"Spies Revealed" by Clifford Clive tells in great detail what you want to know about the world's most secret profession. For anyone interested in espionage, this book is loaded with information.

Here is one extra book review, just in time for the holidays!

The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"The Christmas Day Kitten"</B> by James Herriot, illustrated by Ruth Brown, St. Martin's Press, 32 pages; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: ages 7 to 8 and older.Mrs. Pickering has opened her home to a stray cat she names Debbie. This cat visits when she chooses, warming herself by the fire in the company of Mrs. Pickering and her three basset hounds.The cat soaks in a few moments of solitude, eats a little food and then is gone. Mrs. Pickering never knows when Debbie will return, nor does she know where she goes. But Debbie has learned to trust and love Mrs. Pickering, and that affection is clearly reciprocated.On Christmas morning Mrs. Pickering telephones the local vet, Dr. Herriot. Debbie had arrived earlier that day, and there was something terribly wrong. Dr. Herriot hurries to the Pickering house and discovers a bittersweet scenario. Sorrow turns to joy, however, when Mrs. Pickering receives the finest Christmas present she could ever ask for.This is a story that warms the heart and makes readers rejoice in the holiday spirit of love and giving, making this a Christmas story you mustn't miss.

<B>Library:</B> Saxonburg Area Library, 240 West Main St., Saxonburg<B>Library Director:</B> Steve Twentier<B>Children's Programmer:</B> Judy O'Brokta<B>Choices this week:</B> <B>"Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?" </B>by Eve Bunting; <B>"A Snowman Named Just Bob"</B> by Mark Kimball; and <B>"Wainscott Weasel"</B> by Tor Seidler

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"The Secret Garden"</B> by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrated by Inga Moore, Candlewick, 2008, 279 pages, $21.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 and older; read yourself: ages 8 to 9 and older.Nine-year-old orphan Mary Lennox had come to live with her uncle in Misselthwaite Manor — an enormous house surrounded by beautiful gardens in rural England. Mary's uncle was rarely at home, and the only other people at the Manor were the servants. Mary tried to busy herself outside, and one day she came upon a door that led to a secret garden. Having befriended a Yorkshire boy, Dickon, the two worked privately to restore the secret garden to its original beauty.In the midst of their project, Mary discovered one more occupant of the Manor — her withered bed-ridden cousin, Colin. With the help of Dickon, Mary and Colin turned their lives around from being unhappy to filled with joy and purpose.First published in 1911, this wonderful story is now offered in an exquisite new edition beautifully and sensitively illustrated by Inga Moore.<B>"The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book and Memory Game" </B>written and illustrated by Eric Carle, Grosset & Dunlap, 2008, 14 pages with game, $9.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 2 and older; read yourself: ages 6 to 7.Eric Carle's classic story of a hungry caterpillar's transformation into a beautiful butterfly is now coupled with a pop-up memory game. Flip the tiles two at a time to find matching pairs of images from the book. Twelve tiles (six pairs) in the memory game coupled with a terrific story make this selection a fun and educational gem.<B>"Spies Revealed"</B> by Clive Gifford, illustrations and photos various credits, Atheneum, 2008, 32 pages with additional booklets and flaps, $21.99 hardcover; read aloud: ages 8 to 9 and older; read yourself: age 10 and older.Spymasters, moles, defectors, double agents. Spy equipment, secret codes, code breaking, sabotage. Top-secret organizations, real life spies and fictional superspies, like James Bond. "Spies Revealed" describes in detail much of what you want to know about the world's most secret profession.For anyone interested in espionage, this book is loaded with information, photographs, Case Files of spies, how to create a new identity, extra books and cards tucked inside, flaps to lift, and much more.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.