We here at Patch love a good read. In honor of the National Education Association's Read Across America Day, March 2, we asked Youth Services Librarian Tabin Crume of Elk Grove Public Library for a few of her favorite books, and we're passing them on to you. They're all part of the Sacramento Public Library stock, and if you can't find them at your branch, you can make an online request to have the particular item sent there. Grab your favorite beverage, settle into a comfy chair and stimulate your mind.
1. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Crume describes this teen sci-fi pick as follows: "Miranda’s world comes apart at the seams after a meteor knocks the moon out of its orbit and causes widespread disasters. Life goes from mundane to chaotic as Miranda struggles with typical teenage problems while also dealing with the reality of neighbors you no longer trust, snowy summers and food shortages." Although the subject matter is somber, this thought-provoking book will linger in your mind as a stellar example of a teen read.
2. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity by management consultant/executive coach David Allen. If you've been wondering how to arrange your life to get the most of of each day, this is the book for you. Says Crume, "David Allen explains how to make things go from permanently in your inbox to getting it done without turning your work space into a surgical room. Best of all, it works!"
3. It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. If you enjoy the works of Candace Bushnell and Jane Green, you'll get excited about this female-centered novel. According to Crume, it's "a quick read that's mostly light, but not quite," and centers on sexy New Yorker Phoebe Somerville, sent to Chicago to turn the local football team into the next Super Bowl winner, or forfeit her inheritance. Throw in handsome, über-macho head coach Dan Calebow, and you've got the makings of a modern romance, complete with drama on and off the football field—touchdown!
4. Blankets: An Illustrated Novel by Craig Thompson. Looking for a unique graduation gift for your teenager? Consider this selection, which concentrates on separation and friendship, drawing on the author's strict Christian childhood. "Blankets is about growing up in a family that’s a little odd, about struggling with who you are and who your family wants you to be. It will speak to you in ways that you can’t even fathom," comments Crume.
5. Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London. Two to six year-olds will delight in this book, which focuses on the interactions between Froggy and his mother during the winter: He wants to go out and play, but keeps forgetting to put all of his clothing on, while Mom gives him firm, but gentle reminders of what he's missing. It's sure to become a favorite for your little one. Happy Reading!
