Books on friendship teach important lessons

Children learn a great deal by example — the example set by their parents and other caregivers, extended family they frequently come in contact with and through interaction with their peers.

Children also learn a great deal by the books that are read to them and the examples set forth by the characters in stories — the good guys, the bad guys and what the characters must deal with, how they resolve conflict and the choices they make.

Today's reviewed books focus on friendship in a variety of ways. Each is highly recommended and is guaranteed to impart something of value to the child. Such books, coupled with your example, will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy relationships.

Books to borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

• "Horace and Morris but mostly Dolores" by James Howe, illustrated by Amy Walrod, Atheneum, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 4 and older

Read yourself: age 7 and older

Horace, Morris and Dolores do everything together. They are the best of friends, but one day Horace and Morris decide to join a boys club — Mega-Mice — and Dolores is left out. Feeling downhearted, Dolores goes on her way, alone.

Not long thereafter, Dolores comes upon a girls club — The Cheese Puffs. Although she doesn't really want to do anything without Horace and Morris, she reluctantly joins the Cheese Puffs and spends day after day doing things she really doesn't enjoy. Horace and Morris aren't having as much fun as they thought, either. In fact, all three really miss each other. Is it too late to be friends again?

Fun, colorful illustrations provide the perfect visual backdrop for this terrific story of friends who learn to do what they like to do instead of what their peers would prefer.

Librarian's choice

Library: Yuba County Library, 303 Second St., Marysville

Library Director: Loren MccRory

Outreach & Programming Coordinator: Kathleen Stewart

Choices this week: "Nighty Night!" by Margaret Wild & Kerry Argent; "My Life as a Chicken" by Ellen A. Kelley; "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" by Dr. Seuss

Books to buy

The following books are available at your favorite bookstores.

• "Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends" written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee, Houghton Mifflin, 2009, 48 pages, $15.00 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 and older

Read yourself: age 7 — 8

Mouse and Mole are good friends. When spring arrives, Mole is eager to go outside and watch the birds and sketch them. He invites Mouse to join in the fun, but they quickly learn that watching birds isn't as easy as they thought; as soon as they get close enough to a bird, they accidentally make a sound and the bird flies away. Finally, Mouse comes up with an idea that will help them watch the birds undetected, and it's one crazy idea. The good news is that the plan works.

Later, when their bird watching and bird sketching is done for the day, the friends discover that they each have an important talent to make their bird books extra special.

A wonderful and often funny look at friendship and appreciating the unique, diverse talents of each individual, this selection is Yee's fourth book about Mouse and Mole.

• "Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends" written and photographed by Carol Buckley, Putnam, 2009, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 and older

Read yourself: 8 and older

The power of friendship can be experienced in many ways, and when that is seen between two unlikely animals, friendship takes on an even deeper, more profound meaning. Such is the circumstance with Tarra, a retired entertainment elephant, and a stray dog, Bella, who found one another at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

From the moment the two animals met, they were inseparable. Tarra and Bella ate together, played together, swam together and slept next to one another.

One day, though, Bella became seriously injured. When rescue workers found Bella in a ditch close to where Tarra stood, Tarra didn't stop them from taking Bella to the animal hospital. Instead, Tarra stood in the same spot for two days where Bella had been found. Then, Tarra made her way to the elephant barn where Bella was recovering, although she didn't see Bella being taken there. They called to each other, and their enduring friendship and love for one another aided in Bella's recovery.

As inspirational and touching as any story can be, "Tarra & Bella" provides a wonderful lesson on the power of friendship for both animals and humans.

Kendal A. Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net.