It’s easy to settle into the idea that the world would be a better place if everyone thought like we did, did things the way we do them, liked what we liked and disliked what we found dull or objectionable. But if you think about it, that kind of world would be dull and colorless. Not everyone thinks and feels the same way.
The same is true for books. That’s the beauty of all that your public library and favorite bookstore have to offer — so many books for every personality and their tastes. Read on to discover some solid examples and ask your librarian and bookseller to steer you in the direction of others.
Books to borrow The following book is available at many public libraries. “Timmy Failure No. 1: Mistakes Were Made,” written and illustrated by Stephan Pastis, Candlewick, 294 pages Read aloud: age 8 and older.
Read yourself: age 8 – 9 and older. Timmy Failure is the founder, president and CEO of his detective agency. His partner is a 1,500-pound polar bear named Total.
During a momentary loss of focus and concentration Timmy agrees to include Total’s name to the agency, making the company name TOTAL FAILURE, INC. He knows it wasn’t his best idea, but he refuses to talk about it. Instead, Timmy is determined to make Total Failure, Inc.
, the most successful detective agency in the world. Of course, Timmy is up against some obstacles, which include a competing detective agency owned by the “Center of Evil in the Universe,” continuous botched plans to find his mother’s Segway (which Timmy wasn’t supposed to touch but now is missing) and his friend’s daisy disguise being reduced to resemble a mutant bunny, all while attempts to find the missing vehicle. Will Timmy be able to solve the cases of the missing Segway, the missing candy and the toilet paper crime? If this book doesn’t make readers double over with continuous laughter, then nothing will.
Loaded with illustrations that are equally as hilarious as the story, this one is a guaranteed winner. Librarian’s choice Library: Sinking Spring Public Library, 3940 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring Library director: Wenonah Riegel Youth services librarian: Miranda Zaborowski Choices this week: “Two Bad Ants” by Chris Van Allsburg; “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” by William Steig; “Shiloh” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Books to buy The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
“Not Nothing” by Gayle Forman, Aladdin, 2024, 288 pages, $17.99 hardcover Read aloud: age 10 and older. Read yourself: age 10 and older.
Twelve-year-old Alex did a very bad thing, and because of that, a judge has sentenced him to spend his summer volunteering at a retirement home. His life had already been turned upside down by his mom’s disappearance, and several foster homes later, he is now living with his estranged aunt and uncle, who clearly don’t want him. Alex considers his volunteer work to be torture, surrounded by old people he thinks are like zombies.
But when Alex encounters a resident, Josey, who is 107, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. Josey, who hasn’t spoken in five years, begins to share his own life story, one filled with many hardships. Alex returns to Josey’s room time and again, where Josey continues to share his story.
Alex slowly comes to understand that he isn’t as alone as he feels, and that maybe he, like Josey and the woman in Josey’s life, Olka, can also find the strength to own up to the bad thing he had done, make peace with himself, with the person he harmed, and be courageous enough to move forward toward a better life. A remarkable book on numerous fronts, “Not Nothing” is ultimately a story of friendship, compassion, forgiveness and courage, making it a genuine masterpiece. On sale Tuesday, this novel is a must-read.
“It Is Okay,” written and illustrated by Ye Guo, Eerdmans, 2024, 40 pages, $17.99 hardcover Read aloud: age 4 – 8. Read yourself: age 6 – 8.
Goat and Bunny became friends when they met at the supermarket, both buying the same brand of their favorite canned grass. After that, they would meet and eat their canned grass together. They soon learned that they liked the same coffee shop, and while Goat thought Bunny put too much sugar in his coffee, they decided that was okay because they could still enjoy drinking coffee together.
The two friends discovered other things they both liked to do, but not necessarily in the same way. In fact, they eventually discovered they were very different in many ways, but they weren’t going to let that disrupt their friendship. On sale Tuesday, “It Is Okay” is a charming story that reminds children to be kind, respectful, and accept the differences between friends.
With delightful illustrations that perfectly complement this powerful little book, “It Is Okay” will be read many times over. Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at kendal.
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