In this book written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Josée Masse, poor pig number one may never get to sleep. In this swine-stuffed count-along bedtime book of irresistible rhymes, one ham-bunctious pig after another comes crowding into her bedroom — each with its own special way to keep the poor little pig awake. With new hogs arriving by the minute, pig number one’s bedroom is wall-to-wall pig-demonium. Will this weary little pig ever hear the Bard’s immortal words: “Goodnight, sweet pig”? Launch date: March 2007.

Written by Rober Heidbreder and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton, this story details a hot summer day when a wish transforms an urban backyard into a place of breezy high-seas adventure. As our bold Captain and Skipper ride the salty waves, they encounter a beastly sea monster, buried treasure, a scurvy pirate crew, lovely mermaids and more. Launch date: April 2007.

Written by Elizabeth McLeod, this latest addition to the Snapshots series introduces readers to the scientist, inventor and professor who became a symbol of African American success and interracial harmony. George Washington Carver was the orphan son of slaves, but he went on to become the world-famous “Peanut Scientist.” Launch date: January 2007.

Children can use this 12-project instructional book by Renée Schwarz to enliven backyards, balconies, doorways or windowsills with original windpowered crafts. Made with recycled and easy-to-find materials, these fantastic wind chimes and whirligigs will blow kids away. Kids can make a Crazy Kitten, Clothespin Fly, Whirli-Bird, Flutterfly, Crested Key Bird and Wind Dragon. Launch date: April 2007.

Written by Cynthia Pratt Nicolson and Paulette Bourgeois, and illustrated by Bill Slavin, this books teaches readers to make their own telescope, make a two-stage balloon rocket, make moon craters, look at the sun safely, and cook with the sun’s rays. “The Jumbo Book of Space” answers questions about the secrets of the universe and travels back in time with space stories from the past. It also tells about the latest discoveries in the ongoing exploration of space. Launch date: April 2007.

In his latest adventure, Scaredy Squirrel sets out to make The Perfect Friend. And once he’s spotted a perfectly safe candidate (with no teeth), Scaredy’s ready. Armed with a name tag, mittens, a mirror and a lemon, he’s prepared to make The Perfect First Impression. But just when every detail is under control, Scaredy’s Action Plan takes a surprising — and “toothy” — turn … Will he survive this ordeal? Will he find his kindred spirit? This book is written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt. Launch date: March 2007.

Written by Etta Kaner and illustrated by Marie Lafrance, this book explores the sun and how it transforms the world around us. Part of the Exploring the Elements series, the picture book features spreads that pose questions about the sun, with flaps that hold explanations underneath. Kids will discover how the sun makes shadows, why water sparkles in the sun, how the sun helps make rainbows and much more. Launch date: April 2007.

This teenage hero likes nothing better than to sit back with a bucket of fried chicken and a girlie magazine, waiting for his family plumbing fortune to come to him. But when he gets into trouble, he’s forced to volunteer at a soup kitchen — a worthy cause he could care less about until the day he stumbles across a shocking piece of information. This novel by Maureen Fergus is one of adventure, intrigue, Ukrainian dance lessons, disruptive horseplay, inappropriate ogling and more. Launch date: April 2007.

Young readers can join Daniel as he visits a bee farm, learning about different kinds of bees, how they make honey and how a beekeeper gets the honey from the hive. Lucky Daniel also gets a taste test. Charmed by Daniel’s boundless enthusiasm, children will be eager to join him and learn about the world from their own perspective. Each book closes with an activity that encourages young readers to create along with Daniel. Launch date: March 2007.

Kids can join Daniel as he visits a construction site and helps workers build a sidewalk. He even gets to help operate a huge backhoe. Charmed by his boundless enthusiasm, children will be eager to join Daniel and learn about the world from their own perspective. Each book closes with an activity that encourages young readers to create along with Daniel. If he can do it, so can they. Launch date: March 2007.

Written by Jessica Scott Kerrin and illustrated by Joseph Kelly, this book follows Martin and his friend Stuart as they find a full-scale model of their space hero’s rocket in the toy store and climb in for a ride. But after landing back on Earth, they find the toy store closed and locked, and Martin is trapped with his greatest fear. Readers join Martin Bridge as he faces his fear, puts a flashlight to good use, gets a new babysitter and discovers that knowing a few dance moves pays off in more ways than one. Launch date: March 2007.

In this book by Frank Asch, Alex Archer’s latest invention, the Anti-Gravitron, is finally ready. Soon, Alex will be able to master gravity and make it do anything he wants. It’s the crowning touch to his cardboard masterpiece of a spaceship. He and his new copilot, Zoe Breen, are about to say hello to Jupiter — and goodbye to Alex’s rotten little brother Jonathan! Or so Alex thinks … Launch date: February 2007.

Written by Elizabeth MacLeod, illustrated by Louise Phillips and full of animal sounds, rhymes and guessing games, this lively board book will have young children purring, oinking and giggling their way to the surprise ending. Launch date: March 2007.

