Great books teach children about love

There are many kinds of love, and the fortunate child experiences all of them.

There is the love family members have for one another, and the love that binds them together even when disagreements or difficulties arise. There is the love between friends, and the love we share with our pets. There is also a love of inanimate things, such as a love of sports or books or travel or learning, nature, science and so on.

February may be the month of celebrating love, but every day of every year is a good day to love and be loved in return, and the books reviewed below help children recognize and celebrate this in different ways.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

• "Annie Rose Is My Little Sister" written and illustrated by Shirley Hughes, Candlewick, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 3 — 4 and older

Read yourself: age 7 and older

Annie Rose and her big brother are good friends. They play lots of games together. Sometimes, though, Annie Rose can be a pest when she wants to play with her big brother's toys or throws a temper tantrum in a public place.

But when Annie Rose cries or is upset, her big brother is the only one who can cheer her up. That's because "she's my little sister and I'm her big brother, and we'll go on being that forever ... even until we're grown up."

A wonderful, warm story of the special bond between siblings embellished with equally warm, inviting illustrations, this selection will hit all the right chords with young siblings everywhere.

Librarian's Choice

Library: Butte County Library — Biggs Branch, 464A B St., Biggs

Library Director: Derek Wolfgram

Branch Librarian: Cynthia Pustejovsky

Choices this week: "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman; "Dicey's Song" by Cynthia Voigt; "Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison" by Lois Lenski

Books to Buy

The following books are available at your favorite bookstores.

• "Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle" by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, Mary Nethery, photographs by various credits, Little, Brown, 2009, 44 pages, 17.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 6 — 7 and older

Read yourself: age 8 — 10

In the desert of western Iraq, Marine Maj. Brian Dennis and his 10 Marines found a pack of wild dogs, and the leader of the dog pack decided to befriend Brian. Brian named the dog Nubs, and the two became fast friends. Nubs, of course, had no way of knowing Marines weren't permitted to have pets.

Nubs tried to never be too far from Brian, but when Brian and his Marines had to relocate 70 miles away across the desert, Nubs followed. The path was treacherous, with little to eat and almost nothing to drink. When Nubs limped into the Iraqi battalion headquarters where Brian was working, Brian could hardly believe it. Their reunion was wonderful, but Brian knew he had to quickly find a way to save Nubs and get him to his home in America. With the help of many, that's precisely what happened.

An outstanding true story of the love between a human and a dog, this selection excels in many, many regards.

• "Baby Max and Ruby: Love" written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, Viking, 2010, 12 pages, $5.99 board book

Read aloud: age birth — 18 months

Read yourself: age 6 — 7

Everyone loves the adorable character, Max, and in this fun selection, Max declares whom he loves. From Mommy, Daddy, sister Ruby and Grammy, Max loves each of them for all kinds of special reasons.

Boasting fun illustrations with lots of shiny elements that little children will enjoy, "Baby Max and Ruby: Love" is loads of fun for the tiniest readers in your life.

Kendal A. Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net.