In the season of thanksgiving, a groaning board of samples to please all tastes . . .

CIVIL WAR JOURNAL: The Battles. Edited by William C. Davis, Brian C. Pohanka, and Don Troiani (Rutledge Hill Press; $29.95/$41.94 Canada)

One of a 3-volume set on the Civil War developed from the History Channel series Civil War Journal, this extraordinary chronicle presents solidly researched data in a thoroughly engrossing text. I guarantee you won't know where the time went once you slip into the vivid history -- emphasis on story --you'll find here. The editors focus on 5 Confederate victories (Fort Sumter, First Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chickamauga, and Franklin), five Union victories (New Orleans, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Nashville), and 3 stalemates (Monitor vs. Virginia, Antietam, and Charleston). The point is made eloquently and dramatically that, although this may seem a rather limited scope, given the more than 1,000 battles fought between April 1861 and April 1865, those selected here "have risen to lasting fascination and prominence, even regarded as 'turning -points.'"They also lend themselves well to television because of their generous visual documentation, stunningly represented in the text version of the series. As with all history taught well, underscoring these defining battlefield moments are the often extraordinary actions and qualities of the individuals caught in the crunch of their time. This is a history lesson that almost literally breathes. Certainly it will make you hold your breath more than once as you read.

620,000 Americans lost their lives in the Civil War. This volume maps out in compelling detail the landscape of their sacrifice; powerful only begins to describe this reading experience. On a personal note, having done some research and writing on the Civil War myself, I was thrilled to see Rufus Dawes's articulate, evenhanded memoirs, Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers drawn on for a profile of the legendary Iron Brigade. This is just one example of the fascinating contemporary sources the editors painstakingly tapped into for the abundantly detailed "You Are There" immersion factor that makes this set, bristling with illustrations, maps, diagrams, and photos, a standout must-have for your home library.

Excerpt: "The Iron Brigade ultimately became an efficient combat machine since the men had a certain caliber of marksmanship that was part of their frontier background. Like the Southerners, they knew the value of hitting what they aimed at and hitting it the first time. They inflicted tremendous casualties on the Confederates they faced."

The editors note that the "cult of personality" so familiar to us in our own day of media mania was just as potent a force during the Civil War. Tabloid gratification was greatly delayed by comparison, but the need to feast on the exploits of the big names of the day was similarly voracious. From 1861-1865, the people Americans were talking about were the often larger-than-life personalities who led the charge on either side of the conflict. Those individuals, whether they attracted controversy, adoration, or public scorn, are the colorful and passionate subject of this volume of the History Channel-based series. These noisemakers differed significantly in temperament, background, and training. Some earned their VIP status; some had it painted on them via public perception. Not all were honorable; a few were downright scoundrels. All get fair and in-depth coverage here. Some you'll meet:

John Brown, whose moral commitment to freedom was sincere, but it led to violence that marked him forever as a trader, a martyr for freedom, and a murderer. He opined prophetical that slavery could only be abolished through bloodshed.

Alums of West Point, including George B. McClellan, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Philip H. Sheridan, and George A. Custer.

Jefferson Davis, stalwart defender of slavery who remarked as late as 1861: "We recognize the Negro as God's book tells us to recognize him -- ever inferior, fitted expressly for servitude." He graduated in the lower ranks of his class (1828) at West Point, which classified him as infantry material. The leader of the Confederacy was not a job he wanted, but as far as the seceded states were concerned, he had all the right stuff.

Thomas Jonathan Jackson, better known as "Stonewall," the quiet, thoughtful, cautious, somewhat rumpled eccentric who interpreted the Bible literally and was brilliant at the art of war. The victim of friendly fire, he lost an arm to a volley of Rebel fire; while recovering from his wounds he contracted pneumonia and died at age 39.

William T. Sherman, whose greatest irony was that he had a deep affection for Southerners. He had many friends in Louisiana, where, before the war, he worked as civilian superintendent of the newly founded Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy.

Excerpt: "[Union general Daniel E. Sickels] was also a politician, seducer, diplomat, seducer, murderer, seducer, Civil War general, and seducer. He wore notoriety like a giant cape with a scarlet lining whether politicking, fighting, drinking, or wenching. Sickles was a man with the throttle wide open."

THE CIVIL WAR JOURNAL: The Legacies. Edited by William C. Davis, Brian Pohanka, and Don Troiani (Rutledge Hill Press; $29.95/$46.00 Canada)

This is the volume I found toughest of the three to put down. The war's impact remains staggering to the imagination even as its romantic elements continue to captivate. In taking a microcosmic approach to capturing the enduring bigger picture of this moment in history, the editors have focused on lesser-known stories that provide a profound, fresh perspective on the war.

