Great new picture books

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Check out some of these wonderful new picture books:-- Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes is known as a master of the picture book. He shows off this mastery once again in his newest book, "Old Bear" (Greenwillow, $17.99). Using the cheerful colors and thick brushstrokes of his last book, "A Good Day," Henkes tells the tale of an old bear who falls asleep in winter and dreams of cavorting through each of the four seasons. By the time he wakes up again, it's springtime, and Old Bear is ready to spryly head off to some new adventures. Children will enjoy the way Henkes changes his palette to represent each season, but they'll most love cuddly Old Bear himself. There's no doubt about it -- Henkes has created another classic with "Old Bear." (Ages 3-6.)-- Reprising the energetic young narrator from their Caldecott Medal-winning book, "The Hello, Goodbye Window," author Norton Juster and illustrator Chris Raschka offer a hilarious riff on the mercurial moods of preschoolers in "Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie" (Scholastic, $16.95). Sometimes when she visits her Nanna and Poppy, the young narrator is Sweetie Pie, delighting in their love and giving them plenty of her own. But sometimes, she's Sourpuss, a tantrum-prone cyclone of negative energy, and nothing can please her. Juster, best-known as the author of "The Phantom Tollbooth," writes with wry authority and compassion, while Raschka's loose-lined, brilliantly colored illustrations perfectly capture the emotional ups and downs of preschoolers. (Ages 4-7.)-- Fans of the Caldecott Honor-winning "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" and its sequels will revel in the latest battle between Duck and Farmer Brown as recounted in "Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure" (Atheneum, $16.99). Once again, author Doreen Cronin and illustrator Betsy Lewin offer readers a wonderfully silly story, this time focused on the efforts by both Duck and Farmer Brown to create a unique corn design. Farmer Brown works hard to make it look like the Statue of Liberty, while Duck -- of course! -- has other plans. The winner is revealed in a foldout page at the end that will have readers roaring with laughter. (Ages 4-8.)-- Splat, a fuzzy black-haired cat, is terrified about going to school for the first time. To boost his confidence, Splat decides to take his pet mouse Seymour with him. In "Splat the Cat" (HarperCollins, $16.99), author-illustrator Rob Scotton reveals the chaos that ensues when a classroom of cats discovers a mouse in their midst. Fortunately, their teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple, capably quells the riot as Seymour and Splat show how mice and cats can help each other. Scotton, the author of the "Russell the Sheep" books, offers a zany tale that will help soothe kids' new-school fears. Young readers will particularly enjoy Scotton's illustrations, which are done mainly in shades of black, gray and white with snippets of bright colors. (Ages 3-6.)-- Dylan's mom is about to have a new baby. But there's still one more chance for just the two of them to carry out their annual summer-vacation tradition of getting up before dawn so they can "catch the sun." In "Catching the Sun" (Charlesbridge, $16.95), author Coleen (CQ) Paratore offers an insightful twist on the new-sibling theme. The gorgeous illustrations by Peter Catalanotto bring further emotional depth as they mirror Dylan's feelings about becoming a big brother. (Ages 4-7.)-- At the age of 8, Brian decides he's tired of being a kid. So he decides to retire. But, as author-illustrator Jon Agee demonstrates in his uproariously funny new book, "The Retired Kid" (Hyperion, $16.99), being retired may not be the most entertaining choice for an 8-year-old. Agee's deceptively simple illustrations work perfectly to convey Brian's euphoria at being retired and then his growing realization that he had a whole lot more fun as a kid. (Ages 5-8.)-- Two new books star some spirited animals. In "Chester's Back!" (KidsCan, $18.95), a humorously egotistical cat named Chester attempts to take over the creation of his book from author-illustrator Melanie Watts. Kids will love how Chester uses a red pen over Watts' text and illustrations to make his points. (Ages 4-7.) In "Minerva the Monster" (Sterling, $14.95), author-illustrator Wednesday Kirwan presents a gentle lesson on being yourself as Minerva the Boston terrier discovers that it's not fun being a monster all the time. (Ages 3-6.)-- Jamie Lee Curtis is that rarity -- a celebrity author who actually writes good books for kids. In "Big Words" (HarperCollins, $16.99), Curtis again teams up with illustrator Laura Cornell in a humor-filled look at some important words, like "patience" and "privacy." Curtis' rhyming text keeps the book from being didactic, while Cornell's antic illustrations provide further levity. (Ages 4-7.)(Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md., Library, can be reached at Kam.Macpherson(at)gmail.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com.)