I hate going to the library and randomly choosing a book to read. There is so much trash out there. Plus, I can’t focus too much on anything when I’m in there—four kids running in four different directions… I much prefer to have a list of books in hand before I walk through the three sets of glass doors of the downtown library. I want the books to be well-endorsed before I spend my time (and overdue library fines) on a piece of literature.

So, what do you recommend? What are your oh-my-goodness-I-can’t-believe-you-haven’t-read-it books? (You can see from the side bar the types of books I like to read, but I’m open to expanding my mind.) And not just for me, but also books to read aloud to my children?