BOOKS 2006 PART ONE: CHILDREN'S/TEENS

This article and the next use the Winter and Spring 2006 catalogs I got from a variety of  book publishers (and their many divisions) including Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Holtzbrinck and others.  I love to scour over the catalogs finding things that catch my eye and then looking them up and finding out as much as I can through the internet about them.  Then I like to share all this info with you, so that you may find something to look for the next time you go to a bookstore.  I'm going to break down the look into four categories and two "issues", Children's, Young Adult/Teen, Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction.   Some of the books in YA will be up part two or three of a series its most recent book, in those cases I am recommending the series as a whole.  Some books came out last year or the year before in hardcover and are now in paperback,  I may have missed them the first time they came out and now that they're out in a cheaper and easier to carry format I'd notice them better.  

I'll will not be concentrating on who the actual publisher is as I think it's more important to know the writer/artist and title.  The publisher only helps you if... I guess if you're a book store doing ordering.

Anyway and Okay... away we go with PART ONE: Children's and Teens.

CHILDREN'S

Manga cartoonist Ching N. Chan will have a series called Anime Sticker Stories.  The books will be manga style art, with 75 reusable stickers which can be used to add elements, props and other stuff to the story.  For kids the stickers is fantastic fun and for adults, they can lavish and let Chan's truly fun art bring them in.  You may want to take your time and enjoy the more adult work on Ching's site as well, it is some fantastic work.  The series is scheduled to begin in March, book two arrives in August.

Matthew McElligott has done his share of illustrations for Children's Board Books and the such, but his upcoming Backbeard and the Birthday Suit is a subject all nerds around the world love, PIRATES!  McElligott has a truly charming style that evokes wonderment.  Ships in April 2006.

Ed Briant has done his share of interesting and fun work, from New Yorker cartoons, sculptures, claymation animation (all which can be seen at his site) and a adult style Autobio comic strip for Publisher's Weekly about his life as a Children's Book writer.  His upcoming A Day At The Beach is absolutely charming in every way possible, it's a fumetti of clay sculptures and backgrounds and is breathtaking as art to behold.  Out June 2006.

Comics LEGEND Bob McLeod has too many credits to mention in this article (although his most noteworthy thing was co-creator of the original New Mutants).  Now he's brought his fabulous talents to the world of oversized pictures books with Superhero ABC.  From Astro Man to The Volcano (pictured left) McLeod has brought both the funny and awesome with characters that are entertaining and "educational" for children while at the same time having the possibility of being real comic characters in a regular book.  In Stores Now.

YOUNG ADULT/TEEN

Genius comic actress Rhea Perlman is also now a Children's/YA writer and her series is about a racecar driving super spy who also happens to be a child and his name is Otto Phillip, or if you like Otto Undercover.  These truly fun books (I've had a chance to peruse them) also feature illustrations by Dan Santat which convey that Otto Undercover would be an excellent cartoon as well.  The series began in February and is in stores now, book three in August!

Stephen Gilpin is one of indie comix best guys, a "former" member of the Meathaus crew (Tomer Hanuka, Becky Cloonan, Troy Nixey, James Jean, Farel Dalrymple and others)  he's also been doing young adult and children's book's illustrations for awhile.  His latest work is for The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy by long time children's author, William Boniface.  The story takes place in a world where everyone is a superhero except well Ordinary Boy.  It's like Normalman for kids.  There seems to be a lack of info on the book from the publisher online, but there is an Amazon order page and knowing Gilpin's work and that cover, it'll be super-fun... not un-super-fun as the case may be.  The series begins in June.

There's more "Superhero" fun on the way in the form of Melvin Beederman by Greg Trine with art by Rhode Montigo, the man behind the comic Pablo's Inferno and the runway internet and DVD hit, Happy Tree Friends as well as writer/painter of upcoming Children's book Cloud Boy.  This the beginning of a series that starts in simultaneous hardcover and paperback editions with #1:The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich and #2:The Revenge of the McNasty Brothers in May.  


Barry Yourgrau is an insanely brilliant writer, and just insanely brilliant period.  He has an awesome speaking voice, a really cool look and has written some of the funniest, craziest stuff of the last 20 years.  Now he's been giving his undeniable wit and humor to the children in the series NASTYbook.  The second book comes out in May 2006 and includes Manga sections drawn by Robert De Jesus.

The first book of screenwriter/director's next film Arthur and the Minimoys, an adaptation  by Luc Besson himself finally comes to paperback in April.  The series is a runway hit in France and already up to a fourth volume.  A video game from Atari is scheduled to come out in November right before the movie hits here in December.  Besson has given the world genius such as La Femme Nikita, Léon and The Fifth Element.  Now it's the long going Minimoys which has David Bowie, Snoop Dogg, Madonna and Freddie Highmore amongst its cast.  It'll probably be the blockbuster of Dec 2006 and then become as huge as Potter... so get on board now before it's too late (or something).  

Hey Comic Artists, You can put away your copy of DRaw The Marvel Comics Way by John Buscema, because here comes You Can Draw Marvel Characters courtesy of of Dan Jurgens.  You'll barely be able to tell the difference, well except your drawings will be more realistic, but a lot less dynamic.  That's just MY opinion of course.  Dan Jurgens is a fabulous artist, but Buscema is a classic with pizzaz.  In Stores Now.

Christopher Russell has written for quite a few BBC programs.  That credit has brought some  spectacular talent in novels over the years (Douglas Adams and Terrance Dicks to name two).  Russell's first offering was original published in England by PENGUIN as Brind and the Dogs of War and will be available in the US as Dogboy in hard and paperback on May 9 2006.  His next book Plague Sorcerer comes out in the UK in March.  

