Check It Out

Books recommended for young readers by Ilene Abramson, senior librarian for the children’s literature department, Los Angeles Public Library:

March winds rustle up good reading.

Preschool and kindergarten: “The Dandelion Seed,” by Joseph Anthony, illustrated by Chris Arbo

Blown into the world by the wind, a little seed experiences beauty and trepidation before completing its life cycle.

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First and second grades: “The Day the Dog Said, ‘Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!’ ” by David McPhail

A wind blows through a farmyard, flustering the animals.

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Third grade: “Musicians of the Sun,” by Gerald McDermott

Aztec tale of how the Lord of the Night commands the wind to rescue some musicians.

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Fourth grade: “Wind Child,” by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

A young girl weaves the essence of the wind into her tapestries and yearns for a husband who can share her free spirit.

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Fifth grade: “Mary Poppins,” by P.L. Travers

Classic story about the most extraordinary nanny ever to be deposited on a doorstep by the East Wind.

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Sixth to eighth grades: “The Wind at Work,” by Gretchen Woelfle

In addition to relating the history of windmills, this nonfiction book provides instructions for building a weather vane, calculating temperatures and creating a variety of craft projects relating to wind machines.

Storytime

Some of the books to be read on KCET’s “Storytime,” weekdays at 12:30 p.m.

* “Sheila Rae, The Brave,” by Kevin Henkes

One day, the brave Sheila Rae takes a new way home. Once she realizes that she is lost, she begins to cry for her sister Louise, who assures her that they are not lost and leads them both home. Themes: feelings and courage.

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* “Time Train,” by Paul Fleischman

A group of young students takes a wild and exciting train ride through history. Themes: imagination, nature, adventure.

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* “The Whale’s Song,” by Dan Sheldon

Lily is told by her grandmother that if she takes a present to the whales, they will sing her a song. That night, she is awakened by the songs of the whales. Themes: family, imagination, nature.