Share books packed with learning

Facts, information and learning ideas and concepts can be made fun and interesting providing you have the right reading material and have an interested, engaged adult leading the way with an enthusiastic attitude and exciting read-aloud voice.

Today's reviewed books are terrific examples of the "right" reading material that gets kids excited about the book and what the book conveys. Then add you to that mix — the adult who uses a lively, inviting voice to the read-aloud process. With those two components, you've got a winning combination that helps young children recognize that reading and learning are fun.

What a great way to spend quality time together. What a great gift. Start today and make it your daily mission.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"Bats at the Library" written and illustrated by Brian Lies, Houghton Mifflin, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 4 — 8

Read yourself: age 7 — 8

It's an exciting night for the bats. Someone has left a window ajar at the library, and the bats can't wait to explore all the library has to offer. Best of all is story time!

"And if we listen, we will hear some distant voices drawing near — louder, louder, louder still, they coax and pull us in, until ... everyone — old bat or pup — has been completely swallowed up and lives inside a book instead of simply hearing something read. Breathless, lost within the tale, no one sees the sky grow pale."

Whoops! It's almost morning — time to go. The bats whoosh out the window, filled with wonderful stories to think about over and over. As they fly home, each one hopes that a librarian will leave the window open again sometime very soon ...

Cheery, snappy verse, wonderful illustrations and an excellent message combine to make this a brilliant little book.

Librarian's Choice

Library: Butte County Library — Gridley Branch, 299 Spruce St., Gridley

Library Director: Derek Wolfgram

Branch Librarian: Cynthia Pustejovsky

Choices this week: "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans; "Twelve Tales from Aesop" by Eric Carle; "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Books to Buy

The following books are available at your favorite bookstores.

"Circus Opposites" written and illustrated by Suse MacDonald, Little Simon, 2010, 16 pages, $11.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 2 — 5

Read yourself: age 6 — 7

The concept of opposites comes to life with a trip to the circus, featuring flaps to lift, wheels to turn, tabs to pull and a clown that smiles and frowns.

Meet an elephant, a bear, seals, a monkey juggler and more in this interactive extravaganza tour of the exciting opposites found at the circus. Vibrant, colorful illustrations couple with the simple concepts that make learning opposites loads of fun.

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert, Little Simon, 2010, 36 pages, $12.99 oversized board book

Read aloud: age 2 — 3 and older

Read yourself: age 6 — 7

"A told B, and B told C, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.'" But A and B aren't the only letters who want to get in on the game. The entire alphabet starts making their way up the tree. Will there be enough room? The coconut tree is bending and bending under the additional weight of each letter. Yikes — "Chicka, chicka, Boom! Boom!"

Learning the alphabet has never been such fun. First published in 1989, this enormously popular book is now available as an oversized board book. Told in rhyme and bursting with colorful, fun illustrations, it's no wonder librarians have been recommending this book for more than 20 years.

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