August—already the count down for school has started! Stretch out those delicious summer days with a fiesta-perfect picture book and a collection of family games that help make car trips fun. Music this month is for the toddler set, especially those who might have spied a stranger in their soup.

The Fiesta Dress, A Quinceanera Tale, by CarmenMcNelly McCormack, illustrated by Martha Aviles, features a spunky heroine. It’s big sister’s quinceaneraparty, the coming-of-age fiesta Latino girls of fifteen celebrate with family and friends. Little sister Lolo, however, is getting no attention at all! The grown-ups are busy making tamales and decorating the garden with strings of lights; big sister Eva and her friends, dressed in their long gowns, are brushing, combing, and primping. Even Lolo’s boy cousins ignore her.

But when the family pup steals Eva’s beautiful white sash it is Lolo who saves the day. When Lolo presents Eva with the sash she is showered with little kisses (besitos), then fussed over by a bevy of Eva’s friends. Lolo’s aunts serve her the fattest tamale ever, the uncles dance with her under the twinkling lights and even her cousins offer high-fives. Finally, Lolo and Gobi the pup enjoy a whirling, twirling, jumping, thumping fiesta.

Aviles’ illustrations, in acrylics and watercolor, are full of detail and humor. They beautifully enhance the warm and loving family connections of Latino culture. A glossary translates the Spanish words sprinkled through the text. We learn that “quinceanera” refers to both the girl and to the event, which marks a girl’s entrance into womanhood. In addition to a formal party, there’s a Mass honoring the girl’s commitment to the Church. Other elements are similar to a wedding, with formal dresses worn by the quinceanera herself and her fourteen attendants, called damas. A delightful story that offers a sweet glimpse into a rich cultural tradition. (Marshall Cavendish Children, $17.99, age 4-9).

You’ll want to plan a road trip just so you and the kids can select entries from Miles of Smiles, 101 Great Car Games & Activities by Carole Terwilliger Meyers. These games appeal to all ages and they are sure to sharpen math, language and, observation skills, and memory. The games are listed in 14 categories, including “stories and poems,” “geography,” “physical movement,” and “knowledge challengers.”

Parents will recall many from their own childhoods. There’s “Scissors, Paper, Stone”. Remember? Scissors win over paper, paper over stone, and stone over scissors. Or “Popeye,” where players look for cars with one headlight burned out. “Story-Go-Round” is a round robin story-building game. Of course, there are license plate games—seven clever ones—plus lots of math and geography entries.

Game number 86 lists adages (old sayings) that the players must complete: “You can’t teach a dog…” “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man…” “A watched pot….” Children will not only learn these pithy sayings, but imagine the discussions that can follow after adults help interpret their meaning.

Answers to all knowledge-related games are included as well as listings of games by age group, from preschoolers through grades 4-6 and older kids. This fun-filled, well-researched and delightfully illustrated (Victoria Carlson) paperback should be tucked into every family’s glove compartment. What a joy to rediscover interactive fun with the family! Meyers invites contributions to her collection. If your game or activity is selected for Miles of Smiles II, you’ll receive credit and a free copy. (Carousel Press, $8.95, age 4-12)

Art Sirota’s newest CD for kids is Ladybug in My Soup, with sixteen original songs for the youngest listeners. “Mommy Says ‘Yes’” is about adopting a puppy from the pound; the title song comes next with first a ladybug, then bull frog, sea snake, and finally a lion landing in the soup. Many of the songs feature the simple repetition that toddlers crave. Of note are “Aye, Aye, Aye” and “Choo-Choo-Choo to the Park-Park-Park.”

Upbeat and humorous, with a nice range of musical styles including reggae and blues, Ladybug is a tuneful addition to the music library. (www.cdbaby.com, $10, age 2-4)