the world against Slayers, Buffy must find a way to return the status quo to... status quo - and keep her girls alive long enough to do it! Enter Oz, the only person/werewolf Buffy knows who is down with the suppression of magic, and can take the Slayer army off of Twilight's magic-specific radar. With Oz's assistance the Slayers and Wiccans try to become "normal" through meditation and hard labor - although, not everyone sees the advantage of being magicless, namely, Willow, Giles, and Andrew. And they could be right; after all, is a peaceful life for a Slayer even possible?

Welcome back, foolish mortals, for more tales of spooky fun, based on Disney's immortal Haunted Mansion theme park attaction! A Ghost Will Follow You Home contains the conclusion of the "Misery of the Manse" story by Dan Vado and Drew Rausch and includes several stories left out of the Disney Press softcover book, as well as the entire contents of the unpublished issue #8 of the Haunted Mansion comic book series, including the story of the origin of the Haunted Mansion's organist by Cory Doctorow and Christopher, and a tale of the undead by Jennifer de Guzman and Brian Belew.

Guess what Emmy-nominated, Eisner Award-winning Jeph Loeb and superstar fan-fave Ed McGuinness have in store for you?! There was a time when the world's mightiest heroes got together to fight foes too great for them to handle all by themselves. No! Not the Avengers! The other guys: HULK! NAMOR! SILVER SURFER! DOC STRANGE! The original Defenders are back! But what terrible threat could bring them together again? How about THE OFFENDERS! RULK! TIGER SHARK! TERRAX! BARON MORDO! Collects Hulk #10-13, and Incredible Hulk #600.

An adventure from Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four's past is about to have a profound effect on their future...that's if Spidey and the Torch can stop fighting long enough to notice! What's the cosmic-level rift that's dividing two of the Marvel U.'s best friends? Then Spidey's whole world is turned upside down by the new rules of the world. The good news is that after all these years, Spider-Man finally gets the upper hand on J. Jonah Jameson - but it's gonna cost him, particularly with the all-new Vulture winging into town! Plus, Peter drops by Aunt May's house for the shock of his life! Set your faces to stun! Collects Amazing Spider-Man #589-594, and Extra! #2 (Wolverine story).

Explosive action, white-hot lightsaber battles, evil schemes and heroic sacrifices - it's all here in this fast-paced volume jam-packed with four wickedly awesome all-ages adventures set in the most exciting era of Star Wars! The fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance, the Republic and Confederacy taking their fight from the cold reaches of space to exotic alien worlds. Don't miss the Jedi making history in their selfless fight for justice in this full-throttle collection of stories all told in the same stripped down stylization as Cartoon Network's micro-series.

One hundred and thirty-three years after the death of Darth Vader, the Skywalker line has reached another low point - in the person of the last living heir, Cade Skywalker. Cade has abandoned his Jedi heritage for plans of quick wealth and a pirate's life. And his actions have attracted all of the wrong kinds of attention. Tracked by Imperial agents and targeted by Black Sun assassins, Cade is run to ground on Tatooine, where his two most famous ancestors had roots. But even if he can evade those who are trying to kill him, Cade can't escape the family legacy. Before this adventure is over, Cade will be forced to think about who he is and who he wants to be - helped along by his mother, his half-sister, and the ghost of Luke Skywalker!

Vector is an epic story with repercussions for every era and every hero in the Star Wars galaxy. This is the concluding volume. Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia have to deal with Vector as it crosses their paths and changes the galaxy! On the dark surface of a desolate moon, Luke meets his first Jedi since Obi-Wan Kenobi, only to realize too late that Celeste Morne is far different than his fallen friend - twisted by a Sith Talisman and enraged by Darth Vader! Then, over 135 years later, Cade Skywalker's plan to assassinate Emperor Darth Krayt is aided by a "secret weapon" in the form of Celeste Morne - the Jedi Knight of the Old Republic who is in possession of, and possibly possessed by, the powerful Muur Talisman. Cade and Celeste will change the galaxy - for better, or for worse!

Born in Japan and raised as a human, Taiki is overwhelmed when he's brought back to the kingdom of Tai, where he's told he's a kirin. With little knowledge or guidance, he must trust his latent instincts to choose a king for the Kingdom of Tai from among dozens of men and women who seek the position. Will the frustrated Taiki, who can't even figure out how to transform into animal form, make the right choice? And more important, will he discover the kirin that lives within?

Emplate is back and he's out for blood. More specifically, for mutant bone marrow. And with the X-Men still reeling from Utopia, he may have picked the perfect time to come calling. Collects X-Men: Legacy #228-230, and Giant-Size X-Men: Legacy.