The momentous changes forged in the crucible of the rebellion -- or the invasion, depending on which side of the Mason-Dixon you're from -- are poignantly reflected in the events, places, and personal histories this volume spotlights.To name a few: Medicine made advances because it struggled to keep up with the terrible havoc technological advances in weaponry wreaked on human bodies. Women and minorities found themselves on the same side of changing social roles. Families split along heated political lines (Stonewall Jackson's own sister "entertained Union sentiments"). Industry accelerated. The development of photography dramatically impacted the way news was reported. The issue of blacks in the military prompted Georgian Major General Howell Cobb, chairman of the committee that had organized the Confederacy, to remark: "If slaves make good soldiers, our whole theory of slavery is wrong." Civilians were heroes -- and casualties -- of the war. You'll not soon forget 15-year-old Tillie Pierce, whose parents packed her off to the home of some friends as their Gettysburg property was about to become a battlefield. Instead they inadvertently placed her squarely in a combat hot spot, where she kept a remarkable diary of the things (including amputations) "most teenage girls in the North would never see."

You'll get to know the intriguing first ladies of the Civil War, Varina Davis and Mary Todd Lincoln -- women who are too often shallowly acknowledged in other history texts. You'll see how the contributions of civilian heroes, who provided food, bandages, prayers, and compassion, made them as crucial to the war effort as the soldiers on the front lines. You'll be aghast at the realities of both Federal and Confederate prison camps; fascinated by spy activity during the war; amazed at the "countless acts of heroism and bravery in battle" inspired by the battle flags each regiment viewed as symbols of what they were fighting for.

Excerpt: (from "Civilians in the War"): "Outwardly, Tillie controlled her emotions during the ordeal, but inwardly -- like everyone caught in battle -- she struggled with problems over which she had no control. She began to absorb the sights, smells, and sounds of a battlefield. As she saw how terrible the fighting was becoming, she began to have doubts that she or anyone else could survive it: 'How often my thoughts were fixed on my dear ones at home. Were they well? Were they alive? Did I still have a home? These and many other silent inquiries sprang to my mind without any hope of an answer.'"

CRICKET'S RATING: A must-have set, obviously an outstanding Great Gift Idea.

Check out Rutledge Hill Press online.

You can of course also get the series on home video -- call the History Channel at 1-800-708-1776 to order.

If you saw the movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer, you experienced a fathom or two of the complexities this novel plumbs. There is so much more to Mitchard's intense story of relentless grief and heartbreaking reprieve. A boy disappears. A family, each remaining member in individually tortured ways, is lost. Miracles may occur for those so blindly at sea, but even waves of answered prayers crash unpredictably, stirring up unexpected debris.

Excerpt: "On good days, Beth sometimes went downstairs into her office and threw things away. She filled bags with out-take shots, old negatives and contracts, her clips, her anthologies, phone numbers she would never need again. She liked the feeling of stripping away her former life, liked the release from any obligation except living until night."

CRICKET'S RATING: The book glues itself to your hand and can't be closed. Prepare to be plunged into the deep end of involvement with Mitchard's achingly real characters and riveting story.

THE MOST WANTED by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Signet, $7.99 U.S./$10.99 Can.)

Annie Singer is a single, childless, savvy Texas lawyer. Arlington Mobray, a.k.a. Arley, is not yet 15 years old when she seeks legal help in being reunited with her husband, Dillon LeGrande -- a prison inmate she reached out to in her own loneliness via letters he answered with the right combination of poetry and beguilement to woo her. Against her better judgment, Singer takes on the case, discovers in Arley a surrogate daughter and becomes personally involved in a bizarre juggernaut of a relationship that shifts her certainties about her own choices.

Excerpt: "Was it just the pure pity of tis kid, who reminded me of . . . me, but not really. I'd never been anything like her, never been in such old shoes at such a young age. But had I ever been as young as she was right now, so ascendant with the glory of a situation that could serve as the model for a textbook called Ten Rules for Fucking Up Your Life Permanently?"

CRICKET'S RATING:Mitchard scores again with a strong, haunting story.

And now from the sublime to the ridiculous . . . IN THE YEAR 2000 . . . by Conan O'Brien and the writers of Late Night (Riverhead; $10.95 U.S./$15.99 Canada)

O'Brien spells out his vision of the fast-approaching next millennium in this silly collection of predictions he promises are "not just another merchandising scheme cooked up by a greedy, General Electric-controlled staff of TV hacks." Uh-huh.

