600 Black Spots  by David A. Carter.
Little Simon. 2007. Unpaged. $19.99. Informational Concept. Primary/Intermediate. 0. 1416940928

Whether used as a counting book or appreciated as modern art, this is a pop-up book that will fascinate anyone who opens it. The white "grass" with its 90 spots gently waves on the first double-page spread. Complex shapes in bright primary colors spring out from later spreads, and spots are hidden everywhere. The fauve Kaboom ends the book in spectacular style!

A Friendship for Today  by Patricia McKissack.
Scholastic Press. 2007. 240 pages. $16.99. Historical Fiction. Intermediate/Adolescent. African-American. 043966098X

Based on the author’s memories of her own sixth grade experience, this very readable novel presents a year in the life of a 12-year-old African American girl who is in the front lines, breaking the barrier of school segregation. She discovers an unlikely friend in the person of a girl from a racist family, a person who has been her tormenter. A wise mother, a cat, and a close friend help the protagonist through this difficult but triumphant time in her life.

A Mama for Owen  by Marion Dane Bauer, John Butler (Illustrator).
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2007. Unpaged. $15.99. Informational Social Studies. Primary. Africa (Eastern). 068985787X

Life for a very young hippo on the Sabaki River in Kenya is idyllic until the 2004 tsunami hits, and he's forever separated from his stubby-tailed, "great grayish brown - or was she brownish gray?" mother. The true, sad story does have a happy ending when Owen finds Mzee, a very old, stubby-tailed male giant tortoise who becomes the baby hippo's new mother. Bauer uses repetition to give a sense of how long it rained and to show similarities in his "mothers" and in what Owen's life was like before and after the tsunami. Butler's softly colored, gentle illustrations show the range of Owen's emotions, particularly his "great pink smile" on the last double-page spread. This is a perfect version of this true story for younger children who will empathize with poor Owen and his loss.

A Picture for Marc  by Eric A. Kimmel, Matthew Trueman (Illustrator).
Random House. 2007. 101 pages. $11.99. Biography/Memoir. Primary/Intermediate. Europe (Eastern). 037583253X

Marc Chagall's art is as accessible to children as is this readable story of how he became a painter when his poor, Russian Jewish family was sure there was absolutely no value to be found in "pitchkas." Trueman's fanciful illustrations give life to the artist and town where he lived. Another fine addition to the transitional books in the Stepping Stone series.

A Seed is Sleepy  by Dianna Hutts Aston, Sylvia Long (Illustrator).
Chronicle Books. 2007. 40 pages. $16.99. Informational Science. Primary. 0. 0811855201

Brought to you by the same team that produced An Egg Is Quiet, this book celebrates all kinds of seeds on their way to becoming whatever they are destined to be. The text is lucid; the realistic illustrations are beautiful and informative; and the book is great for reading aloud, providing a lesson in science and art.

Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me  by Ann Grifalconi, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator).
Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. 2007. Unpaged. $16.99. Historical Fiction. Primary. African-American. 0786818573

In explaining why he waves to everyone he sees as they walk to the family apple orchard, a young girl's grandfather gently relates how he, her grandmother and their young baby, her mother, escaped from slavery with the help of James Stanton, a white Quaker who was a member of the Underground Railroad. Gran'pa had carried apple seeds in his pocket for a long time, just waiting for the day when he could plant them in his own soil. The story ends with the little girl planting her own "seed of memory" in the orchard too. Pickney's evocative watercolor paintings which are muted, in soft browns and blues, while depicting their escape, burst into bright pinks and greens once Gran'pa and his granddaughter in her red coat reach the orchard. The story of their escape north is inspired by a slave story recounted for the Federal Writers' Project in 1937.

All In  by Pete Hautman.
Simon & Schuster. 2007. 192 pages. $15.99. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Adolescent. 0. 1416913254

This new Hautman book focuses on gambling, as one might guess from the title, and the serious addiction that plagues society today. While it is very suspenseful and has masterful character development, there’s a bit too much time at the table for those who aren’t all that interested in Texas Hold’em.

