"Crispin: The End of Time" by Avi, Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, 223 pages

Read aloud: age 9, 10 and older

Read yourself: 10, 11 and older

Beloved friend, teacher and surrogate parent Bear has died, leaving Crispin and Troth to fend for themselves as best they can, which, given the time of the early Middle Ages, is anything but easy. They are lost in the dangerous countryside of France, with no food or knowledge of how to reach the land where Bear had said they would be free of kings and lords and oppression. Their destination is Iceland, but the few people they meet have never heard of such a place.

In his usual signature style, Avi has crafted a story that is certain to have readers spellbound, start to finish. The final book in the Newberry Award-winning trilogy that began with "Crispin: The Cross of Lead," this third installment is wholly satisfying.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Library, 2 Library Lane, Old Lyme

Library Director: Mary Fiorelli

Children's Librarian: Michelle DeSarbo

Choices this week: "Chicks Run Wild" by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart; "The Trouble with Chickens" by Doreen Cronin

AT THE BOOKSTORE

"Brother Hugo and the Bear" by Katy Beebe, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, Eerdmans, 2014, 34 pages, $17 hardcover

Read aloud: age 5 to 9

Read yourself: age 8 and 9

Long ago, when printing presses had not been invented, books were written by hand. So when Brother Hugo cannot return to the library a very special book containing the letters of St. Augustine (because a bear had eaten it), the Abbot is not pleased. The Abbot explains that Brother Hugo has to make up for what he has lost and directs Brother Hugo to borrow a copy of that book from another abbey, copy it word for word, and then return the original. The Abbot also cautions Brother Hugo not to misplace the copy or the original, bear or no bear.

A charming book loosely based on a note found in a 12th-century manuscript, this fun story offers subtle messages of friendship, working together, and a little mischief to boot.

"The Scarecrows' Wedding" by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, 2014, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 4 to 8

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay are scarecrows in love, who decide to get married. They want to have a wedding so special that no one on the farm will ever forget it. They make a simple list of what they need and all of the farm animals pitch in to help. But when Harry goes in search of pink flowers for the big day, he gets sidetracked and Betty begins to worry.

Enter a new scarecrow: shifty Reginald Rake. Reginald thinks he will take Harry's place, but when he tries to impress Betty, things go awry. Will Harry return in time to save Betty and the wedding?

kendal@sunlink.net