New Releases by Matt Novak

The charming little bear first introduced in Jazzbo Goes to School (Hyperion, 1999) returns for another adventure. This story deals with the common childhood fear of not being able to make friends. Googy makes big messes, ruins paintings, and pushes others just a little too high on the swings. However, when the bumbling pig rescues Jazzbo''s best friend-his teddy-from a mud puddle, a new friendship is forged.

In this updated version of the popular turn off TV book, the mouse family is up at night, glued to the TV. But there is many a squeaky squabble because all ten mice favor different channels. History, mystery, how-to, where-to, comedy, drama, sports ... This viewer-friendly romp shows how, one night, they all get happy with new favorites they''d hardly imagined.

Monsters can be so annoying. Just ask Witch Wizzle and Witch Woddle. They will tell you horror stories about the nasty habits and bad manners of zombies, werewolves, swamp creatures, ghosts, skeletons, and vampires. Now it''s Halloween again. Wizzle and Woddle are planning another party -- but who will they invite?

Toby Tibbles thought this birthday was going to be just like any other, but he was very wrong. This birthday was going to be filled with big adventure, big trouble, and big celebrations all because of his new best friend Little Robot.

The first printed collection of Fun Factory comic strips.

A rhyming story with illustrations and simple text celebrating the addition of a child to a family.

With the Everything Machine, life is so easy for the Quirkians. But on one fateful day, the machine stops working. The Quirkians soon learn that life is much more interesting when they know how to do things for themselves. Full color.

On Valentine''s Day, Princess Polly looks for a handsome prince among four frogs and has bad luck kissing the first three but the fourth is a different story.

BARNYARD MAYHEM disrupts a quiet Christmas Eve in this ingenious stocking stuffer. Farmer Ben has wrapped his presents, and all he wants is sleep. But then the ruckus begins. As each of his noisy, insomniac farm animals, from chicken, to pig, to sheep, to cow, files into the farmhouse, Farmer Ben finds he has no room left to rest his head. From the creator of the popular Too Many Bunnies and Flip Flop Bop comes another fun-filled die-cut delight, just in time for Christmas!

Presents an easy-to-read, rhyming celebration of summertime''s favorite footwear--flip flops.

Because their hole is so crowded, one by one a bunch of bunnies hop across a field to a new hole--and then back again.

I Can Read series Level 2: Reading with Help.

Some interesting trick-or-treaters are revealed when the reader looks behind the costumes seen on Halloween Street.

At Super School, Weeza and Skitter are best friends. Jazzbo''s best buddy is his teddy bear, Big Bear. Googy is the only one who doesn''t have a best friend. And the more he tries to be friends with Jazzbo, the more he seems to just mess things up. The story of how Jazzbo and Googy become best buddies is the story of the awkward and sometimes funny beginning of every friendship.

Jazzbo does not want to go to school until he and his mother find just the right school for him.

When the Robobots move onto Littlewood Lane, they create controversy with their strange ways, but eventually they convince the neighbors that they are a family worth knowing.

When a brother and sister have a pillow fight to decide which of them will get to sleep with the dog, their battle escalates to engulf the world.

Meet Newt, surely the most amiable amphibian ever, as he discovers the secret to having a perfect day, finds a strange, fuzzy, bug, and makes a new friend on a dark night. A perfect match of warm, funny text and glowing illustrations, Newt is a book to delight and inspire beginning readers––even as Newt himself charms the hearts of all. Children’s Choices for 1997 (IRA/CBC)

Offers young children a first look at the sport of baseball in the story of a Little Slugger who hits the ball, runs around the bases, and scores the winning home run

Gertie Goomba is a lonely girl.Her papa spends all day every day wrestling alligators.When Gertie tries to help, he says only, "This is no work for little girls!" and "Go play!"But with whom?This hilarious story presents the answer in the shape of a small alligator named Gumbo,who cares less for wrestling than you might think,and more for Gertie than she has dreamed possible.

One of Santa''s elves sets out on an adventurous journey to deliver a present that was accidentally left behind.

Running late to work, Elmer leaves his door open and returns to find his home occupied by a crew of mischievous woodland creatures, wildly surprised to find themselves witnesses to a crime.

While the shepherd sleeps, the sheep sneak away to perform in a vaudeville show.

Mr. Floop gives all of his lunch away to other creatures before finding someone to share with him.

From morning till night, Claude and Sun have a wonderful time together.

Fearful animals running from sounds of thunder are led back home by a young boy beating a drum.

Astronomers are closing in on the proof they''ve sought for years, that one of the most destructive objects in the universe - a supermassive black hole - is lurking right in the center of our own galaxy.