BOOKS TO BORROW

"Hunter's Best Friend at School" by Laura Malone Elliot, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, HarperCollins, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 4 and older

Read yourself: age 7 and older

Two young raccoons, Hunter and Stripe, are best friends at school. They do everything together. They like to wear stripe sweaters, their favorite story is "Goldilocks and the Three Raccoons," they eat the same lunch, and they always play on the swing set together.

One day Stripe comes to school in a mischief-making mood, and he urges Hunter to follow, which Hunter does at first. Things start to get out of hand, though, and Hunter isn't so sure he is doing the right thing. Hunter doesn't know what to do except to talk with his mom who listens carefully, gives him a big hug, and offers him some very good advice.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Rd., Niantic

Library Director: William Deakyne

Children's Librarian: Randall F. Haines

Choices this week: "My Name is Yoon" by Helen Recorvits; "Stop the Train!" by Geraldine McCaughrean; "The Wee Freemen" by Terry Pratchett

AT THE BOOKSTORE

"Nasreddine" by Odile Weulersse, illustrated by Rébecca Dautremer, Eerdmans, 2013, 32 pages, $17 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 and older

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

Young Nasreddine always accompanies his father and their donkey to the market to sell their wares. Nasreddine works hard to be helpful, and his kind and gentle father is very aware of that. But despite Nasreddine's efforts, someone along the way always criticizes Nasreddine and his father. At first, Nasreddine doesn't know if those who cast their hurtful words might be right, so Nasreddine quietly tries to make changes in the hope of not facing more criticism. Fortunately, Nasreddine's wise father patiently observes his son's actions and provides some very good advice.

"White Fur Flying" by Patricia MacLachlan, McElderry Books, 2013, 114 pages, $15.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 7 and older

Read yourself: age 8 and older

Zoe's family rescues dogs, and their house is always full of new dogs that need to be loved. That also means their house is always busy.

When a new family moves in next door, young Zoe notices that things are really quiet over there. But nothing is as quiet as the boy who lives there-Phillip-who has stopped talking altogether. Zoe is good with the gentle care she gives to the dogs in her life, and she is determined to be as gentle and patient with Phillip. After all, Zoe knows that dogs and people pretty much need the same things.

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