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

So I’m standing at the counter of the South Portland Public Library, waiting to check out “Olivia Saves the Circus” and a couple of Wiggles DVDs, when I notice a small printed notice announcing that the library has a free family pass for Willowbrook , a 19th century village/museum in Newfield.