Excerpt: Scientists will discover the secret ingredient in Starbucks coffee that makes people forget they're paying four dollars for a cup of coffee. . . .America's belief in angels will be rewarded when thousands are discovered in a secluded valley. They will taste like veal."

CRICKET'S RATING: For diehard O'Brien fans.

You'll find more Signet and Riverhead titles at Penguin Putnam Online.

CATS FOR DUMMIES by Gina Spadafori & Paul D. Pion, DVM, DACVIM (Dummies Press/IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.; $19.99 USA/$26.99 Canada/£18.99 UK)

Humans, need I say more than this is the one? Maybe you’re not that familiar with the complex and enigmatic nature of the feline deity. Or perhaps you think you know everything you should about the cat ruler of your house. Puh-leeze. You simply cannot be too current on all the important things you need to know about kitty’s welfare and well-being. This is the book you cannot presume to submit to a kitty’s complete and total ownership without.

Spadafori and Pion have written a highly readable, enthusiastically informative reference that from my corner reflects the proper human attitude toward cats: respect, delight, appreciation for feline idiosyncrasies (as much as humans can ever understand the Kitty Rules), and total willingness to keep cats happy and healthy. They approach cat worship from an informed consumer point of view, impressing on readers the importance being prepared for the responsibilities (and surprises) inherent in sharing your life with a household companion animal whose nature and habits are still persistently shrouded in sometimes harmful lore. (With Halloween coming, Sammy, a former roommate I like better at a distance -- don’t get me started on that -- applauds a point made in the chapter "Ten Cat Myths -- Debunked": Black cats are not bad luck!).

Cats may be common in households throughout America (eclipsing the dog in popularity in 1997), but they are alluringly uncommon beings and deserve every thoughtful bit of the attention to practical detail you’ll find here. Spadafori and Pion begin at the crucial starting point of learning to think like a cat and proceed to cover everything from choosing a kitten wisely to feeding and grooming, providing creative toys, practicing preventive health care and dealing with illnesses and injuries, making your house safe for cats, solving those differences of opinion humans insist on calling behavior problems, and caring for older cats. As with all Dummies Press titles, this one is handily organized and packed with illustrations and plain-English facts and tips. Lists of additional resources include breed registries and show-governing organizations, magazines and newsletters, veterinary groups (I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Pion, President and CEO of the Veterinary Information Network, or VIN, and from my corner he rates loud purrs), pet supply sources, and Internet attractions for cat lovers.

"The cat is civilized -- but never fully. As the velvety paws of a cat hide her razor-sharp claws, the sleek body, purring in contentment, conceals the wild spirit that lives in every cat ever born. The cat was given to us so that we may caress the tiger, as the saying goes, and on some level, that must surely be part of the charm."

HOUSEPLANTS FOR DUMMIES by Larry Hodgson & The Editors of the National Gardening Association (Dummies Press/IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.; $16.99 USA/$24.99 Canada/£15.99 UK)

Jo the human is in trouble with Missy Billie. Billie’s a catnip addict, you see. Oh, the dried version of the herb you can buy anytime at pet stores anywhere is okay, but what she craves is the fresh leaf, snipped right off the plant and gently crumpled to release the buzz-producing essence. Jo’s in trouble because the last of the seven or eight catnip plants she bought last spring in the hopes of cultivating a dense year-round crop has withered and died. Jo’s not hopelessly brown-thumbed, but let’s just say she does lots better with houseplants that are known for their resiliency.

She needs HOUSEPLANTS FOR DUMMIES. This engaging how-to guide for everything from selecting the right plant for your environment to plant propagation, proper lighting, disease and pest control, and cultivating "exotics" offers a rich growing medium of facts, illustrations, and friendly expertise for beginners and experienced green-thumbs alike. Both those with only cramped windowsills for vegetation as well as those blessed with spacious gardens will love the "inside dirt," practical tips and warnings, informative sidebars, lists and appendices, and the overall . . . For Dummies signature organization of easy-to-digest chunks arranged by subject matter.

Excerpt: (from Doing the deed: The steps to fool-proof repotting): "One important note before you actually repot the plant: Don’t waste the already limited space in an average pot with a layer of useless pot shards. Use a good potting mix from top to bottom. Studies show that so-called drainage layers don’t actually help drainage at all. On the contrary, pots actually drain betterwhen the potting mix is evenly packed in the pot."

CRICKET’S RATING: Indispensable. So user-friendly Jo should be able to remedy the catnip emergency in time for Missy Billie’s next craving.

