The Children's Hour -- Books For Tots, Young People Are Bound To Be A Holiday Hit

CUTLINE: ``THE BIG BOOK FOR PEACE''

$1.5 billion. Hmmmm. Sounds like a figure from the savings-and-loan mess, or a new order at Boeing, right?

Think again. That enormous sum is this year's projected sales total for children's books - quadruple what it was just a few years ago. Baby-boomer parents are making their clout known, and they promise to keep the bookstore cash registers ringing this holiday season.

Naturally, every publisher is hoping for a goodly share of the annual pie, and 1990 has seen the publication of some truly noteworthy and beautiful books for children. And just as naturally, there have been little disasters as well.

To help you find a book for the tot or young person on your holiday shopping list, here's a selected guide to new titles. If nothing here suits your need, remember to consult your local librarians and booksellers - they'll be thrilled to let you know about their favorites.

FOR PRESCHOOLERS PLUS

-- ``The Playtime Treasury,'' selected by Pie Corbett (Doubleday, $16.95). Smart families investing in this collection of cheerily illustrated playground rhymes, games and action songs will get a good eight years' use from it. From pattycake to dragon tag, it's all here. (Ages 1-8)

-- ``Oscar, Cat-About-Town,'' by James Herriot (St. Martin's, $10.95). Once again, just in time for the season, Herriot gives us another outtake from his best-selling experiences as a vet. Warm, homey illustrations, a tug at the heartstrings, a happy ending - it's all here in this story of a starving cat who finds - and loses - a new home. (Ages 2-4)

-- ``Mary Had a Little Lamb,'' photos by Bruce McMillan (Scholastic, $12.95). It's hard not to smile as you leaf through these vibrant color photos. Mary's vivid clothes and brown skin contrast wonderfully with the pristine live lamb. A charmer. (Ages 2-5)

-- ``One Gorilla,'' by Atsuko Morozumi (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $13.95). There's just enough challenge in finding the hidden items here to make this popular with children. Of course, that lovable gorilla on every page is a big plus, too. (Ages 2-5)

-- ``The Shapes Game,'' by Paul Rogers (Holt, $12.95). A brisk and bouncy verse introduces the basic shapes, while bright, bold pictures recall Matisse's cutouts and encourage young learners to find the forms in the world about them. (Ages 3-5)

-- ``Cloudy,'' by Deborah King (Philomel, $14.95). ``I'm a little gray cat called Cloudy . . . the color of thunder and rain.'' Cloudy gives us a guided tour of a cat's day and a cat's secrets that is simple yet compelling. (Ages 3-6)

-- ``This Is the Way We Go to School,'' by Edith Baer (Scholastic, $13.95). A snappy rhyme tells how children around the world get to class: by subway, bike, bus, boat - even radio. Lighthearted watercolors add to the fun. Patronize this book and start geographic literacy early. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Never Spit on Your Shoes,'' by Denis Cazet (Orchard, $14.95). Just home from the first day of grade one (a lot tougher than kindergarten!), Arnie relates his travails to sympathetic mom. A funny story with even funnier pictures. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Why Can't I Fly?,'' by Ken Brown (Doubleday, $13.95). Ostrich envies his other bird friends and tries all manner of contraptions to become airborne. One failure follows another until the last page reveals him triumphantly aloft - and the kind trick his friends have played to get him there. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Jolly Tall,'' by Jane Hissey (Philomel, $14.95). Nursery toys - to see them is to fall in love with them - welcome a new arrival. Giraffe proves useful in a pinch, and the perfect recipient for a just-knitted way-too-long muffler. Delightful. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``I'm Gonna Tell Mama I Want an Iguana,'' by Tony Johnston (Putnam, $14.95). Clever verse (one of the best is about a child who can't resist eating the dog's biscuits) will amuse, while Lillian Hoban's illustrations make the book even more endearing. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Little Beaver and the Echo,'' by Amy MacDonald (Putnam, $14.95). Little Beaver is a sweet little fellow, but he's lonely. Trying to find the source of an echo at his lakeside home, he finds instead a whole gang of new friends. Especially charming pictures. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``The Turnip,'' by Pierr Morgan (Philomel, $14.95). Port Townsend artist Pierr Morgan gives new life and bounce to a famous Russian folk tale. The line of folks trying to pull a huge turnip out of the ground grows and grows till Keska the mouse provides the necessary oomph. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Is That You, George?,'' by Kate Oliver (Bedrick/Blackie, $12.95). A polar bear can be quite a help around the house - but too bad that it's young George who has been transformed into one! A good bedtime story for all young bears. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Treasure of Cozy Cove,'' by Tony Ross (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $12.95). Pirate fans will welcome this rollicking story set in the sewers of London. The treasure that our feline heroes find is not what they expected, but very welcome indeed. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``Ho-Limlim,'' by Tejima (Philomel, $14.95). Once again this Japanese artist astounds us with his striking woodcuts illustrating this tale of an aged rabbit who recaptures his youth on a spring day, if only briefly. Deceptively simple, the pictures invite repeated viewing. (Ages 3-7)

