As the final weeks of the school turn toward class parties and school graduation ceremonies, many kids are struggling to finish up major projects or study for finals. As they're slaving away in the library, no doubt they're dreaming of baseball, beach fires, leisure time with friends — the sort of fun summer brings. Let's face it, about the last thing they want to ponder is anything to do with books.

Yet the key word here is leisure. There are plenty of engaging books just waiting to lead young readers into lands more fascinating than their own living room, where soon many a child will be lounging leisurely. Your local library should have a summer reading program especially designed to help kids forget books have anything to do with school. During the summer, young-reader programs allow kids to win prizes, participate in imaginative library programs and fill out colorful reading booklets — all in the name of fun.

Here are some of the latest offerings that should be resting on bookstore shelves. Try a few — or go with the tried and true.

Picture books

"Bears," by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, 24 pp., $14.95, ages birth-5). Seattle always loves a new Sendak, and this remake of a picture book Krauss originally published in 1948 doesn't disappoint. It's an upbeat romp, including a little boy and a roomful of bears, which is gentler than "Where the Wild Things Are" — perfect for a slightly younger audience.

"Under Alaska's Midnight Sun," by Deb Vanasse, illustrated by Jeremiah Trammell (Sasquatch, 32 pp., $15.95, ages 3-6). A young girl and her family celebrate wildlife in Alaska, not to mention the midnight sun (which kids should find especially fascinating). Includes plenty of warm and fuzzy illustrations.

"I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!" by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow (Harcourt, 32 pp., $16, ages 3-7). This hilarious tale centers on a tot who tries oh-so-hard not to paint, especially after his mamma insists, "Ya ain't a-gonna paint no more!" Earnestly, the boy takes on this vow — yet he doesn't completely have a grip on his addiction to brushes and bright colors.

"Cool Time Song," by Carole Lexa Schaefer, illustrated by Pierr Morgan (Viking, 32 pp., $15.99, ages 4-8). The sun is hot on the savannah. It beats down on all the animals, making them slow and sleepy. Still, at twilight they perk up enough to make beautiful music. By a popular local author/illustrator duo.

"Destiny's Gift," by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illustrated by Adjoa J. Burrowes (Lee & Low, 32 pp., $16.95, ages 4-8). Destiny loves her neighborhood bookstore — not to mention, the owner, Mrs. Wade. She loves writing, reading and listening to the authors who visit. Yet business isn't good, and Mrs. Wade is eventually forced to close the store. That's when the whole neighborhood decides to speak up.

"Punk Farm," by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf, 40 pp., $15.95, ages 4-8). At the end of the day, all the animals living at Farmer Joe's farm pull out their instruments and begin rehearsing for their next concert, which features that hit tune "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." Makes a terrific read out loud (with lots of room for creative sound effects).

"Traction Man is Here!" by Mini Grey (Knopf, 32 pp., $15.95, ages 4-8). The lively, unique illustrations are the highlight of this imaginative story about a toy action figure who embarks on a number of adventures right under his owner's nose. This one is already racking up the starred reviews and should especially appeal to comic book lovers.

"Little Stevie Wonder," by Quincy Troupe, illustrated by Lisa Cohen (Houghton Mifflin, 32 pp., $18, ages 5-up). This award-winning poet has composed a finger-snapping piece about the life of Stevie Wonder, especially his early years. What's most moving is Troupe's refrain that will speak to those familiar with Wonder's music. "Isn't he lovely/ this blind black boy/ born to love everyone?" Includes a CD with two Wonder songs.

"The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela Through Three Continents in the Twelfth Century," by Uri Shulevitz (FSG, 48, pp., $17, ages 8-12). This beautifully illustrated picture book for older readers is based on The Book of Travels by Benjamin of Tudela — a Jewish man who left Spain in 1159 to embark upon a 14-year journey.

Older children

"The Magician's Boy," by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Serena Riglietti (McElderry, 101 pp., 112, $15.95, ages 5-9). A young boy yearns to be a magician — but the master magician isn't ready to teach him. Instead, they put on a fabulous puppet show together: Saint George and the Dragon. Then the boy loses the Saint George puppet, and the magician sends him into the Land of Story on his own exciting quest.

"Stink: the Incredible Shrinking Kid," by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick Press, 102 pp., $12.99, ages 5-9). Judy Moody lovers (and their little brothers) will adore her younger brother, Stink, who hates being the shortest boy around. He hates it so much, he eagerly accepts Judy's suggestion that he mousse his hair to look just a little taller. Mostly, he expresses his feelings in his very own comic strip, offering comic relief at regular intervals.

"The Book Without Words: a Fable of Medieval Magic," by Avi (Hyperion, 203 pp., $15.99, ages 8-12). This delightful fantasy takes readers into the gloomy realm of medieval Northumbria, where alchemists are hung for attempting to create gold. Still, when one alchemist is nearing death, his servants — a talking crow and a 13-year-old girl (not to mention a number of other schemers) — try to uncover his gold-making secrets, which are purported to be recorded in a book without words. Meanwhile, this sinister alchemist struggles to discover the key to everlasting life.

"The Game of Silence," by Lousie Erdrich (HarperCollins, 256 pp., $15.99, ages 8-12). Sure to be a children's classic, this sequel to "The Birchbark House" describes another year in the life of Omakayas and her Ojibwe family, who live on an island in Lake Superior.

As with the earlier installment, the story is divided into seasons, each of which delivers its share of challenges and joys for this young girl, who is slowly learning to accept her gift of seeing. Meanwhile, the entire tribe worries about the migrating chimookomanag (white people), who threaten to force them from their homes.

"Red Ridin' in the Hood and Other Cuentos," by Patricia Santos Marcantonio, illustrated by Renato Alarcão (FSG, 186 pp., $16, ages 8-12). Marcantonio has taken many well-known European fairy tales and recast them with Latino characters and Latino backdrops. While the plots are certainly familiar, each tale twists into numerous surprising, often humorous, moments. Yes, this fresh approach adds new life — and plenty of heart — to these well-worn yarns.

"The Illustrated Mum," by Jacqueline Wilson (Delacorte, 282 pp., $15.95, ages 9-12). Wilson, an acclaimed British author, highlights an unusual family, which includes two sisters — Star and Dolphin — and their mother, Marigold, who has tattoos on her entire body. Winner of the 2000 Children's Book of the Year Award in the United Kingdom.

Teens

"47," by Walter Mosley (Little, Brown, 232 pp., $16.99, ages 12-up). This innovative novel — an amalgam of fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction — is set mainly in the slave quarters of a plantation in the deep South. It centers on a 14-year-old slave named 47, who is not yet ready for the grueling demands of field work. Still, he does his best, as one wrong step could easily land him in a torture chamber worse than the one he already lives in. Then he meets a mysterious black boy named Tall John (based on the legendary character High John the Conqueror). In this haunting, tightly written tale, Mosley insists it is indeed possible to transcend the chains of domination and submission.

"Prom," by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking, 215 pp., $16.99, ages 13-up). Ashley Hannigan isn't too hot on going to the prom at her urban Philadelphia high school — unlike many of her friends. Then their faculty adviser steals money set aside for this occasion, and she finds herself trying to save the day. Anderson's novel "Speak" was a finalist for the National Book Award.

"Sledding the Hill," by Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, 230 pp., $15.99, ages 13-up). Spokane writer Chris Crutcher bravely explores the explosive issue of banned books in this novel about a boy named Eddie who loses both his father and his best friend in a very short time. He pretty much becomes a walking zombie until his high-school English teacher asks the class to read "Warren Peese" (by Chris Crutcher), which includes a gay protagonist. While Eddie, who is not gay, finds the honesty on these pages refreshing, many Christians in his community do not. Of course, Crutcher stirs the pot further by assigning the role of narrator to the ghost of Eddie's best friend, who now sees all and occasionally offers his two cents on this dilemma.

"I am the Messenger," by Markus Zusak (Knopf, 357 pp., $16.95, ages 14-up). This quirky novel is about an underage, somewhat depressed cab driver in Australia, who finds himself on a mysterious quest, initiated by an anonymous group he knows nothing about. An unwilling hero, he lands in a lot of weird messes; yet somehow, he manages to help people in the end. Older, more sophisticated teens will surely appreciate the language in this story, laced with plenty of deadpan humor. Indeed, this book could have easily been published for adults.