Check It Out

Books recommended for young readers by Ilene Abramson, senior librarian, Los Angeles Public Library.

National Library Week--This week is a good time for children to get acquainted with librarians.

Preschool and kindergarten: “Aunt Lulu” by Daniel Pinkwater.

A humorous tale about librarian Lulu, who brings books to Alaskan miners in a dogsled, then moves to New Jersey, taking her vehicle and canines with her.

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First and second grade: “Library Lil” by Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Steven Kellogg.

A librarian takes advantage of a television blackout to get the town reading, then turns a gang of motorcycle thugs into bookworms.

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Third grade: “The Frog Princess?” by Pamela Mann, illustrated by Jill Newton.

A little frog cries, “Reddit! Reddit!” and turns into a beautiful librarian after the prince kisses her.

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Fourth grade: “The Great Piratical Rumbustification & The Librarian and the Robbers” by Margaret Mahy.

A beautiful librarian gets kidnapped by a group of silly robbers who learn the fun of reading, then decide to switch careers and take up librarianship.

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Fifth and sixth grade: “The Dark Secret of Weatherend” by John Bellairs.

A boy and his best friend, an eccentric librarian, try to make sense of a mysterious diary.

Storytime

Some of the books to be read on KCET’s “Storytime,” Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

* “Yo! Yes?” by Chris Raschka.

Two boys, one black and one white, meet and become friends. (Themes: friendship and respect.)

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* “In The Rain With Baby Duck” by Amy Hest.

Baby’s parents worry--who ever heard of a duck who doesn’t like rain? Grandpa comes to the rescue. (Themes: nature and fantasy.)

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* “The Fiddler of the Northern Lights” by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock.

Far in the north, the old folks tell stories about strange and wondrous things. Everyone says they are just stories, until one night Grandpa and Henry go upriver in search of the fiddler and something strange and wonderful happens. (Themes: nature and fantasy.)