4 TO 8 YEARS OF AGE

"Beetle Boy," by Lawrence David. illustrated by Delphine Durand. Doubleday. 32 pages $15.95.

Gregory Sampson has turned into a giant beetle and no one notices -- except his best friend Michael. Gregory had to cut more holes in his shirt for all his arms, or legs. He used his antennae to hit the ball, which Michael didn't think was fair. This is a wild and lively story with crazy mixed up pictures. It's worth at least 10 good giggles!

"Chesapeake Bay Walk," by David Owen Bell, illustrated by Jennifer Heyd Wharton. Tidewater Publishers. 28 pages. $12.95.

If you take a squishy walk in the mud near Chesapeake Bay, you're likely to find fiddler or hermit crabs. In the water, you might see red sponges and green algae. In this very complete but easy to understand guide, David Bell explains just about everything you might see in the Bay itself as well as all its creeks, rivers, and marshes.

"Factastic Book of 1001 Lists," written and illustrated by Russell Ash DK Publishing, Inc. 208 pages. $14.95.

Children in China go to school for 251 days every year --about two months more than American kids. But American kids have more words to learn - English has one million words, more than any other language. Mr. Ash shares all kinds of fascinating facts in his new book of lists, from plants and planets to cities and sports and stars.

"Fog Cat," by Marilyn Helmer, illustrated by Paul Mombourquette. Kids Can Press. 31 pages. $14.95.

Fog Cat is a "pale, thin wisp of a creature with eyes as green as the sea itself." "She belongs to herself," says Grandpa. But Hannah is not convinced. Ever so patiently, Hannah leaves bits of food until Fog Cat moves inside. This is a wise story with sad and happy lessons about patience, mothers and grandpas, and a cat's love of freedom. And don't miss all the carefully drawn details in Paul Mombourquette's illustrations!

"Granddaddy's Street Songs" by Monalisa DeGross. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Hyperion Books for Children. 25 pages. $14.99.

"Wa-a-a-ter-melons, I got wa-a-a-ter-melons." "Ce-le-ry, long, green and fine." There was a time in Baltimore when people bought fruits and vegetables -- not from supermarkets -- but from men riding horse-drawn wagons through the neighborhood. These "arabbers" sang songs to make sure everyone knew who had the juiciest peaches and the reddest peppers. The stories Monalisa DeGross tells about Granddaddy's arabbin' days will make you want to climb right onto the wagon and start singing yourself!

"How Artists See Play," by Colleen Carroll. Abbeville Kids. 48 pages. $10.95.

The famous painter Edouard Manet used loose brushstrokes to paint jockeys in a horse race, "as if you were glimpsing the race only for a split second," explains Colleen Carroll. Does Picasso's Pierrot look like he's having fun? Could you create an entire circus with bits of wire and wood like Alexander Calder? Ms. Carroll's book is an excellent introduction to the fine art of play from the artist's point of view.

"I'd Rather Have an Iguana," written and illustrated by Heidi Stetson Mario. Talewinds. 32 pages. $14.95.

There's a new baby in the family. His big sister thinks he looks like an alien, only not as cute. She'd rather have an iguana. The splendid illustrations in this silly but very honest story will make you laugh out loud. The ending will make you smile.

"Kites: Magic Wishes that Fly Up to the Sky," by Demi. Crown Publishers Inc. 35 pages. $17.

A Chinese mother once wanted her son to be strong and wise. So she had a dragon painted on a kite and sent it up to the sky, near the gods. Chinese wishes are still expressed in kite shapes -- goldfish for happiness, lizard for quickness, eagle for power. Demi has painted and described all these kites in beautiful detail and even gives you directions to make your own.

"The Dream Collector," by Troon Harrison. Illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel Kids Can Press $15.95.

When you wake up, your dreams just end. Or do they? Imagine that a dream collector gathers up all the dreams everyday before the sun rises. Troon Harrison has invented quite a clever story about our dreams -- it might even make you want to sleep with your eyes open so you won't miss any of yours!

"The Legend of the Lady Slipper," by Lise Lunge-Larsen & Margi Preus. Illustrated by Andrea Arroyo. Houghton Mifflin Co. 32 pages. $15.

Hiking in the woods in the spring you may be lucky enough to see a delicate flower called a Lady Slipper. A native American Ojibwe legend tell us that those slippers belonged to a little girl who lost her moccasins in the snow while bravely trying to rush medicine to her sick family. This simple, colorful story helps us feel closer to all the natural wonders around us.

"A Little Bit of Winter," by Paul Stewart. Illustrated by Chris Riddell. HarperCollins Publishers. 23 pages. $12.95.

Hedgehog keeps trying to explain to his friend Rabbit that he can't miss him during the winter because he sleeps all winter long. But Hedgehog says he would be very pleased if Rabbit could save a little bit of winter for him. When Hedgehog held what Rabbit saved, he cried "Ouch! It bit me!" "That is what winter feels like," says Rabbit. Find out what Rabbit saved in this very thoughtful story that tells you what winter and friends really feel like.

"Pete's a Pizza," written and ilustrated by William Steig. HarperCollins Publishers. 30 pages. $13.95.

What do you do to get yourself out of a bad mood? Pete's dad turns him into a pizza. Pete is stretched and tossed- and tickled. "Pizza-makers are not supposed to tickle their pizza!" says Pete - but he isn't in a bad mood anymore. William Steig wrote this wonderful, silly story when he was 90 years old. Do you think he'd still like to be a pizza?

"To Be a Kid," by Maya Ajmera & John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge. 32 pages. $15.95.

The more kids are different, the more they are the same. All over the world, being a kid means "walking home together -- marching in a parade -- learning new things --- goofing off." The photos of children in this book are so outstanding and so real that you will want to run right onto the page and say 'hi'! Where do you want to go first? Poland? India? Peru or France?

"The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest," by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin Co. 32 pages. $15.

Even if you never imagine yourself on top of Mt. Everest, it is worth looking at Steve Jenkins' book just for the amazing illustrations. Every rock and yak and whiff of snow has been carefully cut from all kinds and colors of paper. You can almost feel the windy snow plumes and touch the climbers, from their gas masks to their frostbitten finger tips!

Karen Leggett is a free-lance journalist and children's book critic in Atlanta. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and Atlanta Journal Constitution.