November 2007 New Toys — Books

P.T.'s Big Surprise by POSSIBILITY THINKER INC.

Written by Marlene Balbach and illustrated by Laura Glusha, this story tells how P.T. makes a new friend by looking past the outside and getting to know the person for what's on the inside. He extends friendship to someone who’s a little different than everyone else, and enjoys a fun-filled day at the zoo. Launch date: December 2007.
— While struggling with multiple sclerosis, Marlene Balbach founded Possibility Thinker to encourage others to express their feelings and see their purpose. The company produces P.T. dolls and a book that demonstrate acceptance and show the good in being unique. “P.T.’s message is ‘Just be you; no one can be you better than you,’” she told TDmonthly. 11/30/2007 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Family Night! by FAMILYSTORIES

Family Stories and Sterling Publishing introduce this “playbook” for busy families. The book includes games for every developmental stage, along with stories from families who know how to plan game nights, get a game going and lure reluctant players. “Family Night! is more than just a book. It contains great materials to engage family hearts, minds and spirits in the memorable fun of playing games together,” Lisa Hamm of FamilyStories told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 1, 2007. 11/30/2007 (Price: $17.95)

Little Steps for New Parents: Birth to One Year by PERSONHOOD PRESS

This “weekly guide for developing your baby’s intelligence” gives parents practical instruction on encouraging baby’s emotional, intellectual and physical development. The simplicity, quality of information, and opportunity to actively enjoy being a family right from the beginning make this journal something to use and then treasure for a lifetime. "For each week’s informational guide page, there is an accompanying page for the parent to write their observations about their child that week, which provides them with a wonderful keepsake of their child’s first year," Publisher Cathy Winch of Personhood Press told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2003. 11/28/2007 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Parents' Lives, Children's Needs by PERSONHOOD PRESS

Written by Beth Roy, the lessons taught in these accounts build a framework for parenting with kindness and communication, using specific steps for empowering children and resolving conflict constructively. Through relationship-building strategies, today's parents will learn concrete ways to create a comfortable environment for raising a child, as well as how to overcome their own self-doubt regarding parenting skills and how to multitask through every stage of childrearing. "This book emphasizes sound principles of communication, examining the process of parenting in the contest of culture, race, gender, class, history, and ideology," Publisher Cathy Winch of Personhood Press told TDmonthly. This product received an iParenting Media Award. Launch date: May 2007. 11/28/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Parenting Well in a Media Age by PERSONHOOD PRESS

This book by Gloria DeGaetano provides clear and compelling information for parents about the long-term impact of media immersion on our kids. With common sense answers to concerns for children’s exposure to violence, questionable values, and consumerism, the author offers hopeful alternatives for parents on meeting kids’ real needs in a culture dictated by impersonal corporate business and industry. "The author takes a firm stand on the importance of educating parents on the effects of media on their children’s social, emotional, physical and ethical development. What messages do you want to be most influential in shaping the emerging identity of your child — yours, or an industry-generated culture?" asked Publisher Cathy Winch of Personhood Press. This book received an iParenting Media Award. Launch date: May 2004. 11/28/2007 (Price: $18.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Parenting with Purpose: Five Keys to Raising Children with Values and Vision by PERSONHOOD PRESS

Written by Robert W. Reasoner and Marilyn L. Lane, this guide for parents, grandparents and other caregivers offers strategies and suggestions that can contribute to raising children who are responsible, respectful, happy, motivated, caring and successful. "The ideas, suggestions and strategies in this book offer a roadmap to allow a family to choose their destination and truly enjoy their journey together," Publisher Cathy Winch of Personhood Press told TDmonthly. "Readers will find chapters that focus on specific needs and situations such as parenting the gifted child, the foster child, and the child with learning disabilities, special physical needs, ADHD or the spectrum of Autism." This title received an iParenting Media Award. Launch date: May 2007. 11/28/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Brothers' War: Civil War Voices in Verse by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

This poetry collection gives voice to the emotions of soldiers and civilians — whether Northerners or Southerners, famous or obscure, dead or alive — in the time of the Civil War. 11/27/2007 (Price: $17.95)

Will it Blow? Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens by SASQUATCH BOOKS

Readers of this book are encouraged to solve the mysteries surrounding the latest eruption of Mount St. Helens. Based on interviews with USGS scientists, the book includes quotes from volcano detectives and fun, hands-on activities. 11/27/2007 (Price: $13.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Teens and the Job Game by IUNIVERSE INC.

Written by Beverly Slomka, MSEd, this guide is designed to help teenagers stand out in the job search and prepare themselves for future career opportunities. This book received a 2006-2007 National Writers Association nonfiction literary award. Launch date: November 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor and Merrimac by HYPERION BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Narrated by 13-year-old Tom Carroll, who finds a job to support his family after his father dies fighting for the Union in the Civil War, this Newbery Award-winning novel gives readers of an idea of what it might have been like to help construct the Monitor, the Union’s first ironclad warship. 11/27/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Body Box by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

A human kidney, a brain, a heart, an eyeball and a plastic skeleton with removable parts are assembled in this unusual and instructive kit for budding junior biologists. The shapes of all organs are accurately rendered, and an accompanying book is filled with full-color illustrations and descriptions of the human body’s organs and functions, described on a level that is understandable to older children. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $24.99)

