By Cornelia Funke

With its magnificent architecture and cozy canals, Venice has always captured the romantic imagination. But how does the city of St. Mark look through a kid's eyes? Children's author Funke gives us an idea in this fantasy novel: "There were so many hiding places," observes Victor, a detective searching the storied Adriatic port for two orphaned brothers named Prosper and Bo. "The whole city was a huge invitation to play hide-and-seek."

Fleeing a rich aunt who wants to separate them, the boys join a band of young thieves led by Scipio, a 13-year-old burglar who calls himself the Thief Lord. With the sympathetic Victor hot on their trail, the gang agrees to steal for sinister Count Valaresso—an assignment that takes them from Venice's cobbled streets to the realm of the supernatural. A European bestseller, the book doesn't have the lively spark of the J.K. Rowling books, at least in its translation from the German. But Funke's deft exploration of a timeless theme-the longing of kids to grow up and of grown-ups to relive their youth-should engage both young and old. (The Chicken House, $16.95)
Bottom Line: Fine way to pass the time waiting for the next Harry Potter