Take a moment and look below at the reviewed books and those recommended by your local librarian. Each is a treasure worth sharing with the children in your life, both during the holiday season and all year long!

BOOKS TO BORROW

The following book is available at many public libraries.

“Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt” by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, Candlewick, 118 pages

Read aloud: age 7 and older

Read yourself: age 8, 9 and older

Judy and Stink and their parents were on a ferry boat en route to an island off the North Carolina coast. The siblings were very excited, especially Stink, who desperately wanted to meet pirates, look at shipwrecks, and find gold and treasure. Stink’s enthusiasm was quickly transferred to his older sister, Judy. As they disembarked onto the island, they were met by Cap’n Weevil, a pirate with an eye-patch, a scraggly beard, and a treasure map!

Judy and Stink couldn’t believe their good fortune — first thing tomorrow morning was the start of the Third Annual Pirate Island Treasure Hunt. The first to collect sixteen pieces o’ eight would win a pirate gold doubloon and a ride on Blackbeard’s own private ship. All Judy and Stink had to do was follow the trail of clues, solve the riddles to collect the pieces o’ eight, and keep ahead of their competition — Tall Boy and Smart Girl.

Hilarious and brimming with adventure and riddle-solving, this selection is pure fun.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford

Library Director: Roslyn Rubinstein

Dept. Head of Children’s Services: Christine Tkaczyk

Choices this week: “I Want My Hat Back” by Jon Klassen; “Lost and Found” by Oliver Jeffers; “Magyk” by Angie Sage

BOOKS TO BUY

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

“The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog” by Adam Gidwitz, illuminated by Hatem Aly, Dutton, 2016, 363 pages, $17.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 10 and older

Read yourself: age 10/11 and older

France, in the year 1242, was plagued by the Inquisition where those who, in any way, might be deemed heretics were zealously sought after. Who would have thought the three most wanted were children — Jacob, a Jewish boy who had the power to heal; William, born Muslim but training to be a monk who possessed super-human strength; and Jeanne, a peasant girl who can see the future and her loyal dog, Gwenforte (who had been dead for many years but has come back to life, and is also wanted by the Inquisition). Were they heretics or saints?

With the entire kingdom fascinated with the snippets they’d heard of this story, a dark night at a small French inn provided the perfect time for travelers to tell what they know, each narrator adding to the tale of these unlikely group of children who came to know one another, were chased across France, and ultimately were called upon to do the unthinkable for the sake of what is right and truly human in the face of narrow-mindedness, prejudice, and hate.

Brimming with action, history, humor and much more, Gidwitz has crafted a masterfully seamless novel that is thought-provokingly relevant, making this selection nothing short of brilliant.

“Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton, illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes, Grosset & Dunlap, 2016, 32 pages, $17.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 to 8

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

When Dolly Parton grew up in rural Tennessee her family didn’t have much money, but they were rich in another way: great love for one another.

As the temperatures dropped one fall, Dolly didn’t have a coat. Her mother took the box of colorful rags someone had given them and sewed the rags together to make a coat for Dolly. Dolly loved that coat and was proud of it. Sadly, the children at school made fun of Dolly’s coat, but she explained to the children of the love from her mama in each stitch that made her richer than anything.

The heartfelt lyrics to Dolly Parton’s song and perfectly paired with gentle, uplifting illustrations, making the sum total of this book beautiful in every way.

“Tomi Ungerer: A Treasury of 8 Books” by Tomi Ungerer, Phaidon, 320 pages, $49.95 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 to 8

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

This lavish collection of master children’s author/illustrator Tomi Ungerer features eight delightful picture books — some of his classics, a recent work, and a couple of wonderful stories that had not been published until now.

The stories included in this delightful book are The Three Robbers, Zeralda’s Ogre, Moon Man, Fog Island, The Hat, Emile, Flix, and Otto. Each story is thoroughly engaging and carries a subtle, important message. Included as well is a behind-the-scenes interview with Tomi Ungerer at the back of the book.

All told, this beautiful slipcase volume will be cherished for generations to come. And don’t sweat the price: eight books for $49.95 is a deal — that’s a hair over $6 per book. Score!

kendal@sunlink.net