DIETING FOR DUMMIES by Jane Kirby, R.D., for The American Dietetic Association (Dummies Press/IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.; $19.99 USA/$26.99 Canada/£18.99 UK)

Forget those stupid fad diets and costly gimmicks that’ll have you losing more money than weight on "special" and "miracle" foods and supplements. Everything you need to know about taking pounds off sensibly -- and keeping them off -- is neatly organized in this encouraging guide filled with sound tips on nutrition, exercise, developing a healthy relationship with your body, learning to rethink what food means to you, and changing the bad habits that cause your weight to yo-yo and your self-image to take a dive.

Registered dietitian Kirby covers the basics on ways to cut calories without feeling deprived, smart food shopping and eating out, help for overweight children, turning to outside resources like weight reduction programs and medication, and forming a lifelong plan for healthful living. The signature . . . For Dummies "Parts of Tens" includes lists for "Ten Myths About Dieting" and "More Than Ten Recipes to Live On" (try the hummus . . . whisker-lickin’ delish!). Additional appendices list useful books, newsletters, Web sites, recipes, and special organizations relating to kids, eating disorders, exercises, and even surgical centers for obesity. A handy chart listing the nutrients in a variety of foods will get you started on being mindful of what you eat. Throughout her reassuring, enlightening text, Kirby empowers by putting the control of weight problems squarely and reasonably in readers’ hands.

Excerpt: (from the section Setting a Reasonable Calorie Level for Weight Loss): "To lose weight, you have to cut down on how much you eat -- but not too much. If you try to cut too many calories, you may not lose any weight at all. When you cut calories severely, your metabolic rate slows to adjust to the lower calorie level. In addition, you probably won’t be able to stick to your plan for very long because you’ll be hungry all the time. This section can help you find the right balance of calories for you."

CRICKET’S RATING: Superb -- how many diet books can you say you actually enjoyed reading? Kirby’s fact-packed, clearly presented, sensible advice will motivate you not just to shed those unwanted pounds but to begin making healthy choices for life.

Visit Dummies Press online, and get info on other IDG titles too.

HARPER AUDIO BOOKS

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FOR DUMMIES by James Dillard, M.D and Terra Ziporyn, Ph.D. ($12.00 US/$17.50 Canada; 1 cassette)

If you're wondering if alternative medicine could offer you any benefits, you need to proceed with well-informed caution. This clear, authoritative guide to options beyond what your conventional practitioner may suggest provides in an upbeat 90-minute nutshell a rundown of what works, what doesn't, and some new ways to treat common maladies.

The authors begin by wrestling with their discomfort over the term "alternative," when in fact the remedies they are spotlighting are complementary to mainstream medicine, as in possibilities to be considered in addition to, not instead of, what your doctor may order. Their aim is not to have you tearing up your prescription or canceling your therapy appointment because you've been convinced a secret ancient herbal elixir can work miracles. In fact, they warn you to turn tail and run from anything that appeals to your need to be free of illness with words like "secret ingredients," "miraculous," and "rejuvenating."

Once you're clear on letting your common sense be your judge, Dillard and Ziporyn escort you through a fascinating world of healing recourses too often rejected by mainstream medicine. To be fair, they point out that many M.D.'s are demonstrating an openness to trying alternative approaches --- particularly when they can't solve a problem on their own. By the same token, the alternative practitioner who expresses hostility toward conventional M.D.'s should set off in your head one of the ahhoogah warnings you'll hear on this tape to alert you to a potential danger, (or, alternately, a bell ringing for noteworthy tips).

The bottom line, as you become acquainted with chiropractic, osteopathy, massage, acupuncture, yoga, spiritual healing, and other options from various cultures, is to understand your choices. The authors' common-sense approach to helping you take charge of your healthcare is solidly based on objective overviews of alternatives and practical advice on ruling out "charlatans, ripoffs, and the plain old jerks."

Excerpt: "When is it safe to try alternatives on your own? Tip [bell rings]: If there's any chance in the world that you may have something that may threaten your life, incapacitate you, or linger for years, don't even think about treating yourself. Go see a conventional practitioner and have that serious illness ruled out before you even consider alternatives.

CRICKET'S RATING: A top-notch, good-humored approach to navigating what could easily be foreign and confusing territory.

NOTE: This tape is an abridged version of the same title also available in paperback through Dummies Press. Or you can call 1-800-762-2974.

