Louisa Smith and Jennifer Jacobson have authored the "Smartlab 2nd Grade Challenge." Smartlab books offer plenty of questions that young readers can try to answer, either challenging themselves or taking on an opponent. The new book features 750 questions on a variety of subjects and is designed to make learning fun.

There are so many different ways to open the lines of communication with a child. Perhaps the most important and effective is when the child has an interested adult that is willing to listen to what they have to say without judgment or ridicule.

One great place to carry on a conversation is at the dinner table. What was everyone's day like? Pick a local current event in your newspaper and discuss it. Plan to do something over the weekend and let everyone have a vote. Talk about the book you are reading together. The list is only limited by the adult's willingness.

Everybody needs someone to listen to them, young and old alike. Adults who are interested in what children have to say make children more confident in their ability to communicate effectively, and I believe that's really important. Do you?

The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"Moose's Big Idea"</B> by Stephanie Greene; illustrated by Joe Mathieu; Marshall Cavendish; 51 pages; read aloud: age 5 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.Moose is funny looking for a moose. He has teeny tiny eyes and a huge nose that looks like a baked potato. Despite that, Moose is proud of his huge antlers. They make him feel very special. So it's not surprising that when his antlers fall off, Moose is horrified. To make matters worse, hunting season begins, and Moose has to stay indoors to be safe.While Moose is in hiding, he reads, does puzzles, and paints. But all of it becomes boring after a short time. Then Moose hits on his biggest idea ever — why not sell hot coffee, homemade doughnut and his paintings to the hunters!Hilarious from start to finish, this enterprising and clever Moose will have kids in stitches.

<B>Library:</B> Evans City Public Library, 204 S. Jackson St., Evans City<B>Library Director:</B> Judith Pfeifer<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Patricia Pflug<B>Choices this week: "Rooster's Off to See the World"</B> by Eric Carle; <B>"Magic Tree House" </B>series by Mary Pope Osborne; <B>"Arthur"</B> chapter book series by Stephen Krensky

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"The Alchemyst {The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel}" </B>by Michael Scott; Delacorte, 2007; 369 pages; $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 and older; read yourself: age 9 to 10 and older."Once you have been touched by magic, you are forever changed ¿ You leave a trail." And Nicholas Flamel's trail has had Dr. John Dee pursuing him for hundreds of years. Dee wants what Flamel guards — the Book of Abraham the Mage. The book not only contains the secret of eternal life, but is the most powerful book that ever existed. In the wrong hands, the book can destroy the world.Now, more than any other time, the struggle to seize the book has become paramount, for the final prophecy in the book has been almost fulfilled: "The two that are one must become the one that is all." "The two that are one" are fraternal 15-year-old twins, Sophie and Josh Newman, embroiled in the midst of this ancient struggle.Flawless writing is combined with an astonishing blending of fact, legend, myth, dark forces, fantasy, and the power of magic, making this offering impossible to put down. While many publishers have claimed their book to be the next "Harry Potter," Delacort Press said nothing of the kind about "The Alchemyst." It didn't have to. I have a strong feeling this may be it.<B>"Smartlab 2nd Grade Challenge"</B> by Louisa Smith and Jennifer Jacobson; illustrated by Jim Bradrick; Smartlab, 2007; 144 pages; $19.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 to 8.Challenge yourself or play with an opponent — either way, Smartlab has the questions. Now all you have to do is supply the answers!Pressing the button for one or two players, the electronic module tells you what question number to go to. You select your answer from four choices. Every right answer is worth 10 points, and when your score reaches 100, the game is over.Boasting 750 questions on all kinds of subjects, this clever book makes learning fun. Don't forget to look for the other two "Smartlab" books ¿ one for first-graders and one for third-graders.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.