-Until this century, most children's poetry was either syrupy sweet or overblown and didactic, and tended to talk down to its readers. Contemporary children's poets have thrown all that condescension and moralizing out the window, and write with today's real child in mind.-
- from the Introduction by Jack Prelutsky
Here in one gloriously illustrated volume are 211 wonderful poems that represent the best this century has to offer. From sibling rivalry, school, monsters, food, and just plain silliness, to such ageless themes as the seasons, Who am I?, and the many moods of...

An orange Monarch butterfly is on her fall migration from Canada to Mexico. She stops to rest in Texas and makes friends with an old tortoise called Hurry. Embedded in this tale are fascinating facts about the amazing 2,000-mile migration and the life cycle of butterflies. Full color.

Many people from North America make the long journey to their children in China. But first the family has to complete all the adoption-agency paperwork, have interviews, fill out legal forms, and receive approvals. Then a tiny photograph of their child arrives. Finally, they travel to China to embrace their long-awaited child.

Ka-splash Head to the river, where a frolicsome bunch of otters plays all year round in a nonfiction story sprinkled with facts -- and loaded with fun.

It's spring, and a litter of baby river otters emerges from a den . . . to play Follow the otters through the seasons as they chase one another, slide down a mudbank, jump in a pile of leaves, and learn to swim. Even while catching fish for their dinner or grooming themselves in the snow, otters love to play -- and Jonathan London's lively text and Meilo So's fluid watercolors invite you to share in the joy.