Patch Picks: Honoring Read Across America

Patch Picks is a weekly feature highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date-night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.

Read Across America: March 2 was Dr. Seuss’s birthday as well as Read Across America Day, the National Education Association’s (NEA) program to promote and raise awareness of reading. To continue the celebration and motivate members of your household to read, here are five great places in Santa Cruz to buy or borrow books.

Santa Cruz’s first independent bookstore established in 1966, Bookshop Santa Cruz is the locals’ favorite place to buy books, both national and international bestsellers as well as books by local authors. The children’s section is well-stocked with picture books, middle-grade fiction and non-fiction, and young adult literature.

If you’re bargain shopping, head to Logos. This used bookstore has been in business since 1969, starting out as a small one-room business. It's now downtown in an 11,000-square-foot, two-story building. Its collection includes plenty of children’s books, and its website features reviews of books and video interviews with authors, such as Cornelia Funke, author of the popular Inkheart series.

We’re lucky to have this incredible library system that offers so much for local readers. With 10 branches throughout the county—three of which are in Santa Cruz—you’ll have no trouble finding something to read for yourself or your child. Kids and teens can read book reviews written by their peers on the library’s website. And the library’s Teen Advisory Board offers its “quick pick” book choices.

If you have a reluctant reader in your home, or someone who just loves comics and graphic novels, send him or her to Atlantis Fantasyworld. In business for 35 years, Atlantis is a comfortable place for the entire family. Browse its great collection of comics, or check out recommendations by staff members posted on its website.

Comicopolis is another Santa Cruz favorite, offering a large selection of comic books and graphic novels since 1997. The owners and employees of Comicopolis are big comics fans, and they’ll happily help you find your favorite—or something new. With the fast-paced text and colorful artwork, comic books and graphic novels are a fun way to introduce kids to the joy of reading.