I Saw Esau: The Schoolchild’s Pocket Book...

I Saw Esau: The Schoolchild’s Pocket Book by Iona and Peter Opie, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (Candlewick Press: $19.95). Whether you need a riddle or an insult, this collection will contain a schoolyard rhyme for every possible occasion.

How the Stars Fell Into the Sky: A Navajo Legend by Jerrie Oughton, illustrated by Lisa Desimini (Houghton Mifflin: $14.95). What a job it was to arrange the stars! All the laws of the world would be written in the sky, so people would know forever what to do. But Coyote was too impatient.

I Am Papa Snap and These Are My Favorite No Such Stories by Tomi Ungerer ‘Delacorte: $15). In one no-such-story, Mr. and Mrs. Kaboodle discover that you just can’t buy a good nest these days: even the ready-laid eggs leak.

Reckless Ruby by Hiawyn Oram, illustrations by Tony Ross (Crown: $14). Reckless Ruby’s aversion to princes (her relatives always promise she’ll marry one if she acts like a lady) gets her into lots of mischief, like smoking eight cigars at a time. “Oh, Ruby! Rubikins!” laments her grandmama after each escapade.”If you don’t take better car eo fyourself, you arenever going to grow up to marry a prince and only come out for glittering banquets!” So Ruby only becomes more reckless. Well, wouldn’t you?