New Releases by Johanna Hurwitz

Eight-year-old David Bernstein discovers life is much more exciting when he calls himself Ali Baba Bernstein. Only Ali Baba would have dared to grab the class snail and escape to the boys'' room for his own magic experiment. David would never have invited every David Bernstein in the phone book to his birthday party -- or find himself hailed as a great detective -- or discover adventures and misadventures everywhere he went. But Ali Baba Bernstein does!

Although eight-year-old Roz usually feels annoyed by the pestering attentions of her uncle Ozzie, who is two years younger than she is, she finds that there are times when she is glad to have him around.

As a composer, conductor, pianist and teacher, Leonard Bernstein managed to fit four lives into one. A nine-time Emmy winner, he composed both serious and popular music, including the well-known Broadway and movie hits, West Side Story and On the Town. C

The fifth-grade class election is shaping up as a close contest between class clown Lucas Cott and one time teacher''s pet Cricket Kaufman. It''s just possible that the student with the greatest leadership ability is Julio Sanchez, but Julio''s too busy running Lucas''s campaign to notice. Or is he? And how can Julio throw his hat into the ring without betraying his best friend? Johanna Hurwitz introduced Julio, Cricket, and Lucas in Class Clown and Teacher''s Pet, earning a ringing vote of confidence from Publishers Weekly: "Hurwitz masterfully demonstrates why she is one of the premier practitioners of the humorous school story genre."In Class President, she has backed these delightful characters with a winning ticket of humor and insight.

"Hurwitz''s talent for capturing childhood psyches with absolute veracity comes through once again".--"Booklist". Illustrations. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

"Once again Hurwitz exhibits her talent for creating characters who talk, act, and think just like real kids. Realistic dialogue . . . and commonplace situations that sparkle with humor combine to make this a fine choice".--School Library Journal. Illustrated. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

A year after her father has left home for good, fifth-grader DeDe helps her mother cope with the realities of life after divorce.

Roddy and Derek wonder about their neighbor''s niece, who is spending the summer with her aunt.

When he and his family move to the suburbs, Aldo has difficulty finding new friends.