Baby can see facial expressions through a tab board book in "Baby Faces" by Mallory Loehr and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton.
The smiling faces of five babies are shown as they blink, stick out their tongue, hair blows, chew and sneeze through various tabs. For young children just starting to learn how to handle books, the interactivity of this one is a great tool.
"Baby Faces" is published by Random House. It is $7.99 and is for ages up to 3.
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Kids in grades 1 to 3 can work on their reading skills with "Pretty Penny Comes Up Short" by Devon Kinch.
In this Step Into Reading book, Penny runs into Buck, who is putting up fliers for an animal farm that is looking for donations. Penny wants to help, but she has no money. She checks her sharing jar, and has $5.50 to donate, but that doesn't seem like a lot. She gets the idea to run a drive-in movie theater for the charity. Her friends and family all agree to help. But when the money is totalled up and they take it to give to the farm, someone has been spending it. What will they do?
This is a good book that not only reinforces reading, but also discusses math skills, saving versus spending and even stealing.
"Pretty Penny Comes Up Short" is published by Random House. It is $3.99 and is for ages 5 to 8.
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Photos are cartoon drawings come together in the perfect summer adventure in "Ollie & Moon Fuhgeddaboudit" by Diane Kredensor.
Ollie and Moon are best friends. Moon likes to make Ollie laugh, but Ollie doesn't think she can. This starts a bet that takes them all along New York City, past food vendors, through the subway, to the public library, in taxis, in the park and all over.
This is a cute story about making people laugh, but the most stand out and cool part of it is the lovely mix of photographs with the illustrated characters. Kids will enjoy the mix in this eye-popping work.
"Ollie & Moon Fuhgeddaboudit" is published by Random House. It is $15.99 and is for ages 3 to 5.
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A cute squirrel does some crazy acrobatics in "Mario Makes a Move" by Jill McElmurry.
Mario's family is amazed by his moves. But his friend Isabelle isn't so impressed. In fact, she can do moves too. Mario is mad and claims she stole his move. Isabelle points out that anyone can have a move, including the other forest creatures. So Mario decides he needs a new hobby, like finding sticks. Isabelle isn't so amazed by that, but she would like Mario to teach her his move, and she'll teach him his.
This is a fun story about cooperation and friendship with some very cute illustrated squirrels.
"Mario Makes a Move" is published by Random House. It is $16.99 and is for ages 3 to 7.
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An action figure goes on vacation to the beach in "Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey" by Mini Grey.
Traction Man and his sidekick Scrubbing Brush are going to the beach along with the boy and Granny and her pet Truffles. They are astounded by beach and decide to go exploring in the Rockpool, meeting all of the undersea life. Next up is Operation Picnic which gets interrupted by Truffles and leads to Traction Man being buried in the sand. Before he knows it, he's being swept out to sea. What kind of adventure will he find there? Will he be able to find his way back? With the help of some new friends, the Dollies, Traction Man is in for the adventure of his life.
A fun story about adventure in everyday situations, this is a great vacation book of a small hero.
"Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey" is published by Random House. It is $16.99 and is for ages 5 to 8.
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Bubble wrap brings together a family of bunnies in "Chloe" by Peter McCarty.
Chloe has 10 older brothers and sisters and 10 younger brothers and sisters. It's not fun being in the middle of all of that. Everyone gathers around to watch the new television, except for Chloe and her younger sister Bridget. Chloe doesn't think that is family fun time at all. The two of them sneak off to play in the box the TV came in and make a wonderful discovery - bubble wrap. Soon the whole family gets into the bubble popping action and then acting out their own program.
A nice story about family fun time and a resourceful young rabbit who comes up with an activity using her imagination, this will appeal to middle children used to being caught, well, in the middle.
"Chloe" is published by HarperCollins. It is $16.99 and is for ages 2 to 6.
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A young princess would rather be a pirate in "Pirate Princess" by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen with illustrations by Jill McElmurry.
Princess Bea doesn't like to dress up or want to marry a prince. She'd rather have a life of high adventure on the seas. She comes across a pirate ship one day on a walk and decides to go aboard. The pirate captain Jack tells her to go swab the deck if she wants to be a pirate. But that doesn't work out so well. So she goes to the galley to cook, but that doesn't go so well either. Then she is told to go up to keep watch in the crow's nest...and pukes. The next thing she knows, Bea is being forced to walk the plank. But she smells something all pirates crave: gold. And that's when Bea's gift becomes apparent.
This is a funny story for young girls who would want to stow away onto the high seas.
"Pirate Princess" is published by HarperCollins. It is $17.99 and is for ages 4 to 8.
Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
