Patch Picks: Books for Readers of All Ages

Patch Picks highlights editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off  and more. 

In honor of Read Across America Day, which was celebrated Wednesday — the date coincides with the March 2 birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss — Patch asked local librarians to compile a list of five children's books and five adult reads they would recommend. Here are their picks.

Julia Simpson, library manager for the

Top five picks for children and young adults

1. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
2. Witch and Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson
3. Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
4. Silverlicious by Victoria Kann
5. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Top five picks for adults

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
3. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy by Stieg Larsson
5. Tick Tock by James Patterson

Lisa Gannon, library manager for the

Top five picks for children and young adults

1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
2. How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
3. Silverlicious by Victoria Kann
4. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
5. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Top five picks for adults

1. Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
4. Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
5. Don’t Blink by James Patterson

Mary Spencer, library manager for the

Top five picks for children and young adults

1. The 39 Clues series
2. Whimpy Kid series Jeff Kinney
3. Library Mouse and Library Mouse, A Friend’s Tale by Daniel Kirk
4. Chosen and Infidel by Ted Dekker
5. Pinkalicious series by Victoria Kann

Top five picks for adults

1. Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury
2. Light Series (Last Light, Night Light, True Light, Dawn’s Light) by Terri Blackstock
3. Family Affair by Debbie Macomber
4. Hadacol Days by Clyde Bolton (former Statham resident)
5. Betrayal by John Lescroart