DREAMLAND by Kevin Baker (Harper Audio; $25.00 U.S/$36.50 Canada; 4 cassettes; performed by John Rubenstein)

Here's a strange epic to keep you entertained on a very long drive. Check out the elements: love, jealousy, betrayal; and brutality against a backdrop of turn-of-the-century America. As seen through the eyes of characters like stowaway-turned-mob-enforcer Kid Twist, his love, seamstress Esther Abramowitz, his evil boss, Gyp the Blood, and a Coney Island carny named Trick the Dwarf (What do you think is the greater deformity -- size or age?), this is a forceful conglomeration of raw history and sweeping imagination.

Excerpt: "She made love to him right there on the top of his bed. So unlike their hidden coupling behind the pigeon coop. So blatant. So this is what it's like to be a whore. What did it mean? Was she a whore like the women outside in the hall? Like what the men, the cops and goons always called them on the picket lines?"

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX* *BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK by David Reuben, M.D. (Harper Audio; $18.00 US/$26.50 Canada; 2 cassettes)

If you're a straight male, you'll find Reuben's advice reassuring, particularly with regard to things he insists you needn't worry about -- like the size of your penis. If you're a woman, you may think Reuben's attitude belongs back with the first edition of this book -- in the deceptively "free" 1960s. His patronizing tone, which apparently passes for humor, left me cold. Despite his updated, informative coverage of topics like methods of birth control, Reuben's advice is far from enlightening by feminist standards.

Excerpt: "Question: Is there any way a man can really tell if a woman has had an orgasm? Answer: Well, since most women know what men want to hear, especially in the department of sex, they're always willing to acknowledge an orgasm. Even if they haven't had one. It doesn't cost them anything, and it goes a long way toward inflating the male ego." He then lists "2 approximate indicators": erect nipples and a "sexual flush." Says Reuben: "The important thing to remember is that it takes two to climax." Oh, really.

CRICKET'S RATING: Give me a break. A cat-flip to this one.

KITTEN CORNER 11/99

FREE TO BE . . . A FAMILY and FREE TO BE . . . YOU AND ME: Stories, Songs, and Poems for Adults and Children to Enjoy Together (25th Anniversary Edition) by Marlo Thomas and Friends (Running Press; $21.95)

Boy, I wish I had this book when I was a kitten. What a rare contribution Thomas and her creative friends have made to the field of discovery, education, and imagination that is children's literature. The impact words and images have on young readers creates an inestimable responsibility for writers and illustrators working within this genre to reflect the child's world, offer glimpses of a larger universe, tackle tough questions, and invite youthful imagination to test its wings. When those responsibilities are met with this much caring and joy, it's easy to have faith that the next generation will soar with the freedom to live and love LARGE.

Over 25 years ago, Thomas discovered to her dismay that there were no bedtime stories she could read to her niece Dionne that weren't "designed to put Dionne and her mind to sleep." As Thomas explains in her foreword, she "wanted a different kind of book for Dionne, one that would wake her up to her possibilities, a party of a book to celebrate who she was and all she could become."

Thomas approached Arista Records about releasing a collection of songs and sketches her niece and other children might enjoy. The Free to Be . . . record went gold, the companion book was a bestseller, and the 1974 ABC Special won an Emmy.

Free to Be . . . a Family followed when Thomas realized that what young readers needed next was "a really GIGANTIC book, roomy enough to contain all the things they had to know about the huge variety of people who cluster together and call themselves 'family.'"

The collection of poems, stories, songs, and illustrations in these beloved modern children's classics is a must-have in every family library. Simple as that. Together now in a special 25th anniversary edition, both Free to Be . . . volumes area treasure trove of charming, silly, inspired, uplifting material that entertains as it delivers its crucial message: the rejection of sexist, racist, classist stereotypes and the consciousness-raising encouragement to celebrate yourself, live your dreams, and forge family ties not limited to conventional definitions. Only the finest children's books approach this level of adamantly, enthusiastically creative sensitivity to kids' needs for fun ways to develop language skills, hone imagination, and formulate liberal, liberating worldviews. God bless Marlo Thomas and her friends, purrrrrr.

The talented individuals contributing to these "balloons" of books ("The more you read them, the more they stretch, the bigger they become, and the more of the world you can see inside them") include: Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Gloria Steinem, Carl Reiner, Dan Greenburg, Judy Blume, Shel Silverstein, Judith Viorst, John Steptoe, Charlotte Zolotow, Jane Wagner, Carly Simon, Petra Mathers, Hilary Knight, Bobby Gosh, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Excerpt: (from "I'm Never Afraid {To Say What's on My Mind}," words and music by Sarah Durkee and Christopher Cerf; illustrated by Hilary Knight): "Sometimes I'm afraid of what would happen to me/if someone came and took me away./And sometimes I'm afraid of stuff that's on TV,/or worried if my mom's okay./And sometimes I'm so scared about the monsters in my closet/I hardly even dare to blink./But one thing I can tell you you should never be afraid of/is sayin' what you really think!"

