New Children's Picture Books

Big Mike is the meanest dog in the neighborhood. He has a black spiked collar and a mean-looking car. The other dogs in the neighborhood look up to big mean Mike. One day, after buying combat boots he opens the trunk of his car to see a tiny, fuzzy, white and very cute bunny. OH NO! Big Mean Mike can't be seen with a floppy bunny! As the cute bunnies multiply and find new ways to get in his car, Big Mean Mike changes his opinion, but still finds a way to stay true to his meanness. A great book to share with ages 4 and up. (Candlewick Press, $15.99/$14.39) Reviewed by Debbie

"ssssshhhh-This is The Christmas Quiet Book" "Star on top quiet"-"Listening for sleigh bells quiet". Precious characters in the special moments of Christmas. When the rush of the holidays seems overwhelming this adorable book is the perfect gift for the whole family. Ages 3 to 6. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $12.99/$11.69) Reviewed by Carolin

"I started to feel very, very small. How could I even think about something as big as infinity?" Uma, an eight-year-old girl, poses the question that most adults have a hard time wrapping their brain around. What is infinity? What does it look like? She asks her friends and family what infinity means to them. How can anyone ever know how big infinity really is? Stunning illustrations all around the "napping eight", a wonderful gift! Ages 5-10. (Lerner Books, $16.95/$15.26). Reviewed by Stefanie

The author has elegantly adapted Charles Perrault's age-old classic French fairy tale about a clever cat who tricks a king and a sorcerer in order to make his owner's dreams come true. Pinkney reworks the text with his version of the tale by expanding the story to have the king give Puss a feathered hat as an appreciation of the cat's gifts. The ogre in Pinkney's version also undergoes several transformations: from bear to deer to mouse. This magical book brings to life the adventure and humor of a fairy tale that will delight children from ages 4-8 and beyond, with illustrations they will want to return to again and again. The back endpapers even hint at further adventures for Puss and spark the reader's imagination. A classic edition for any child's library. Ages 4 to 8. (Dial Books for Young Readers, $17.99/$16.19). Reviewed by Carol

When it's time for Big Brown to tuck his four little bears into their beds, he's ready to climb into his own bed. Lights out! Five tired bears in five warm beds. Then a sound in the night wakes Big Brown Bear and the four little bears scramble to be close and warm with him in his own bed. He picks a book to read to them: a story of three bears with a pesky golden-haired girl. Big Brown Bear knows just what to do as the little ones eyes close and the room fills with soft snores in a bed full of five sleeping bears. A fun rhyming read-aloud that parents will love and their tired ones will be happy to snuggle up with. Ages 2 to 5.  Reviewed by Carol

Celebrating 110 years of Peter Rabbit, this new and original tale is based on the original tales of adventure by Beatrix Potter. In this story, Peter goes beyond the boundaries of Mr. McGregor's garden, all the way to Scotland. With a wonderful text by Thompson and beautifully illustrated by Taylor, this picture book for children ages 5 and up includes an audio CD read by the author, an Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter. This is a hardcover you will want to keep as a collector's "prize".

In this clever story with delightful illustrations, the astronaut author tells a charming tale of perseverance and courage and the importance of being small. A little mouse wants more than anything to travel into space. Meteor trains hard to show he is ready for the mission and is chosen as one of the six mice "guests" for the flight. When the astronaut crew encounters a problem that could mean disaster, Meteor knows that being the smallest mouse isn't such a bad thing, putting his plan into action and saving the day which earns him his own new uniform and an official title---Mousetronaut. From his own experience, author Kelly adds an afterword about the history of space flight, the training and conditions a crew endures, and the accomplishments the space program has made since its beginning. This book offers wonderful entertainment and learning for ages 4 to 8.

Brett is again inspired by an unexpected experience that "snapped" her imagination and shows unmatched artistry for her fans in a unique story of love, loyalty, and home. Mossy, a young box turtle, loves her home at Lilypad Pond. She spends so much time on the pond's edge that moss begins to grow on her shell and becomes the home of an amazing garden of blooming wildflowers. But Mossy soon finds herself becoming the new exhibit in Dr. Carolina's Eastern Woodland Museum where she is put on display, delighting visitors as the first living creature to have a home in the museum. Is she happy in her new home? Will she ever see her beloved pond again? In the author's latest picture book for children, set in a beautiful Edwardian style of art, Mossy and her turtle friend Scoot, along with Dr. Carolina and her niece Tory, will became favorite characters for all ages, especially young readers ages 4-8.

If you need a good read-aloud story this is it. As animals, starting with Frog and going on with Mouse, Loris, Sun Bear and Monkey, all fall into a deep, deep hole, the refrain repeats: Oh, No! Will any animal be able to rescue them, or will the hungry tiger who is watching, have his lunch? Award winning illustrator Rohmann does a wonderful job with the bold, colorful illustrations. Ages 3 to 7.