Escape with 5 Great Books

In honor of Read Across America Day, an annual event held to celebrate reading, here are five picks for books worth checking out, literally.

For children:

"Where the Wild Things Are'' by Maurice Sendak. Max takes an adventure into a fascinating world where things come alive.

"Are You My Mother?'' by Dr. Seuss. This story of curiosity and connection never grows old.

For adults:

"Water for Elephants'' by Sara Gruen. Before you see the movie, read the book about one man's experiences with a traveling circus and its characters.

"The Blue Sweater'' by Jacqueline Novogratz. When a sweater she gave to charity ends up on someone she meets halfway across the world, Novogratz looks at how we are all connected in an inspiring true story.

"Room'' by Emma Donoghue. For young Jack, it's home. For his mother, it's a prison where she has been held captive. Join the conversation about this book by renting it from the library and then attending the townwide book club at 7 p.m. March 29. For more information, visit http://www.graftonlibrary.org/grafton/.