-- ``The Wild Christmas Reindeer,'' by Jan Brett (Putnam, $14.95). Forget the mediocre story here - Teeka brings in Santa's reindeer - and lose yourself in the spellbinding illustrations. Lots of red and green highlight fanciful Northern detail and will mesmerize the lucky viewer. (Ages 3-8)

-- ``The Day the Goose Got Loose,'' by Reeve Lindbergh (Dial, $12.95). Frenzied chaos on the day in question ends in the land of dreams, where all is magically serene. The verse is fun, but the big draw is illustrator Steven Kellogg's unbridled imagination running full tilt. (Ages 3-8)

-- ``Julius, the Baby of the World,'' Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, $14.95). Never in the history of sibling rivalry have troubles with the new baby been more comically described, and the resolution is clever and realistic. This author goes from strength to strength; do not miss this one. (Ages 3-8)

-- ``The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge,'' by Jill Barklem (Philomel, $24.95). Beatrix Potter fans will luxuriate in this elegant volume (complete with silk-ribbon page marker) which draws together earlier books about the busy lives of country mice. The watercolors invite hours of study, and if the price seems steep, remember that you're getting four lovely books in one. (Ages 3-9)

FOR BEGINNING READERS

-- ``Earthhounds,'' by Jeanne Willis (Dutton, $12.95). Class is in session - in deep space - and Professor Xargle is explaining those odd creatures on the third planet from the sun. As funny as Willis' earlier book, which explained the intricacies of babies. (Ages 4-7)

-- ``Christina Katerina and the Great Bear Train,'' by Patricia Gauch (Putnam, $14.95). Our intrepid heroine strings together a cardboard-box train and loads her stuffed toys for an expedition. Schoolyard bullies and a soaking rain make her glad to get back home. A good little story, but it's a solitary adventure. (Ages 4-7)

-- ``Alphabet Soup,'' by Scott Gustafson (Calico Books, $14.95). Otter throws a potluck party, and 26 friends show up with offerings. It will be hard for kids to wrench this combination of spectacular pictures and clever word play from adult hands; this one is a sure bet for ``year's best'' lists. (Ages 4-8)

-- ``Nessa's Fish,'' by Nancy Luenn (Atheneum, $13.95). On a cold and dangerous fishing expedition, a young Inuit girl saves her ill grandmother's life in this story by Seattle author Nancy Luenn. The harsh beauty of the land comes across in cool pastel watercolors. (Ages 4-8)

-- ``The Read-to-Me Treasury,'' edited by Sally Grindley (Doubleday, $15.95). A pair of uppity boots, a girl named John and that odd little creature, the Cletterkin, are just a few of the characters who inhabit this delightful collection of stories. Just right for cozy lap sitting. (Ages 4-8)

-- ``Puss in Boots,'' illustrated by Fred Marcellino (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $14.95). Right from its bigger-than-life cover, you're aware that this is something special. Puss comes across as a real swashbuckler as he makes his master's fortune - and the reader's day - in this family keepsake edition. (Ages 4-8)

-- ``The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System,'' by Joanna Cole (Scholastic, $13.95). Fans of this series will rejoice in a new adventure featuring Ms. Frizzle's unflappable students. Here the school bus careens off into the solar system when the planetarium closes for repairs. Informative and highly entertaining. (Ages 4-9)

-- ``The Great Zoo Hunt,'' by Pippa Unwin (Doubleday, $13.95). Overnight, 10 animals have disappeared from the zoo, and the keeper must scour the town to find them. This lacks the amazing complexity of the illustrations for Unwin's ``Waldo'' books, but nevertheless will satisfy the same audience. (Ages 4-9)

-- ``Oh, the Places You'll Go!,'' by Dr. Seuss (Random House, $12.95). The doctor brings us an upbeat prescription: pick a goal and persevere, because you will succeed. Dr. Seuss' trademark galumphing verse and distinctive art move this ego-enhancing and chuckle-inducing message right along. (Ages 4 up)

-- ``1, 2 Tie Up My Shoe,'' by Liz Underhill (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $12.95). Elegant pictures recalling Graeme Base's popular ``Animalia'' illustrate the old nursery rhyme. The details to be spotted here will please the sharp-eyed, whether young or old. (Ages 4 up)

FOR YOUNGER READERS

-- ``The Child's Fairy Tale Book,'' by Kay Chorao. (Dutton, $12.95). Native American and East Indian stories are a welcome addition to Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White in this collection. All are nicely told and appealingly illustrated - just the ticket for fairy-tale fans. (Ages 5-9)

-- ``Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns,'' by Ruth Heller (Grosset & Dunlap, $13.95). Don't hesitate to choose this title. No dull English lesson here, rather it has glorious, bold illustrations with a clever rhyming text woven through. Books like this make learning pure pleasure. (Ages 5-9)

