Be Boy Buzz

By Bell Hooks, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Hyperion; $16.99; ages 2-4). Boisterous boys leap across the pages exulting in being boys. "I be boy laughing, crying, telling my story, talking way too loud." Just when you think these running, jumping bundles will never slow down, they do "sitting all quiet still." Then we see boys who need a hug, and "think and dream time."

Ms. Hooks' poem swerves and flows to such a strong beat that it is difficult not to read it out loud, so go right ahead. The lithe pastel and watercolor illustrations are as spare as the text, and also as revealing.

The chalky lines of the boys' sketchy bodies crackle with energy as they reach across pages, peek in from the edges and hop from top to bottom.

The text bounces around expanding in size to put emphasis just where the poet intended. This is a vibrant and welcome celebration of self.

Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas

Written and illustrated by Elise Primavera (Harcourt; $16; ages 5-8). Those who met the svelte, stylish Auntie in her 1999 debut picture book, Auntie Claus, know she has bravado, panache and heart (adults, think Auntie Mame). She's also Santa Claus' older sister and must step in quickly when her great nephew, Christopher Kringle, stops believing in Santa and starts behaving badly. "He made rude noises and ate with his mouth open. ... he started cheating at board games." Chris is shut out of Christmas and faces menacing disbelievers before discovering the key to the holiday.

There is a cinematic quality to exaggerated perspectives and frothy settings of the glowing illustrations. But all the eye-candy in the world couldn't obscure the story's clear message: you don't have to see something to believe in it. Ms. Primavera will sign Auntie Claus 11 a.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky. (859) 581-2000; and 1 p.m. Saturday, Blue Manatee, 3054 Madison Road, Oakley (513) 731-2665.

The Carnivorous Carnival

A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 9

By Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist (HarperCollins; $10; ages 8-12). KidLit didn't get the latest installment of this best-selling series in time to review it for it's Oct. 31 release, which is fittingly unfortunate (especially since we've been touting it since Book 1). Bookstore after bookstore turned us away after a quick sellout. We persevered to catch up on the latest dasterdly doings in this riotous, wry melodramatic saga of the Baudelaire orphans only to find Sonny, Klaus and Violet accused of, gasp!, murder.

The siblings are on the run from the authorities and the conniving Count Olaf. What better place to hide than a carnival? Plenty of them it turns out, because this is no ordinary carnival.

As with every book in the series, it helps to have read those that came before - not only to catch up on the cast and plot but to follow the children as they grow and their character's deepen and mature. The cliff hanger ending will leave you panting for No. 10, The Slippery Slope.

- Sara Pearce