Alligator Boy  by Cynthia Rylant, Diane Goode (Illustrator).
Harcourt Children's Books. 2007. Unpaged. $16.00. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Primary. 0. 0152060928

After a trip to the natural history museum, a very properly dressed little boy decides he is "tired of being a boy." His auntie solves the problem with an alligator costume that the boy never removes, even when he begins school! He is now an alligator boy, who leads "a good green life." Rylants' humorous rhyming text suits the fantastic acceptance of the child's decision to change; he is still a happy alligator boy when the story ends. Goode's expressive illustrations with fanciful lines on large expanses of white show his mother's concern (she calls the doctor who tells her to call the vet) and also the boy enjoying "the student life fully." Children will enjoy pondering becoming someone quite different than the regular child they are. A fun book to share with David Small's Imogene's Antlers.

Amanda Pig, First Grader  by Jean Van Leeuwen, Ann Schweninger (Illustrator).
Dial Books for Young Readers. 2007. 40 pages. $14.99. Fantasy. Primary. 0. 0803731817

Amanda Pig was so excited to start first grade, but there were disappointments. She didn't learn to read on the first day. She got lost trying to deliver a note to the principal, and the big kids stole her ball on the playground. This new addition to the Oliver and Amanda series will be enjoyed by beginning readers who will be able to identify with Amanda's situations and come to appreciate her optimistic outlook. Cheery, cartoon-style illustrations help new readers follow the action.

Angelina’s Island  by Jeanette Winter.
Farrar Straus & Giroux. 2007. Unpaged. $16.00. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Primary. Caribbean. 0-37430-349-5

Each morning, Angelina tells her mother she wants to go home. Her “Mama” responds, “We are home, Angelina.” Angelina, now living in New York, dreams of her “Island in the sun; Jamaica.” Winters portrays a beautifully touching story for primary-aged children adjusting to a new city, country, or even school. The dark, ominous illustrations come to life and brighten as Angelina flashes back to her native land. As Angelina’s Mama brings her to a native carnival in Brooklyn, Angelina discovers her “Island in the sun,” and now can call New York home.

Animal Poems  by Valerie Worth, Steve Jenkins (Illustrator).
Farrar Straus & Giroux. 2007. 44 pages. $17.00. Poetry. Adolescent. 0. 0374380570

In this perfect marriage of poet and illustrator, animals and insects come to life. Jenkin's torn paper collages show horrible cockroaches scuttling across the page, the owl on the black page staring directly at the reader, and the slender snake with twisting coils so long it is partially off of the page. Worth's free verse poetry, with its alliteration, strong images, and startling comparisons, gets at the essence of these diverse creatures. The bat, who is the color of dust and clay, isn't aware "/That in his/Own blind/Veins run/ The lighthearted lavas/Of the sun." Jellyfish rise "/Like transparent/Ghost-bells/ Of lost lands. " The hummingbird is "/Awhirr with/The dark's/Atomic thrum." The eye of the bear is "/Like a fierce/Furious/Bee;" that of the snake a "/Fixed /Jewel." This is a book to be relished, to be read and reread aloud, so that the power of the words and illustrations can truly be appreciated.

Anne Hutchinson's Way  by Jeannine Atkins, Michael Dooling (Illustrator).
Farrar Straus & Giroux. 2007. Unpaged. $17.00. Biography/Memoir. Primary/Intermediate. 0. 0374303657

Anne Hutchinson, a Puritan who left England for America in the 1600's, is known for her courage in ridiculing her minister's fire and brimstone warnings and asserting her own right to express her religious beliefs. "The Lord blessed us with minds to use and mouths to speak what we see as truth." Her spirit and determination in the face of terrible penalties are richly dramatized through a well-told narrative and expressive, realistic portraits of Anne and her family and the early American setting. The Afterword shares further information of what happened to the Hutchinsons.

Annie and Snowball  by Cynthia Rylant, Sucie Stevenson (Illustrator).
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2007. 40 pages. $14.99. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Primary. 0. 1416909389

Annie loved to dress up. When her birthday came, she invited Henry and his family to come dressed up too. The anticipation for a lovely party builds, but when the guests arrive, Annie finds they interpreted dressing up to mean they were to wear Halloween-type costumes. The plot is a bit thin, but the warm sense of family and friendships make a satisfying story for beginning readers.

