Sierra Madre Librarians Pick Best Books for Kids and Adults

On March 2, the National Education Association kicked off Read Across America, an annual reading program that motivates every child in every community to celebrate reading. Initiated in 1998, Read Across America calls for all ages to enjoy reading which was commemerated on Dr. Seuss' birthday this past Tuesday. Patch asked Sierra Madre librarians to pick their favorite books for both kids and adults.

Here is a list of 10 books compiled by the staff at the that they think you should know about:

1. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Who killed Sam Westing? This story is about 16 mysteriously selected people who are chosen to solve millionare Westing's mysterious death. The challenge takes the form of a puzzle with clues to find the truth. As an incentive, each heir is given $10,000 to play the game. Whoever solves the mystery will inherit Sam Westing's 200 million dollar fortune, along with his place in society.

2. Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

This fun tale is about the world of Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own. Kids young and old are sure to get a few laughs out of it.

3. The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Set during World War II, young Phillip survives a boat accident only to be trapped on an island with a man and a cat. The accident leaves Phillip blind. Not only does he have to learn adjust as a blind kid, he must do it on a barren island, with severe weather at times. This book is about survivial, and will give children good lessons on how to survive in their own worlds, and perhaps appreciate all they have.

4. Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin

A New York Times Bestseller, this hilarious book is about Farmer John's tech-savvy cows who just love to type! They even start leaving him messages. The watercolor illustrations bring the story to life and give the book another layer of humor.

5. Knots of a Counting Rope by Bill Martin

Another story about a blind boy's struggles, this book is a story of courage, hope, love, and struggle of a Navajo Indian boy to live. With his grandfather's support, he is able to thrive in the face of his blindness.

1. Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

This tale of quirky protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly, who is like a modern-day Don Quixote, is novel about human folly and tragedy all mixed with humor and satire set in New Orleans.

2. The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan

Author of The Joy Luck Club, Tan's fourth novel was inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's and the harrowing lives of members of her mother's family. Though set as a novel about Chinese-American culture and going back to ethnic roots, it is relatable in the broad sense that it is also about the realistic relationships between mothers and daughters.

3. All the Names by Jose Saramago

The story of Senhor José, a clerk in the city's Central Registry, who accidently stumbles upon the birth certificate of a woman whom he becomes obssesed with finding, is the universal truth of lonlieness and the human need for connection. 

4. Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

Greene sets this novel in the gang-filled, crime infested underworld of the seaside town Brighton, England in the early 1930's. Pinki, the protagonist, has killed a man, and Ida Arnold is set on a determined track to avenage the man's death. 

5. The Stranger House by Reginald Hill

This is a mystery novel, filled with suspense and surprise. Samantha "Sam" Flood and Miguel "Mig" Madero are two strangers who both embark upon the small and secret-filled British village of Illthwaite to find out about their personal family histories. Their paths end up intersecting when their personal quests become strangely intertwined.

Want even more local librarian suggestions? Check out the Arcadia Librarians' picks!