New Releases by Marilyn Singer

Tallulah is back in ballet class and now she wants to go en pointe—to dance up on the tips of her toes in pink satin toe shoes, like a real ballerina. But going en pointe is not good for growing feet, and her ballet teacher says her feet aren''t ready yet. Oh, yes, they are, Tallulah thinks. And so am I. Not only is she ready, she''s determined. And nothing stops Tallulah when her mind is made up!

Now one of Booklist''s 30 Best Books of the Year! "Genius!" – Wired.com “Marilyn Singer''s verse in Follow Follow practically dances down each page . . . the effect is miraculous and pithy.” – The Wall Street Journal Once upon a time, Mirror Mirror, a brilliant book of fairy tale themed reversos–a poetic form in which the poem is presented forward and then backward–became a smashing success. Now a second book is here with more witty double takes on well-loved fairy tales such as Thumbelina and The Little Mermaid. Read these clever poems from top to bottom and they mean one thing. Then reverse the lines and read from bottom to top and they mean something else–it is almost like magic! A celebration of sight, sound, and story, this book is a marvel to read again and again.

Just in time for Christmas, Tallulah is about to get her fondest wish--a starring role in a real production of The Nutcracker!

From Blunder Woman and Muffy the Vampire Sprayer to Stuporman and The Bulk, meet the members of the Superheroes Employment Agency—lovable misfits with oddball powers who make up for their lack of fame with an eagerness to please and a can-do attitude. These humorous, kid-friendly poems are sure to entertain while introducing readers to poetry in a fun, lighthearted, and accessible way. Told in Marilyn Singer’s witty verse and Noah Z. Jones’s hilarious illustrations, their story will make you laugh and cheer on these champions in their quests for heroic jobs.

Tallulah is certain she will have a solo in her dance school’s upcoming performance of The Frog Prince. After all, she is now an excellent ballerina. And she’s proud that her little brother, Beckett, has started taking ballet too, even though he spends most of his time goofing off. But then Tallulah gets an unexpected surprise . . . and not the good kind. What’s a ballerina to do when everything does not go as planned? Ballet and sibling rivalry meet head-on in this fabulous follow-up to Tallulah’s Tutu.

This is The Boy Who Cried Wolf like you’ve never seen it before: with tentacles, wigs, and a secret code language that kids can decipher. Larry the Liar must help these friendly extra-terrestrials refuel their ship so they can get back home. But will the townspeople believe his intergalactic tale of glory? This hilarious reimagining uses meticulously composed verse, alternating points of view, and comic book elements to give the story loads of color, humor and visual interest. Veteran children’s book author Marilyn Singer teams up with Brian Biggs, the illustrator of Shredder Man, Beastly Rhymes, Brownie and Pearl, and Everything Goes: On Land to create the best interstellar tall tale ever.

Poems perfect for a year in the life - a dog''s life, that is! Day in, day out, our dogs are there for it all. But they see holidays quite differently than we do - Halloween, for example, is when you can''t tell the real cats from the costumes! And, of course, dogs have special days of their own, like Hole Digging Day or the dreaded Visit to the Vet Day. Perfect for dog lovers of all ages, this clever book by one of the leading children''s poets celebrates all those days and more, looking at a whole year in the life of our canine companions.

A paean to play from an award-winning poet and a New York Times best-selling illustrator. The trappings of childhood change from generation to generation, but there are some timeless activities that every kid loves. Marilyn Singer and LeUyen Pham celebrate these universal types of play, from organized games such as hide-and-seek and hopscotch to imaginative play such as making mud soup or turning a stick into a magic wand. Lyrical poems and bold illustrations capture the energy of a group of children in one neighborhood as they amuse themselves over the course of a summer day. At a time when childhood obesity rates are soaring and money is tight for many families, here is a book that invites readers to join in the fun of active play with games that cost nothing.

A lyrical and scientific introduction to the larval life cycle, beautifully photo-illustrated for caterpillar lovers everywhere! Caterpillars attract children like magnets—their shapes, colors, and locomotion styles are impossible to resist. Now children can explore the dazzling diversity of the world''s caterpillars illustrated in hundreds of full-color photographs. The charm of these larval forms of moths and butterflies is captured in verse and easy-to-follow narrative text by award-winning poet and nature writer Marilyn Singer. Includes matching game, quiz, glossary, and index. Real science has never been so much fun!

Tallulah takes ballet lessons and eagerly awaits her coveted tutu, which, she learns, she must work hard to earn.

