Life isn't one smooth experience after another.

We are tested many times, and handling life's hurdles requires courage and bravery. Children are faced with life challenges all the time. Reading books that reflect bravery and courage can sometimes provide ideas of ways to handle things that are difficult, such as those reviewed today.

Couple reading with your own good example of being brave and courageous, and follow through with discussing these issues with children.

It's important that you don't belittle a child who is afraid of something. Just because you may think the fear irrational, it's still very real to the child. Let's face it; we're all afraid of some things — you, me, and the child in your care.

Books to BorrowThe following book is available at many public libraries.

"Among the Enemy" by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Simon & Schuster, 214 pages; read aloud: age 9 to 10 and older; read yourself: age 10 to 11 and older.Young Matthias is an illegal third-born, and the Population Police are gaining power. That means all illegal third-borns are in even greater danger than before.Food supplies are dangerously low and the Population Police have stepped-up their violent attacks on the rebels.Suddenly Matthias is caught in the middle. While trying to save the lives of his friends, Matthias is accidentally swept into the world of the Population Police where he is considered to be an attribute to the organization.Surrounded by his most feared enemies, Matthias doesn't know who he can trust. Then Matthias encounters Nina, another illegal third-born who enlists his help in overthrowing the Population Police. Can they succeed against the evil bureaucracy?Deeply thought provoking on numerous levels, this spellbinding book is about the courage of people faced with evil and how they can make a difference.

<B>Library:</B> Prospect Community Library, 357 Main St., Prospect<B>Library Director:</B> Jeanne Sarnese<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Jill Hambley<B>Choices this week: "Duck Soup"</B> by Jackie Urbanovic; <B>"Wild About Books"</B> by Judy Sierra; <B>"How I Became a Pirate"</B> by Melinda Long

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"The Heart and the Bottle"</B> written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, Philomel, 2010, 36 pages, $17.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 5 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.Once there was a girl who was filled with curiosity about everything. She and her father shared the wonders of the world, and life was exciting and good.But one day, her father wasn't there anymore, and feeling unsure what to do, she thought it best to put her heart in a safe place. So she placed her heart in a bottle and hung it around her neck.Many years passed. The girl grew, and she was no longer filled with curiosity about much of anything. The only thing she took notice of every now and again was how heavy and awkward the bottle had become.When she finally met a young child who was still curious about the world, she realized it was time to take her heart out of her bottle. But she didn't know how. Fortunately, the little girl did."The Heart and the Bottle" is deeply profound on multiple levels and speaks to readers from age 5 to 105.<B>"Sometimes We Were Brave" </B>by Pat Brisson, illustrated by France Brassard, Boyds Mills Press, 2010, 32 pages, $16.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 to 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.Jerome's mom is a sailor. When her ship is in home port, she and Jerome do all sorts of things together. When her ship goes to sea, Jerome's mom goes too, and she is gone for a long time. Before she leaves, she gives Jerome a big hug, three kisses, and tells Jerome to be brave.But Jerome doesn't feel very brave. Even though Jerome's dad takes good care of him, he still misses his mom a lot and worries about her. Then, one day at school, Jerome's teacher helps him to understand what bravery really is. "Being brave means doing what you're supposed to do even though you are afraid."Flawlessly written and sensitively illustrated, "Sometimes We Were Brave" helps children better grasp what it is to be brave when faced with adversity.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.