I am pleased to announce the Book Buzz titles for March. This service is provided with permission from the Missourian Publishing company, specifically through the hard work of Chris Stuckenschneider at the Washington Missourian.

I hope you enjoy the books -- they are all available at the library!

And They Read Happily Ever After

Make time for "Once Upon a Time" as Newsbee celebrates the magic of fairy tales. Ivory towers and beanstalks loom on the horizon and heroes come to life as we revisit stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Fairy tales spark our imaginations, and help us suspend reality as we escape into a land where houses are made of candy, straw can be spun into gold and pumpkins are transformed into coaches with a wave of a wand. Run away with us to fairy tale land, where all stories end in "happily ever after."

In "Falling for Rapunzel," by Leah Wilcox, a frustrated prince on bended knee gets an earful and a whole lot more from his beloved. The cutesy-pie princess in this rendition of the old favorite has a bit of trouble understanding her prince's requests. All the gallant young man on the ground wants is for his princess to throw down her hair so he can hoist himself up the tower and rescue her.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, throw down your locks," he shouts. In response his intended, a dizzy blonde, throws down her socks. And so goes this hilarious book, illustrated by Lydia Monks. Hold onto your sides. Belly laughs are the order of the day in a fairy-tale spoof told in rhyme that'll be a great read aloud any old time.

As you know from the classic tale "Jack and the Beanstalk," Jack's mom thought her son was a loser for selling the family cow Milky for a handful of beans. But the lad milked the opportunity. He climbed the giant beanstalk and became the giant's worst nightmare, growing rich in the venture, getting back what belonged to him in the first place.

This version of the well-known fairy tale, by E Nesbit, is kinder and gentler than most. There's not a single "fe, fi, fo, fum" and the giant's downfall is downplayed. Characters and landscapes in shades of gold and green make for unforgettable scenes thanks to Matt Tavares. Hats off to Matt -- he's one of Newsbee's favorite author/illustrators.

Need a refresher course on some of our most beloved of fairy tales? If so, suit up for a great read. "The Secret History of Tom Trueheart," by Ian Beck will reacquaint you with common stories you haven't heard since you were knee-high to a grasshopper.

Tom Trueheart is 12, the youngest and smallest boy in the family of Jacks, brave heroes all who are away on quests in the Land of Stories, kissing princesses awake, slaying dragons and the like. But alas, Tom's brothers haven't come home. They've lost their way, like Mary's sheep, and it's up to Tom to save their tails.

Tom's adventures make for a fast, fun read, and end with a moral for us all. You don't have to be big to make a mighty big difference, in this world or the realm of fantasy.

Reprinted with permission, Missourian Publishing Company. Copyright 2007.

New books

Fiction

-- When the Light Goes -- Larry McMurtry

-- Key Lime Pie Murder -- Joanne Fluke

-- Puss 'n Cahoots -- Rita Mae Brown

-- The Accidental Florist -- Jill Churchill

-- Ten Days in the Hills -- Jane Smiley

-- The Watchman -- Robert Crais

Non-fiction

-- White House Chef -- Walter Scheib

-- The Seventeen Traditions -- Ralph Nader

-- The Fat Smash Diet -- Ian K. Smith, MD

Library events

Preschool Story Time -- each Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. Games, stories, crafts. Appropriate for children approximately 3 to 7 years old.

Pajama Story Time -- each Monday at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Wear your jammies or come as you are. Games, crafts, stories.

Wee Ones Lap Time Story Time -- for babies up to 24 months old, each Wednesday at 10 a.m. Interactive finger play and song time for mothers and babies.

How can I support the Marshall Public Library?

Bring your receipts from Patricia's into the library when you're returning or checking out books. Each month, Patricia's Foods will donate a portion of the collected receipts to the library.

When purchasing items from Amazon.com, use the link to Amazon that appears on the Marshall Public Library's website: www.marshallpublib.org. A portion of your purchase will go to support the library.

Consider joining Friends of the Marshall Libraries. Membership forms are available at the library.

Honor a mentor. Celebrate a friend. Commemorate an event. A gift to the Marshall Public Library is a unique and enduring way to pay tribute to friends and family. Your generosity will be a lasting source of joy and enrichment for the community.

For additional information, please call (660) 886-3391 with any questions.

Check It Out appears Wednesday.