New Releases by Peggy Gifford

Just what exactly is the "thing"? It is green—great and gorgeous green, dark and dangerous green, real mean green. And it''s got green things—broccoli and praying mantises, watermelons and waves of mountains. It''s green, green, green all over . . . except where it''s blue. The Great Big Green is, of course, our earth. Both a riddle and an ode to the earth, this ingenious picture book arrives just in time for Earth Day. Perfect for budding environmentalists and lovers of poetry alike, this irresistible read-aloud by Peggy Gifford is illustrated with an astonishing mix of collage and painting by Lisa Desimini. Readers will revisit the gorgeous world over and over after the riddle''s reveal to find the many green things hidden in each piece of art.

On the day of her recital, ten-year-old Moxy prepares in her usual flamboyant way, which creates chaos at home.

Here''s the second book in the hilarious Moxy Maxwell series, which includes Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart little and Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano. It isn''t as though Moxy isn’t grateful for her Christmas presents. She is. She’s just not thrilled that she has to write a thank-you note for each one by tomorrow . . . or she will not be allowed to fly to Hollywood to attend a starstudded Hollywood bash with the father she hasn’t seen in three years. And writing thank-you notes is not something that a world-class Creative Type relishes doing. But it is more than writing thank-you notes that finally prevents Moxy from taking her trip. When her father cancels at the last minute, Moxy is forced to deal with the reality of a situation she doesn’t want to accept, and can’t change. But, not surprisingly, she rises to the occasion brilliantly.

Here''s the first book in the hilarious Moxy Maxwell series, which includes Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes and Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano. It wasn''t as if Moxy hadn''t tried to do her summer reading. She and Stuart Little had been inseparable all summer, like best friends. If Stuart Little wasn''t in her backpack, it was in her lap . . . or holding up the coffee table . . . or getting splashed when Moxy went swimming. But now it''s the end of August—the day before fourth grade. And if Moxy doesn''t read all of Stuart Little immediately, there are going to be "consequences." It may look like Moxy is doing nothing, but actually she is very busy with a zillion highly crucial things—like cleaning up her room (sort of) and training her dog and taking a much-needed rest in the hammock. Just look at the pictures her twin brother Mark takes to document it all—they''re scattered throughout—and you''ll see why it''s so difficult to make time for a book about a mouse. Of course our heroine does manage to finish her book, falling so in love with it that she finds herself reading under the covers with a flashlight, late into the night.