New Releases by Judy Cox

One tiny mouse follows his nose to a Cinco de Mayo festival, where exciting performances and tasty treats await! Mouse smells some yummy candy in a piñata hung high up in a tree for the Cinco de Mayo festival. He NEEDS to have one! But first he wants to eat some mouse-meal-sized tamale crumbs and watch heel-stomping dancers in bright-colored dresses. Everything will be perfect so long as he stays away from the cat following him down the street. Now a board book, Cinco de Mouse-o! is the perfect read-aloud for the little explorers in any family. Illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler uses bright colors to detail a joyous celebration of Mexican-American culture with music, food, and games.

The dominant view of the Russian Revolution of 1917 is of a movement led by prominent men like Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. Despite the demonstrations of female workers for ‘bread and herrings’, which sparked the February Revolution, in most historical accounts of this momentous period, women are too often relegated to the footnotes. Judy Cox argues that women were essential to the success of the revolution and to the development of the Bolshevik Party. With biographical sketches of famous female revolutionaries like Alexandra Kollontai and less well-known figures like Elena Stasova and Larissa Reisner, The Women’s Revolution tells the inspiring story of how Russian women threw off centuries of oppression to strike, organize, liberate themselves and ultimately try to build a new world based on equality and freedom for all.

A young girl tries out different genres and instruments in this exuberant celebration of music, winner of the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award--now available in a special anniversary edition. This is my family. We all love music, begins a young percussionist. When she plays with her father, a cellist, she taps the triangle. With her sister''s marching band, she crashes cymbals together. At her aunt''s jazz show, she taps a woodblock. Elbrite Brown''s lively cut-paper illustrations, for which he was awarded the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award, depict this diverse, joyous family dancing, strumming, drumming and fiddling their way through a tour of major musical styles--everything from classical string quartets, to rock and roll, to the youngest niece banging on pots and pans. They love music--and most of all, they love to celebrate and play it together. Includes a glossary covering types of music and instruments mentioned.

When Daniel''s third-grade class raises baby chicks for a class project and he takes the five chickens home for the summer, he is surprised when one of them turns out to be a rooster.

When three costumed trick-or-treaters come to Mouse''s door, he crawls into one of their candy-filled bags to see what Halloween is all about.

Mrs. Millie has lots of fun teasing her kindergartners. She tells them to hang up their goats, eat gorilla cheese sandwiches, and to remember to wear their bats and kittens when they go outside for recess. Coupled with hilarious artwork that literally interprets each of Mrs. Millie''s "mistakes," this lighthearted read-aloud sets a typical school day on its ear, even as it teaches a subtle lesson on wordplay.

The Tachi-Yokut Indians made a subsistence living around the great inland sea known as Tulare Lake, near present-day Lemoore, long before Dr. Laverne Lee Moore came to town in 1871. Still before Moore came other Anglo settlers. The Rhoads family settled and built an adobe house, which remains today, where Daniel and Sarah Rhoads raised a family, ranched, and did business in 1856. Rhoads was part of the group that rescued the ill-fated Donner party. The U.S. Post Office saw fit to name the town after its founder. During World War II, Lemoore was the site of a U.S. Army Air Force training camp. Since 1963, it has been home to one of the largest inland U.S. air bases: Naval Air Station Lemoore.

A kindergarten teacher entertains her students with nonsense words

Students enjoy their teacher''s silly misuse of words during a class field trip to Philadelphia.

Best friends Matt and Eddie have a falling out that threatens to ruin their science fair project. Includes instructions for making a model of an erupting volcano.

Two rats escape from their comfortable life in an elementary school classroom and survive many dangerous adventures as they stow away on a pirate ship in search of a valuable statue.

When Groundhog is unable to sleep, he experiences autumn and winter holidays he never knew about, and then he finally falls asleep before Groundhog Day.

After the success of the first four Revoutionary Portraits, this book by Judy Cox is a beautiful addition to the series, which promises much acclaim as a powerful and inspiring presentation of the life and work of a revolutionary poet. Her analysis of the politics of Blake''s life and writing is particularly original. An illustrated volume that would make a perfect gift.

Unexpected things happen when Mama''s rip-roarin'', root-n-tootin'', rip-snortin'' chili attracts a space monster to the West Texas chili contest.

With help from Adam, a boy in her third grade class, Lilley gains enough confidence to stand up to the school bus bully, Mean Maureen Green.

The good news is that the third grade can buy a class pet. The bad news for Rosemary is that the kids want a rat! How gross! There''s no way Rosemary''s mother will let her take a turn as ratkeeper for a creepy, dirty animal. But Rosemary surprises herself when she begins to like Cheese, the gray and white hooded rat. Then, when Cheese''s life is in danger, it''s Rosemary to the rescue . . . if she can hide him from her family!

Sallie is getting married. Her younger sister visits the neighbors in her apartment building to share the news and she helps each make his or her contribution to the wedding banquet. Each dish represents a different culture and tradition and which are described in a glossary at the back of the book. The repetitive language and detailed illustrations will endear the book to younger children especially. The story is a wonderful addition to any study of cultures and differences among the people of the world.