“Flora Segunda: Being the Magickal Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), a House with Eleven Thousand Rooms, and a Red Dog” is author Ysabeau S. Wilce’s first novel. When Flora takes a forbidden shortcut in Crackpot Hall, she stumbles upon her family’s biggest secret — Valefor, the banished Butler. If only she knew that meddling with a magickal being by trying to restore him to his position can go terribly awry; she will have to restore herself before it’s too late. Launch date: January 2007.

To break the cycle of unhappiness endured by the women in her family, Abbey Garner plans to earn a million dollars by the time she’s 35. While working at Granny Po’s struggling beauty shop, she finds the courage to take risks and live life to its fullest. Launch date: May 2007.

Satchel Paige could throw a baseball like no one else. But when he began his career in the 1920s, even the best African American players were kept out of the major leagues. Paige rose to stardom in the Negro Baseball Leagues--and he waited for his chance to play in the "big show." Finally, at an age when most players retire, Paige proved that staying in the game pays off. This book received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: January 2007.

Written by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by Jane Dyer, this book chronicles Rover’s rainy day in the doghouse, where he is surprised by a menagerie of creatures looking for a cozy place to sit out the storm. This book received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: 2006.

Written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Terry Denton, this book features zippy characters, clever language, and a terrific visual story line to tell the tale of Cow’s wild Saturday morning stroll. The book received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: 2006.

Created by David A. Carter and written by Sarah Weeks, this book encourages children to search for Scruff on every pop-up page. The product features various textures and flaps to lift. It won the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: 2006.

What can you make with one oval, two circles, and eight triangles? Just ask three clever mice — who even find a funny way to trick a sneaky cat. Author Ellen Stoll Walsh once again proves that she’s a master of concept books in this celebration of shapes, color and innovation. Launch date: July 2007.

A gallant solider, a sharp wit, and a man of letters, Cyrano de Bergerac seems like the obvious romantic hero. He has just one noteworthy flaw: an improbably large nose. And after a lifetime of loving the beautiful Roxane from afar, Cyrano must find a way — any way at all — to express his feelings for her. Romantic, funny, and action packed, this adaptation is sure to win a whole new legion of fans for Edmond Rostand’s lovable soldier. Launch date: 2006.

William H. "Billy the Kid" Bonney Jr. loves to take risks. But Billy's luck runs out when, during a train heist, a passenger recognizes the 19-year-old outlaw. Fed up with his bad ways, Sheriff Willis Monroe, Billy's own cousin, decides to track him down. The Kid's two-timing partners are hunting him, too, and a posse wants him dead. This gripping fictional tale imagines Bonney's fate had his life of crime taken a different turn. Fans of adventure will be riveted by Theodore Taylor's fresh take on a legendary character. Launch date: 2005.

Jane Yolen is the reigning queen of young adult fantasy, and her "Pit Dragon Chronicles" are one of the reasons why.  These are the adventures of young dragon master Jakkin Stewart from his apprenticeship in "Dragon's Blood," to his breathtaking escape with his beloved Akki in "Heart's Blood," and straight through to their harrowing discovery in the third volume, "A Sending of Dragons."

In her new apocalyptic novel for teens, “Life As We Knew It,” award-winning author Susan Beth Pfeffer creates a frightening scenario in the not-too-distant future: Sixteen-year-old Miranda is only mildly interested when scientists announce that an asteroid will hit the moon. But in one minute, Miranda goes from being a typical American teenager, worrying about having a date for the prom, to fighting for survival in a world where nothing can be taken for granted. Told in journal entries, “Life As We Knew It” is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s coming of age in a world where a can of beans is a precious resource. Launch date: October 2006.

In “This Jazz Man” by Karen Erhardt and illustrated by R.G. Roth, the traditional children’s song “This Old Man” gets a swinging makeover, and some of the era’s best musicians take center stage. The tuneful text and vibrant illustration bop, slide and shimmy across the page as Satchmo plays one, Bojangles plays two … Right on down the line to Charles Mingus, who plays nine, plucking strings that sound divine. Included is a brief biography of each musician. Launch date: November 2006. (Read Review)

When Iggy Corso gets kicked out of high school, there’s no one for him to tell. His mother has gone off, his father is stoned on the couch, and the phone’s been disconnected, so even the social worker can’t get through. Leaving his public housing behind, Iggy ventures into the world to make something of his life. It’s not easy when you’re sixteen, have no skills and your only friend is mixed up with the dealer who got your mom hooked. But Iggy is … Iggy, and he has the kind of wisdom that lets him see what no one else can. “Saint Iggy” is written by K.L. Going, author of “Fat Kids Rule the World.” Hardcover, 272 pages. Launch date: September 2006.

