“Peepsqueak Wants a Friend”

Everyone is busy and it often seems near impossible to squeeze one more thing into the day.

That's a fact, but here's another one: Unless we connect with our children several times a day, there is a strong risk that we will not know who our children are, what they need, or how to help them grow.

Children need parents to spend time with them every day to listen to their problems, fears and complaints, their victories, challenges and accomplishments.

Children need a parent to listen to their questions and provide answers without criticism, mockery or sarcasm. Children need unconditional love and someone interested in who they are today and the person they are becoming.

One simple way to spend time with your children is to read together. Twenty minutes of reading aloud to your child every day will accomplish more than you could ever measure.

The following book is available at many public libraries.“Parts” written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, Dial, 32 pages; read aloud: age 7 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Among the endless questions children have about themselves and their world, author/artist Tedd Arnold has pinpointed some of the more delicate (and very funny) concerns children have about their own bodies.“I think it was three days agoI first became aware-That in my comb were caught a couplePieces of my hair.I stared at them, amazed, and moreThan just a bit appalledTo think that I was only fiveAnd starting to go bald!”From losing hair to peeling skin to teeth falling out, these and other very real concerns that children have are dealt with in the most hilarious manner.For anyone who likes a good laugh and for all the children who sometimes wonder about their physical well being, this delightfully creative book with its comical illustrations is bound to be a winner in your home.

Library: Butler Public Library, 218 N. McKean St.Library Director: Lori CampbellChildren's Librarian: Peter BessChoices this week: “Maisy Goes to the Library” by Lucy Cousins; “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett; “The Tale of Despereaux” by Kate DiCamillo

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” written and illustrated by Stephan Pastis, Candlewick, 2013, 294 pages, $15 hardcover; read aloud: age 8 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Timmy Failure is the founder, president and CEO of his detective agency. His partner is a 1,500-pound polar bear named Total.During a momentary loss of focus and concentration, Timmy agrees to include Total's name to the agency, making the company name TOTAL FAILURE INC.He knows it wasn't his best idea, but he refuses to talk about it. Instead, Timmy is determined to make Total Failure Inc. the most successful detective agency in the world.Of course Timmy is up against some obstacles, which include a competing detective agency owned by the “Center of Evil in the Universe” and continuous botched plans to find his mother's Segway (which Timmy wasn't suppose to touch and now it is missing).Will Timmy be able to solve these cases?If this book doesn't make readers double-over with continuous laughter then nothing will.Loaded with illustrations that are as hilarious as the story, this one is a guaranteed winner.“Peepsqueak Wants a Friend!” written and illustrated by Leslie Ann Clark, Harper, 2013, 32 pages, $16 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 7 and 8.All the baby chicks ran out to play in groups of two. Peepsqueak, being without someone to play with, decided to go into woods to find a friend.Many warned him along the way of possible problems or danger, but Peepsqueak was determined. Following some very large footprints, Peepsqueak finally returned home with a new friend, much to the surprise of his barnyard friends.An adorable book on friendship, readers will love the spunky little chick Peepsqueak.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.

“Timmy Failure”