Do your children say they're bored? Try one of these books or craft kits as an antidote:

• Part graphic novel, part drawing manual, "Adventures in Cartooning" (First Second, $12.95) is total fun. It's a rare kid who won't find something to enjoy in this interactive book, written by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost. (Ages 6-12.)

• Even if kids already know their alphabet, they'll have fun solving the puzzles in "I Spy: A to Z" (Scholastic, $13.99), written by Jean Marzollo, with photographs by Walter Wick. (Ages 4 up.)

• Creating crafts such as a plastic-bag parachute and a "button puppy" can be simple with a guide like "The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts" (Kids Can Press, $18.95), written by Judy Ann Sadler, with illustrations by Caroline Price. (Ages 3 up, with adult help for the youngest children.)

• Sam Stern, the British teen cooking whiz, asked seven friends what their favorite foods are and then created recipes around those foods. The result is "Sam Stern's Get Cooking" (Candlewick Press, $17.99, ages 7 up, with adult help for younger children).

• Kids -- even reluctant readers -- will love leafing through a lively science question-and-answer book called "Why Is Snot Green?" (Roaring Brook, $9.95). Among the other questions answered by author Glenn Murphy: "What do people taste like to sharks and tigers?" and "What are scabs for, and is it OK to pick them?" (Ages 8-12.)

• Let kids try their hand at songwriting with "Sing My Song: A Kid's Guide to Songwriting" (Tricycle, $18.99), written by Steve Seskin and illustrated by a bevy of artists. A CD is included with the book. (Ages 6-10.)

• An entire book about refrigerator art? Believe it or not, it's quite fun to read "Chill: Discover the Cool and Creative Side of Your Fridge" (Kids Can Press, $17.95), written by Allan Peterkin and illustrated by Mike Shiell. (Ages 8-12.)

• Take a close-up look at the gizmos that make life easier in your house with "Pop-Up House of Inventions: Hundreds of Fabulous Facts About Your Home" (Candlewick Press, $17.99), written, illustrated and paper engineered by Robert Crowther. (Ages 5 up.)

• Coloring books take on a new dimension of creativity with "The Coloring Book" (Tate, $18.95), created by Herve Tullet. (Ages 4 up.)

• Learning about all kinds of things, from dinosaurs to skyscrapers to how to joust, is fun with "Ask Me Anything" (DK, $24.99). This fact-filled, photograph-stuffed encyclopedia, written by a collection of experts, is perfect for browsing. (Ages 8 up.)

• Young readers can bring a favorite barnyard tale to life with a book and play set of "Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type," written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin. The barn-shaped set includes a board-book version of the book, plus an open-out barn and sturdy cardboard copies of the characters. (Simon & Schuster, $14.99, ages 3-5.) Look also for "A Busy Day at the Farm" (Simon & Schuster, $6.99), a book and sticker kit. (Ages 3-5.)

• Beautifully produced DVDs of children's books can be found in the seven-disc set "My Very First Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Preschool Stories" (Scholastic, $49.95). Look also for two related DVD sets, "Treasury of 25 Storybook Classics: Fairy Tales" and "Treasury of 25 Storybook Classics: Dinosaurs, Trucks and Monsters" (Scholastic, $29.95 each). (All products, ages 3 up.)

• Lovers of "faeries" will be thrilled to learn more about these magical creatures in "A Practical Guide to Faeries" (Mirrorstone, $12.95), written by Susan Morris. (Ages 6 up.)

• The text couldn't be more basic, but the colorful pop-up illustrations will capture readers' attention in "Pets Go Pop!" (Little Brown, $17.99), written and illustrated by Bob Staake. (Ages 3-6.)

• It's an oversized book, it's a foldout poster, it's a game, it's "Panorama" (Abrams, $19.95), written by Fani Marceau and illustrated by Joelle Jolivet. (Ages 3 up.)

• Two new kits let kids grow unique windowsill gardens. Choose from "Leafy Wonders" or "Sweet Scents" (Chronicle Books, $18.99 each, ages 4-8).

The folks at Klutz really know how to play. And they've come up with a host of great new craft/activity kits this season. Here's a selection:

• With "Tricky Video" ($19.95, ages 9 up), kids can learn how to do special effects, such as how to make it look as if your head is coming off or your lunch is singing, without any software.

• Beat boredom on long car trips with the "Triptivities" kit, complete with puzzles, jokes, and more ($9.95, ages 8 up).

• If you like to draw and you love fantasy, then "Paper Fashions: Fantasy" ($21.95, ages 8 up) is for you.

• Make three new friends with the "Fuzzy Little Monkeys" kit from Klutz's imprint Chicken Socks ($9.95, ages 4 up).