All family vacations should be this much fun!

    Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again, Doreen Cronin's latest romp will have toddlers wiggling, giggling, and then (hopefully) falling into bed, blissfully exhausted!

    . . . Lisa Campbell Ernst celebrates the awakening of life that comes with Spring. Her playful words and pictures resonate with the cheeriness that rises with the season.

    In this age of debt, depression, and diabetes, could we adults use a refresher course in the gentle lessons from these adorable books, she wondered—a "Little Golden guide to life"? Yes, we could! Muldrow's humorous yet practical tips for getting the most out of life ("Don't forget to enjoy your wedding!" "Be a hugger." "Sweatpants are bad for morale."), drawn from more than 60 stories, are paired with delightful images from these best-loved children's books of all time—among them The Poky Little Puppy, Pantaloon, Mister Dog, Nurse Nancy, We Help Mommy, Five Pennies to Spend, and The Little Red Hen. The Golden greats of children's illustration are represented here as well: Richard Scarry, Garth Williams, Eloise Wilkin, J. P. Miller, and Mary Blair, among many others. Sure to bring memories and a smile, this book is a perfect gift for baby boomers, recent grads, lovers of children's literature—or anyone who cherishes the sturdy little books with the shiny cardboard covers and gold foil spines!

    See how the baby goesBeepBoomLaFlipYumSplashSmooch!Busy Baby!

    All the most boss people in his town have them. The baker, the barbers, the butcher, they're all bewhiskered—even the old lady who waits at the bus stop has one. Most of all though, Ben wants a beard just like his dad. He tries his best to start on some scruff, but nothing works quite right. And when his dad explains he might have to wait 'til he's older for a beard of his own, he decides to take some more permanent action—with a marker that is. In the end, Ben and his dad find the perfect solution in this hilarious and heartwarming picture book celebrating the bond between father and son.

    When a family on a sailing outing gets stuck in a surprise storm, there's only one boat tough enough to handle the rocking waves and howling winds:  Blue Boat!  Completing the primary-colored series of books that have won fans across the country, the team behind RED TRUCK and YELLOW COPTER present their third rhyming book about a vehicle who saves the day.

    Then you can do it, too!

    At the next stop, who should get on but a group of seals, who holler "errp, errp, errp" at the top of their lungs. Each time the bus stops a new kind of animal joins the passengers and adds to the din, to the children's delight and the parents' annoyance. But when several hissing skunks want to come aboard, even the children cry "help! help! help!"

    A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road. Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

    But whenever he tries to join in Benny's activities, all Benny ever says is "No." Maybe his little brother can watch him do cool stuff, if he's lucky. What is a little fox to do, except give Benny a taste of his own medicine? Totally familiar yet fresh and original, tenderly told and consistently funny, this story perfectly captures the joys (and annoyances!) of sibling relationships.

    . . inside a book . . . inside a book Having wandered off from his vacationing family, Thomas is a little bit lost and looking for something interesting-- which he finds, in the form of an abandoned book on the beach. As Thomas opens up the little book, so does the reader!Within the little book, the story repeats-- until Thomas, this time walking through quiet, snowy woods, finds another smaller book, with an even stranger adventure within it.Wandering again through the third book, Thomas finally hears familiar voices and ends up reuinted with his family. But what adventures lay ahead . . . ?Cleverly constructed with two actual, smaller books within the book, this imaginative adventure is illustrated in bold, graphic style. A perfect gift for young, curious readers!

    Me and My Big Mouse!Me and My Big Mouse!Me and My Big Mouse!Even though my big mouse is lovable,he can also be annoying.Like sticking too close.Having bad breath.And shouting Squeak-a-boo when friends come over.So how can a boy get his adoring pet to changewithout hurting his feelings?

     So everyone has to wait." First the bus, then the car, then the bike — so begins the long line of different vehicles waiting to cross the bridge. What a traffic jam! And when the bridge finally does comes down . . . nobody has to wait! Babs Bell's simple text and Rob Hefferan's joyous illustrations make this trip a fun, worthwhile read. About the Author: Babs Bell has been a teacher and school administrator for thirty years. She has taught elementary and special education classes at all levels, and served as director of special education. A frequent speaker at national conferences for teachers and parents, she and her husband live in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Here's a book that's also a guessing game! Turn the page for your first clue: "I have a huge mane." Open the flap and you'll see another: "I can roar." Open one more, and you'll see the answer to the riddle: "It's a lion!" In this colorful book of safari animals, the award-winning art of Simms Taback becomes a fun, interactive guessing game.