'Tuki and Moka: A Tale of Two Tamarins'

Children are filled with wonder. Life is fresh and new and there is so much to learn and explore.

What better time in life to feed that thirst than childhood. It is also a gift to the adult who can once again experience, through the eyes and mind of the child, what it is to be eager and very willing to know all about life.

Reading books together is one solid way to nourish active, open young minds. That's what you'll find in the three books reviewed here.

Ask your librarian to suggest other books, and be sure to check out the book recommendations under Librarian's Choice.

It's up to us to help children firmly hold on to what they were born with — a sense of wonder and eagerness to know and understand their world — now and throughout adulthood.

The following book is available at many public libraries.“The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs” by Betty Birney, illustrated by Matt Phelan, Atheneum, 211 pages; read aloud: age 7 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Young Eben longs to see the Seven Wonders of the World, and it frustrates him that he is too young to go out and explore on his own.To make matters worse, Eben considers his small farming community of Sassafras Springs to be the most boring place in the world.Then Eben's pa presents Eben with a challenge. If Eben can find seven wonders in Sassafras Springs that are as remarkable and interesting as the real Seven Wonders of the World, Pa will send him on a trip out West.While Eben is pretty sure that will be impossible, he decides to give it a try. What he discovers comes as a total surprise in many ways.This selection serves as a reminder that wonders exist everywhere if one is willing to look for them — even in our own backyard.

Library: South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St., SaxonburgLibrary Director: Erin WincekChoices this week: “When Lightning Comes in a Jar” by Patricia Polacco; “The Quiltmaker's Gift” by Jeff Brumbeau; “The Time Warp Trio: Hey Kid, Want to Buy a Bridge?” by Jon Scieszka

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“Tuki and Moka: A Tale of Two Tamarins” by Judy Young, illustrated by Jim Madsen, Sleeping Bear Press, 2013, 32 pages, $17 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 9; read yourself: age 8 and 9.Ten-year-old Eduardo lives in a small town in Ecuador, close to the Amazon rainforest.He and his father travel by boat into the rainforest to collect Brazil nuts. The work is hard, but for generations their family has made their living from this profession as castañeros.Eduardo likes the work, but he especially likes the great diversity of plants, birds and mammals that live in the rainforest.Of these, Eduardo's favorites are two tamarins he has named Tuki and Moka, who are quite fond of Eduardo and the treats of Brazil nuts he gives his little friends.One night there is a disturbance in the rainforest, close to the camp Eduardo and his father spend many of their evenings.The next day, Tuki and Moka are nowhere to be found and Eduardo is concerned.They returned to town later that evening to be in time for market day. Suddenly Eduardo hears familiar chattering inside a tent.He investigates and finds cages stuffed with live parrots, macaws, and in one cage, Tuki and Moka.Poachers!Can Eduardo act fast enough to set his friends and the other animals free?This selection carries important messages children should be exposed to.“Maisy's World of Animals” written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins, Candlewick, 2014, 14 pages, $15 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 to 5; read yourself: age 6 and 7.Another “A Maisy First Science Book,” this fun choice has readers joining Maisy the mouse as she journeys to different parts of the world to learn about some of the animals that live there.From the snowy Arctic to the mountains, the desert, savanna, ocean and jungle, and all the way down to the Antarctic, Maisy and readers meet many different animals in their habitat.There are lots of tabs to pull and two giant flaps to lift to watch the animals in action. Maisy's World of Animals is educational and thoroughly enjoyable.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net.

‘Maisy’s World of Animals’