“Sophie Scott Goes South”

The wonder of childhood oozes with enthusiasm and imagination. These qualities are what make children so enjoyable to be around; they view life through an untainted lens.

Feeding that imagination on a daily basis can allow the child to retain that enthusiasm and imagination throughout life. This sort of “daily” exercise comes from many sources, including free play and reading imaginative books together. Such is the case with the books reviewed in this column.

We all have the ability to keep the child within us, regardless of our age. Despite the knocks that life may dole out from time to time, being enthusiastic and imaginative about today and tomorrow is a life-sustaining skill. Teaching that to children from an early age onward is a real gift that you have the power to give.

The following book is available at many public libraries.“Daughter of Venice” by Donna Jo Napoli, Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, 274 pages; read aloud: age 9 and older; read yourself: age 10 and older.Donata is a daughter of a great noble family in Venice. The year is 1592, and noble girls are secluded from the outside world and are not educated. Furthermore, as a younger daughter, Donata will not be permitted to marry and is destined to enter a life of further seclusion in a convent.A bright, bold and daring girl, Donata longs to know the Venice she has never seen, and thirsts to be tutored like her brothers. Knowing neither will be permitted, she devises a plan to see Venice for herself — a plan that changes her life and that of her family's forever.Donata learns to read and write, and educates herself about the world she has never known, including the world of poverty.“The very worst part of poverty … is the monotony. (The poor) have no education. We can take respite in our books, in our philosophy and theology. Our spirits can take flight no matter what happens to our bodies. The poor have none of this.”A fast-paced, outstanding novel that is at once colorful, suspenseful, and steeped in history, this selection will be hard for readers to put down until the last page is read.

Library: South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St., SaxonburgLibrary Director: Erin WincekChoices this week: “The Dragon Snatcher” by M.P. Robertson; “Bad Day at Riverbend” by Chris Van Allsburg; “Kidnapped” series by Gordon KormanBooks to BuyThe following books are available at favorite bookstores.“The Wreck of the Zephyr” written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, Houghton Mifflin, 2013, 32 pages, $19 hardcover with free downloadable audio version read by the author; read aloud: age 5 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 9.An old man recounts a story of a boy who longed greatly to be the world's greatest sailor. He says most don't believe the incredible tale about how the boy's boat came to land high in the cliffs, far away from the ocean.But as the man tells the story, the listener is swept up in the old man's fantastic tale, vivid with details of a ferocious storm, a journey to a place where sailboats sailed high above the water, and how this young sailor accomplished that very same ability with his sail boat, the Zephyr.Who was this old man and how did he come to know this story? Did he make the story up or is it true and if so, did he have something to do with his fascinating tale?Ripe with an abundance of imagination, this 30th anniversary edition of Chris Van Allsburg's “The Wreck of the Zephyr” is certain to captivate a whole new generation of imaginers and lovers of adventure.“Sophie Scott Goes South” written and illustrated by Alison Lester, Houghton Mifflin, 2013, 40 pages, $18 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 9; read yourself: age 8 and 9.Nine-year-old Sophie is on her way to Antarctica on an icebreaker with her dad as captain of the ship. Her dad has made the trip many times, and they will be gone for about one month.The icebreaker is a huge ship, as long as a football field and five stories high. Sophie decides to keep a diary and record entries every day of what she sees and experiences, and what exciting (and sometimes scary) entries they are.From icebergs to penguins, seals, whales, blizzards, unbelievable cold, and so much more, this is an experience Sophie will never forget.Based on the author/illustrator Alison Lester's journey on an icebreaker to Antarctica, she has written this wonderful book from the perspective of a child taking that same trip.At once highly informative and thrilling, this selection will invigorate the imagination of young explorers everywhere.<I>Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net.</I>

“The Wreck of the Zephyr”