Framed as a child's imagined adventure ("If I were a falcon..."), this "exhilarating" (Publishers Weekly) book depicts a majestic falcon soaring over lush valleys, skimming atop rolling ocean waves, gliding high above rocky cliffs, and -- in a dramatic three-page scene that's bound to elicit a gasp or two -- plummeting in a daredevil dive over a crowded city avenue. Illustrated with stunningly beautiful and realistic paintings, Falcon delivers a thrilling virtual flight.

Pete the cat loves the buttons on his shirt so much that he makes up a song about them, and even as the buttons pop off one by one, he still finds a reason to sing.

The award-winning creator of Higher! Higher! delivers another exuberant, candy-colored round of father-and-daughter fun in Faster! Faster! As she hitches a ride on her dad's back, a young girl imagines that her papa is a whole series of different speedy animals -- from a dog to a bunny to an ostrich, a horse, and others fleet of foot, fin, or wing. That is, until Daddy runs low on steam; then he's a turtle. For another bright-and-bold book about father/daughter bonding moments and imaginative play, try Anna McQuinn's cheery Lola Loves Stories.

With aptly minimal text and realistic, evocative illustrations from Brian Lies (Bats at the Beach), More spins a parable about how much "stuff" is enough -- and how much is far too much. A forlorn-looking magpie receives a gift of a shiny marble from his mouse friend, after which he begins to acquire a wide variety of things, from keys, combs, coins, and jewelry to...well, anything he can carry. Soon enough, Magpie's overstuffed nest comes crashing down, and him with it -- but Mouse and company dig him out, lesson learned.

A latest entry in the series by the three-time Caldecott Honor-winning author and illustrator finds the irrepressible bus-driving pigeon expressing his astonishment and indignation when Duckling asks for a cookie and gets one.

When a kitty discovers that none of her favorite foods are in the house, she decides to become very, very bad, in a clever alphabet book by the author of Boing!.

Little Marie Elaine wonders where her cat wanders off to at night, and why he comes home so exhausted that he sleeps all day. One evening, she catches him all duded up and on his way out to a swanky, exclusive party, and because she promises to keep his secret, she's allowed to tag along. This surreal and whimsical adventure features "buoyant mixed-media art" (Publishers Weekly) that is simple and direct when depicting Marie's everyday home environment but vibrant and extravagantly detailed for scenes from the rooftop urban cat soirée.

When curious housecat Nini finds that her humans have left a door open, she ventures outside into the nearby garden and woods, which she finds marvelous...until night falls, and scary animals chase her. From a hiding place in a hollow tree, Nini hears her worried family's calls but is petrified. Summoning all her courage, Nini finally makes a run for it, right back to her cozy and welcoming home. With lush, richly colored artwork and "just enough tension for preschoolers" (Horn Book Guide), this follow-up to Nini Here and There offers both excitement and reassurance.

Posy the kitten is many things: from a "spider catcher, sofa scratcher" to a "pillow sitter, hissy spitter," a "playful wrangler, knitting tangler," and much more. With charmingly scribbly illustrations that are minimalist, textured and very appealing, this artful book captures the full range of kitten-style inquisitiveness, attitude, and (most of all) cuteness. Spare text and uncluttered pictures make Posy a good choice for sharing with very young children.

Go ahead and judge this book by its cover -- its gorgeous, lushly detailed picture of a lion's stately head is a fair indication of both the beauty and the skilled visual storytelling inside. (Note where the lion is looking and flip the book over for a peek at the other star of this show.) Highly acclaimed illustrator Jerry Pinkney sets his nearly wordless retelling of this familiar Aesop's fable in the African Serengeti, and it's a perfect fit.