Children’s books never age. The JoJo stories by Peter Rosnick of Conway, with illustrations by Kathryn Burke, originated decades ago, according to the author. They seem eternally fresh, however.

JoJo is an extremely small person — half an inch tall at most — who is, in the book’s words, “smart, and clever, and thoughtful, and brave.” Rosnick and Burke have produced two JoJo books to date. Both are stories within stories, in which a grandfather tells a small child about JoJo’s adventures.

In the first book, “JoJo and the Gazork,” tiny JoJo comes to the rescue of a Gazork. This enormous creature has a nose like an elephant’s trunk — only much, much longer.

The Gazork exists peacefully with surrounding humans until the large animal catches a cold. Her nose’s length gives sneezes enough room to develop into hurricane-force winds by the time they emerge from the proboscis.

The Gazork ends up destroying several human habitations and businesses and is threatened with exile. Only JoJo can help. Help he does.

In “JoJo and the Eagle,” the little guy is nabbed by an eagle who wants to feed him as a snack to her babies. It takes all of JoJo’s extensive brainpower to convince the eagle that she is better off letting him go. Shortly thereafter, she is glad she released JoJo when he returns the favor by securing her nest in a storm.

The JoJo books, which are aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 8 (perhaps even a bit older), are exactly the sort of stories I loved hearing as a child and love telling to little ones as an adult.

They are simultaneously out of this world and very much of this world. They appeal to children’s love of whimsy but also to their common sense.

Peter Rosnick’s simple yet clever prose is augmented by Kathryn Burke’s bright, lively artwork, which depicts not only JoJo and the title animals but also scenes of nature and human habitation.

When asked about the background of the JoJo books. Rosnick explained that JoJo was invented by his father, an immigrant who arrived in Springfield around 1912 as a 5-year-old Orthodox Jewish child.

Chick Rosnick found his way into the culture of his new homeland through sports and eventually became the physical education director at a community center in Connecticut.

“I’m fond of saying that, like JoJo, my father was small in stature but made a wonderful reputation for himself by being smart, clever, thoughtful and brave,” Peter Rosnick said.

The younger Rosnick, who taught for many years at Greenfield Community College, continued to tell (and invent) stories about JoJo to his own children. He met Burke while teaching at GCC and enjoys her art almost as much as he enjoys telling the JoJo stories.

Burke herself has been drawing ever since she could hold a Crayola marker.

“I … knew that I wanted to become an artist when I was 2 years old,” she said. “I especially love children’s book illustration. I draw inspiration from everyday life but love to add whimsical touches for just a little bit of magic.”

“Whimsical” is the ideal adjective for the books Burke and Rosnick have created.

The author and illustrator have three upcoming appearances in the area. On Saturday, Oct. 21, at 10:30 a.m., Rosnick will give a reading at the Field Memorial Library in Conway. Children between the ages of 3 and 8 are invited to attend with a parent or guardian.

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, at noon, Rosnick, Burke and children’s book author Christine Copeland will speak to adults about the creative process of developing children’s books. This event will take place in the Library Solarium at Greenfield Community College.

Finally, on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m., Rosnick and Copeland will read to kids at the Greenfield Public Library.

Books will be available for sale at all three appearances.

Tinky Weisblat is an award-winning author and singer. Visit her website, TinkyCooks.com.