Patch Picks: Hey Lakewood, Get Your Book On

Grab your book light and a comfy pillow and blanket, it’s time to crack some spines, people.

We mean book spines, of course, in honor of National Education Association’s Read Across America Day.

This annual program encourages children (and adults, too) to celebrate reading on or around March 2, the birthday of treasured children's author Dr. Seuss.

We went to our local resource for reading motivation and encouragement – the nationally acclaimed – and collected staff picks from our local librarians. (Don’t forget to check out materials at the library; it doesn’t get cheaper than free.)

For Adults:

Recommended by Eve Klodnick, reference supervisor:

"Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen" by Christopher McDougall.
Born to Run offers an exciting and informative look into the world of running, ultramarathons and the lives of the Tarahumara Indians, a tribe of the world's greatest distance runners. By the time you are done reading this inspiring story you too might agree with the author that we were all "born to run."

"The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rachman
This novel links together 11 main characters at an English language newspaper in Rome. Each chapter takes a look into the life of a different character. Funny yet heartbreaking by turns "The Imperfectionists" is beautifully written and filled with surprises. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

Recommended by Chris Weaver, librarian

"Await Your Reply" by Dan Chaon

Cleveland author Chaon’s nationally-acclaimed novel confronts the modern idea of identity in this gripping story that builds to a thrilling crescendo.

For Children:

Recommended by Andrew Harant, manager of Children's and Youth Services

"Phineas Gage A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science"

 by John Fleischman:
This is the true story of Phineas Gage who lived eleven years after a thirteen-pound iron rod was shot through his brain in 1848.  What happened in his brain will tell you a lot about how your brain works.

"The Three Pigs" by David Wiesner:
The traditional story of the Three Little Pigs takes a different turn when the pigs are put in charge of the story. The cat and the fiddle and a dragon take part and the pigs peer out of the pages at the reader.