CRICKET'S RATING: One thing I can tell you is this is a Great Gift Idea x 2. If you have children, this will be an instant hit and longtime favorite. If you don't have kids, go find some you can read to and sing along with. You too will be enriched by the experience of this extraordinary project that underscores the importance of nonsexist ideals for both sexes. Are you paying attention, young'uns who disdain feminism while taking for granted the trail it blazed for you?

Brand new from Running Press: THE FUN BOOK OF CARTOON FACES and THE FUN BOOK OF CARTOON PEOPLE by Bruce Blitz ($12.95 each)

Author Bruce Blitz, professional artist, musician, and 4-time Emmy nominated host of the national PBS TV series Blitz on Cartooning, serves up two delightful activity books guaranteed to grab the inner cartoonist in kids of all ages.

We're talking hours of thoroughly absorbing fun that starts even before you open the workbook. The front cover of each features a unique cartoon wheel that lets readers mix and match cartoon legs, bodies, and heads or mouths, noses, and eyes. I played with those for a longer time than was truly necessary to form my objective reviewer's opinion: These simple tools are a marvelous way to begin understanding the nuances of cartooning and the effects achieved by combining them variously. Way fun, purrrr.

Responsible critic that I am, I of course made a close study of the entirety of both books' contents. Cartoons, Blitz points out, are everywhere, and that (with the exception of school, of course) is where these resource guides and practice books are designed to go. Blitz's enthusiastic tips and instructions acquaint readers with the tools and techniques of his entertaining trade while encouraging creativity through fun practice activities designed to hone cartooning skills. His ability to impart a wealth of information and at the same time simplify the complexities of his subject can't fail to inspire.

Excerpt: "Facial expressions breathe life into your characters! There are plenty more expressions that you can come up with. Look in books and magazines for ideas -- and keep on drawing!"

CRICKET'S RATING:An obvious Great Gift Idea -- be sure you get both volumes. I can't recommend Running Press too highly -- a home with their fine titles on the shelves is a home alive with imagination and potential. Be sure you check them out today online or at your favorite bookstore.

LIFE’S LITTLE FABLE by Patricia Cornwell/Illustrated by Barbara Leonard Gibson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons; $16.99 USA/$23.99 CAN)

During a visit to a second-grade classroom in L.A., Patricia Cornwell was asked by the students whose stories she’d just read if she had written any stories for children. This got Cornwell’s fertile imagination cranking along brand new lines. The result is a vivid fable exploring the risks of trading blissful innocence for adult "freedom" and the inevitable consequences of choice.

Excerpt: "His mother had not told him yet that beyond the forest the ground grabbed people and held them down, and leaves and clouds stole the sun whenever they pleased, not sharing or caring what might freeze."

CRICKET’S RATING: Sophisticated storytelling couched in subtle rhyming prose and rhythm make for a compelling read-aloud. Gibson’s illustrations swirl with light, movement, and invigorating perspectives perfectly capturing the young protagonist’s point of view. (Special note: A portion of the royalties for this book will go to the Virginia Literacy Foundation and Reading is Fundamental.)

McKean offers young readers "five creepy tales" told in a clever fashion. The title piece is a collection of fictional diary entries penned by a boy who hates living in the basement of a tony New York apartment building with his superintendent father. He begins earning money and receiving gifts by helping a mysterious new tenant with various chores. The stranger offers the boy everything he could ever want -- for the most he has to give up. "Caring" takes the form of a college admissions essay written by Beck Sue Anderson, who proves that caring can be a crime. In "Letters from Leah," Leah Cadmus reports to her friend Anne-Marie on her ghost-watching activities, although she may have her sightings confused. Sharon Cready thinks her English class assignment of keeping a diary is a waste of time in "Before Thanksgiving," but enthusiastically records her plans for a bright future that instead fulfills a dark prediction. Finally, everybody is somebody, but not everybody is able to see it. Is that why "Lily" is invisible to her 7-year-old sibling, though Momma insists she exists?

Excerpt: (from "Into the Candlelit Room"): "I never thought Grand was crazy, but maybe she's just gone crazy as she got older and I didn't notice it until now. I mean, that crazy stuff she was saying about Bub. She was saying he was -- I can't even write it. It's too crazy."

CRICKET'S RATING: A cleverly- twisted handful of tales perfect for raising age-appropriate goose bumps.

