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First novels: Young readers have lots of choices

Children who are ready to read their first novels have lots of choices. In recent years, publishers have started catering to this group of readers, publishing both "stand alone" first novels, as well as various novel-style series, like the "Cam Jansen" mysteries, the "Junie B. Jones," "Magic Treehouse" or "Marvin Redpost" series, or the "Amber Brown" books.

Here's a look at some of the best new first novels for young readers. One is a gem about an adventurous toad and a grumpy owl, another is a humorous tale of two alligators, and a third is the story of the new kid at school, who tries to impress his classmates by telling a string of lies.

Twenty four years ago, author Russell Erickson wrote a gem of a book about an adventurous toad who creates an unlikely friendship with an owl. Now, Beech Tree books has decided to reprint Erickson's book, titled "A Toad for Tuesday" ($3.99). With only 64 pages -- including many with charming line drawings by Lawrence Di Fiori -- this is quite a short novel. But Warton, the hero of "A Toad for Tuesday," will leave an indelible impression on the minds of young readers.

"A Toad for Tuesday" opens with two toads, Warton and Morton, enjoying a lovely dinner in their cozy home, buried far underneath the wintry woods. But Warton decides to venture out because he wants to share some of Morton's wonderful cooking with their Aunt Toolia. So he creates his own tiny skis and bundles up in many layers and heads out to the snow-filled world above.

Warton hasn't gone far, however, before he's captured by a grumpy owl named George, who pledges to eat the toad on the next Tuesday, which happens to be the owl's birthday. It's a difficult time for Warton, although his naturally cheerful nature helps him to keep up hope of escaping, even as he also tries to befriend the owl.

Although the lonely owl seems to enjoy their talks together, he's still set on eating Warton. Luckily for the toad, however, a squad of mice -- led by a deer mouse whom Warton had helped earlier -- lead him safely from the owl's lair. Erickson then provides a last, surprise bit of poetic justice, as the escaped Warton ends up saving the life of the owl, who's about to be eaten by a fox.

"A Toad for Tuesday" is that rare book, a well-written, unpretentious nature fantasy.(Ages 7-9).

Allie and Amy Gator are best alligator friends who plan to perform together as part of a street fair to raise money to buy new equipment for the local playground. Then disaster strikes: Allie comes down with swamp flu and is confined to bed. Amy's determined that their show must go on, but how?

Veteran authors Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole have teamed up again to create another sparklingly humorous "Gator Girls" book in "Get Well, Gators!" (Morrow, $16). Ably aided by the droll yet vivacious illustrations of Lynn Munsinger, Calmenson and Cole tell how Amy learns that it's possible to solo and still be part of a dynamic duo.

While the story is simple, young readers will giggle at the gators' antics and cheer Allie's ability to solve her problem. (Ages 6-8).

Cody's the new kid in school, and he wants to make a good impression. So he tells a string of lies about himself: that he's from Alaska, not Kansas; that his father is an FBI agent, not a banker; that his mother drives a red Jaguar, not a station wagon; and that he's got a pet emu, not a dog.

In "Hey New Kid!" (Puffin, $3.99), author Betsy Duffey tells how Cody's plan to make himself look cool to his new classmates backfires when he's forced to put one of his lies -- that he's a championship rollerblader -- into action at a birthday party. Young readers will roar with laughter at what happens when Cody straps on rollerblades.

Without being preachy, Duffey manages to elicit both sympathy and amusement from readers as Cody learns that being himself is the best way to make new friends. (Ages 7-9).