It takes a lot of money to build a well in Africa — a lot more than 6-year-old Ryan Hreljac had thought. Still, the 6-year-old persisted in doing chores around the house to earn enough money to buy a well for a village thousands of miles away, even though he learned it would take him years to do so. Then a friend of the family wrote an article in the local newspaper about his quest and soon people began sending in money. After the well was built, a young orphan named Akana Jimmy longed for a chance to thank Ryan in person for the gift of clean, life-giving water. When they finally meet, an unbreakable bond forms that takes them on an adventure neither could have anticipated. Written by Ryan’s great-uncle, Herb Shovelier, the book tells its tales with lavish photographs from the boys’ very different lives. Hardcover, 56 pages. (Read Review)

Moving all the way from the South Pole to the North Pole isn’t easy for the young penguin Augustine. Uprooted from her home, she misses her friends, relatives and bedroom. But with the help of a few colored pencils and some inspiration from Picasso, this shy young penguin finds a way to break the ice with her new North Pole classmates and feel at home on the other end of the world. Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt. (Read Review)

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is one of the most enduring holiday stories ever written. Inspired by this masterpiece, Lucie Papineau's text and Stephanie Poplin’s art make for a striking new interpretation. Barton, a very spoiled and snobbish young pig, hates Christmas. Sulking in his mansion on the hill, Barton hoards his many toys and counts the hours until Christmas is over. But as he lies awake on Christmas Eve, Barton receives an unexpected visitor who shows him his life — past, present and future — in a whole new light. (Read Review)

For 20 years, “The Cremation of Sam McGee” has stood as a publishing landmark, losing none of its appeal as a read-aloud and work of art. This 20th anniversary edition features the broad brushstrokes and unconventional color choices of painter Ted Harrison and the poetry of Robert W. Service, presented in hardcover with new cover art and heavy coated stock. (Read Review)

Funny and informative, “Jurassic Poop” is flush with amazing facts, stories and activities. Kids will learn how to spot ancient poop imposters and meet dung detectives getting to the bottom of history’s hind-end mysteries. They’ll find out how poop gets preserved and discover what it can tell us about dinosaurs, humans and many other animals from long ago. Written by Jacob Berkowitz and illustrated by Steve Mack, the book is filled with facts such as the soil from which we grown our food is in large part made from the poo of worms and other small animals. Hardcover, 40 pages. (Read Review)

Written by the editors of YES Mag, Science Detectives: How Scientists Solved Six Real-Life Mysteries, bursts with far-out but true stories, fascinating puzzles and mind-boggling mysteries. Kids will read about Typhoid Mary, the cook whose secret ingredient was a deadly disease, Otzi, a 4000-year-old traveler with an axe to grind, and the original “hobbits” ¾ a whole new species of tiny humans. The book, illustrated by Rose Cowles, includes five fascinating projects to test kids’ science-detection skills. Hardcover.

Martin Bridge’s first overnight camping trip is going to be a weekend with the works! There are badges to earn, hiking trails to explore. But when Martin finds himself on the receiving end of his friend’s horror-movie slime, it’s payback time. He blazes ahead with a flashy campfire performance, an inspired prank of his own, and a surefire way to make his father’s old lawn mower go like glazes. Written by Jessica Scott Kerrin. Illustrated by Joseph Kelly, Hardcover, 112 pages.

Fourteen-year-old pioneering aviatrix Emmaline is afraid of one thing: plummeting to her doom. Fortunately, twelve-year-old Robert Burns, an indestructible village boy, is not. But before Emmaline can perefect a flying machine with the aid of her new friend, she is sent off to St. Grimelda’s School for Young Ladies to be cured of her unladylike ways. All Emmaline can think of is escape. But no one has ever escaped from St. Grimelda’s. Emmeline soon realizes that the only way out is to face her greatest fear. Written by Howard Whitehouse and illustrated by Bill Slavin. Softcover, 256 pages. (Read Review)

George comes home one day to find an elephant watching TV and eating chocolate chip cookies in his living room. When he tells his friends, they say it’s impossible: George must be seeing things. Soon enough, his friends see the elephant too. Or do they? But they’re afraid they might be crazy, like George, and so no one says a single thing about the pachyderm in the flower bed … until something happens that finally breaks the silence. Written and illustrated by Genevieve Cote. Hardcover, 32 pages. (Read Review)

The melancholy of Edgar Allen Poe’s classic poem is echoed by Ryan Price’s exquisitely grim illustrations in this fifth book of the KCP Poetry series. Originally published in 1845, “The Raven” is narrated by a scholar brooding over his lost love Lenore. One bleak December at midnight, a raven with fiery eyes visits the scholar and perches above his chamber door. Struggling to understand the meaning of “Nevermore,” which his winged visitant repeats, the narrator descends by stages into madness. Hardcover, 48 pages.

With “Stuff to Hold Your Stuff” — the latest addition to the Planet Girl series — fashionable girls can put their creativity to good use and find lots of funky projects that will show off their style. Easy-to-follow instructions lead girls through the creation of satin purses, funky handbags, cool overnight bags, wicked wallets and more. It was written by Ellen Warwick and illustrated by Bernice Lum. The book will be available in stores August 2006.

Wally has made a major scientific discovery: Dinosaurs! With the aid of stunning eyewitness accounts, this book details the habitat, diet, grooming, health and fitness, communication and recreation of dinosaurs, and much more. Wally’s project follows tried-and-true scientific methodology and contains page after page of photographic evidence. But his shocking conclusion is that today’s dinos guard their privacy fiercely. It was written and illustrated by Wallace Edwards, winner of a Governor-General’s Award. The book will be available in stores August 2006.