Thursday, October 2, 10:30 a.m.
BRIAN LIES
BATS AT THE LIBRARY (Houghton Mifflin, $16)
What luck! A window is ajar at the library, so in fly the bats. The old bats read and discuss books; the young ones play tag and Xerox themselves. When it’s story time, they read old favorites like “Pippi Longbat,” “Goodnight Sun,” and “Make Way for Batlings.” Ages 4-8.

Monday, October 6, 10:30 a.m.
LOREN LONG
DRUMMER BOY (Philomel, $17.99)
In this beautifully illustrated take on the Christmas classic, a child loses his new drummer-boy ornament. After a journey involving a rat, an owl’s nest, and a snowman, the drummer boy returns to the child in time to play for the baby in the manger. Ages 3-7.

Tuesday, October 7, 10:30 a.m.
NIKKI GIOVANNI
HIP HOP SPEAKS TO CHILDREN (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $19.99)
This companion to Poetry Speaks to Children is a vibrantly illustrated collection of poetry with a beat, and comes with a CD of readings by the poets and other artists. Ages 7-12.

LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS: AN AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP (Holt, $16.95)
This is the story of two great men, their uncommon friendship, and their mutual goal of racial equality in the United States. Ages 6-10.

Friday, October 10, 10:30 a.m.
KATE FEIFFER
PRESIDENT PENNYBAKER (Simon & Schuster, $16.99)
What if the new president were a kid? Luke Pennybaker, of the Birthday Party, runs for president with Lily, his dog, as vice-presidential candidate. When they win, they discover that bringing fairness to all kids is a tough job. Ages 4-8.

Monday, October 13, 10:30 a.m.
MEM FOX & HELEN OXENBURY
TEN LITTLE FINGERS AND TEN LITTLE TOES (Harcourt, $16)
Emphasizing children’s similarities and celebrating parental love, two treasured stars of children’s literature will share their newest collaboration. Ages 0-3.

Wednesday, October 15, 4:30 p.m.
JOHN SCIESZKA
KNUCKLEHEAD (Viking, $16.99; $12.99, paper)
This very funny memoir and photo album of John’s life as one of six brothers contains hair-raising adventures that will make you wonder how he survived childhood. Should we label it: Do Not Try This at Home? Ages 9-11.

Thursday, October 16, 10:30 a.m.
PADMA VENKATRAMAN
CLIMBING THE STAIRS (Putnam, $16.99)
In India, as World War II looms, Vidya moves in with her father’s extended, rigidly conservative family. The only bright spots in her life are Raman, who’s after more than friendship, and a huge library, reserved for men, to which Vidya secretly gains access. Ages 12-16.

Tuesday, October 21, 10:30 a.m.
DAVID MACAULAY
THE WAY WE WORK (Walter Lorraine, $35)
As he did for machines in The Way Things Work, Macaulay explains the body’s smallest building blocks, and then shows how each of the major systems works. Once again, he gives us clear explanations, humor, and wonderful illustrations. Ages 10 and up. (Note: Macaulay will also speak on this book at 7 p.m.)

Thursday, October 23, 10:30 a.m.
ADAM REX
FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE (Harcourt, $16)
Frankenstein—so green and grinning, and whose rhymes are oh-so-winning—has a new book! Full of monsters, zombies, aliens and more—ghastly goblins. Ghouls galore. Read the Headless Horseman’s blog; he observed a headless dog—and discover why, at school, Medusa always was ignored. When you tire of beheading, Frankenstein and Bride are wedding. Ages 4-8.

Friday, October 24, 10:30 a.m.
KIM WAYANS AND KEVIN KNOTTS
AMY HODGEPODGE #3: LOST AND FOUND (Grosset & Dunlap, $4.99)
Amy and her friends are going on an overnight school trip to the woods. She is looking forward to it, but she’s never been camping before and is afraid she’ll make mistakes. Ages 7-11.

Saturday, October 25, 10:30 a.m.
ELAINE S. POVICH
NANCY PELOSI: A BIOGRAPHY (Greenwood, $35)
Nancy Pelosi has had many firsts: first female minority whip in the U.S. House, first female minority leader, and first female Speaker. She balanced these groundbreaking roles with being a wife and the mother of five children. A notable role-model for young women, she has changed American politics. Ages 14 and up.