-- ``Mice Are Nice,'' compiled by Nancy Larrick (Philomel, $15.95). Twenty-six mouse poems illustrated by Caldecott Award winner Ed Young. Even if the thought of mice feet and twitchy whiskers horrifies you, you'll find this hard to resist. (Ages 5-9)

-- ``Black and White,'' by David Macaulay (Houghton Mifflin, $14.95). The ever-surprising Macaulay does it again in this distinctive picture book in which four stories are going on at once. You might think it tricky to link Holsteins, commuters and burglars, but it is seamless and fiendishly clever. (Ages 5-9)

-- ``Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia,'' by Carmen Lomas Garza (Children's, $12.95). You can practice your Spanish or your English in this warm, bilingual depiction of the artist's Texas childhood. Paintings reminiscent of Grandma Moses are full of interesting detail and lively action. (Ages 5-9)

-- ``The Little Lame Prince,'' retold and illustrated by Rosemary Wells (Dial, $12.95). Wisely reduced from novel to picture-book length, this old classic has been revitalized with a passel of pigs as main characters. Sounds goofy but it works, and a new generation will flock to it. (Ages 5-9)

-- ``Gwinna,'' by Barbara Berger (Philomel, $18.95). Old Mother Owl gives a babe to a childless couple, only to take her back 12 years later. Gwinna's story, with luminous artwork by Bainbridge Island author/artist Barbara Berger, is a mystical sort of fairy; Berger's many fans will reach for this one eagerly. (Ages 5-10)

-- ``The Big Book for Peace'' (Dutton, $15.95). Many noted children's writers and artists have donated work to this compilation, which is one of the big events of this season. All profits from it go to five peace-oriented organizations, and all the contributions, whether comic or serious, reinforce the message of peace and justice. (Ages 6 up)

-- ``The White Cat,'' by Robert San Souci (Orchard, $15.95). A ruler's youngest son undergoes many tests for his inheritance, in this old French tale. Enchantments abound, not the least of which is Soviet artist Gennady Spirin's breathtaking illustrations. (Ages 7-9)

-- ``A Very Young Skier,'' by Jill Krementz (Dial, $14.95). The photographer adds to her popular series of photo biographies with this study of a young Sun Valley skier. Much of Stephanie Cimino's life revolves around the slopes, and she explains all to the reader. Young enthusiasts will no doubt be inspired - or envious. (Ages 7-9)

-- ``The Talking Tree,'' by Inna and Robert Rayevsky (Putnam, $14.95). The remarkable illustrations for this Italian fairy tale of enchantment and treachery have a compelling medieval richness. Naturally, villains are most satisfactorily routed and heroes rewarded. (Ages 7-9)

-- ``The Elephant Family Book,'' by Oria Douglas-Hamilton (Picture Book Studio, $15.95). This timely tribute to a sadly endangered species will make an elephant lover out of even the most stonyhearted. Color photographs bring the African savannah - and ivory baubles - right to the reader. (Ages 7-10)

FOR OLDER READERS

-- ``Land of the Long White Cloud,'' by Kiri Te Kanawa (Arcade, $16.95). Yes, it is Te Kanawa, the famous operatic diva, and she recounts the Maori myths she loved as a child in New Zealand. Spooky, otherworldly illustrations add the right touch to an unfamiliar subject. (Ages 8-10)

-- ``Fudge-a-Mania,'' by Judy Blume (Dutton, $12.95). The popular author strikes out in this dull, unfunny sequel to ``Superfudge.'' A seemingly disastrous vacation turns out pretty well after all, but the story never rises above TV-sitcom level - all that's lacking is a laugh track. Surely, it was only the Blume name that got this published. (Ages 8-10)

-- ``Glorious Cats,'' by Lesley Anne Ivory (Crown, $12.95). Cat fans, it doesn't get any better than this. The effect of these 20-plus cat paintings - each accompanied by an equally appealing poem or short essay - is far greater than the sum of its parts. The title says it all. (Ages 8 up)

-- ``R-T, Margaret and the Rats of NIMH ,'' by Jane Conly (Harper & Row, $12.95). Readers who became attached to the heroic rats in earlier titles will enjoy this new adventure in which their secret existence is endangered when two lost children stumble on their settlement. Thought-provoking entertainment. (Ages 9-11)

-- ``No More Cornflakes,'' by Polly Horvath (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $12.95). Fifth-grader Hortense's family seems to be falling apart - she even catches her parents pretending to be rabbits! How she attempts to bring things back to ``normal'' is marked by loopy humor and fresh writing. (Ages 10-12)

-- ``Bunkhouse Journal,'' by Diane Hamm (Scribners, $11.95). It is 1910 when 16-year-old Sandy Mannix runs away from his abusive father in this story by Port Townsend author Diane Hamm. The matter-of-fact style of the journal that Sandy keeps at his cousins' Wyoming ranch makes his pain even more poignant, and the reader cheers for this decent young man when things start looking up. (Ages 10 up).