Patch's Picks: Book Recommendations

In honor of National Read Across America Day, Patch spoke to Youth Services librarian Dale Humeston at the to get her top picks for children's books. Our list has something for kids of any age so take a look through, then head over to the library and get reading.

For the youngest Shorians, those who still need to be read to, Humeston suggests animal and color books like Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera or Dog's Colorful Day, by Emma Dodd.  Cat's Colors tells the story of a kitten on the hunt for its favorite color while Dog's Colorful Day tells the story of a little white dog who ends up in colorful spots by the end of the day. Both books are great for the pre-school set and will help them learn all about colors.

Next on our list is a book for a slightly older age group, kindergartners to second graders.  Seven Blind Mice, by Ed Young, takes the old folk tale about the seven blind men and the elephant and changes it up a bit. Over the course of a week, the mice try and figure out what the creature in front of them is. "It's a wonderful story and it teaches about colors and days of the week," said Humeston.

The third book, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, is a perennial favorite.  Aimed at slightly older students, Humeston thinks anyone in elementary school will enjoy this twist on the older tale we learned growing up. Written by Jon Scieszka, we learn the real story about what happened between the wolf and the pigs. Tired of the bad reputation he has gained over the years, Alexander T. Wolf decides to set the record straight in this funny tale, told from his point of view.

The next two books are for kids who enjoy book series. The first, Secret Identity, may appeal more to the boys while the second book, Eleven is written for girls.

If you have kids that enjoy the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, check out the Shredderman Series by Wendelin Von Draanen. Tired of being bullied at school, fifth-grader Nolan Byrd creates a secret identity, Shredderman, to avenge himself and fellow students who have also been bullied. Secret Identity is the first book in this fun series.

Eleven, written by Lauren Myracle, is the first in a series of books for girls. It tells the story of Winnie and what she goes through in the year leading up to her 12th birthday.

For the younger adult and high school crowd, Humeston suggests Annexed by Sharon Dogar. This is the story of Anne Frank as told by Peter van Pels. While it is a fictionalized account of what happened, a lot of the instances in the book actually occurred. This moving book follows him out of the attic and we learn what it was like for him in the concentration camps.

Patch also spoke with library director Rosemary Orlando to get some recommendations for adults.  Both fiction and non-fiction books are included.

Fiction

The first book on the list is Winter Garden, by Kristin Hannah.  The story follows the Whitson family as two sisters are brought back together after the death of their father. While trying to fulfill their father's dying wish, that they take care of their mother, the sisters learn more about their family history and each other.

Set during the civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, tells the story of college student Eugenia Skeeter Phelan. An aspiring writer and social activist, Eugenia gathers the stories of the black women who work at the country club and has them published in a shocking, eye-opening book.

If you enjoy reading crime novels to pass the time, then this next pick is for you. Tick Tock, by James Patterson, follows New York City detective Michael Bennett as he tries to solve a series of crimes taking place in the city.

Non-fiction

A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson uses science books and interviews to make learning about science more interesting. Each chapter is dedicated to once topic, for example, how cells work, which are then grouped into larger sections.

Counterfeit Gods, by Timothy Keller, takes a closer look at the stories in the Bible and how people use them to decide what is good and what is bad. The book claims that people have created fake gods by placing their faith in things like success and true love. Keller hopes to reintroduced people to God through this book.

In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell examines the factors that contribute to success. To help support his theory, Gladwell looks at numerous examples of successful people, like Bill Gates and J. Robert Oppenheimer, and how they got there. If you are trying to create a little success for yourself, this may be the book for you.

For more book recommendations, check the library cooperative website at www.libcoop.net. There you will find this year's list of fiction and nonfiction staff picks for children and adults. Access to previous year's lists is also available at the site.