Kudos to the Portland Public Library for this idea: a children's book sale.

I love library book sales, but usually I have to browse all the book types, from archeology to zebras, to find good kids' work. But the folks at the Portland library have done the culling for me, and they say they have more books than usual this year.

The sale will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Rines Auditorium of the library, 5 Monument Square, Portland. It will also be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

And check out these prices: 50 cents for harcovers, DVDs, and videotapes; 10 cents for paperbacks, board books, magazines and audio cassettes.

On Tuesday, the final day, it's $1 per bag or box of anything.

For directions or more info on the library, see the library's Web site

Free comic books and hot dogs will be given out this Saturday in Eliot at an event called "Capt'n Eli Family Fun Day."

The event will be the launch party for the new graphic novel series "The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli" by Portland artist Jay Piscopo. Capt'n Eli is also the logo for Maine-made Capt'n Eli sodas. And the sodas will be free too.

The event will be from noon to 3 p.m. at the Regatta Banquet and Conference Center on Route 236. Besides a free "Capt'n Eli" comic book, hot dogs and soda, there will be live music, a hands-on ocean display, a race car and more.

People can also meet the artist and get a free sketch.

For more info on the character, see the Capt'n Eli Web site

For more info on the event or the location, see the Regatta's Web site

Here's a free event this weekend that sounds fun, plus you might learn something.

It's the Tree School's Fall Family Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The school, on Spring Street in Portland's West End, will be celebrating "peace and culture" with music, art, movement, food, storytelling, yoga and more.

For more information, go to the school's Web site