“My Little Yellow Taxi” is an interactive hardcover novelty book that invites kids to take a spin in a shiny yellow cab. The book includes 16 interactive features that show eager young drivers what it takes to get a taxi ready to roll: The mirror needs to be adjusted, the oil needs to be checked, the engine needs to be started, and there’s more to do. For instance, a cut-out puzzle piece of a gas pump can be removed from the book, then inserted into the gas tank — once the cap’s been opened. A clock on each page counts down the minutes, introducing the concept of telling time. Once the taxi has been readied by the various activities, a little cardboard taxi in the back of the book can be removed for play. With its sturdy construction, the taxi is built to be “driven” again and again. “My Little Yellow Taxi” is an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner, and is the third in a series by Stephen T. Johnson, which includes “My Little Blue Robot” and the best-selling “My Little Red Toolbox.” Launch date: October 2006.

Ursula K. Le Guin, one of fantasy’s most celebrated writers, has penned a follow-up to her acclaimed novel “Gifts.” “Voices” is a haunting and deeply movie coming-of-age story in which a young woman discovers the power of story. In Ansul, a town that has been ravaged by the cruel and oppressive Alds, reading and writing are acts punishable by death. They believe that Oracle Hosue, where the last few undestroyed books are hidden, is seething with demons. But to 27-year-old Memer, the house is a refuge and the only place where she feels truly safe. Then an Uplands poet named Orrec and his wife Gry arriver, and everything in Memer’s life begins to change. (Read Review)

The stories in “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich” are all about monsters and some are about food, too. Count Dracula walks around with spinach in his teeth. The Phantom of the Opera can’t keep the song “It’s a Small World After All,” running through his head, and the Yeti doesn’t appreciate being called Bigfoot. See? Monsters have problems, too. Written and illustrated by Adam Rex. Hardcover, 40 pages.

On a rooftop patio in Mexico, Don Pedro’s papier-mache skeletons, or calaveras, are coming to life. Kids can come dance with them in this unusual alphabet book inspired by a real Mexican family of artists and the many colorful folk-art traditions surrounding the celebration of the Day of the Dead. Written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Softcover. (Read Review)

Written by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by Gris Grimly, “Boris and Bella” is a fiendishly funny tale of friendship. Bella Legrossi is the messiest monster in all of Boovile. Boris Kleanitoff is the tidiest. They do not get along. But something brings the two of them together... Softcover. (Read Review)

Dad is sleeping and the kids promised they’d let him sleep, but when they hear goblins and demons and ghosts, whatever are they to do? Older brother tries to calm sis’s fears … but then they have to face the scariest monster of all. … Written by Richard Michelson. Illustrated by Adam McCauley. Hardcover, 44 pages.

A deceased serial killer strikes again, a girl becomes trapped in a centuries-old mausoleum, and five friends meet their fate after an unsettling visit with a backwoods psychic. All of this occurs within the pages of this haunting collection of stories by Vivian Vande Velde, which take place on Halloween night. With tales that range from the disturbing to the devious to the downright gruesome, this book begs to be read with the lights on ... and the doors locked. Softcover. (Read Review)

Deborah Wiles, the author of the award-winning "Love, Ruby Lavender," tells a poignant tale of life and death, as seen through the eyes of 10-year-old Comfort Snowberger. It was named a National Book Award Finalist in 2005. Comfort is an Explorer, a Recipe Tester and a Funeral Reporter. Because her family runs a funeral home, she thinks she knows how to deal with death ... until her own Great-great aunt Florentine suddenly dies, and everything starts going wrong. (Read Review)

The best time for reading is all day long, according to Baby Bear. And each book takes Baby Bear somewhere new and exciting. Written by bestselling author Jane Yolen and illustrated by award-winner Melissa Sweet.

Something weird is definitely going on at The Bloggins School. There's a mysterious spoon stuck in the boiler room wall where Martha Snapdragon, the janitor's fourth grade daughter, lives. There's also misbehaving dragons afoot and an unsavory partnership between the school bully and principal. So much is wrong that Martha can barely find a right, or can she?

In Little Rat's second adventure, she confronts her fears about riding a horse. Sure she's excited to go for her first riding lesson, around the same age as her daddy was when he went for his, but she just didn't expect the horse to be so, well, to be so big. With a little bit of encouragement from her daddy, and a lot from Pee Wee the horse (who turns out to be quite friendly), she begins to realize her dream of one day becoming a fancy rider.

Award-winning author for young readers Han Nolan tells a powerful coming-of-age story in this 352-page novel about race, youth and friendship. Fourteen-year-old Pip tries to strike up a romance with a black teen accused of murdering a white man in Alabama, and winds up learning valuable lessons instead. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the story culminates on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.