Selected by Indie Booksellers for the Winter 2009 Kids' List
“A gentle, sweet story of Santa as he waits for the Christmas magic. The pictures match the text perfectly, in a way that only Jon J Muth could manage. This one belongs on the shelf next to your The Night Before Christmas.”
-- Katherine Fergason, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Vineyard Haven, MA

The great New Yorker artist Peter de Seve teams up with the author of bestselling Toy Boat in a slightly outrageous fairy tale.

The Duchess of Whimsy is fancy and fussy--and definitely not ordinary--surrounding herself with wild friends, fabulous foods, and fancy dress. The Earl of Norm (ho hum) is completely ordinary, but he adores the Duchess. She ignores him, until the chef gets sick, and her friends have to make a super supper--which includes tracking down truffles, spinning sugar stars, and looking for quail eggs.

But the Earl is hungry! He sneaks off to an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich--and suddenly takes the Duchess's eye. Maybe there's something to simplicity after all. Maybe there's something to the Earl after all . . .

This deliciously told and illustrated love story by the remarkable de Sèves shows how utterly charming and extraordinary a picture book can be.

Announcing a brand new idea in publishing books for babies: the completely durable, completely safe Indestructibles. Published on the same paper-like material used in shipping envelopes, Indestructibles are 100% baby-proof: chew-proof, drool-proof, and rip-proof. That's because Indestructibles not only will not tear or turn gummy with teething, but they are also completely washable.
Indestructibles are also energetic, beautiful, and created just for baby. The printing material reproduces color artwork with uncommon depth, and with no residual inkiness; the artwork, paintings by Kaaren Pixton and reminiscent of Eric Carle, is happy, each page a simple, colorful image of an animal or bird or insect against a rich, textured background. The effect is 3D-like and completely visual. There are no words, making each perfect for parents and babies to look at together, with mom or dad telling the story.
Three titles launch the series: "Creep Crawl " about animals that crawl, "Flutter Fly " about animals that fly, and "Wiggle March " about farm animals-books babies can really sink their teeth into.

When the warrior Chang challenges young Fu to a duel, Fu panics. His only hope is that the Master will train him, just as he's trained all the young warriors of the village. But instead of teaching Fu to fight, the Master teaches him.to pour tea. Fu learns purpose, flow and patience in the process, but will it be enough to defeat the mighty Chang?
With his signature breathtaking art, John Rocco has created a modern parable full of adventure, heart, humor, and a gentle message about the importance of focus and finding joy in simple tasks.

k and Laurie face their final challenge as a hydra threatens to destroy Florida, in the last installment of the bestselling Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles series.

Caldecott Honor artist Stephen T. Johnson's new multiconcept novelty is a book and a toy in one. "My Little Red Fire Truck" gives practice telling time while its sturdy moving parts provide hours of fun -- and allow readers to see how it would be to work on a real fire truck

Rin is sure that something is wrong with her…something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she’s lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies—magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters—as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin’s own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure.

Once again, Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale brings readers to a world where great friendships, unexpected plot twists, and a little dose of magic make for incredible storytelling.

From the world of Aratta and Mohenjo-Daro to Atlantis and Camelot, this visually stunning book is a window with a view that takes readers on an historical, archaeological, and mythological journey through lost worlds, those abandoned in time, buried and forgotten, and the ones that live in the imagination. Attempting to put the most plausible pieces of history together, John Howe, concept artist for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, begins the journey that will move readers to explore these lost worlds even further.

Created by the optical genius behind the phenomenal "New York Times"-bestselling children's books "Gallop!" and "Swing!, Waddle!" teaches color and movement through the unique Scanimation process--a technique that brings the animals to vivid life.

Want your child to cook like an Italian? The Silver Spoon for Children is the best way to start. What if your child could make their own Pizza Margherita? What about Tomato Bruschetta, Tuscan Minestrone Soup, Rigatoni with Meatballs, Chicken Stuffed with Marscapone, Foccaccia, or Fruits of the Forest Ice Cream? All of these recipes, and more, have been adapted just for children from Italy?s best-selling culinary bible.

Broken into ?Lunches and Snacks,? ?Pasta and Pizza,? ?Main Courses? and ?Desserts and Baking,? The Silver Spoon for Children presents over 40 quick, wholesome and authentic Italian recipes that children aged 8 and above will love to cook and eat. The recipes have been thoroughly tested by an expert in children?s nutrition. The book also offers tips on cooking safely, which kitchen equipment to use, and how to make things as tasty as possible. Every step is described in detail accompanied by charming hand-drawn illustrations and full-color photographs of the finished dish that make the recipes fun and easy-to-follow.

Selected by Indie Booksellers for the Autumn 2009 Kids' Indie Next List
“Otis, an utterly charming, faithful, and determined red tractor, is delighted in the simple pleasures of his farm. When put out to pasture by a bigger, newer tractor, Otis shows what he is made of, and what he can do”
-- Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC