Local books | Cosmic rhymes and unsolved crimes

Local books |

"The Girl With Brown Fur" by Stacey Levine (MacAdam/Cage, $13). The Seattle author ("Frances Johnson," "Dra — ") delivers a collection of tales rife with far-fetched premises and playful non sequiturs. Publication party at 7 p.m., Thursday, Bailey-Coy Books, 414 Broadway E., Seattle; free (206-323-8842 or www.baileycoybooks.com). Levine will read at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Elliott Bay Book Co., 101 S. Main St., Seattle; free (206-624-6600 or www.elliottbaybook.com).

"The Big Book of Benefit Auctions" by Jay R. Fiske and Corinne A. Fiske (Wiley, $49.95). Two consultants in the charity-auction business give their advice. Both authors live in Woodinville.

"Creative Humor at Work: Living the Humor Perspective" by Sandra S. Meggert (University Press of America/Rowman & Littlefield, $22). A Seattle counselor, consultant and workshop presenter identifies workplace situations in which humor can be "an effective tool to ease stress and enhance communication."

"A Billion to One: An American Insider in the New China" and "Cry of the Heron" by Gene Ayres (Audience Artist Group, both $20). Two new books by a Seattle author: a memoir about living in Harbin, China, from 2004 to 2006; and a mystery novel featuring Tony Lowell, an "environmental activist-detective [who] refuses to carry a gun."

"The Swamps of Sleethe: Poems from Beyond the Solar System" by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Jimmy Pickering (Knopf, $16.99). A rhyming tour of "unexplored planets" for ages 8 and up. Children's Poet Laureate Prelutsky lives in Seattle and Bainbridge Island. Illustrator Pickering lives in Astoria, Ore.

"Before You Were Here, Mi Amor" by Samantha R. Vamos, illustrated by Santiago Cohen (Viking, $15.99). A Kirkland author's picture book for ages 3-7, written in English spiced with Spanish (with glossary), about a Latino family about to welcome a new baby.

"The Land of Smaerd" by Andrea von Botefuhr, illustrated by Bryn Barnard (Know Wonder Publishing, $16.95). Rhyming picture book about a place called Smaerd ("dreams" spelled backward) "where all things are possible." Von Botefuhr lives on Bainbridge Island; Barnard lives in Friday Harbor.

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com