Kids' Home Library by Lee Littlewood

Animals have always starred in the most beloved children's books. That tradition continues with a new group of personable, quirky creature tales.

"Princess Pig" by Eileen Spinelli; illustrated by Tim Bowers; Knopf Delacorte Dell; 32 pages; $16.99.

For preschoolers who dream of being princesses comes this heartwarming and humorous tale of a pig with big dreams. The lively tale begins when a beauty pageant sash blows into the pigpen, convincing the ordinarily loveable Pig that she's meant to be royalty. She starts behaving like a princess, choosing bubble baths over mud baths, and comfy pillows over pen mud.

But all doesn't end there, as our adorable pig discovers that princesshood comes with a price — no more rolling in squishy mud or partying with the other animals at a barnyard bash.

Pig gives up her sash and crown and happily rejoins the ranks of the other animals in an ending that will satisfy non-royal children. Succinctly "penned" and decorated with lighthearted, zippy illustrations, "Princess Pig" is top-rate read-aloud fodder.

"Being a Pig is Nice: A Child's-Eye View of Manners" by Sally Lloyd-Jones; illustrated by Dan Krall; Schwartz & Wade Books; 40 pages; $16.99.

Being a polite kid is sometimes quite a challenge, as our pigtailed heroine learns. So she imagines herself in animal-slosh heaven, as a muddy pig, a dawdling snail, a splashing, squirting elephant and most hilariously, a finger-eating monkey. The girl reasons that animal parents expect their children to get muddy, smell bad, and eat with their fingers, and that would be refreshingly, rebelliously fabulous.

The downsides to being an animal, the girl reckons, are having to eat grubs out of everyone's ears, (as a monkey), and having to be slimy as a snail. Consequently, she soon decides a monster's life seems unmannerly ideal.

Artist Krall's retro drawings show off his appealing talent from years working on Cartoon Network shows, and Lloyd-Jones' fabulously imaginative writing makes this new book a joy.

"Elephants Cannot Dance!" by Mo Willems; Hyperion; 58 pages; $8.99.

Super popular, Willems' "Elephant & Piggie" series is delightful and nearly Seuss-like in appeal.

The latest mini-drama showcases the tutu-clad Piggie, spinning and twirling and determined to teach the bespectacled Elephant to dance. Ensuing hilarity, as Elephant becomes more and more frustrated, will reach a chord with preschoolers, who will laugh when, eventually, an audience of squirrels begs to learn dance from Elephant, not Piggie.

Willems' comic timing, easy-to-read text and simple but genius, kid-like situations make the series a top-rate read that is perfect for preschoolers and early readers.

"The Hermit Crab" by Carter Goodrich; Simon & Schuster; 32 pages; $16.99.

Shy kids will thoroughly enjoy this imaginative new tale about a hermit crab afraid to socialize with the other sea creatures. But one day, he finds a shiny new shell, really the top half of an action figure toy, and curls up inside, happy with his new home. Meanwhile, the other animals are worried they can't rescue their pal the flounder, trapped inside a fishing crate. Who comes to the rescue? Hermit Crab, aka Super Hero, who inadvertently shakes the crate enough to release Flounder.

Slightly fuzzy, friendly illustrations give the hermit crab's underwater world a realistic look, while Goodrich's wonderfully inventive story shines the spotlight on a small, timid creature that becomes a hero overnight.

"Watch Me Hop!" by Rebecca Young; illustrations by Von Glitschka; from Scholastic; 16 pages; $12.99.

Have you seen the new tot books with built-in pictures-in-motion? Certainly a visual delight, "Watch Me Hop!" features lenticular, holographic technology that makes animals look like they're actually moving when the book is wiggled. This sturdy book stars animals who hop, from a rabbit to a grasshopper, wiggle, (pig), sway, (elephant), and swish like a fish.

Filled with visual excitement and brief introductory text, "Watch Me Hop!" will certainly be a dog-eared volume in toddler homes.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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