Children's Books - Spring 2005

I love children's literature, and I rejoice when The New York Times publishes its semi-annual Children's Books Section that rounds up the latest offerings.

Among this spring's selections are three terrific-sounding books on Egypt, including How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt, written and illustrated by Tamara Bower (ages 7-11), based on an actual Egyptian scroll that dates from the Greco-Roman period. At left is a detail from an illustration depicting Queen Serpot as she plans her defense against invading Egyptians. Her plan includes she and her advisors disguising themselves as men and infiltrating the Egyptian forces. For those of us looking for positive female models in children's lit, this book offers plenty: "Serpot led her troops. She fought like a bird of prey, like a raging leopard. Each Amazon fought like 10 men. The Egyptians dropped their weapons and fled."

Other featured books include a posthumous Runny Babbit from Shel Silverstein, a death-cheating fairy tale from Hans Christian Andersen given a new setting in China ( Amy Lowry Poole's The Pea Blossom), and H. L. Panahi's Bebop Express (illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher). Be sure to check out the Times's multimedia presentation on Bebop Express.