In Print

During a time when Ku Klux Klan members help reinforce Jim Crow laws, "The Ark" provides two young siblings with light-hearted entertainment and small doses of reality. In short chapters, five-year-old Pearl narrates her and her brother Prince's story about leaning on their grandmother for support while their parents search up North for better job opportunities. The two learn how to survive in the segregated South during the Great Depression in Dorothy Carter's touching Grandma's General Store: The Ark. 135 pp. $16 from Frances Foster Books. To order, call 888-330-8477.

WEB PAGE BASICS FOR KIDS

A computer scientist (Peter Selfridge) and a 13-year-old student (Benjamin Selfridge) teamed up to write A Kid's Guide to Creating Web Pages for Home and School, an easy-to-use primer on using HTML to build projects on the Web. Using a step-by-step approach geared for kids ages 11-16, the book includes plenty of visuals and examples, a glossary, and even touches on the basics of JavaScript. 110 pp. $19.95 from Zephyr Press. To order, go to www.ipgbook.com.

BEAUTIFULBEGINNINGS

Get lost in this colorful story for readers ages 4 to 8 about the island of Puerto Rico before it was inhabited by Spaniards and when it was known as Boriquén. In The Golden Flower: A Ta/no Myth from Puerto Rico, Nina Jaffe tells Boriquén's beginning through the eyes of an inquisitive boy. The Tainos and their barren land are given a second chance at life when the boy plants some seeds. 28 pp. $14.95 from Arte Publico Press. To order, call 713-173-2999.

seeSPOTREAD

Rover brings joy to siblings Andy and Amy after a long family discussion about which dog to adopt. But beyond the happy ending, Good Dog, Rover emphasizes vocabulary development. This level two book in the "I'm Going to READ" series includes a word bank that challenges readers to add a few new words to their vocabulary and to comprehend more complex sentences. For ages 6-7. 29 pp. $11.95 from Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. To order, call 212-532-7160.

DEALING WITH DEATH

Marilyn E. Gootman makes learning how to grieve as painless and soothing as possible in When a Friend Dies. Complete with a list of counseling resources, recommended readings, and inspirational quotes from teens who have lost a friend, Gootman's non-preachy and compassionate book gently handles this sensitive topic. Written for teens, the book teaches readers how to cope with death and where to go if they are unable to cope alone. 105 pp. $9.95 from Free Spirit Publishing. To order, visit www.freespirit.com.

THE MAGIC OF WORDS

Colorful illustrations accompany each poem in the anthology Please Bury Me in the Library. Author J. Patrick Lewis expresses his love for literature in this collection of witty and fun poetry written for children ages 6-9. 32 pp. $16 from Gulliver Books Harcourt, Inc. To order, visitwww.harcourtbooks.com.

SCIENCESECRETS

Air, Water, and Weather, by William Robertson, provides simple explanations and detailed diagrams for the most scientifically challenged teachers and parents. From the "Stop Faking It!" series, the book mixes wit with its wisdom to give readers not only the knowledge, but also the confidence, to teach some science basics and the mechanics behind air, water, and weather. The book includes accurate explanations, irreverent drawings, and activities that use easy-to-find materials. 134 pp. $18.95 from NSTA Press. To order, call 800-277-5300.

THROUGH HER EYES

In Robin Friedman's The Silent Witness: A True Story of the Civil War, events from the war are told from a child's perspective when young Lula's home is used as headquarters for one of the generals. Battles on her front lawn and meetings in her parlor makes Lula's house seem anything but homey during this difficult time. With her rag doll by her side, LuIa and her family have the unique experience of witnessing one of the most monumental events in American history. 27 pp. $16 from Houghton Mifflin Company. To order, visit www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com.