Atheneum/McElderry/Simon & Schuster.

Atheneum/McElderry/Simon & Schuster

www.simonsayskids.com

It's Mouse's first fall season in Lauren Thompson's MOUSE'S FIRST FALL (068985837X, $12.95), and Mouse is pleased: falling leaves are different colors, fun to play in, and encourage him in new simple play activities. Buket Erdogan provides fun, easy drawings to accent this simple tale of a little mouse's playful Fall encounters. Alan Katz and David Catrow's ARE YOU QUITE POLITE? (0689869703, $15.95) tells of silly manners and creates a rollicking, fun story of manners kids might actually like to follow. Here are common rhymes with uncommon lyrics that are crazy and fun comments on a different kind of etiquette indeed. Judy Sierra's THE SECRET SCIENCE PROJECT THAT ALMOST ATE THE SCHOOL (1416911758, $16.95) enjoys lively drawings by Stephen Gammell as it tells of mutant slime which nearly proves the downfall of a young scientist. A strange box of Super Slime for the science fair consumes cats, ants, and grows way too big: disaster is in the making in this hilarious tale. SMASH! MASH! CRASH! THERE GOES THE TRASH! By Barbara Odanaka (068985160X, $15.95) will prove a delight for any child, urban or rural, familiar with the early wake-up call of the garbage truck. A rhythmic and noisy text filled with appealing sounds follows two garbage trucks on their route--and dogs, pigs, and more who can't wait for them to arrive! Perfect for read-alouds. Derek Anderson's BLUE BURT AND WIGGLES (1416905936, $14.95) presents an unusual friendship between a bird and a worm. If a kid thinks opposites don't make good pals, BLUE BURT AND WIGGLES maintains otherwise, showing how common concerns lead to unusual friendships: a good teaching guide for parents who wish to promote togetherness.