Annotation:The death of his beloved pet Ella is hard on Gus, but she promised him that she would always be near him - and a promise made under a full moon cannot be broken. Caldecott winner Eric Rohmann has created a book that is sad, funny, spooky, and full of heart.

Annotation:A bear's hat is missing, and he wants it back. No one says that they've seen it...but is someone lying? In his authorial debut, Jon Klassen has created a sly picture book that rewards readers with an eye for detail and a strong imagination.

Annotation:Jane Goodall wasn't always a world-renowned zoologist; she started out as a young girl who liked to learn about animals. This gentle biography isn't as detailed as Jeanette Winterson's The Watcher (also published this year), but the illustrations and the tone make for a transformative reading experience.

Annotation:Caldecott-winning Chris Van Allsburg's first book in five years is about Annie Edson Taylor, a 62-year-old woman who went over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Van Allsburg's style is perfectly matched to the subject matter, and the final result is a picture book that celebrates Taylor's courage and spirit.

Annotation:A walrus has escaped from the zoo! It can't be too hard to find a walrus in a city...can it? The clever illustrations will have children excitedly pointing out the walrus in each scene, but even once they've found the walrus, this wordless story is one that they can return to over and over again.