New Releases by Kevin Henkes

Birds come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Birds are magic. Birds are everywhere. If you listen very carefully you will hear them, no matter where you live. And if you look very closely you will see them, no matter where you are. And if you can''t go outside right this minute, you can always read this book!

Snug and warm, curled and furry, Old Bear sleeps. Red, orange, and brown leaves fly through the air, and it is snowing hard. Old Bear doesn''t notice. Old Bear is dreaming about being a cub again. He is dreaming about the beauty of the world. He is dreaming of everything he loves about the forest that is his home. Turn the page and you will see!

She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name. Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum loved her name—until she started school. A terrific read-aloud for the classroom and libraries!

Spoon Gilmore has been dreaming about his grandmother since her death two months ago, but the dreams are beginning to grow fuzzy and come less and less frequently. Afraid that soon even his memories of her will disappear, he sets out in search of the perfect thing to remember her by. When Spoon finds it, he quietly takes it to his room to cherish privately, making sure that his annoying little sister, Joanie, doesn''t follow him in as usual. But soon Spoon realizes he''s made a big mistake. Will things ever be right without Gram around?

It started out as a bad day for little yellow bird, little white dog, little orange fox, and little brown squirrel. Until . . . A discovery, and love, and luck and persistence, and a different point of view changed all that. What can turn a bad day into a good day? You decide.

Mr. Slinger has big news. He''s getting married. Married! Lilly has big plans. She''s going to be the flower girl. (Lilly has always wanted to be a flower girl. Even more than a surgeon or a diva or a hairdresser.) But what''s the biggest, the best, the most perfect thing of all? You''re invited to the wedding -- so start reading!

The Vorlob family is getting ready for the new baby, soon to arrive. The preparations include painting a mural in the baby''s nursery and making a list of possible names. Since ten-year-old Adine already has four younger sisters, she is used to the routine. This time, however, the routine is broken -- in more ways than one. The biggest change is that Aunt Irene will be staying with the Vorlobs until Adine''s mother is back on her feet. Aunt Irene arrives, as does the baby, but nothing else goes quite as expected. Especially for Adine!

What a night! The moon is full. Kitten is hungry and inquisitive and brave and fast and persistent and unlucky . . . then lucky! What a night!

Sheila Rae has a peppermint stick. It is long. And striped. And thin. And sweet. Louise, her little sister, would like a lick…or two…or three. Can one long peppermint stick become two short treats? Of course! Sharing never tastedso good.

When can waiting for a party be both a trick and a treat? Just ask Julius!

When you are alone, you can do all sorts of things -- pretend you are tiny (or enormous), hear things other people can''t hear, and see things they can''t see. Being alone is fine -- sometimes. Kevin Henke''s first book makes it clear that he remembers his own childhood and respects that time in others. His remarkable paintings have a life and luminescense that are unforgettable.

Owen has a basket of treats: jelly beans, gumdrops, a chocolate bunny -- and best of all, a little marshmallow chick. "My favorite," says Owen to a surprise that''s to good to eat. Gift set contains: The Complete, original board book 5-inch finger puppet

Bo was spending the summer with Grandpa. they walked and fished and made thing together. They celebrated Christmas together -- a very special summer Christmas. But best of all, they talked and laughed and talked some more. And when they finally saw the shooting star at the end of the summer, there was no question the their wishes would be the same.

Lilly adore l''école : les crayons bien taillés, le crissement de la craie, son bureau, la cantine, tout lui plaît ! Et par-dessus tout, elle adore son maître, monsieur Smart. Mais un jour, tout bascule... Lilly, un personnage haut en couleur qui va vous faire adorer l''école !

Shhh. They''re sleeping now... In the big, square house live the two circle dogs. When the sun comes up and the baby cries, the circle dogs wake up. With a flip-flap of their tails, they''re ready to play in a big square yard. They like to eat and take a nap. Then it''s time to play again. And when night comes, the circle dogs like to sleep and sleep and sleep. Shhh...

It''s been only two months since Spoon Gilmore''s grandmother died, but already he''s worried that he''ll forget her. He needs to own something of Gran''s, something special. But Spoon''s little sister, Joanie, won''t give him time alone to think, even when they go to their grandfather''s house. What happens there will stay with readers long after they finish Sun & Spoon. Kevin Henkes''s innate understanding of childhood illuminates his work with a rare glow." Henkes offers another meticulously crafted, quietly engaging epiphany...Infused with the same good humor, wisdom, and respect for children''s hearts and minds that characterize all his works." -- Kirkus Reviews, pointer review" Once again, Henkes captures young angst with respect and honesty....Images of supportive parents and love between generations shine through." -- School Library Journal, starred review

These three mystery stories include The Conjuror''s Game, by Catherine Fisher, which was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize. The others are The Thirteenth Owl, by Nick Warburton, and Words of Stone, by Kevin Henkes.

Bruce and Betty were going camping. Bailey had to stay home. "You''re too little," said his brother. "You can go in a few years," said his sister. But Bailey didn''t want to wait. And, with the help of Mama and Papa, Bailey went camping right where he was!

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse and its treasures to school and can''t wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions. Lilly''s fury leads to revenge and then to remorse and she sets out to make amends. Lilly, the star of Chester''s Way and Julius, the Baby of the World, is back. And this time she has her name in the title - something she''s wanted all along. If you thought Lilly was funny before, you are in for a treat. So hurry up and start reading. Lilly can''t wait for you to find out more about her.

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester''s Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting -- if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful -- until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child''s fragile self-esteem....Lilly is a superb and timely heroine." -- Publishers Weekly. "

Wendell was spending the weekend at Sophie''s house. Playing house, Wendell was the mother, the father, and the children; Sophie was the dog. Playing bakery, Wendell was the baker; Sophie got to be the sweet roll. Wendell shone his flashlight in Sophie''s eyes when she tried to sleep. But when he gave her a new hairdo with shaving cream, it was the last straw, and Sophie made up a game that left Wendell speechless for a time -- and won the day for friendship.

Someone just woke up. Quietly she moves around the house. Everyone else is still asleep... A perfect Good Morning for early -- and late -- risers.

"There is no Jessica," said Ruthie''s parents. But of course there was. She ate with Ruthie, played with Ruthie, and was sorry when Ruthie was bad. Nobody could see Jessica -- except Ruthie. When it came time for Ruthie to go to school, Jessica went with her. Her parents hoped Ruthie would find a friend at school who would replace Jessica. They were in for a (happy) surprise!

Two children shopping for their Grandma''s birthday present seem to get delightfully waylaid by everything they see.

I must be getting bigger because the tub feels smaller every time, thinks the hero of this appealing book. He sits in his bath, playing, remembering, and wondering -- anything but washing. Kevin Henkes, a gifted young author-artist, catches a mood and an experience that are universal and makes them unforgettable.