By KAREN MACPHERSON, Scripps Howard News Service

Award-winning author Joan Bauer has focused on everything from bullying to alcoholism to death in her books for teens. If you think that her books make grim reading, however, you're very much mistaken.

Board books are great for babies and toddlers. The thick pages are easy for little fingers to turn and the cardboardlike material of the books makes them great for playing with or even chewing.Here's a look at some great new board books, all of which work well for infants through age 2:

Several years ago, a middle-school English teacher named Rick Riordan developed an intriguing concept designed to inspire interest in mythology among his students.

Children's non-fiction has come a long way from the days of stodgily written books created to provide basic facts for school reports. These days, the best non-fiction books for kids offer riveting narratives that read as well as any novel, as well as eye-catching designs, as these outstanding new books prove:

April may be National Poetry Month, but these new children's books prove that reading poetry can -- and should -- be a wonderful year-round activity:

Corralling a busy toddler for reading time can be a frustrating task. Not to worry -- reading will get easier as toddlers get older. In the meantime, parents should try to pick a time when toddlers are winding down and read books that have bright illustrations, simple text and page-turning drama as a way to entice their young explorers.Here are a few great new picture books to try:

It's been four years since his first children's novel was published, but John Flanagan still gets a kick when he writes "author" on the paperwork he fills out when traveling overseas from his home in Sydney, Australia.

For a man who makes his living scaring children, R.L. Stine seems like a pretty mild-mannered guy.

Three novels -- all featuring a strong historical element -- were selected this year as 2008 Newbery Honor books.

Like many children, Katharine Holabird's daughters loved to dance when they were young."Tara was a real little diva, and wore her pink tutu everywhere, and Alexandra energetically followed in her footsteps," Holabird said in a recent e-mail interview from her London home.