New Releases by Melanie Watt

Chester's finally ready to write his own masterpiece --- he just needs to get pesky writer-illustrator Mélanie Watt out of the way.

Chester's solo attempts at storytelling are messy, to say the least, but he's determined to go it alone. But where's his story going? After several alternative (but always unhappy) endings, Chester is confronted by a problem he never bargained for. A wry comment on the creative process and how good stories are constructed, this is the most uproarious Chester book yet.

As the author/illustrator attempts to create a picture book about a mouse in a house, her rotund feline Chester sends the mouse packing and attempts to rewrite the story with his handy red marker.

Scaredy never sleeps --- sleep might mean bad dreams about dragons, ghosts, vampire bats and polka-dot monsters. Our wide-eyed hero has a plan: stay awake all night, every night. Between counting stars, playing cymbals and making scrapbooks, he does a good job of avoiding dreamland.

With exhaustion taking its toll, Scaredy comes face-to-face with an alarming horoscope prediction: All his dreams are about to come true!

He must prepare for the worst and his Bad Dream Action Plan includes a fire extinguisher to snuff out dragons and a fan to blast away ghosts. But when disaster strikes, will Scaredy survive this ordeal? Will he thank his lucky stars? Will he find sweet dreams?

Scaredy Squirrel at Night tackles a fear everyone --- and especially the young --- can relate to. It's a bedtime story to make light of kids' fear of the dark and a fable for our sleep-deprived society.

The first book in the Scaredy Squirrel series is a comical story of an endearing squirrel who learns what can happen when he’s brave enough to take a risk.

This book in the Scaredy Squirrel series shows our nutty hero making a friend. Scaredy finds that friendship is well worth the risks — and the risks are considerable!

Scaredy Squirrel is exactly the squirrel your child needs--a little bit anxious, a lot adorable, and totally lovable. He likes the safety of his nut tree, but not so much the great outdoors. And he's about to go . . . camping?! Scaredy Squirrel is cool with camping . . . as long as he can do it from his couch! Who wants to deal with mosquitos, dirt, and wild animals when he can experience nature on his brand-new TV? Except--uh-oh!--first he has to plug it in, which means LEAVING HIS TREE! Luckily, Scaredy's always got a plan. And he doesn't realize he might just explore the great outdoors along the way. As young listeners see Scaredy face his fears in the silliest of ways, they gain perspective and courage, empowering them to tackle their own worries with a big smile.

Youngsters are endlessly fascinated by animals, so what better way to teach them about the basic concepts? Animals of the ocean display both simple and complex shapes in this board book from the Learning with Animals series --- perfect for little hands.

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Reluctant to leave the safety of his nut tree when the summer arrives and other animals leave for their beach vacations, Scaredy Squirrel builds his own safe beach getaway under his tree, complete with a germ-free inflatable pool, artificial beach scener