The following book is available at many public libraries.

"Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery" by Deborah & James Howe, illustrated by Alan Daniel, Atheneum, 98 pages

Read aloud: age 6, 7 and older

Read yourself: age 8, 9 and older

Harold's full-time occupation is a dog, and this is his story. Harold lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, their two sons, and Harold's good friend, Chester the cat. A recent addition to the family is Bunnicula, a rabbit, from the Carpathian Mountain region of Transylvania.

Owing to vegetables that have been sucked dry of their juices, Chester firmly and fearfully concludes that Bunnicula is a vampire. Chester feels compelled to save the Monroe clan from the evil Bunnicula, yet no one seems to grasp the gravity of the situation. Chester's hilarious attempts to warn the family and save them from their ill fate are misunderstood.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: Wheeler Library, 101 Main St., North Stonington

Library Director: Amy Kennedy

Children's Services: Larae Fowler

Choices this week: "My Father's Dragon" by Ruth Stiles Gannett; "Through My Eyes" by Ruby Bridges; "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl

AT THE BOOKSTORE

"Three Bird Summer" by Sara St. Antoine, Candlewick, 2014, 246 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 8, 9 and older

Read yourself: age 10 and older

Twelve-year-old Adam and his parents have always spent their summers with Adam's grandmother at her cabin on Three Bird Lake in northern Minnesota. This summer will be different, though. Adam's parents are divorced and Dad won't be there and neither will his uncle and cousins. It will just be Adam, his mom and his grandmother.

Not long after arriving, Adam notices other differences. His grandmother forgets a lot of things. She also has taken to leaving notes in Adam's room, although they are not addressed to Adam. Then Adam meets a girl, Alice, who is vacationing in a nearby cabin. Initially Adam can't see that they have anything in common, but when he asks Alice to help him solve the mystery of the notes, it becomes obvious that they have a great deal in common; more than he could have imagined.

"Swim That Rock" by John Rocco & Jay Primiano, Candlewick, 2014, 296 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 12 and older

Read yourself: age 12, 13 and older

Young Jake finds himself shouldering more than he should; the grief of his father being presumed dead after a fishing-boat accident, his mother's depression over the loss of her husband, and the $10,000 debt that must be paid to loan sharks by the end of the month or the family diner will be repossessed.

Jake is determined to do everything he can to help raise the money. From helping his mom with the diner to clamming during the day and secretly working with a questionable character at night, Jake has his hands full. Will it be enough?

kendal@sunlink.net