March 2009 New Specialty Toys — Books

After "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich" (2006), he decides to get married and plan an elegant featuring his favorite monsters and best man Dracula. His bride, only recently dead and revived, must battle her parents' frustration with having to pay for her wedding just days after coughing up the cash for her funeral. In this lushly illustrated and imaginative picture book by Adam Rex, the monsters get to blog, rhyme, appear in classic cartoons, create mayhem and complain about the difficulties of life. And death. Launch date: 2008.

Written by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Aurelia Fronty, this picture book takes kids on an adventure across Lake Titicaca and through Machu Pichu to the city of cusco, where a wonderful festival is underway. The educational endnotes include facts about Peru's population and culture, the Andes Mountains and the Inty Raymi Festival. Launch: 2008.

A follow-up to R.D. Henham's "Red Dragon Codex," this novel explores ths story of Satia, a young thief, and the lies she tells to a young black dragon so he will spare her life. But the dragon's evil nature, and Satia's dishonesty, may be a bad combination. Will it lead to their doom? Launch date: 2008.

It's Saturday, and one small girl and her Dad do the shopping while Mom is working. When the little girl sneezes, it sets off a reaction that leads to her Dad being blamed for a supermarket calamity. After the daughter speaks up and takes responsibility, the mood changes. Written by Matt Harvey and illustrated by Miriam Latimer. Hardcover, color, 32 pages, 8.5" x 11". Launch date: September 2008.

Once called a "musical Dr. Seuss," Jim Copp recorded nine children's albums from 1958 to 1971. These critically acclaimed, clever rhyming stories told through song won Copp many passionate fans. Now his most popular characters — Kate Higgins, Miss Goggins and the gorilla, and Martha Matilda O'Toole — hop, stomp and skip to life on the pages of the "Jim Copp, Will You Tell Me a Story?" picture book illustrated by Lindsay DuPont.T he book comes with a CD featuring three of Jim Copp's original recordings. Hardcover, 56 pages, color. Launch date: September 2008.

This book written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen captures the story of a group of hippos at their peak of boredom, and follows them on a journey to happiness, which they find wallowing in the mud. It combines simple text with colorful, expressive artwork. Launch date: April 30, 2008.

It's winter, and a lonely abandoned kitten is trying to survive in the woods. Each night, as he hunts for food, the warm glow of houses fills him with longing. While a family carries in its Christmas tree, the kitten slips into their house. Then—danger—a fierce dog lives there! The kitten has not found a haven after all. But it is Christmas Eve, a night when magical things can happen. Robin Pulver's gentle story and Layne Johnson's dramatic paintings evoke the wonder and joy of Christmas.

It's that wonderful time of year, when once more cows have come back to the family home, to be together around the Christmas tree. But while dancing the Cowpoke Polka, Moosha crashes through the floor! The whole family tries to pull her out. But Moosha stays stuck, right in the only place the tree can go. Will Christmas even come this year? Then a baby calf named Dale hangs a star on Moosha's tail, and these clever cows come up with a way to save Christmas and begin a fine cow tradition.

This beautiful retelling of the traditional Nativity story caputres all the drama and joy, beginning with the angel's amazing announcement to Mary. Giuliano Ferri, an award-winning Italian illustrator, illuminates the story with his watercolors.