The Children’s Book Review | November 1, 2014
Hot New Releases & Popular Kids Stories
Here are our picks for five kids books that we feel represent some of the best new kids stories. The titles listed here are the kinds of books that kids easily gravitate towards and definitely enjoy reading.
By Jeff Kinney
Publisher’s synopsis: Greg Heffley and his family hit the road in author-illustrator Jeff Kinney’s latest installment of the phenomenal bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Amulet Books | Nov. 4, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1419711893
By Mo Willems
Publisher’s synopsis: Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Waiting Is Not Easy!, Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but he is going to have to wait for it. And Wait. And wait some more…
Ages 6-8 | Publisher: Disney-Hyperion | Nov. 4, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1423199571
By Dan Kainen
Publisher’s synopsis: In its extraordinary debut, Safari, introduced the world to Photicular technology. The cheetah bounded, the African elephant flapped its ears—and readers could not believe their eyes. Now the creators of Safari take their work a step further. Ocean offers not only a refinement of inventor Dan Kainen’s Photicular technology, but a subject—undulating creatures of the deep—perfectly suited to the immersive visual pleasure of the process.
Ocean is like being on a dive. Open the book, and the reader is swept into the magic of an underwater world, face-to-face with a floating Yellow-Banded Sweetlips; with a glow-in-the-dark Deep-Sea Anglerfish; with a Sea Horse swaying in balletic motion; with a Sand Tiger Shark gliding along the ocean floor, its gaze haunting, its hook-toothed mouth gulping open and closed.
The text by Carol Kaufmann enchants with its descriptions of coral reefs; a journey on Alvin, the 17-ton submersible; and a meditation on our oceans. Then, for each creature, she writes a lively and informative essay, along with vital statistics—size, habitat, range, diet, and more.
The Photicular process uses an innovative lenticular technology, sliding lenses, and original four-color video imagery. The result is like a movie in your hands—the dance of life in a book.
Ages 3 and up | Publisher: Workman Publishing Company | Oct. 7, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-0761180517
By Neil Gaiman
Publisher’s synopsis: Best-selling author Neil Gaiman and fine artist Lorenzo Mattotti join forces to create Hansel & Gretel, a stunning book that’s at once as familiar as a dream and as evocative as a nightmare. Mattotti’s sweeping ink illustrations capture the terror and longing found in the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Neil Gaiman crafts an original text filled with his signature wit and pathos that is sure to become a favorite of readers everywhere, young and old.
Ages 7-10 | Publisher: Toon Books | Oct. 28, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1935179627
By Judy Schachner
Publisher’s synopsis: The #1 New York Times bestselling Skippyjon Jones stars in his own playful fairy tale set in a winter snowscape!
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the bravest Chihuahua of them all? Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese cat who thinks he’s a dog! While his sisters listen to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Skippy bounces on his big-boy bed and heads off for the REAL adventure awaiting him in his closet. Once inside, he finds himself in a magical snowy forest of make-believe, where the seven Chimichangos challenge him with his most dangerous task yet: to wake up Nieve Que, the frozen princess, by kissing her! Yuck! Will this hero agree to don a prince’s pantelones and save his poochitos?
With rhymes, rollicking wordplay, and mucho fairy tale fun, this fuzzy tale is sure to end happily ever after.
Ages 3-5 | Publisher: Dial | Oct. 21, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-0803737891
We hope you enjoy this list of hot titles perfect for cold weather reading. For more popular books for kids, follow along with our tag for Popular Kids Stories.