Patch Picks — Five Good Children's Books, as Recommended by the Abington Library

You've stumbled upon Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.

This week, we went to Abington Library and spoke to Caroline DuBois, head of the children’s department; and Andy Simpson, children’s department library assistant.

We asked for five outstanding children’s books: 

“Eggs Over Evie,” by Alison Jackson

DuBois said this is a good story about a girl whose coping with changes to her family. Her dad, who is a chef, recently remarried and moved out of the house, though nearby. And the girl shares her dad's affinity for cooking. It’s a coming-of-age story, geared toward girls ages 9-12.

“Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion” by Loree Griffin Burns

DuBois said the book is about tracking trash that has been dumped in the ocean through a variety of different ways—including the sewer and trash that has fallen off ships. Scientists in the book track trash that has traveled the world via ocean currents. “It’s fascinating, scary and a bit depressing,” DuBois said. The nonfiction book has great photographs and diagrams. It is geared toward the older reader, 10-14, who is interested in the environment.

“Extreme Scientists: Exploring Nature’s Mysteries from Perilous Places” by Donna M. Jackson

“This is part of the wonderful ‘Scientists in the Field’ series,” DuBois said. “It profiles scientists who go into dangerous places.” Those places include the tops of redwood trees, undersea caves and inside hurricanes. Again, the book has nice graphics and is geared toward the older child, 10-14.

“She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story” by Audrey Vernick

Simpson suggested this book, which tells the story of the first woman to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Simpson said the book has great illustrations by Don Tate.

“Touch Blue” by Cynthia Lord

This story is about a small island-town in Maine. With the local school facing closure due to dwindling enrollment, the residents have a plan to take in foster children—and not all of the foster children fit in. DuBois said this book is appropriate for children ages 9-12.