Popular children's books often stand the test of time. And even new books can hold onto the vintage look and feel of classics. These refreshing books are happily retro.

"Up in the Tree" by Margaret Atwood; Groundwood Books; 32 pages; $14.95.

Originally published in 1978, Atwood's simple picture book was at that time deemed too expensive to print in Canada. Atwood helped cut the budget by hand-lettering the type and by using only two colors (blue and red), which surprisingly resulted in the pictures' large range of tones and textures. The lovely story, about the adventures of two children who live up in a tree, is playful, energetic and wry; the easy, wide-eyed expressions of the children are Seuss-like.

A delightful read-aloud for preschoolers, "Up in the Tree" also makes a modern art piece, reminding us that technology hasn't necessarily made things more appealing in the world of children's literature.

"The Shy Creatures" by David Mack; Feiwel and Friends/Holtzbrinck Publishers; 48 pages; $16.95.

David Mack, creator of the critically acclaimed "Kabuki" graphic novels, turns his creative attention to young children in this tale of a shy girl who whips up a creature-filled tale for her class. The girl, definitely similar to Cindy Lou Who, wants to be an animal doctor when she grows up — she imagines a bevy of mythical creatures to help. "What if the Unicorn broke his horn? I could tape it together so he wouldn't be forlorn!" she rhymes, as her shyness dissipates.

Certainly an ode to the power of imagination, Mack's otherworldly animals bring to mind Seuss classics, and his rhyming verses are fresh and vintage at the same time. Best of all, shy kids will come away from this lilting read with a dose of confidence. Mack also offers an extra page describing all the creatures, from Bigfoot to Cyclops to the Pushmi-Pullyu.

"The Curious Boy's Book of Adventure" by Sam Martin; Razorbill/Penguin Young Readers Group; 160 pages; $15.

With the look of a vintage Boy Scout handbook but more colorful, Martin's guide to "100 Hijinks & Escapades" knows that all boys like to hunt, explore and discover. Boys also love secret hideaways and to tinker and repair. Martin compiled an old-fashioned but fun collection of ideas and activities for kids, encouraging them to skim stones on a lake, float paper boats, send messages in a bottle, grow their own crystals and tune radios to eavesdrop on aircraft broadcasts.

A superb gift for school holiday humdrums, "The Curious Boy's Book of Adventure" goes back to an era before video games and iPods, but is infinitely more fun.

"Bunny Kisses" from Golden Books; 12 pages; $9.99.

The gentle turquoises, fluffy whites and pale pinks of the "Pat the Bunny" series serves as a reminder of childhood. But "Pat the Bunny" isn't relegated to dusty old boxes in our parents' garages; it's been updated and refreshed for modern tots. This new activity book, heart-shaped but still classic-looking, stars Bunny, who loves to give Tickle the pig a kiss and tuck puppies in for naps — all encouraging kids to lift curtains and pat soft textures.

There's also a big red button for tots to push, which makes a sweet kissing sound at the appropriate moments.

Pat has even made the jump to the big screen with the new DVD release: "Pat the Bunny Playdates" from Genius Entertainment ($14.99).

The engaging video program offers interactive play ideas for children ages 6 months to 36 months, with Bunny encouraging children's social and mental development. The video includes songs as well as a cover featuring a touch-and-feel bunny.

"Mr. Men Gift Set" by Roger Hargreaves; Price Stern Sloan/Penguin Books for Young Readers; $16.99.

Little Miss Sunshine has made quite a comeback, but so have her male costars. The popular "Little Miss" and "Mr. Men" book series, around for quite some time, are still extraordinarily popular with T-shirts, notebooks and games. This collection, containing whimsical and wacky tales with messages, comes in a sturdy, tall folder. It features "Mr. Brave," "Mr. Messy," "Mr. Funny," "Mr. Noisy," "Mr. Happy" and "Mr. Tickle." The tiny books also come with enclosed envelopes, in case kids want to "pay it forward" to their friends.

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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