“Peter Pan in Scarlet,” by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Scott M. Fisher (McElderry Press, 320 pages; $17.99). Elegant, witty and compelling, this official sequel is more than equal to the legendary masterpiece by J.M. Barrie.
Prolific and award-winning British writer McCaughrean strikes exactly the right balance of longing and insouciance, with a perfect frisson of danger, in reuniting Peter Pan, Wendy and most of the original Lost Boys, along with a villain whose malice duplicates that of Capt. Jas. Hook. All ages.
“The Pinhoe Egg,” by Diana Wynne Jones (Greenwillow, 528 pages; $17.99). The latest book in the celebrated Crestomanci series is expansive and capricious, with a breakneck pace that makes it nearly impossible to put down.
Enchanter Cat Chant conspires with young magician Marianne Pinhoe to secretly safeguard a legendary treasure. Could the resurfacing of the nearly mythical Pinhoe Egg be related to inexplicable plagues of madness, frogs, a sterile forest and other woes befalling the clans ruled by Crestomanci Castle? Ages 10 and up.
“Larger-Than-Life-Lara,” by Dandi MacKall (Dutton, 195 pages; $16.99). Fourth-grade newcomer Lara’s benevolence exceeds even her enormous girth, frustrating the spiteful classmates who relentlessly taunt her.
From the vantage point of Laney, the white-trash kid that Lara’s presence nudges up one caste, the new girl’s dauntless cheer is nearly transcendental. Her account of Lara’s persecution refreshes middle readers on literary devices and elementary writing, and, not incidentally, tutors the reader on compassion a sensibility too often absent from society. Ages 10 and up.
“Runny Babbit,” by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins, 89 pages; $22.99). Completed shortly before the 1999 death of the phenomenally popular author of “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” these poems about the Funny Bamily’s whimsical patois are irresistible.
Runny Babbit, the long-eared protagonist, is reprimanded by Weorge Gashington for welling a tie, and acknowledges that the kneater he switted isn’t much to brag about. This edition comes with a CD of Dennis Locorrier, who fronted Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, reading Pilverstein’s shoems. Ages 4 to 8.
“365 Penguins,” by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet (Abrams, 48 pages; $17.95). The first penguin arrives at a family’s doorstep on the first day of the year, a pattern that repeats itself until Dec. 31.
In a picture book story that makes Richard and Florence Atwaters’ classic “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” look positively austere, Fromental and Jolivet present a plethora of penguins overwhelming a suburban home. The lessons in math and dimensions, and parallel consequences, slip in so slyly that they avoid feeling forced or too educational. Ages 4 to 8.
“The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman, 10th anniversary edition of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy
“The Flat Stanley Collection,” by Jeff Brown, Boxed set of 4 books
“Catwings Tales,” by Ursula K. Le Guin, set of 4 books
“One-Handed Catch,” by M.J. Auch
“Wintersmith: A Tiffany Aching Adventure,” by Terry Pratchet
“The Beasts of Clawstone Castle,” by Iva Ibbotson
“Writing Magic,” by Gail Carson Levine
“The Dark Flight Down,” by Marcus Sedgwick
“Everlost,” by Neal Shusterman
“Ultimate Building Book,” by Steve Caney and Lauren House