Do animals celebrate Valentine''s Day? Nobody knows for sure. But this funny (and punny) little book imagines how some of them declare their love, affection, or friendship any day of the year."Nice to Meetcha! You smell delish!/Wanna share my water dish?" So asks one tail-thumping dog to another. Whereas a courting dolphin sings, "Come, leap with me and be my wife./You''re the porpoise of my life." Ranging from dogs and cats and other pets to some you wouldn''t want to pet, such as sharks and porcupines, acclaimed poet Marilyn Singer''s captivating couplets and Lee Wildish''s expressively humorous illustrations provide a Valentine''s Day gift for kids who wouldn''t be caught dead being lovey-dovey.

Discusses childrens'' experiences of going for a medical examination.

In rhyming text, a school bus describes its busy day transporting children to and from school.

This provocative collection of poems ranges from such lofty subjects as an astronaut’s view of Earth to the burrows of worms and little creatures within the earth, “where I try to tread softly: a quiet giant leaving only footprints on the roof.” Marilyn Singer’s lilting free verse offers visual images that give us fresh new insights and respect for the mighty power of volcanoes, fens, islands, deserts, dunes, and natural disasters. Singer’s easily accessible poems also include some of the lighter moments of childhood, such as sliding on ice and playing in mud. Meilo So’s distinctive india ink drawings on rice paper provide an especially handsome showcase for these buoyant nature poems. From the Hardcover edition.

Acclaimed poet Singer serves up a helping of wit and humor with this collection of school-themed poems sure to get children in the mood for back to school. Full color.

When her favorite purple tennis shoes fall apart, an almost-second-grader visits a shoe store, where she tries on footwear of all colors and styles before finding the pair that is right for her.

Explains the varieties, functions, and characteristics of the eggs of a multitude of creatures, including insects, birds, and reptiles.

A baby in a stroller sleeps listening to loud city noises, from ten horns beeping to two motorbikes roaring, until awakened by the soft chirp of one sparrow.

True stories of cats who have exhibited heroic or unusual behavior.

Rhyming text describes how a group of children works together to build a clubhouse, using a variety of tools. Includes facts about each tool and its use.

This picture book uncovers the secrets of smelliness and answers such questions as why we hold our noses when unappealing whiffs come our way, and how nature uses smell to attract and repel. Full color.

What kind of a makeover has the power to change a person, inside and out? These stories, specially written for this collection, delve into our culture’s fascination with beauty and present different views about all kinds of makeovers. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, and always thought provoking, this anthology will open eyes and minds. Authors include Joseph Bruchac, Marina Budhos, Evelyn Coleman, Peni R. Griffin, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Norma Howe, Jess Mowry, René Saldaña, Jr., Marilyn Singer, Joyce Sweeney, and Terry Trueman.

Describes scenes along the Mississippi River over the course of a week, beginning in Minnesota when it is a tiny stream and going all the way to the gulf coast of Louisiana. Includes a section of historical information about the river.

As a companion volume to her poetry collections about earth and about water, Marilyn Singer now examines the nature of fire, an overlooked subject in the realms of poetry. From forest fires and prairie fires to the fires on backyard grills; from chili peppers to birthday cs&andle; to jack-o-lanterns, menorahs, Christmas lights, and holidays around the earth; to dragons who provide their own central heating&—these lyrical poems present a fresh and insightful view of fire of all kinds. Meilo So combines strong linocut art with her signature brushwork in striking illustrations reproduced in fire-red.

On the first Saturday of June everyone on Berkeley Place is turning out to eat corn bread and cookies, to dance to the drumbeat, to play in the street, to have the best block party ever. Everyone except Lola. She’s too angry at her friends Yasmin and Sue to join in the fun. But as the day progresses Lola can’t resist. Yasmin and Sue spot her and pull her under the hydrant’s spray with them. In an instant, all bad feelings are gone and the trio are back in sync again, double Dutching up and down the street. This festive picture book celebrates good friends, good neighbors, and summertime in the city.

A collection of poems celebrating lives with animals as the first persons telling their tales on a summer day and night.

From "Water Music" and the "Babbling Brook" (it speaks in Brookish) to an ocean that "sometimes sings and sometimes raves," Marilyn Singer has captured the nature of water in this insightful and lyrical collection of poems. Whether she is showing us gardens, all dressed-up in "diamond necklaces of dew or lace collars of frost," or the "sudden summer stream . . . the stubby hydrant brings to the city child," she shows us surprising and delightful new ways of looking at water and nature.

Three children get a "boo-boo" that needs to be kissed.

Presents information about some of the difficulties faced by different baby animals as they grow to adulthood.