"Volcanoes" by Franklyn M. Branley and illustrated by Megan Lloyd is an exciting part of the "Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science" series.

Children are, by nature, interested in just about everything. Such interest can be easily squashed, however, if the reading materials to explore a subject are boring.

All learning can be made fun. It begins with knowing the child — his interests, her attention span. It also has a lot to do with the quality of reading materials, your enthusiasm, and your efforts to make learning fun, not forced.

Today's reviewed books are excellent examples of engaging, interesting books that intrigue while they teach. See for yourself and ask your librarian to suggest others.

The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"10 Little Rubber Ducks" </B>written and illustrated by Eric Carle; HarperCollins; 31 pages; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.A giant wave has washed a box of 10 rubber ducks off of a cargo ship and into the sea. "10 rubber ducks overboard!" cries the captain.Bobbing away in different directions, each little rubber duck encounters a different sea creature in many areas of the globe. From a polar bear in the north to a flamingo in the south, a seal in the east and a dolphin in the west, the 10 little rubber ducks meet these and other creatures as they bob along the wide sea. As the sun begins to set, the 10th little rubber duck is still alone. What will happen to it?Filled with a cornucopia of new concepts for young children, including a dual surprise and happy ending, this counting/directional/biology/geography book is wrapped up with loads of fun.

<B>Library:</B> Zelienople Public Library, 227 S. High St., Zelienople<B>Library Director:</B> Jan Lawrence<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Kay Howard<B>Choices this week: "The Boxcar Children"</B> by Gertrude Warner; <B>"How to Talk to Your Dog"</B> by Jean Craighead George; <B>"Women of the Old West"</B> by Judith Alter

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"Sisters & brothers: sibling relationships in the animal world"</B> by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page; illustrated by Steve Jenkins; Houghton Mifflin, 2008; 32 pages; $16 hardcover; read aloud: age 8 and older; read yourself: age 8 to 9 and older."Playing together, working together, arguing, fighting —sometimes animal brothers and sisters act a lot like human siblings. Other creatures have more unusual relationships."So begins this interesting book that is packed with fascinating facts about animal siblings. Learn about naked mole rats that live in an underground colony where they may have hundreds of siblings. When two mole rats meet in a tunnel, the younger, lower status rat lies flat on the floor to allow its sibling to crawl over top and pass.Read about European shrews, among the smallest mammals on earth, measuring about 2¾ inches. As many as 10 newborn shrews are so tiny they can comfortably fit in a teaspoon, and they walk behind their mother in a line, each attached to the other so they don't get lost.Discover why young black widow spiders start out with as many as 700 brothers and sisters, but only a few survive.A fast-paced, fascinating look at animal siblings, readers will see similarities and vast differences between human siblings and brothers and sisters in the animal world.<B>"Volcanoes"</B> by Franklyn M. Branley; illustrated by Megan Lloyd; Collins, 2008; 34 pages; $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 5 to 9; read yourself: age 8 to 9.Volcanoes are powerful, dramatic, and fascinating. They can also be deadly.Learn how volcanoes are formed, where they are found, why they erupt, and how a volcanic eruption can change the earth's climate.Readers will be absorbed by the concise, brisk text and dramatic illustrations. An exciting part of the "Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science" series, budding scientists will be intrigued by this interesting selection.