Beginning readers will love this series that lets the dark side of their imaginations frolic with short sentences and cute illustrations. Fear not, parents, the nightmare potential is low -- this is as light as a "boo!" from a friend on Halloween. Two of three girls at a sleepover take turns making up scary stories. The third doesn't like scary stuff, but when pressed to participate, she proves she's no 'fraidy cat.

Excerpt:: "Soon the girls in the video heard a knock outside their door. They screamed. At the same time, the girls watching the video heard a noise outside their door. They screamed, too. The girls turned off the video. But it was too late!"

CRICKET'S RATING: Extremely appealing; a can't-miss reading aid with large type and simple words repeated throughout the brief text. Other titles in the series: Bug Off!, Creep Show, Dragon Breath, Mermaid Island, The Mummy's Gold, A Very Strange Dollhouse, The Wax Museum,and Too Perfect.

ABRA CADABRA AND THE TOOTH WITCH by Nurit Karlin (Somerville House, USA; U.S. $14.99/CAN $19.99)

Before there was the Tooth Fairy, there was the Tooth Witch. She was good at her job, but, hey, after 600 years, she's now bored with the gig. You know what that means - she's getting careless. The other witches assign her a helper named Abra Cadabra, who comes up with a better idea for children's lost teeth than scattering them in flower beds to grow into rocks.

Excerpt: "Another night Abra Cadabra asked, 'Don't we give the children anything in return for the teeth we take?' 'GIVE them? Ha!' The Tooth Witch growled. 'We just take.' Abra Cadabra thought that was wrong."

CRICKET'S RATING: Charming. Comes with a little moon pillow and a bag for a lost tooth to be left for the Tooth Fairy.

Check out Somerville House Publishing online.

WONDERFUL WORLD OF HORSES: Color and Story Album written and illustrated by Rita Warner (Troubadour Press, an imprint of Price Stern Sloan; $5.99/$7.99 CAN)

Kids can learn about the horse through history from prehistoric eohippus to a variety of evolved breeds with this fascinating and fun coloring book/reference. The informative text provides tons of fascinating info while detailed illustrations to color are sure to keep the young horse lover enthralled for hours. I couldn't get the book away from a certain horse doc I know.

Excerpt: "The Quarter Horse confirmation is stocky and compact, with good sloping shoulders, a closely coupled back, sturdy legs with short cannons, a thick neck set squarely on a deep wide chest, and hindquarters layered with muscle. Their head appears broad and short with dark intelligent eyes and small ears. They are extremely well-balanced and sure-footed, with an easy riding gait."

CRICKET'S RATING: One of the neatest coloring books I've seen in a long time, educational (even includes a "Points of the Horse" anatomy chart) and absorbing.

HI, CAT! by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking; U.S.A. $15.99/Can. $22.99)

On his way to meeting Peter and putting on a show, Archie greets a stray cat -- who then turns up to disrupt the show, flummox the dog, and send the audience away laughing. Could it be that crazy cat just likes Archie? Keat's bold strokes of color capture the energy of seemingly distracting antics, the instantaneous bond sparking the cat's behavior, and Archie's realization of unexpected friendship.

CRICKET'S RATING: A simply told, strikingly illustrated anecdote that resonates warmly without being maudlin.

A DOCTOR'S LIFE: A Visual History of Doctors and Nurses Through the Ages by Rod Storring (Dutton Children's Books; $17.99)

Because dissecting bodies was forbidden, Lucius Spectatus, a Roman army doctor (c. A.D. 50), knew little about anatomy. But he became an expert at treating war wounds and treated patients using four guiding principles still crucial to modern doctors: diagnosing, making a prognosis, observing, and treating. In the 13th century, Brother Dominic and Sister Clare cared for monastic infirmary and hospital patients according the religious notion that, while sickness was God's way of punishing sinners, caring for the sick was an act of Christian charity, with prayer being the best cure. (Check out the sidebar on leeches and bloodletting.)

Then there was the infamous barber surgeon of the 15th century, who earned his money from a variety of activities including cutting hair, shaving, dentistry, and performing operations. And Jeremiah Clinker, by day a messenger but by night a grave robber, known in 1750 as a "resurrectionist" because he dug up bodies and sold them on the black market to medical schools for students to practice on. Included here is Four Elks, the 19th century Plains Indian Medicine Man; Benjamin Cardew, the tropical missionary/doctor who had no way of curing diseases like malaria and yellow fever that he encountered in Africa in 1890; Benjamin Covington, the family doctor who made house calls and could, by 1900, at least treat diphtheria successfully. He carried the then-new painkiller aspirin in his black bag. Unfortunately, he also thought heroin would be very beneficial to his patients.

