With the school year coming to a close, kids might be a bit tired of reading academic materials. To encourage kids to read for the pure pleasure of it, today's reviewed books are lots of fun and demonstrate that reading for one's own enjoyment is a terrific way to relax, have some laughs and otherwise be entertained without having to work too hard.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups" revealed & illustrated by David Wisniewski, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 48 pages

Read aloud: age 7 and older.

Read yourself: age 8 and older.

For the first time, author/illustrator David Wisniewski has revealed what has been hidden from children for centuries. He has gone behind the scenes to uncover the real reasons grown-ups issue directives to their children, commands such as "Don't jump on your bed," "Don't play with your food" and "Don't blow bubbles in your milk."

These and seven other "truths" are revealed in this hilarious book - as comical for its illustrations as it is for the "knowledge" it conveys. Learn the truth behind Grown-up Rules - every kid has the right to know!

Librarian's Choice

Library: Groton Public Library, 52 Rt. 117 Newtown Rd., Groton

Library Director: Betty Anne Reiter

Children's Services Supervisor: Beth Crowley

Children's Librarian: Suzanne Palmieri, Tracy Torres

Young Adult Librarian: Anne Campbell

Choices this week: "Do Like a Duck Does!" by Judy Hindley; "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos; "The Stories Julian Tells" by Ann Cameron

Books to Buy

The following books are available at bookstores.

"Ride, Fly Guy, Ride!" written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, Scholastic, 2012, 32 pages, $6.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 3 and older.

Read yourself: age 6 and 7.

Buzz had a pet fly that he named Fly Guy. One day, Buzz's dad asks if Buzz and Fly Guy want to go for a ride in the car. Of course they do! Everyone buckles up, they roll the windows down, and hit the road. Suddenly, the wind carries Fly Guy right out the window! Tumbling along the wind current, Fly Guy blows into a truck and right into the truck driver's mouth. The driver spits Fly Guy out, and Fly Guy lands in a passing fishing boat. Moments before Fly Guy was used as bait for the fisherman, Fly Guy jumps overboard and onto a passing circus train.

Could this get any worse? You bet! And all the while, Buzz and his dad are in hot pursuit to save Fly Guy.

"Percy and TumTum: A Tale of Two Dogs" by Jen Hill, Running Press, 2012, 32 pages, $14.95 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 and older.

Read yourself: age 7 and older.

When the beautiful and charming TumTum is rescued from the animal shelter and brought home, the humans are delighted. The only family member who isn't pleased is the family's other dog, Percy. Percy considers himself dignified and refined, and finds TumTum to be a silly nuisance. But Percy's family and neighbors immediately take to TumTum, and this makes Percy angry and jealous.

After deciding that TumTum's allure is his big fluffy coat of fur, Percy concocts a nasty plan to restore his place as the #1 dog in the family.

A funny story that cleverly addresses the important topics of jealousy, bad deeds that arise from that emotion and making amends, this choice is delightful.