We’ve all been jumping through bizarre hoops during this pandemic. Your local librarians have been doing the same.

Public libraries serve their community in many important capacities, and just because their doors were closed for several months (and for some still are) due to COVID, libraries continue to work tirelessly for their communities in innovative ways. Library digital services have expanded by leaps and bounds, adding virtual program learning and so much more.

The thing to remember is that your librarians and those across the country have expertly addressed the COVID situation by rapidly adapting to whatever changes must take place to continue to serve their communities and keep everyone safe. What our librarians have accomplished and continue to do to get the job done for us, no matter what it takes, is deserving of a huge thank you from all of us. Why not drop them an email to let them know?

Books to borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

“The Cricket in Times Square” by George Selden, illustrated by Garth Williams, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 134 pages

Read aloud: age 6 and older.

Read yourself: age 9 and older.

Chester Cricket didn’t plan on leaving his Connecticut meadow, but the smell of liverwurst in the picnic basket was too enticing to dismiss. Not long thereafter, Chester was lying on a pile of dirt in the Times Square subway system.

Tucker, a streetwise city mouse, had never met a cricket before. When Chester started to chirp, Tucker was amazed at this new, beautiful sound. Mario, the boy from the newsstand, heard the chirping, too. Following the sound, Mario discovered Chester and rescued him.

Later that night, with Mario and his parents gone, Tucker and his friend, Harry the Cat, befriend Chester. Soon the three have some wild and wonderful adventures together, ultimately leading them to hatch a successful plan to help save Mario and his parents’ business from failing.

An absolutely delightful, enchanting story for the whole family, “The Cricket in Times Square” brims with adventure, love, loyalty and friendship.

Librarian’s choice

Library: Sinking Spring Public Library, 3940 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring

Library director: John Nelka

Youth services sibrarian: Christine Weida

Choices this week: “There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight” by Penny Parker Klostermann; “Sam and Dave Dig a Hole” by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen; “The Dangerous Book for Boys” by Conn Iggulden

Books to buy

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

“War Stories” by Gordon Korman, Scholastic, 2020, 240 pages, $17.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 8 – 12.

Read yourself: age 9 – 12.

Trevor loves playing war-based video games and anything that has to do with war. Trevor also loves his great-grandfather Jacob, who fought in WWII, was a member of the unit that helped liberate the small French village of Sainte-Regine from German occupation and had received a hero’s welcome when he returned to America.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of that victory, Sainte-Regine was holding a celebration of its liberation. Jacob, as the last surviving participant of the Battle of Sainte-Regine, was invited to be the guest of honor. Rather than simply going to Sainte-Regine, Jacob wants to retrace every step on his way through Europe, and is taking Trevor and Trevor’s dad with him.

What starts out as an exciting adventure becomes less so when it is apparent there are some who do not want Jacob anywhere near Sainte-Regine and threaten him to stay away. And as Jacob nears the village, his memories and feelings about his experience in the war weigh heavy on him, and Trevor is soon to learn war isn’t as glamorous as he once thought, and his great-grandfather’s war-time heroics weren’t as Trevor had been led to believe.

A marvelously written, smart portrayal of courage, valor, family and truth, “War Stories” is a riveting and thought-provoking read, start to finish.

“Ick!: Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings, and Defenses” by Melissa Stewart, photos various credits, National Geographic Kids, 2020, 112 pages, $14.99 paperback

Read aloud: age 7 – 12.

Read yourself: age 8 – 12.

Prepare to be fascinated and grossed out at the same time with “Ick!” As the subtitle clearly indicates, kids will learn about a wide variety of disgusting animal dinners, surprising and weird places some animals live and how some species defend themselves in totally bizarre and grotesque way.

With over 100 pages of amazing content and photos, this fantastic book is certain to educate and entertain young and old alike (except for the squeamish!).

Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net and kendal.rautzhan27@gmail.com.