Women include Mistress Bailey, the Elizabethan housewife noted for her ability to cure who mixed her own medicinals; the Victorian public health midwife and Mary Benwell, a Victorian nurse who trained at one of Florence Nightingales special schools; World War I-era Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse Elise Marshall; 1930s district nurse Margery Gilbert, who made her rounds to homes where she knew people would continue to fall ill unless their living conditions improved; British World War II nurse Wendy Nelson; and 1960s General Practitioner Dr. Patricia Wilson.

The book makes great use of educational photographs and sidebars detailing medical practices and advances through time. A timeline, glossary of terms, and list of places to visit pertaining to medical history round out a fascinating reference for kids.

Excerpt: "Until the mid-16th century, gunshot wounds were either burned with a hot iron called a cautery or filled with boiling oil. These treatments were thought to prevent the shot from poisoning the patient. However, [French doctor Ambrose Pare] discovered that patients whose wounds were not treated like this recovered better, and eventually the practice was stopped."

CRICKET'S RATING: A handsomely executed, engrossing visual history. Rates a Great Gift Idea alert.

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll/illustrated with photographs by Abelardo Morell, with an introduction by Leonard S. Marcus (Dutton Children's Books; $19.99 USA/$28.99 CAN)

This unique and stylish edition of the classic Carroll story weds Sir John Tenniel's famous drawings for the it with modern photographer Morell's creative black and white photographs to add a new dimension to Wonderland.

Example: The photo accompanying the text, "'Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English)," mixes a photo of a stack of books seemingly reaching to a ceiling alongside a drawing of the suddenly elongated Alice.

CRICKET'S RATING: Classy. Great Gift Idea for children and adults alike.

"WHADDAYA DOIN’ IN THERE?" A Bathroom Companion (for Kids) by The Editors of Planet Dexter (Planet Dexter; $4.99 US/$6.99 Canada)

"Flush with great reading for kids 8 to 12," this terrific little activity/reference book offers kids something thoroughly engaging to do while they’re, er, thoroughly engaged doing something else. Check it out: mind stumpers, tongue twisters, and riddles; facts and info on a host of subjects from cats and dogs to Star Wars; Best Things Ever Said about Hollywood, sports, and computers; quizzes; word games; More Than You Want to Know About Hair; Really Awful Knock-Knock Jokes; one-minute mysteries; and much more. This cheerfully illustrated, lively volume bounces from one interesting topic to the next in much the same way kids’ curiosity does.

Excerpt: "If you put 40 fireflies in a jar, you should be able to read by the light they make."

CRICKET’S RATING: An ingenious way to entice kids -- especially those not yet hooked -- on reading.

It's this simple: You can't go wrong at Penguin Putnam Online.

FANDEX FAMILY FIELD GUIDES: Civil War (Workman Publishing; $9.95)

What fun. Eric Epstein, an architect and former educator from New Haven, Connecticut, has created an imaginative and handsome format for making fascinating facts come alive in an interactive reference series for students of all ages. Born of Epstein's idea to produce a field guide to American trees based on the shape of their leaves, this wonderful series from Workman evolved from what he calls "A purely intuitive process." Which is why it will appeal to students of all types of learning styles -- it offers an alternative to standard texts and follows the eager learner's natural leaning toward education that's stimulating.

The cards in these slim, info-packed decks are each topped with a die-cut, full color image taken from photos, prints, and paintings. Bolted together in the lower right corner of the deck, the cards fan out to allow for easy reference access. Each deck comes with a plastic-encased box that invites take-along to school, on road trips, anywhere. This is literally "knowledge at your fingertips."

Civil War, for instance, is a colorful cultural chronicle that tells the story of our nation's bloody conflict through a prism of subjects, including the important issues of the day, the men and women who experienced the war firsthand, battles, defining events, and even interesting details such as the gear military personnel used.

Excerpt:(from the card "Microscopic Devils/Human Angels"): "The best medical advice in the war was 'Don't get hit.' And if you did get hit, the farther the wound from the body's trunk, the greater the chance of recovery. wounded limbs that became infected were usually amputated in order to reduce the possibility of gangrene or tetanus."

CRICKET'S RATING:Terrific learning tools for the whole family, which makes them, you guessed it, Great Gift Ideas. Think how neatly they'll slip into Christmas stockings. Other titles in the series so far, all priced at $9.95, are:

MYTHOLOGY
50 STATES
DOGS
PRESIDENTS
BIRDS
CATS
TREES

What are you waiting for? Go get 'em all right now (and watch for new additions to the series) at Workman Publishing.