New Books!

Hello, Baby! - by Mem Fox; illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/05/2009
ISBN-13: 9781416985136
ISBN-10: 1416985131
Opening with a cheery "Hello, baby! Who are you?", this playful book suggests a host of possibilities. "Are you a zebra / sipping a drink? Perhaps you're an owl / with a wicked wink." After making guesses that introduce a wide variety of baby animals--a porcupine, a warthog, a gecko, an elephant, and more--Hello Baby! comes to a conclusion about baby's identity that will delight toddlers and parents alike. This sweet book's bouncy rhymes and vibrant, amazingly detailed collage illustrations will have wee ones asking for repeat performances.

Celestine, Drama Queen - by Penny Ives
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780545081498
ISBN-10: 0545081491
Little duckling Celestine is absolutely certain that she's destined to be a star. She wears a tiara to school, is amusingly self-centered, and eagerly accepts the lead role in the class play...before it's been cast. Not the least bit discouraged by the small part that she's actually assigned, Celestine earnestly practices her one line but is thwarted on opening night by a bad case of stage fright. All's well that ends well, however, and this cozy, softly colored confection ends with warm reassurance from Mrs. Duck that Celestine will always be a star to her.

Higher! Higher! - by Leslie Patricelli
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/24/2009
ISBN-13: 9780763632410
ISBN-10: 0763632414
A little girl wearing stripes and pigtails sits on a swing and shouts "Higher! Higher!" each time her father gives her a push. Every upswing takes her to a new height--first she's nose-to-nose with a giraffe, then she's above buildings, a mountaintop, and an airplane, until finally she meets an alien swinging among the stars. Bright, joyful cartoon illustrations tell the bulk of this tale--the book only uses six words--and will tickle toddlers' funny bones. Expect young listeners to repeat the last word spoken by the girl as she glides back to earth: "Again!"

Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed - by J. C. Phillips
Publisher: Viking
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/19/2009
ISBN-13: 9780670010929
ISBN-10: 0670010928
In this fresh take on the "be yourself" theme, boisterous Wink eagerly begins his training at a school for young ninjas, only to discover that being stealthy and invisible goes against his grain. He tries, but he just can't bring himself to blend in--he wants to be noticed. After many failures and a chance meeting with a member of a circus troupe, Wink finally finds his true calling (hint: it involves juggling fire sticks while balancing on a bamboo pole). Bold, textured collage illustrations vault this gleeful, energetic tale over the top.

Spoon - by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Scott Magoon
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/07/2009
ISBN-13: 9781423106852
ISBN-10: 1423106857
Young Spoon is having an identity crisis; compared to his friends Knife, Fork, and the Chopsticks, he feels unadventurous and limited. But guess what? Spoon's utensil buddies admire his abilities as much as he envies theirs! With illustrations that give its characters tremendous personality (especially the elegant, precise chopsticks), this endearingly funny book delivers both a solid message and a heaping helping of giggles.

Wombat Walkabout - by Carol Diggory Shields; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/19/2009
ISBN-13: 9780525478652
ISBN-10: 0525478655
Six adorable, furry wombats go for a walk--but none of them notices the hungry dingo tailing them until all but two are caught in his tote sack. Finally, these two spy the dingo and hatch a plan to rescue their mates. With a glossary of the Australian words used and a visual key to which wombat is which (Lee wears polka-dotted shorts, Pru a beaded necklace, etc.), this delight from Down Under "delivers age-appropriate suspense" (Publishers Weekly) along with a peek at the flora and fauna of the outback. Kids will love finding the mostly-hidden dingo in each spread.