By Jennifer Barnes, Litchfield Children’s Librarian

A nightstand gives a little insight into one’s personality. If you were to look at mine you would find: a lamp (a necessity, as I read often before I settle in for sleep), a reusable water bottle, a beautiful wooden book stand that was a gift from one of my students, an assortment of hair ties, a few random receipts  that serve as bookmarks, and an ever-changing stack of books.

My current stack of books consists of one popular adult fiction, one historical adult non-fiction, two juvenile fiction books, and a juvenile autobiography. It’s the juvenile books that are the focus of this article.

Last year’s Newberry winner, “The Eyes & The Impossible” by Dave Eggers is delightful. Told from the viewpoint of a wild dog named Johannes, this book is set within a park. Since I’m a lover of the outdoors, this book was appealing to me on many levels. Sublimely written, the vibrant animal characters in this book are well developed. Each character brought different viewpoints, skills, and ideas into this wonderfully woven tale of friendship, adventure, and experiences. It will make you smile, laugh, and keep turning pages until the very end. This is truly a unique and refreshing story. I highly recommend it.

I recently finished “Max in the House of Spies,” by Adam Gidwitz. A fictional book interlaced with actual events; this is a fast-moving tale set during WWII. Max, a young boy sent from his home in Germany by train to live in London, desires to become a spy. With a couple of mischievous sprites, humor and hijinks, and a colorful cast of characters this was a fun read. I was skeptical in the first few pages but found myself having a tough time putting it down. I am awaiting the arrival of the sequel.

Again, because of my love of the outdoors, when I saw Gary Paulsen’s autobiography “Gone to the Woods; Surviving a Lost Childhood,” I had to read it. I am a huge fan of “Hatchet,” “The Legend of Bass Reeves,” and many of Paulsen’s other books. I could not resist learning more about him. I found it to be an engaging window into the life of the author. Particularly touching were the experiences that led him to feel connected to nature and the librarian who encouraged him to write. I will caution that the subject matter was heavy, though less detailed since it was written for younger people. Heart-wrenching and honest, it is interesting and insightful. There are adult themes in this book such as alcoholism, neglect, war, and dysfunctional family life. If a child is reading this, I recommend parents answer questions and discuss the subject matter with them. The publisher recommends this book for ages nine and up. I would recommend this book to teens and older.

Now that you know what is on my nightstand, you can deduce that 1) I love to read 2) I read a motley mix of materials, and 3) I adore the outdoors.

I enjoy reading a variety of genres, and I do not limit myself to what is meant for my age, or any specific department of the library. There are wonderful books in all areas of the library, so stop by and find a few books to fill your nightstand.