A SNAKE IN THE HOUSE, by Faith McNulty, illustrated by Ted Rand, Scholastic, 32 pages, $14.95, ages 5-8

A young boy brings a snake home in a jar, only to have it escape its glass confines and slither through the house, seeking its way back to the wild. The trip is fraught with danger for the snake, and it narrowly evades a prowling cat and the terrifying pull of the vacuum cleaner’s hose. When it finally makes it to the out-of-doors, it is in a basket of worms carried outside by the young boy who discovers it as he settles down to bait a fishing pole. In a poignant moment of consideration, the boy decides to return the creature to the wild: “The boy held the thrashing body tight. It didn’t feel cold or slimy. It felt warm and dry and alive. Very, very alive. There was so much power in its tiny body; its will to be free was so strong, that the boy, in amazement, let go.”

In a straightforward manner, with spare, yet elegant prose, McNulty shares a moment in a boy’s life, subtly slipping in a thoughtful ecological message. Rand’s full-color illustrations, many dramatically presenting the snake’s perspective, add much to this excellent tale.

SARAH’S BOAT — A Young Girl Learns the Art of Sailing, by Douglas Alvord, Tilbury House, 48 pages, $16.95, ages 8-14

Twelve-year-old Sarah Miller loves the feeling of independence and accomplishment which sailing her very own Puddleduck sailboat gives her. She would love to enter the annual Town Cup Race but figures she doesn’t stand much of a chance against a group of adventuresome boys in sleeker, more sophisticated boats. When Sarah’s grandfather surprises her with a renovated Bluejay class sloop, she decides to give it a try. Armed with some sailing tips from her grandpa, she manages to show the boys a thing or two about sailing.

A well-told story and appealing soft pastels make this book a success. An added bonus are the pen-and-ink sidebars which illuminate sailing maneuvers. A glossary of sailing terms is added at the end. Alvord presents a complicated sport in a simple manner, letting his character demonstrate how much fun sailing can be, even without expensive equipment. Readers will learn much about sailing as they read this engaging story. Highly recommended.

A QUIET NIGHT IN, by Jill Murphy, Candlewick, 32 pages, $12.95, ages 3-8

The Large family is back — Murphy’s endearing sixsome of elephants — and Mother has something special planned for Father’s birthday. She has a great meal planned and the kids are going to bed early so she and her husband can have a romantic night in. But even the best plans of elephants sometimes go astray. Father arrives too exhausted to come to the table and falls asleep reading to the children. Mother takes over this chore and dozes off as well. The children end up tucking their parents in and toddle off with the elegant repast, spilling much of it as they go.

Precious illustrations and an apt eye for humorous detail makes Murphy a success with the very young. The Large family is sure to become a favorite group of characters in children’s book.

Judy Eyerer is a free-lance writer who lives in Bangor.