Patch Picks: 5 Great Reads

Patch runs a weekly feature every Thursday called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more. 

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family and friends find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.

Want to suggest a list? Submit your idea in the comment box.

Five Great Reads

•  Rita Spisak is a librarian at the Horace W. Sturgis Library at whose interests include Children's and Young Adult literature. She recommends Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. In this book, Charlie and his family are down on their luck. Charlie’s luck changes when he wins a magical tour of the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. Spisak believes this is a great read because, “Children love Charlie’s adventures with the magic and mayhem within the factory and the many interesting characters they meet such as the Oompa Loompas.” The target age group for this book is ages 9 through 12

• Laura Warner from the suggests Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash. The book is about Roy, a cowboy who receives a saddle for his birthday with the following instructions: 1. Find a horse, 2. Enjoy the ride. The problem is Roy doesn’t know what a horse is, so he sets out to find one. In the end Roy finds a horse and, as instructed, sets off to enjoy the ride, but with a twist. Warner explained, “This is a great book for reading aloud. Kids will enjoy Roy’s adventures as he encounters various creatures in his quest to find a horse. It has wonderful illustrations.” This book is recommended for children in grades Kindergarten through second grade.
•  Jennifer Wells, a youth services Librarian from the Central Library, recommended a picture book called Chalk by Bill Thomson. It is about what happens when your sidewalk chalk drawings can come to life. Wells noted, “This is an awesome wordless picture book about the power of imagination.” The target age group for this book is children ages 3 though 9.
•  Kelly Roth of the would like children to read Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan. In this book, Jake has been thrown out of a succession of schools and his last chance is with an eccentric homeschool family. Jake is sure they’re crazy and that he will hate their “creative academy,” but he finds himself unexpectedly drawn in and discovers talents he never knew he had. Roth described, “The story is gritty, but clean–and ultimately, hopeful.” This book is recommended for children in fourth and fifth grade.
•  Roth also recommends Down Girl and Sit: Smarter than the Squirrels by Lucy Nolan. This is the first adventure of a dog that thinks her name is Down Girl and her best friend Sit. They try to protect the world from squirrels, the paper boy and the cat next door. Roth noted, “It’s just a wacky, fun beginning chapter book.” This book is suggested for children in grades one and two.