With illustration by Wallace Edwards and verses by Kenyon Cox, "Mixed Beasts" includes a rhyme and a detailed, brightly illustrated drawing of everything from a kangarooster to a bumblebeaver. The drawings depict other wonderous creatures hiding in the background, like a dandylion, spider monkey and fly ball. Adults will enjoy this book as much as their children.

Renée Schwarz shares with children step by step, how to make a multitude of differently shaped birdfeeders out of everyday household items. Simple to follow pictures share with children how to turn items like flowerpot saucers and a tomato cage in to a three-footed booby birdfeeder. Parents may need to help out on a few of the creations.

Written by Susan Hughes and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin, this touching story describes a new girl in town and how her far out world affects her young friend, the narrator of the story, Ray. Audrey, the new girl, has a vivid imagination which is contagious.

Elizabeth MacLeod teaches children how to bake everything from S-more Gorps to Silly Salami, all of which include the yummy ingredient: chocolate. The easy to understand illustrations are provided by June Bradford.

Written by Judy Ann Sadler and coming out early 2006, this book teaches kids how to make useful knotted goods, such as a guitar strap, rope swing, braided dog leash, basketball net and a sports bag.  The book has step-by-step instructions and illustrations and introduces kids to a variety of knots that they can use to make other projects, too. 40 pages, hardcover.

Written by Linda Hendry and coming out early 2006, this book is filled with photos, illustrations and step-by-step instructions for crafts projects that feature horses as the theme. Some of the patterns in the book can be used for more than one project. Projects include pasture pillows, pony pins, CD stables, paddock mirrors, pony pencil pals and a sock horse.

The first title in the exciting new Planet Girl series features 17 injeanious projects that transform old jeans into stylish and functional new clothes and stuff. Not only are these projects bank-account friendly — they’re environmentally friendly, too! Dreary denim is reborn as skirts, halter tops, slippers, purses, carry-all bags, wallets or bolsters. Illustrated step-by-step instructions for these and many other projects show girls how to make their jeans look better the second time around. How injeanious is that? Written by Ellen Warwick and Illustrated by Bernice Lum. Hardcover, 4-color , 7 x 7 in., 80 pages.

Did you know that dogs can outrun an Olympic sprinter and “speak” three languages? Or that they can tell when storms are coming and even predict earthquakes before they happen? These are just a few of the doggone fascinating facts to discover in this ultimate companion book for young dog owners and admirers. World-renowned dog expert and author Dr. Stanley Coren knows our four-legged friends better than anyone, and this book is jam-packed with stories and photographs to engage and delight children. Hardcover, 4-color, 6 x 9 in., 64 pages.

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It’s way too dangerous out there. He could encounter tarantulas, green Martians or killer bees. But in his tree, every day is the same and if danger comes along, he’s well-prepared. Scaredy Squirrel’s emergency kit includes antibacterial soap, Band-Aids and a parachute.Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day … his worst nightmare comes true! Scaredy suddenly finds himself out of his tree, where germs, poison ivy and sharks lurk. But as Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting … Written and Illustrated by Mélanie Watt. Hardcover, 4-color, 8 x 8 in., 40 pages.

Visions in Poetry is an exciting and unique series of classic poems illustrated by outstanding contemporary artists in stunning hardcover editions. Casey at the Bat, the fourth book in the series, is more than a poem about a proud and mighty slugger who strikes out during the big game. It is a slice of baseball lore, as much a part of the game as hot dogs and the seventh-inning stretch. Illustrator Joe Morse sets the poem on gritty urban streets with a multiracial cast of characters. It’s a startlingly fresh approach that not only revives the poem for a new generation, but also brings it new richness and depth. Written by Ernest L. Thayer. Hardcover, 4-color, 5 1/2 x 9 1/4 in., 48 pages.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.