Children's Chapter Books

Gerald Morris (The Squire’s Tales) has a new chapter book series, The Knight’s Tales.  In THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LANCELOT THE GREAT (Houghton Mifflin, $15) we discover that the greatest knight in King Arthur’s court also had a great sense of humor. Sir Lancelot can run off a challenging knight by pinging him with acorns and singing off-key.  As long as his armor stays very shiny, Lancelot is up for quests, damsel rescues, or other knightly duties.  THE ADVENTURES OF SIR GIVRET THE SHORT (Houghton Mifflin, $15) are more humorously cerebral.  He can use clever misdirection to protect the Queen from a huge, fully armed knight. All these Camelot adventures are comically illustrated by Aaron Renier. Ages 6-10.  Dara La Porte

On Keena Ford’s first day of school, her teacher asks everyone to write down their birthday.  Keena reverses the numbers of her birth date so the teacher thinks her birthday is the next day.  Now everyone’s planning a celebration and Keena doesn’t know how to stop them.  And maybe she doesn’t want to, with the promise of a sparkly crown and chocolate cake.  Melissa Thomson’s funny first novel, KEENA FORD AND THE SECOND GRADE MIX-UP (Dial, $14.99), is perfect for beginning readers. Ages 7-10

Great-grandmothers can well understand the trials and tribulations of twelve-year-old girls, and twelve-year-old girls can have big, open hearts. The correspondence between Annabelle and Gran in GRAN, YOU’VE GOT MAIL ! (Delacorte, $14.99), by Jo Hoeslandt, will charm grandmothers and granddaughters alike.  Aurelie Abolivier’s delightful illustrations capture the pixieish resemblance between Annabelle and Gran. Ages 6-10.  Dara LaPorte

In a heartwarming collection of stories set in the Sonora Desert, two lovable reptiles, one with scales, one without, beguile each other and us as we read of their friendship, which blossoms as quickly as any cactus – and is just as prickly. They dodge extinction by owls and trucks, dabble in capitalism, and learn when not to be totally honest with each other. SNAKE AND LIZARD (Kane/Miller $14.95) by Joy Cowley, is further enlivened by exuberant color illustrations by Gavin Bishop.  Ages 6-10.

Our favorite dog and cat return in James Howe’s HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA AND THE QUIET TIME (Candlewick, $14.99), just in time for the grey days of autumn and winter. When a snowstorm disrupts their musical plans, Catina bemoans their fate, while Houndsley approaches the matter more philosophically. They decide to make the most of the situation—with books, games, ginger tea, an odd assortment of snowmen, and friends—shovels in paws. Later, everyone grabs an instrument and plays beautiful music. With Marie-Louise Gay’s soft, colorful illustrations, here is a subtle, happy book for rainy days that is sure to make anyone smile, snuggle up, and sip ginger tea. Ages 5-8. Sylvan Bongi