BOOKS TO BORROW

"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 finds himself on a pile of dirt in the Times Square subway system.

Tucker, a streetwise city mouse, has never met a cricket before. When Chester starts to chirp, Tucker is amazed at this new, beautiful sound. Mario, the boy from the news stand, hears the chirping, too. Following the sound, Mario discovers Chester and rescues him. Later that night, with Mario and his parents gone, Tucker and his friend, Harry the Cat, befriend Chester. Soon the three friends share some wild adventures together, ultimately leading them to hatch a successful plan to help save Mario and his parents' business from failing.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Rd., Salem

Library Director: Rachel Gaither

Choices this week: "Kindergarten Rocks" by Katie Davis; "Pinky and Rex" by James Howe; "Three Good Deeds" by Vivian Vande Velde

AT THE BOOKSTORE

The following books are available at bookstores.

"Sleepover with Beatrice & Bear" by Mônica Carnesi, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014, 32 pages, $15.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 3 to 5

Read yourself: age 5 and 6

Not long after Beatrice and Bear meet, they become the best of friends. They fly kites, play hide-and-seek, swim in the summer and go on picnics. In the fall, they have fun jumping in huge piles of leaves.

One late fall day, Beatrice can't find Bear. Squirrel explains that Bear is hibernating. Beatrice becomes excited and decides to join Bear. When she discovers where and what hibernation is, she tries to participate but can't. At first distressed that she will have to spend the entire winter without Bear, she finally comes up with a plan that will keep Bear with her during the winter months.

Delightful illustrations complement and add to this endearing story of friendship.

"Oliver's Tree" by Kit Chase, Putnam, 2014, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 3 and 4

Read yourself: age 5 and 6

Baby elephant Oliver has two best friends - Charlie the bunny and Lulu the owlet. The three friends play all sorts of fun games together. When they decide to play hide-and-seek in the trees, things don't go well for Oliver; his size and trees don't seem to match.

Charlie and Lulu don't like seeing their friend sad, so they come up with a brilliant plan to find the perfect tree for all three friends to play in.

A pitch-perfect portrayal of friendship, cooperation and problem-solving, Oliver's Tree is pure delight.

kendal@sunlink.net