Fans of the Mercy Watson series and other Tales from Deckawoo Drive, meanwhile, will love Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Chris Van Dusen’s latest delivery from Deckawoo. In Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package (Candlewick, $14.99), a mysterious box containing an accordion arrives for Eugenia, who is a practical, no-time-for-music kind of person. Can she learn to love this unwelcome addition to her household? Ages 6-9
Karen English tells another story about first impressions and second chances in her latest installment of The Carver Chronicles. Khufu is The New Kid (Clarion, $15.99) in school, with a big personality and even bigger stories to tell. Leery of this stranger’s tall tales, third-grader Gavin blames Khufu when his bike goes missing. Impeccably placed spot illustrations by Laura Freeman add intrigue to Carver’s compelling narrative about the effects of making snap judgments. Ages 6-9
Budding bookworkms in search of the perfect bedtime story will find it in celebrated Argentine cartoonist Liniers’s latest graphic novel. Planet the toy fawn has a mission: at night, he comes alive and tries to reach the giant cookie in the sky that sometimes has a bite taken out of it. This refreshing take on the secret lives of toys will have parents and children alike saying Good Night, Planet (Toon, $12.95) or Buenas Noches, Planeta (Toon, $6.99 PB/$12.95 HB). Ages 6-9.
