Houghton Mifflin.

222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116

Eva Montanari's A VERY FULL MORNING (0618563180, $16.00) tells of Little Tooth, who faces the first day of school with so many ideas that she just can't sleep. What will be her first impression on viewing the room of strangers? A fun, bunny-oriented theme results. Helen Lester's BATTER UP WOMBAT (0618737847, $16.00) tells of a new baseball season and a hilarious baseball team facing a new season. Wombat loves games--but has never heard of baseball. How can he play? Mark Svendsen's CIRCUS CARNIVORE (0618563288, $16.00) tells of Kate, who pouts and screams when she doesn't get her way--and inside her head is a noise machine which makes all of her naughty noises, fueled by inner noise architects. So what happens to the team when she's forced to be quiet? Ben Redlich's drawings lend humor and fun. David A. Johnson's SNOW SOUNDS: AN ONOMATOPOETIC STORY (0618473106, $16.00) tells of silent snowfall and a noise day after it, as machine, man and child begin to dig out. The blend of poetry and paintings provides a vivid story of snow's aftermath. Dashka Slater's FIREFIGHTERS IN THE DARK (0618554599, $16.00) tells of a girl who hears sirens from the fire station and knows the team's going--all the way to Pluto! Nicoletta Ceccoli provides vivid drawings to accompany the fine story of heroic firefighters. Linda Michelin's ZUZU'S WISHING CAKE (061864640X, $16.00) tells of a set of magic hands and a great imagination which allows Zuzu to make nearly anything--except a friendship with the boy next door. D.B. Johnson provides the winning zany pictures to illustrate Zuzu's dilemma over making a friendship work. Katie McKy's PUMPKIN TOWN! (061860569X, $16.00) tells of what can be done with a thousand pumpkins or more. A small town faces too many pumpkins one year, and it's up to Jose and his brothers to make plans for a virtual mountain--with explosive results. Pablo Bernasconi's drawings are fun. Lise Lunge-Larsen's NOAH'S MITTENS (0618329501, $16.00) tells of Noah, predicted to grow up to do wonderful things, and who becomes an inventor despite self-doubt. It's his friendship with animals, however, which really brings out his best contributions, with Matthew Trueman's drawings providing engaging embellishment. Maxine Kumin's MITES TO MASTODONS (0618507531, $16.00) uses original poetry and art in combination to survey animal habits and inspirational talents. From the smallest inchworm and polliwogs to anteaters and kangaroos, Pamela Zagarenski's fun drawings bring the animal world to life. Chris Van Allsburg's THE STRANGER (0395423317, $18.95) tells of a farmer who accidentally hits a stranger with his truck--a man dressed strangely, who then has amnesia. The family takes in the stranger and becomes fond of him--but he has peculiar habits. What will prove the truth about his past? Kids in grades 3-4 will find THE STRANGER different and engrossing.