Telling the truth. Fighting injustice. Standing up for what is right. Being courageous.

These are some of the important issues we should be teaching our children. Remember, too, that it's not good enough to simply teach children these values. Our actions as adults must be consistent with what we teach.

Marian Wright Edelman hit that nail precisely on the head: "What's wrong with our children? Adults telling children to be honest while lying and cheating. Adults telling children not to be violent while marketing and glorifying violence ... I believe that adult hypocrisy is the biggest problem children face in America."

Heady stuff. Important stuff. Take a look for yourself.

The following book is available at many public libraries."That's Mine, Horace"written and illustrated in color by Holly Keller; Greenwillow Books; 24 pages; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.One day Horace found a toy truck in the schoolyard. It was the best truck he had ever seen. It was also small enough to fit in his pocket, so when the bell rang to return to the classroom, Horace waited a moment for someone to claim the truck. No one did, so he stuffed it into his pocket.Later at snack time, Horace took out the truck and Walter saw it. "Hey, that's mine!" Horace slid the truck back into his pocket. When his teacher questioned him, Horace lied and said the truck was his. His teacher said she knew Horace would never tell a fib. But in his heart, Horace knew he was wrong, but he didn't know how to undo what he had done. Fortunately, Horace had some help from the one he least suspected.This story teaches right from wrong and the power of forgiveness.

Library:Evans City Public Library, 204 S. Jackson St., Evans CityLibrary Director:Judith PfeiferChildren's Librarian:Patricia PflugChoices this week:"Bear in Sunshine"by Stella Blackstone;"There's a Cow in the Cabbage Patch"by Clare Beaton;"Paddington's Opposites"by Michael Bond

The following books are available at favorite bookstores."Americans Who Tell the Truth"written and illustrated by Robert Shetterly; Dutton, 2005; 46 pages; $18.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 11 to 12 and older; read yourself: 11 to 12 and older.Profound on every level, "Americans Who Tell the Truth" may be one of the most important books older children are ever exposed to. Each of the 50 striking portraits are accompanied by a brief, thought-provoking quote from that featured American.These truth tellers challenge readers to think deeply about the truth, our government, what democracy should be, what is right and wrong, injustice, the importance of taking an active role and the danger of conforming.A must-read for adults and older children, this selection provides a powerful springboard for thought, discussion and hopefully, action."Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students"by Suzanne Jurmain; Houghton Mifflin, 2005; 126 pages; $18 hardcover; read aloud: age 8 to 9 and older; read yourself: age 9 and older.In 1833, the villagers and town authorities in Canterbury, Ct., considered Prudence Crandall a criminal. Her "crime" was opening and operating one of the first African-American schools in America.Filled with such hate for Crandall and her students, people threw rotten eggs and rocks at the school windows, screamed insults and pounded on the doors with iron bars, threw manure in the school well, and tried to burn the schoolhouse down.Crandall was hauled off to jail and put on trial for breaking the law. Throughout it all, Crandall persisted because she knew she was right.An extraordinary true story of a courageous woman and her equally courageous students, this important selection is rich on many levels.