Three for one! (I couldn't resist)

Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm, BABYMOUSE BURNS RUBBER (unsigned first edition)
Random House, $5.99 (ages 7–10)
Babymouse! In a hot pink racing car with a cupcake painted on the hood! How could I not choose this book as my favorite? Girls didn't do soap box derby races when I was a kid. Believe me, I would have been burning rubber myself, and my husband still fears me on the go–kart track! But now I have Babymouse to do it for me: she enters the race, builds her own car, gets a sponsor, and, of course, has an adorable racing outfit – all with help from her friends and her phenomenal imagination. Yay, Babymouse! Yay, Jennifer and Matt Holm!


Michael Ian Black and Peter Brown, THE PURPLE KANGAROO
Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (ages 4–8)
While this is comedian Black's first children's book, you might recognize the work of illustrator Peter Brown from some of my previous favorites – The Flight of the Dodo and The Curious Garden. Bold, colorful, silly graphics amply illustrate the bold, absurd story of a saucy chimp who claims he can read minds and an amazing, roller-skating, hula–hooping, universe–traversing purple kangaroo!


Ethan Long, TOO MANY KISSES!
Little, Brown Kids, $7.99 (board book)(ages 6 months–3 years)
Tee hee. Duck and Poodle have a difference of opinion on showing affection. Duck wants his friend Pink Poodle to know just how much he loves him (her?). Only kissing will do. Or will it? With a special "press me, kiss me" noise button!