In a given day I dive through gobs of mail.  Boxes of books from publishers for myself, my current co-workers, my former co-workers, this blog, you name it.  And since I pay attention to what’s being buzzed, I notice oddities.  In this new series I’ll show you some of the more interesting fare.  The items being published for kids that it’s possible you haven’t heard about yet.

I keep this book on my desk at all times.  It amuses me.  Deeply.  If ever I am feeling down or out, all I need to do is to look at this “boyfriend” flip-a-book where you construct “the perfect guy” ala Frankenstein by flipping through different eyes and hair and smiles.  It’s so shameless that it perks me up instantly.

I wouldn’t have recognized her if I hadn’t read the titles.  Oh, Leila Roy, whatever will you think?

Latino heroine in a middle grade fantasy novel.  Honestly, is there any more you need me to say? This I took home.

And just in case my kids need to experience magic mushrooms without any real chemical influence . . . .

Voila!  New Herve Tullet board books from Phaidon!  My daughter is addicted to this series.  She “reads” them to herself all the time.  When she finds out that there are more, I expect her to do the three-year-old equivalent of a happy freak out.

And finally . . .

It’s a good thing I’m not going to ALA Midwinter later this month.  I’d probably just lollygag around the Eerdmans booth next to this book asking passersby “Don’t YOU think this looks like Roger Sutton?”  The truth of the matter is that the book is a Belgian import, so if Roger really was the inspiration then his influence is far vaster than we ever suspected.

That was fun!  I’ll try to keep it up regularly.  Just a spot of color on a dreary Friday for you.