Patch Picks: National Read Across America Day

In honor of National Read Across America Day, Cupertino Patch asked Cupertino Library's librarians, Mark Fink and Vicki Sheu, to recommend five books each that are available on the library's shelves.

Fink gave us five selections for adults, which might make you want to stay in for the weekend and hunker down with a cup of coffee—or a glass of wine—and do nothing but read all day.

Sheu gave us five picks for children. Consider picking up all five so you can enjoy that coffee.

Here are Fink's picks for adults:

Nonfiction

Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain

Presents Mark Twain's authentic and unsuppressed voice, brimming with humor, ideas and opinions, and speaking clearly from the grave, as he intended.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

In this memoir, singer-songwriter Patti Smith shares tales of New York City: the denizens of Max's Kansas City, the Hotel Chelsea, Scribner's, Brentano's and Strand bookstores, and her new life in Brooklyn with a young man named Robert Mapplethorpe.

Fiction

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

The idyllic lives of civic-minded environmentalists, Patty and Walter Berglund come into question when their son moves in with aggressive Republican neighbors, green lawyer Walter takes a job in the coal industry, and go-getter Patty becomes increasingly unstable and enraged.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired) leads a quiet life in the village of St. Mary, England, until his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more.

Possession by A.S. Byatt

Booker Prize winner from the early 1990s.

Here are Sheu's picks for children:

Thank You Bear by Greg Foley

Bear first thinks he's found a great prize, but when others doubt him, he questions his own find until Mouse comes along and agrees with Bear.

Help!  A Story of Friendship by Holly Keller  

Mouse is afraid of Snake; he thinks Snake is dangerous. Rabbit, Squirrel and Hedgehog try to help Mouse, but Snake is the one who helps Mouse overcome his fear.

The Cow that Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill

Marjorie the cow feels like she can't do anything well, until one day she discovers she's laid an egg.

Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre

Ted's a little bear, and when he can't find a doctor to help his bumped-up knee, he pretends to be one.

Watch Me Throw a Ball! by Mo Willems

Beginning readers will find the optimistic pig and the pessimistic elephant delightful and entertaining.