Rising Titles: Some Children's Book Picks From BEA 2002

This year, children's books include plenty of the edgy, the rude, the ironic, and the classic. As always, some are just plain fun. Booksellers on the show floor at BookExpo America remarked that many publishers were promoting books that "made children and parents feel more secure." According to publishers, although few post September 11 books were available, any books featuring "community workers," including firefighters, police officers, and other rescue workers, were moved to the front of displays.

Both the wildly popular Harry Potter series and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events have inspired other authors and publishers to produce comparable books, with their own unique flair. Potter fans will have to be patient and replay the DVD of the film until word about the next book is released. Lemony Snicket's remarkable Unauthorized Autobiography, released on May 7, might hold readers at bay until October 29, when HarperCollins releases Book 9, The Carnivorous Carnival.

From Henry Holt & Company, comes A House Called Awful End, Book One in the Eddie Dickens Trilogy by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by David Roberts (September). Lori Benton of Holt predicts this will be a big fall book for seven- to nine-year-olds. Included in the Book Sense white box for July, it's an historical spoof -- equal parts Dickens (Charles) and Monty Python.

For readers age 10 and up, Bloomsbury USA has Australian author Marianne Curley's The Named (October). Young Ethan, who lives a secret life as a Guardian of the Named, must battle the evil Order of Chaos to prevent it from altering history and gaining ultimate power. In a cautionary tale about a lonely girl's romance through an Internet chat room, Bloomsbury USA is also publishing in October Amy by Mary Hooper. Absorbing and realistic fiction for ages 10 to 16.

From Michael Chabon, who is currently adapting his award-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for Paramount Pictures, comes a children's novel, Summerland (Talk Miramax Books, October). In Chabon's words, "I would describe it as a fantasy, based in the contemporary world, and set against a background of American myth, in the way that Puck of Pook's Hill and Susan Cooper's novels are set against a background of British and Celtic myth."

From the Pleasant Company, in October, comes the first five books in a new series, which includes both books and related nine-inch dolls. More concerned with culture than history, Girls of Many Lands features 12-year-old heroines whose problems will resonate with girls today. Isabel: Taking Wing, a girl in England in 1592; Cécile: Gates of Gold, in France in 1711; Spring Pearl: The Last Flower, in China in 1857; Minuk: Ashes in the Pathway, from Yup'ik, Alaska, in 1890; and Neela: Victory Song, in India in 1938 all promise to inform and enthrall girls ages nine to 12. In September, come six books featuring Kaya -- The First American Girl in the American Girls Collection.

From Handprint Books comes BrainJuice: American History, Fresh Squeezed by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Richard Thompson. To be released in October, before seven- to 11-year-olds take their first history tests, the book features informative, clever rhymes like this:

Tom Jefferson went shopping for a city one fine day
Something in the South with a harbor or a bay,
"Voilà!" said the French, "The city of your dreams!
For only 15 million, we will sell you New Orleans."

Harriet Ziefert, renowned author, has a new imprint, Blue Apple Books, full of flaps and fun. Ziefert has written some of the books on the list, including the September release, You Can't Taste a Pickle With Your Ear: A Book About Your 5 Senses, illustrated by Amanda Haley.

From Handprint Books comes Tumble Me Tumbily by editor-in-chief of Blue's Clues magazine, Karen Baicker, illustrated by Sam Williams. Just because babies can't talk doesn't mean they don't have a lot to say, for ages six months to age four.

This year's enemies of holiday spirit and cheer are The Christmas Humbugs, from Sleeping Bear Press in September. Written by Colleen Monroe and illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe, this book for all ages will be promoted heavily, including an NPR underwriting campaign.

Sleeping Bear is adding a Hockey Alphabet, Z is for Zamboni by Matt Napier, illustrated by Melanie Rose to its popular Discover America State by State Series of alphabet books. Appearing in September, Z is for Zamboni highlights rules, players, coaches, and the history of the game.

Angelina Ballerina continues to engage young readers on her animated PBS series. Author Katharine Holabird and illustrator Helen Craig offer the newest book, Angelina and Henry, from Pleasant Company in August, along with a host of Angelina sidelines.

The intended audience is four to eight, but we'll bet some full-size chocolate bars that many older folks will be peeking through Jerry Seinfeld's first children's book, Halloween (Little Brown), illustrated by James Bennett. Based on a stand-up comedy routine, Halloween will treat readers starting in September.

Sandra Boynton has written 17 1/2 illustrated songs for a star-studded lineup of singers in her new family musical from Workman, Philadelphia Chickens. From Meryl Streep and Scott Bakula to The Bacon Brothers and The Seldom Herd, Philadelphia Chickens, which includes a 48-minute CD, will be the talk of the barnyard in September. Watch for Chicken Jive Live in-store event kits and cross-promotion inside all Boynton on Board books.

Although few children will skip the lunches needed to buy the revamped Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe by Michael Mallory, this updated examination of the 60-year-old comic book publisher will be available in October, retailing at $75 from Hugh Lauter Levin Associates. Laced with 300 color photographs and illustrations, this second edition features new cover art (by Kaare Andrews) and material on the Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, and X-Men movies.

From KLUTZ comes the limited silver anniversary edition of Juggling for the Complete Klutz by John Cassidy, founder of the 25-year-old company. In the fall expect Very Fun, Slightly Sticky Stuff to Do With Candy for ages six and up. After they wash their hands, offer the latest from the Klutz Kwiz series, Wraps. Separate, grade-specific editions focus on math and reading for kindergarten through grade two. On each page, children match up pairs by connecting them with a string that wraps around the entire book -- to check the answers, flip the book to see if the string lines up with the printed answer key.

In September, learn The Truth About Babies by Ian Sansom from Granta Books. Sansom includes wisdom from unlikely child-development experts, Vladamir Nabakov, D.H.Lawrence, and Ted Hughes.

Keeping Kids Safe: A Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Manual, by Pnina Tobin, M.P.A., and Sue Levinson Kessner, M.S. This second edition, to be published in September by Hunter House, includes 80 percent revised material with age-appropriate curricula and word-for-word scripts.

Buddah in Your Backback -- Everyday Buddhism for Teens from the author of What Would Buddah Do, Franz Metcalf (Ulysses Press, October). This guide for navigating the teen years includes Buddah's life story as a young rebel not satisfied with the answers of his elders. Sound familiar? -- Nomi Schwartz