“Epic Voyages”

There is something primal and important in reading or listening to true stories about people who have accomplished great things under difficult circumstances. Such stories often provide the reader/listener with ideas that may not have been previously known or considered, and can ultimately inspire and bolster a sense of courage, spirit and self-reliance.

That's precisely what you'll find in today's reviewed books. Ask your local librarian or bookseller to point you in the direction of others.

Inspire kids with exciting true stories of courageous people. That time invested on your part could lead to very good things for the child in your life and maybe for you, too.

The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>“The Librarian Who Measured the Earth”</B> by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Little, Brown, 48 pages; read aloud: age 6 to 7 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Children are curious creatures, and their drive to seek answers to questions is often unending. So it was with one such boy more than 2,000 years ago. Born in ancient Greece, Eratosthenes was brilliant, bold and curious as the day was long.Propelled from one discovery to the next, Eratosthenes spent his earliest years exploring his immediate surroundings and going to school. When he was old enough, he left home to continue his studies in Athens. There, Eratosthenes studied mathematics, philosophy and science. He also began to write books. His accomplishments began to be recognized on a wide scale, and at age thirty, he was invited to the city of Alexandria, the place considered the center of all learning.Not long after he arrived in Alexandria, Eratosthenes found himself appointed head librarian. Now this scholar could really start to find answers to all the questions that burned inside his mind. Most important to Eratosthenes were questions about the earth, and in particular, how to measure the earth.A fascinating look at an incredible man whose curiosity and determination led him to make several important contributions and startling discoveries, this colorfully illustrated book is a marvelous tribute to all young minds whose thirst for knowledge is never quenched.

<B>Library: </B>Saxonburg Area Library, 240 W. Main St., Saxonburg<B>Library Director: </B>Erin Wincek<B>Choices this week: “The Dot”</B> by Peter H. Reynolds; <B>“The Time Warp Trio” </B>series by Jon Scieszka; <B>“The Boy Who Lost His Face”</B> by Louis Sachar

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>“Epic Adventure: Epic Voyages”</B> by Robyn Mundy and Nigel Rigby, Kingfisher, 2011, 64 pages, $19.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 9 to 10 and older; read yourself: age 10 to 11 and older.These true stories of five epic mariners provide readers with insight on what it takes to survive the challenging, unpredictable hardships of sea exploration.From Magellan's first circumnavigation of the globe in 1519 to Cook, Shackleton, Heyerdahl and Chichester, join these courageous sea explorers on some of the greatest ocean journeys ever taken.Loaded with fast-paced, fascinating facts, stunning photographs, illustrations and giant fold-out posters, these five incredible stories are vividly brought to light and are certain to be an inspiration to young and old alike.<B>“The Bravest Woman in America”</B> by Marissa Moss, illustrated by Andrea U'Ren, Tricycle Press, 2011, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.As a young girl in the mid-1800s, Ida loved the sea. So when her father got a job as a lighthouse keeper, Ida felt like she was the luckiest girl in the world.Over time, Ida's father taught her how to row the lifeboat and shared stories about storms, drowning sailors and rescues. Her father also showed her how to care for the light and lens of the lighthouse. When Ida's father fell too ill to take care of the lighthouse, sixteen-year-old Ida was well prepared to take over.Little did either know that she would soon be called upon to perform her first rescue — the first in a long line of courageous acts of heroism in her long career as Lighthouse Keeper at Lime Rock, Rhode Island, and over those years of dedication, Ida garnered many awards, including being known as “The Bravest Woman in America.”A wonderful story in both words and illustrations, this interesting true story of courage is inspirational.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.

The Bravest Woman in America?