Everyone likes a good story

Everyone likes a good story. From recorded history — and certainly far before that — stories have been told and shared to teach, amuse and help people understand their place in the world.

Enjoying a good story is as pleasurable for children as it is for adults, and today's recommended books are great choices of exciting stories that beg to be shared. Read aloud every day to the child in your life; it's a powerful and important gift whose benefits can't possibly be measured.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"Sleep Tight, Little Bear" by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Barbara Firth, Candlewick, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 2 and older

Read yourself: age 7 and older

One day, Little Bear discovers a new cave close to the cave he shares with Big Bear. Little Bear shows Big Bear his new cave, then Little Bear spends the day playing there. When it's time for bed, Little Bear decides he wants to sleep in his new cave, like a big bear does. As he tries to fall asleep, he wonders if Big Bear might be lonely without him. Maybe Big Bear isn't the only lonely one ...

Perfect from start to finish, young children will immediately identify with the sentiment of wanting to be independent, but not too independent.

Librarian's Choice

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

Library Director: Derek Wolfgram

Branch Librarian: Cynthia Pustejovsky

Choices this week: "Harry the Dirty Dog" by Gene Zion; "Blaze and the Forest Fire" by C.W. Anderson; "The Summer of the Swans" by Betsy Byars

Books to Buy

The following books are available at your favorite bookstores.

"Calvin Can't Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie" by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Keith Bendis, Sterling, 2010, 36 pages, $14.95 hardcover

Read aloud: age 3 — 4 and older

Read yourself: age 7 — 8 and older

Calvin was a starling, but he was different from the rest of his family. While the other starlings were busy discovering yummy worms, where to find refreshing water and how to fly, Calvin discovered books, learned to read and loved every moment of every book he read. Calvin didn't bother with flying lessons. "His books took him to places wings never could. And his heart fluttered with excitement."

Calvin's family made fun of him because of all the books he read and didn't know how to fly, which was a particular problem when it came time to migrate south. His family didn't want to leave Calvin behind, so they came up with an ingenious idea to take him along. As the birds made their way south, Calvin's family soon discovered that Calvin and his reading would save them all.

Hilarious, expressive illustrations perfectly complement this imaginative, fun story that ultimately makes clear that reading is a very good thing.

"The Storyteller's Secrets" by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Peter Bailey, David Fickling Books, 2010, 125 pages, $15.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 5 — 12

Read yourself: age 8 — 9 and older

Young Toby and Tess sat on the bench beneath a chestnut tree, wondering what the day would bring and what they should do. It was at that moment they met an old man with a pack on his back. The man introduced himself. "My name is Teller. I am called that because I tell tales. Good ones. Old ones. From long ago."

When the children offer to share their lunch with Teller, he insists that first he must share a tale with them And so, the stories begin.

Tony Mitton has created a magical, fresh retelling of very old, wonderful tales. Mitton has masterfully rewritten the tales as poems, and his connecting narrative of Teller, Toby and Tess is in prose. At once mesmerizing, magical and rich, "The Storyteller's Secrets" is filled with brave heroes, enchantments and far-away places — a book not to be missed.

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