ABRAMS

Abrams takes a stroll down memory lane with When the Silliest Cat Was a Kitten by Gilles Bachelet, about how a certain pet adapted to living with its owner; Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk, in which an author rodent inspires others' creativity; The Witch's Child by Arthur Yorinks, illus, by Jos. A. Smith, about a witch who desires a child of her own; Sawdust and Spangles: The Amazing Life of W.C. Coup by Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills, illus, by Giselle Potter, a true story of a boy who ran away with the circus and became a famous circus leader; and The Discovery of Dragons: Revised and Expanded by Graeme Base, a catalogue of these creatures.

ABRAMS/AMULET

Amulet sharpens its No. 2 pencils for Tested by William Sleator, a futuristic thriller in which teens uncover a conspiracy involving a school-testing company; The Hour of the Outlaw by Maiya Williams, third in the series about time detectives; Fell by David Clement-Davies, the sequel to The Sight, a fantasy adventure; The Lighthouse War, second in the series that began with The Lighthouse Land; and Book Five in the Sisters Grimm series.

ALLEN & UNWIN

(IPG, DIST.)

Allen & Unwin head to the artist's studio with How to Draw Krappy Kartoons Really Well by Geoff Kelly, a guide offering a professional cartoonist's tips; and Brian Banana Duck Sunshine Yellow by Chris McKimmie, about a boy who earns three color-inspired nicknames from his grandparents.

BARRON'S

Barron's meets the masters with Matisse: King of Colour by Laurence Anholt, the story of the artist in his later life; and Renoir and the Boy with the Long Hair by Wendy Wax, which recounts an anecdote about the painter and his young son, Jean.

BLOOMSBURY

Bloomsbury turns the page for Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, a tale of forbidden love set in medieval Mongolia; Freckle Face Strawberry by Julianne Moore, illus, by LeUyen Pham, about freckles, friends and individuality; The Declaration by G.R. Malley, a drama starring teens struggling to survive in a dystopian society; The Seems by John Hulme and Michael Wexler, a fantasy introducing the "fixers," people living in a world just behind ours and helping things in our world to run smoothly; and Starcross: Larklight II by Philip Reeve, illus, by David Wyatt, in which a family visiting an asteroid resort gets swept up in a dastardly scheme.

BLUE APPLE

(CHRONICLE, DIST.)

Blue Apple pirouettes into fall with A Dictionary of Dance by Liz Murphy; Can You Moo?, a finger-puppet board book about animal sounds by Simms Taback; The Miracles of the Bible by Josh Hanft, illlus. by Seymour Chwast, featuring tales from the Old Testament; and And to Name but Just a Few: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue by Laurie Rosenwald, a poetry collection with a color theme.

CANDLEWICK

Candlewick bears tidings of the season with Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo, illus, by Bagram Ibatoulline, a holiday tale about the power of kindness; Judy Moody, Stink and the Holly...