"The Princess and the Giant" by Caryl Hart and Sarah Warburton (Nosy Crow, 32 pages, $16.99) (ages 3 to 7)
“Jack and the Bean Stalk” has been a popular bedtime story for centuries. This updated variation on that classic tale features a princess who climbs the bean stalk so that she can help the giant to fall asleep.
"The Little Snowplow" by Lora Koehler and Jake Parker (Candlewick Press, 32 pages, $15.99) (ages 3 to 7)
The snows of winter will blanket the landscape in the not too distant future. Fortunately “The Little Snowplow” will be ready to clear those drifts away in the imaginations of youngsters as they are drifting off to sleep.
"Goodnight Selfie" by Scott Menchin and Pierre Collet-Derby (Candlewick Press, 32 pages, $14.99) (ages 4 to 8)
Everybody has a cellphone these days, even very young children. And the selfie snapping craze that afflicts cellphone users of all ages is popular among the youngest ones, as well. Here’s an illustrated story about a young girl who takes a lot of pictures of herself with her cellphone camera.
"Princess Black and the Perfect Princess Party" by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and LeUyen Pham (Candlewick Press) (Ages 5 to 8)
Princess Magnolia is getting ready for her birthday party when the monster alarm goes off. She has to go fight the monsters in this imaginative fantasy tale.
"Counting Lions" by Katie Cotton and Stephen Walton (Candlewick Press, 28 pages, $22). (Ages 5 to 8)
This large format book teaches children to count various groups of animals. The illustrations are gorgeous and so detailed that they almost look like photographs.
"Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed" by Leslea Newman and Amy June Bates (Candlewick Press, 36 pages, $16.99)
Based on a true story, this delightful illustrated tale is about a kitten who helps a composer with his musical compositions.
"The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower or John Howland's Good Fortune" by P.J. Lynch (Candlewick Press, 62 pages, $17.99) (Ages 7 to 10)
This lovely illustrated story of the Mayflower as it is sailing to America is a historical tale told from the viewpoint of a young boy who was on board that ship.
"The Illiad" by Homer, Gillian Cross, and Neil Packer (Candlewick Press, 158 pages, $19.99) (Ages 8 to 12)
Homer’s “Illiad” is one of the great sagas of ancient times. This illustrated retelling will delight young historians and hopefully whet their appetites for more.
"Todhunter Moon, Book Two: Sandrider" by Angie Sage (Katherine Tegen Books, 461 pages, $17.99) (Ages 8 to 12)
This is the second book in a fantasy series about Alice TodHunter Moon. Tod embarks on a quest to retrieve the Egg of the Orm from the Desert of the Singing Sands.
"The Tale of Rescue" by Michael Rosen and Stan Fellows (Candlewick Press, 101 pages, $14.99) (Ages 10 and up)
A family from Florida travels north and becomes lost outdoors in a blizzard. A heroic dog comes to their rescue.
"Future Perfect" by Jen Larsen (Harper Teen, 320 pages, $17.99) (Ages 13 and up)
Ashley, an overweight teen, has a grandmother who is constantly trying to bribe her to lose weight. The stakes keep rising. Grandma offers to pay for her college education at Harvard if Ashley will agree to undergo weight-loss surgery. Will she agree to do it? Should she?
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