Here's our weekly showcase of the latest and greatest new selections in media for youth.

From books and games to educational toys and DVDs, there's never a dull moment for active and eager young minds.

This week, three bright and colorful books for Easter week focus on both friendship and facing fears.

BOOKS

"Just Perfect: More Adventures of Jules the Lighthouse Dog," by P.T. Custard and Ana Greer

Black Plume Books, $15.95, Ages 5 to 8

Jules is a dog who believes he is perfect in every way, from height and weight to fur shade and tone of bark. That is until one day when he finds himself in the park surrounded by canines of every possible description. And after he sees all of the tricks and feats that each can do, begins to wonder just how perfect he really is after all. The hardcover 40-page storybook is available in stores or blackplumebooks.com.

"Brave: Be Ready and Victory's Easy," by Marjie Braun Knudsen and Dr. Jenne R. Henderson

Summertime Press, $11.95, Ages 8 to 12

Danny is a fifth grader who is bombarded by real and imagined problems. He has a speech due for his class and that has him even more nervous than ever. If he were to win the science fair with his goof-off buddy Jack, he would be excused from doing his speech. Besides these pressures, he has a mean older brother to deal with in this 95-page fiction paperback about dealing with anxiety. It's available in stores or summertimepress.com.

"The Nature of Friendship," by MaryJo Koch

Andrews McMeel Press, $9.99, Ages 7 and up

Friendship has never seemed so natural than in author MaryJo Koch's new 80-page small-size hardcover book using birds, insects and everyday wildlife to illustrate beautiful and thoughtful passages describing and explaining the importance of true friends. Using the simple concept that everyone needs to have friends, the author uses few, but carefully chosen words to illustrate effective examples paired with colorful animal antics. It's available in stores or andrewsmcmeel.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.