'Spooktacular' new books

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette Some of McCook, Nebraska's youngest Halloween ghosts and goblins gather with children's librarian Joy Farr, the "crayon" back left, during their Wednesday story hour for a picture with the newest books at the McCook Public Library. Head librarian Jody Crocker said the 69 new books were purchased with a $350 donation from the McCook Library Foundation, matched with a $750 grant from the Libri Foundation. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization that donates new, quality children's books to small, rural public libraries through its "Books for Children" program. According to the Libri Foundation: "In order to develop a love of reading, children must have access to books that stretch their imagination, touch their emotions and expand their horizons." The library selected its new books from a list of 700 fiction and nonfiction titles of the most highly-recommended and/or award-winning children's books since 2006.