“Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime”

When I was a little girl, I used to ride my bicycle to the library. I loved walking down the long, narrow stacks of books, knowing that something special could be found in any one of the titles.

I particularly liked the smell of books, especially old books. I used to marvel at the library card in the back of the book, witnessing how many people had read that same book.

Did they like it? Did it give them something of value?

I also liked my librarian, the lone sentinel in our little house of wisdom — the library. She was always helpful in guiding me to books that she thought I might like, and tended all the volumes with care; checking books in and out, making sure they were returned on time and placing them back in their rightful slot so others could find them with ease.

The importance of public libraries can't be emphasized enough. Of equal importance is the need to recognize and applaud the guardians of the books that provide us with so much — our librarians. Without their careful tending of the contents of the library, we would all suffer. Librarians are an invaluable resource in our pursuit of pleasure, knowledge and understanding. Let them know you appreciate what they do. They deserve it.

The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>“Shredderman: Secret Identity” </B>by Wendelin Van Draanen, illustrated by Brian Biggs, Alfred A. Knopf, 138 pages; read aloud: age 8 and older; read yourself: age 9 and older.Bubba Bixby is a bully, prone to using his fists, name-calling, intimidating other youths, stealing other children's stuff and causing non-stop trouble. Nolan Byrd is half Bubba's size, a math genius, and known as Nerd. Both are in Mr. Green's fifth-grade class.When Mr. Green announces the new project for the month, Nolan hatches a daring plan for his project that might make Bubba stop being a bully. He knows his plan is risky, and to pull it off will take more of a superhero than a Nolan Byrd, but maybe Nolan is more courageous than he realizes. If so, Bubba better watch out.Filled with humor, truth and peppered with wisdom, this book is excellent in more ways than one.

<B>Library: </B>North Trails Public Library, 1553 West Sunbury Road, West Sunbury<B>Library Director:</B> Kathy D. Kline<B>Choices this week: “Is Your Mama a Llama?” by Deborah Guarino; </B>“Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp” by Syd Hoff; <B>“Soldier's Heart”</B> by Gary Paulsen

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>“Moo” </B>by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton, Simon & Schuster, 2011, 19 pages, $16.99 board book; read aloud: age 1 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Welcome to the barnyard! This clever, interactive book introduces young children to seven different farm animals: sheep, chickens, pigs, horses, cows, ducks and goats.Told in rhyme, children learn a little bit about each kind of animal and their young, including the kind of sound each animal makes. With numerous flaps to lift, tabs to push and pull and lots of textures to touch, “Moo” will be an instant success with toddlers and a book they will want to read time and time again.<B>“Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime” </B>by Myra Wolfe, illustrated by Maria Monescillo, Harcourt, 2011, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 to 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.Charlotte Jane the Hearty was born to proud pirate parents. They marveled at how much oomph Charlotte Jane had. In fact, Charlotte Jane had so much oomph that she never wanted it to end, which is another way of saying she never wanted to go to bed.One night Charlotte Jane didn't go to bed at all, and the next day, she told her parents her oomph had disappeared. While her parents searched high and low for her missing oomph, Charlotte Jane finally found it — once she woke up!A fun story for any child who thinks bedtime is for the birds, “Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime” is certain to appeal to young and old alike.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.<U></U>