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Let's qualify that heading. This is not for very little hands: a three-year-old could destroy this pop-up book on first reading. On the other hand, she would have a great time doing it. This madcap menagerie offers such nonsense as the "acrobaterpillars," a bunch of tumbling pre-butterflies; the "grinsect," whose smile grows wider and wider; and the "fluffalo," a furry pink buffalo. The piece de resistance is the "sopranosaurus," who not only moves her mouth but also, when the jewel at her throat is pressed, sings a little aria. Resist if you can.
RUNNER-UP Look-Alikes. Written and illustrated by Joan Steiner
The activity in this photography book is pointing. Each tableau is a compilation of everyday items, with buildings made of mousetraps, ships made of brushes and chairs made of pretzels, crackers and Fig Newtons. The trick is to spot 'em all.
FOR LITTLE MINDS
The Disappearing Alphabet By Richard Wilbur. Illustrated by David Diaz
"If the alphabet began to disappear/ some words would look raggedy and queer/ (Like QUIRREL, HIMPANZEE and CHOO-CHOO TRAI),/ While others would entirely fade away." In this book, wordplay is more fun than swordplay. With Ogden Nash-like humorous verse, Wilbur, a former poet laureate, explores what letters do to words and how silly it would be to lose them. Diaz, a Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, created the illustrations on his computer, though it looks as if he cut them out of bright sheets of paper and then sprayed them with magic dust to make them sing.
RUNNER-UP Yoko. Written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells Kids in class think Yoko the cat is weird because she eats sushi. Then they try it.
FOR LITTLE DREAMERS
Martha Walks the Dog Written and illustrated by Susan Meddaugh
This is the latest in a series about Martha, a talking dog. She's a charming canine not because she chats but because of her extensive vocabulary. (Plus, she doesn't accept invitations to dinner parties.) Here, Martha meets a big, mean, chain-chewing dog who turns out to be--you guessed it--suffering from a case of low self-esteem. With the help of a friendly parrot and some witty repartee, Martha puts a smile on the big dog's face. The happy sketches enhance the droll pooch-view of life.
RUNNER-UP Slow Train to Oxmox. Written and illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
Edwin Blink, a myopic engineer, catches the wrong train. Best thing that ever happened to him.
FOR THE NOT SMALL
Holes By Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats is one of the unluckiest kids around. So it's no surprise he ends up digging holes in the desert as punishment for a crime he didn't commit. While the scenario in this National Book Award-winning young-adult novel seems bleak, Holes is a snappy little tale of destiny, development and digging. All the loose ends are tied up so tightly that you want to give Sachar a gold star for especially neat work.
FOR THE TINY
Fire Truck Written and illustrated by Peter Sis
A cute, quick fire-truck fix for the barely verbal siren lover in every family.