At Gleason's Gym  by Ted Lewin.
Roaring Brook Press. 2007. Unpaged. $17.95. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Primary/Intermediate. Multicultural. 1596432314

Lewis captures all the sights and sounds of the famous training facility of fighters such as Muhammad Ali while telling the true story of 9-year-old National Silver Gloves Champion Sugar Boy Younan, who like many others, including girls and women, train at the gym. "Bam, bam, BAM! Pop Pop! Smack!" go the gloves; "the air smells like a thousand warn sneakers." With these kinds of atmospheric descriptions and the detailed, realistic paintings of the place and those who spend so much time there, readers will feel as though they've visited too.

At Night  by Jonathan Bean.
Farrar Straus & Giroux. 2007. Unpaged. $15.00. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Primary. 0. 0374304467

What child hasn't at one time or another waited and waited for sleep to come? How the young girl solves the problem in this diminutive book may be a surprise to many children. Seeing her vigilant mother, with one hand gently touching her sleeping child, will be a comfort to all. A perfect good night book for young children.

Badger's Fancy Meal  by Keiko Kasza.
G.P. Putnam's Sons. 2007. 32 pages. $16.99. Fantasy. Primary. 0. 0399246037

Badger is tired of his typical meal of apples, worms, and roots and seeks more for his palate. A spicy mole taco might make an excellent meal choice, but the mole escapes Badger's grasp just in time, diving into a perfect hiding spot. A rat burger with cheese sauce is Badger's second choice, but the wiggly rat also escapes, jumping into the same hiding spot. When Badger spies a rabbit, he knows a rabbit banana split is just what he wants to eat, but the rabbit bounces into that very same perfect hiding spot. While Badger is complaining and lamenting, a twist of events occurs underground where the mole, rat, and rabbit are having a fancy meal of their own. Readers will appreciate the glimpses into the den that provide information unknown to Badger. The artist's clever use of space makes it appear that the page has blown to the side, revealing the three escapees in Badger's den. A note signed with three paw prints forces Badger to ponder his food supply.

Because...  by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Vladimir Radunsky (Illustrator).
Atheneum Books. 2007. Unpaged. $16.99. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. Primary. 0. 0-68987-582-7

A young boy spends most of his time with his grandmother, Mrs. Duncan. He really enjoys being with her but she always embarrasses him. Everyone in town knows Mrs. Duncan. Each time she does something out of the ordinary people ask her, “Why are you doing that?” She simply replies, “Because…” The pages are filled with large active illustrations using soft lines and colors. It is a great book for young children who can relate to having a silly and unique family member. Readers will laugh while discovering Mrs. Duncan’s secret.

Beetle Bop  by Denise Fleming.
Harcourt. 2007. 32 pages. $16.00. Informational Science. Primary. 0. 0152059369

Denise Fleming’s vibrant, handmade paper illustrations are an excellent compliment to the rollicking, rhythmic text in Beetle Bop. The author depicts the characteristics of a variety of beetles using onomatopoeia, alliteration, and rhyme. Even squeamish children will love the nonthreatening, bright bugs in this book.

Being  by Kevin Brooks.
Chicken House/Scholastic. 2007. 336 pages. $16.99. Science Fiction. Adolescent. 0. 0-439-89973-7

Robert Smith is a teenager who’s been in foster care for as long as he can remember, although he does remember some strange people making strange remarks about him when he was very young. When he goes to the hospital for what should be a routine endoscopy, Robert can, in spite of the anesthetic, hear and see what is happening to him, and realizes that something is terribly wrong. His organs seem to be mechanical rather than human and suddenly he is in the midst of a deadly game with a sinister antagonist. This book appeals to mature readers who enjoy complex science fiction within a realistic setting.

Beowulf  by James Rumford.
Houghton Mifflin. 2007. Unpaged. $17.00. Folk Literature. Adolescent. Great Britain. 061875637X

This stunning retelling of the Anglo-Saxon hero poem, Beowulf, consists of language that comes from the ancient roots of Old English, with two memorable lines spoken by Beowulf presented in Old English, with a translation provided. The illustrations, inspired by Rackham and Dulac, heighten the impact of this ancient story. Even those who have read and loved the original will be glad to share this accessible retelling with adolescent readers.