Spooky Fun by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Spooky Fun is a Barron’s Fun Pack that contains everything kids need to become a Spook Buster. The Spooky Fun book tours the haunted house. The illustrations are in sinister, shadowy full color, and they seem to pop off their pages when viewed through the 3-D glasses. Launch date: August 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $19.99)

If You See a Fairy Ring by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

A rich combination of enchanting verse and magical color illustrations make this a truly unusual and attractive book for younger children. The easy and accessible poems — all of them written by major literary figures — share a common theme: fairies and fairyland. Ingenious paper engineering produces illustrated images that change in their details as kids turn the pages. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $16.99)

Renoir and the Boy With the Long Hair by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

This gently amusing story for children is beautifully illustrated in a manner that resembles the painting style of the illustrious Pierre Renoir, Jean’s father. It includes several illustrations of Renoir’s paintings. Of course, the senior Renoir finally relents, and young Jean Renoir does get his hair cut. Still later, as an adult, Jean becomes famous in his own right as a widely acclaimed film director. Launch date: August 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $14.99)

Matisse the King of Color by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

This true account of Matisse and the chapel at Vence, in southern France, is the main focus of Laurence Anholt’s newest delightful children’s story. Anholt’s illustrations faithfully reproduce many of Matisse’s wonderful artworks in this beautiful storybook. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $14.99)

Spooky Shadows by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Here’s a terrific set of spooky pop-up pictures to capture the Halloween spirit. Five sets of black cut-out silhouettes pop up from two-page spreads to show against colored backgrounds that suggest autumn skies at sunset and at night. Enclosed with the book is a small flashlight that kids can turn on in a darkened room. When they flash the beam against the silhouettes, they create magically eerie shadow effects. Launch date: August 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $9.99)

Graphic Classics The Man in the Iron Mask by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

This is one of several titles in Barron’s series of Graphic Classics, famous literary works retold in graphic novel form for young readers. Wonderfully atmospheric color illustrations and fast-paced narratives will keep older boys and girls absorbed. The famous musketeers —Athos, Aramis, Porthos and D’Artagnan — find themselves fighting for their lives against seemingly impossible odds. The books are available in both paperback and hardcover editions. The hardcover MSRP is $15.99. Launch date: September 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $8.99)

Graphic Classics Dracula by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

This is one of several titles in Barron’s series of Graphic Classics, famous literary works retold in graphic novel form for young readers. Wonderfully atmospheric color illustrations and fast-paced narratives will keep older boys and girls absorbed. Count Dracula, the legendary vampire who is Lord of the Undead, departs from his castle in Transylvania and arrives in London, where he begins claiming new victims. The book is available in both paperback and hardcover editions. The hardcover MSRP is $15.99. Launch date: September 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $8.99)

Pirate Fun by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

This Barron’s Fun Pack features fascinating challenges for kids to meet and overcome as they take part in an adventure on the high seas. Readers of the enclosed color-illustrated Pirate Fun book become members of a pirate crew led by the dastardly Mad Jack Blackheart. The Fun Pack contains everything they need to become pirate captains and succeed in their quest. Launch date: August 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Secrets from the Dragon's World by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

A fascinating, color-illustrated book points out the meanings of this kit’s other dragon-related items. In the book, “The Dragon Master’s Tale,” young readers meet a young knight named George and join in on his perilous quest. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Mother Goose Unplucked by MAPLE TREE PRESS

This book of zany activities and nutty facts turns fairy tales inside out, inviting readers to solve logic puzzles posed by the Evil Queen, save Humpty Dumpty with a hands-on science experiment, find the theif in the Whodunnit, and even write their own crazy fairy tales. It features full-color illustrations throughout. “'Mother Goose Unplucked' revitalizes classic childhood tales with clever tongue-in-cheek humor and lots of modern wit. It's an exceptional blend of enriching entertainment and delightful learning,” Sales & Marketing Coordinator Erin Walker of Maple Tree Press told TDmonthly. Launch date: Spring 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $10.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Two Tuba Switch by TOYS 'N TAYLS

The delightful tale of self-acceptance revolves around the hero Mitch, a boy who transforms into objects whenever he becomes shy. In this story, he switches into a tuba. The book and toy combination includes many hidden activities such as find Mitch, quizzes, write-your-own-chapter and more. The set includes a picture book and character toys. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

Jessica Seinfeld, a mother of three and wife of actor-comedian Jerry Seinfeld, teaches parents how to encourage healthy eating habits and how to easily incorporate healthy ingredients in a child’s meal. The book includes a month’s worth of meals, including recipes for putting pureed cauliflower in mac and cheese and beets in chocolate cake. The book even includes tear-out shopping guides to help parents speed through the grocery store. Launch date: October 2007. 11/15/2007

Freckleface Strawberry by BLOOMSBURY USA

This book is written by four-time Academy Award-nominated actress Julianne Moore. The story revolves around a little girl who tries to get rid of her freckles. She winds up discovering, however, that the things that make her different make her herself. Launch date: October 2007. 11/15/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Adventures of Cow, Too by TRICYCLE PRESS

Cow goes on her second adventure in this book—this time it’s the grocery store. There are just a few items on the list, but Cow encounters simple vocabulary mix-ups that may prevent her from getting home on time. Accompanied by silly on-location photographs, this book transforms a lovable squish toy into a heroine. Launch date: March 2007. 11/15/2007 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]