Sid Fleischman, someone you could call a legend in children's literature has two new books.  An 1800's adventure story called The Giant Rat of Sumatra or Pirates Galore and Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini.  In The Giant Rat, the rat (a famous reference originated by A. Conan Doyle and and used as cannon by many writers through the years) is a ship in which a young cabin boy just wants to leave.  It features breathtaking illustrations by John Hendrix;  The paperback edition comes out in July.  Escape! is exactly what the title suggests, and also comes out in July.  

Fly By Night looks to be a fascinating novel about a world where all books are banned and reading is a skill akin to magic.  It is from award-winng short story writer Frances Hardinge, this is her first novel, which has been acclaimed in the UK.  I absolutely love her bio for herself and she wears her hats with such a flair, it seems impossible to not somehow love her.  

Echo Falls Mysteries by Peter Abrahams is a very popular and noted mystery/thriller writer, but in 2005 he joined the ranks of many other major writers going from Adult to Children's (James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates) to begin the Echo Falls Mysteries series.  The first book Down the Rabbit Hole will be out in paperback in April with the second book coming shortly in hardcover.  This interview with Abrahams gives a very nice overview.  

Kiki Strike comes from first time novelist Kirsten Miller.  It tells of of a mysterious teenage super spy and a young girl she befriends and takes places mostly in NYC.  Not much is known about the series, but this interview provides insight into the writer.  

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series is known world-wide, a phenomenon of books and one of the greatest TV shows of all time.  In the new A Little House Traveler  previously unpublished material of a car trip of her and Almanzo back to her hometown is in the combined with On the Way Home and West From Home to complete a wonderful new compendium.  

Ian Ogilvy is one of the UK's greatest actors, most famous for The Conqueror Worm, Moll Flanders and The Return of The Saint.  He is also a noted author and now a popular Children's author with the series Measle Stubbs.  The book is up to it's third now with Measle and the Mallokee which came out in January. 

  


There's another Magical series out there folks and this one is Septmius Heap by Angie Stone, with illustrations by Mark Zug.  This one is a trilogy that will tell a tale that seems quite expansive and enjoyable.  Book Two arrives in March.    

Angie Sage has another series called Araminta Spookie that will have art by Jimmy Pickering; it begins in July.

First time author, Katherine Langrish's Scandinavian inspired fantasy of trolls, evil uncles, friendship, etc was began in Troll Fell and continues in Troll Mill  which came out on February 1, 2006.  Make sure to check out the fantastic Flash game based on the first book.

  

Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is a saga of prehistoric times.  It's description reminds me of Jean Auel's Earth's Children series and equally of The Gear's Prehistoric America.  It seems Pver has found her own powerful and mystical niche to the genre though and the illustrations throughout by Geoff Taylor are amazing.  On March 1st,  Book #1 comes out in paper as book #2 comes out in hardcover.   

Grail Quest by Laura Anne Gillman  has written Buffy novels, spiritual sci-fiction and has an adult supernatural romance series Retrievers.  Her newest creation though is the first to interest me.  Grail Quest takes place in the time of King Arthur where a squire and his friends are forced to defend the caste and the land when all of Camelot's adult go to sleep.  The First book is out in February, while  book 2 comes out in July.

Sherwood Smith has written a variety of Sci-Fi and fantasy classics and best-sellers.  She's an award winning YA writer and really has a good understanding of characters, especially those created by others.  Which is why when I found out she had started a new OZ series I was excited.  Making the series more exciting is that the art is by comics legend William Stout.  He lends his precise and detailed style to the Baum legends in a way only he could.  The second book in the series, Trouble Under Oz comes out in August 2006.  

A talking tiger, a hunt for a stuffed bear, circus freaks.  All these things have happened in children's stories before.  I have no clue if they've been combined though.  In August of 2006, that will no longer be the case as writer Jon Berkely (a successful illustrator) and artist Brandon Dorman bring us the first of The Wednesday Tales, The Palace of Laughter.  As a note: LOOK AT THAT COVER, That is just AMAZING!

The Jimmy Coates series by Joe Craig is already a hit in its native UK with book two coming out there in March.  The first book came out in hardcover in America last year and the paperback ships on July  2006.  Jimmy Coates tells of a teen who suddenly discovers he's superpowered and then has to start running from a mysterious group who comes after him.  

Avid readers know the name Gregory Maguire by sight.  His book Wicked is an international hit, as well as an extremely popular Broadway musical.  He's also written his hare of children's books, including Leaping Beauty, which did for Little Red Riding Hood and others what he did for OZ and Snow White.  The paperback edition comes out in March.  

Soccer isn't everyones cup of tea, but when it's written by David Bedford and includes Keith Brumpton art you have something different  It's not just soccer though, there's a robot on the team and stories full of all the best things about adolescence.  The Team Series is a UK/AU import and the first and second book is out now with the rest of the series coming soon.   

Anne Ursu has written two novels that seem quite intriguing.  In March of 2006 her first Young Adault series The Cronus Chronicles begins with The Shadow Thieves.  It uses the backdrop of greek myth, a large scheme, the fun of adventure and fun and interesting female lead.  Combined with a remarkable pen it should create a continuing tale that will interest most if not all.  The book also features a cover and illustrations by gaming and sci-fi cover artist, Eric Fortune.

Everyone knows Spy Gear.  These are toys we would've loved to own as kids.  Toys that kids today love.  Those toys have inspired a series of Spy Gear Adventure books written by Rick Barba.  Gamers will be familiar with the name.  Not only has he written hundreds of strategy guides, he also had a major hand in the story development elements of the Les Manley games.  The series is up to its third book which comes out in May of 2006.

END PART ONE