A children's book that was checked out of the Portland Public Library 60 years ago will be returned this week, along with overdue charges totaling more than $440.

William Vassily, who now lives in Syracuse, N.Y., borrowed the book, "The Baby Whale, Sharp Ears," in the summer of 1946 when he was 9 years old and living in Portland. When his family moved to New York that year, the book was packed and went with them.

After Vassily's parents died in 1994, he inherited several boxes of possessions, one of which contained the book. Vassily, a retired insurance executive, said he wanted to return it and pay the overdue fee -- which represents charges of 2 cents per day.

He plans to do that on Friday, when he'll be in Portland to attend a Masonic conference.