-''Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt'' by Doreen Rappaport. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. Hyperion Books ($16.99). Ages 6 to 12.

Caldecott Honor author Doreen Rappaport takes on another larger-than-life figure - her previous subjects have included Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln - with a penetrating profile of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962). Most of the world, of course, knows Roosevelt from her years as the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but this nicely researched narrative takes in the full sweep of her eventful life. Splendid quotations on each page to complement Gary Kelley's richly textured paintings.

-''Gertrude Is Gertrude Is Gertrude Is Gertrude'' by Jonah Winter. Illustrated by Calef Brown. Atheneum ($16.99). Ages 4 to 8.

Jonah Winter offers an affectionate interpretation of Gertrude Stein (1874-1946), whose experimental writing was regarded as avant-garde in its day, made somewhat accessible here in what amounts to a clever play on words. Appearances by Alice B. Toklas, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Basket the poodle - and a mute bear in a chair - enliven what becomes a party to end all parties.

-''Crocodile Safari'' by Jim Arnosky; Scholastic Press ($22.99). Ages 6 to 12, includes DVD.

-''Slither and Crawl: Eye to Eye With Reptiles'' by Jim Arnosky; Sterling Books ($14.95). Ages 6 to 12.

Few children's authors can match outdoor writer and artist Jim Arnosky and his impeccable research, concise writing, and detailed illustrations.

‘‘Crocodile Safari'' invites young readers on a canoe trip through the Florida Everglades; a DVD comes along with the package. ‘‘Slither and Crawl'' takes in the wider community of reptiles, including every manner of snake, lizard and turtle, all nose to nose by way of some striking foldout pages.

-''The Twelve Days of Springtime: A School Counting Book'' by Deborah Lee Rose. Illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis. (Abrams) $16.95. Ages 4 to 8.

Deborah Lee Rose adapts a familiar tune from Christmas to a counting book for spring. ‘‘On the first day of spring,'' she begins, ‘‘my teacher gave to me, a garden to water carefully.'' By the end, the kids are fully involved, all of them enthusiastically visualized by artist Carey Armstrong-Ellis in his multimedia illustrations.

-''The Plot Chickens'' by Mary Jane and Herm Auch; Holiday House ($16.95). Ages 4 to 8.