No one can read a book without being affected by it, but the effect isn't precisely the same for each reader. The impression a book leaves with its reader is individual.

Raising children is similar in that regard. Two siblings raised with the same parenting techniques will not yield two identical children. While the adult may have good intentions with their long line of life instructions, corrections, criticisms, and over-protectiveness, children need time and space and your blessing to develop into who they are.

There are times to instruct and guide, and times to be quiet and let the child discover and learn independently. Find that still place inside of you that will tell you the difference so that the child in your life will become who they are, not what you want them to be.

Children are a lot more intelligent than many adults give them credit for. Give them the opportunity to discover that with an open and loving heart.

The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"Olive's Ocean"</B> by Kevin Henkes; Greenwillow, 217 pages; read aloud: age 10 and older; read yourself: age 10 to 11 and older.Martha Boyle didn't really know her classmate, Olive Barstow. One day, Olive's mother delivered an entry from Olive's journal to Martha because she thought Martha should have it. Olive had been killed while riding her bicycle a few weeks ago, and her mother wanted to share this piece of her daughter with Martha whom Olive had so admired and made clear in that journal entry.Martha was shaken, and when she read what Olive had written, she realized that she and Olive were a lot alike. Martha couldn't stop thinking about Olive, and when her family went on their annual summer trip to Cape Cod to visit her beloved grandmother, Martha's routine became complicated. Her grandmother's health was slowly failing, the Manning boys paid more attention to her - one sincerely; one insincerely, and more than anything, Martha wanted to do something for Olive.Beautifully defined characters, events, and emotions that will tug at your heart, this novel is flawless.

<B>Library:</B> Mars Area Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., Mars<B>Library Director:</B> Sally Sturm<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Joyce Pappert<B>Choices this week: "How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning"</B> by Roslyn Schanzer; <B>"The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid"</B> by Geronimo Stilton; <B>"I Wanna Iguana"</B> by Karen Kaufman Orloff

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"Snip Snap! What's That?"</B> by Mara Bergman; illustrated by Nick Maland; Greenwillow, 2005; 32 pages; $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 2 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.When the alligator came creeping up the stairs, were the children scared? "YOU BET THEY WERE!"The children tried to close the door, then they tried to hide. When alligator ripped the sofa and curtains, were the children scared? "YOU BET THEY WERE!" Then, deciding they'd had enough of all the scary alligator stuff, those plucky children took a stand. Was the alligator scared? "YOU BET IT WAS!"With just the right amount of tension and scariness, this sensational book will have young readers cheering for encore performances.<B>"Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies"</B> by Carolyn Crimi; illustrated by John Manders; Candlewick, 2005; 36 pages; $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.A rickety old ship called the Salty Carrot cruised the seven seas, manned by a rowdy band of pirates - the Buccaneer Bunnies. The captain, Barnacle Black Ear, was proud of his mean reputation. His son, Henry, was a different story, though. Henry was more interested in reading books than performing his proper pirating duties, and this made Barnacle Black Ear very upset.The captain and his raunchy rabbit crew were forever criticizing Henry for having his nose poked into those no-good books. But when tragedy struck the ship, the tide turned and those mean and nasty pirates found out that Henry's books weren't nearly as useless as they thought.Hilarious illustrations are the perfect match for this very funny book that carries a positive message about the importance and value of books, reading, and learning.