What Book Should I Pick?

Decisions, decisions. How can you be expected to pick your next book when there are so many? Let’s take a look at some tools you can use to help simplify the process of picking something to read.

1. Browse the Shelves

Some readers like to wander the library, looking at book covers, reading the jackets, or flipping through pages to get a feel for which books they’d like to read. You never know what might pique your interest if you take a little time and just look at what’s available.

If all the shelves are too much to consider all at once, you can pick a section and limit yourself to a smaller area. The library also sets up several displays to highlight certain titles you might find interesting, or you can find a wide variety in a small space by looking over the new book shelf.

2. Search the Catalog

Many patrons start by doing a keyword search on the online catalog stations available throughout the library. While you can look for specific titles this way, you can also do things like search for a favorite author to see if there’s any books written by them you haven’t tried yet, or for a topic you’re interested in (such as mystery, birds, adventure or World War II airplanes).

Remember to try the filters on the left side to narrow it down by age range, reading level, type of media, etc. or try an advanced search if you want to get really specific.

Can’t decide what to search for? Use this link to find all new materials in the Children's Library, or you could try looking through the following lists of award-winning books:

3. Look through Some Lists

The library website includes hundreds of curated lists of books and other media for kids created by Canton Public Library staff members, and hundreds more for teens and adults as well. You can pick a list that grabs your attention and read short descriptions of each recommended book to see if any are right for you. Patrons, like you, can also make lists on our website.

4. Join a Book Group

If you come to one of the library’s monthly book discussion groups you don’t even need to decide what to read at all, you can just pick up the next book the group will be reading. Don’t worry if you haven’t read this month’s title either, everyone is welcome regardless and you can spend the first meeting just getting to know people and seeing if it seems like something you’d like to do more often.

5. Ask a Friend(ly Librarian)

Friends are great for lots of reasons, one of which can be recommending books you might like. Whether or not your friends can help you pick a book, librarians are always happy to help you find something to read.

You can ask us in person, over the phone, or online by submitting a May We Suggest form. The more details you can give us about what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’ve already read, the faster and better we’ll be at putting together a list of recommendations for you.

6. Make a List

Write down all the books you think you might like to read. You can use the library website to do this for you if you log in with your Canton Public Library card number and use the “For Later” shelf to make your list. If you use the library website, you can then narrow down your list by what’s available today, or by whatever format you’re in the mood for.

7. The More the Merrier

The library puts very few limits on borrowing since we want you to have access to everything we have to offer. You can check out a selection of books to take home, and then chose whichever one you feel like reading. Run out of time to read them all? No problem, you can always renew them or return your books and check them out again another day.

Finally, to help you get started, here’s a short list of books for kids about making choices. Read one, read a few or read them all. Maybe your next decision will be a little easier!

A Thousand Billion Things by Loic Clement. Every day presents us with a wide range of choices including what to have for breakfast, what to wear and what to do in our spare time. Even deciding which piece of homework to tackle first presents a challenge. But when night comes and it's time for bed, what choice is there but to lie in the dark... and count sheep?

The Big Book of Would You Rather Question for Kids by Kevin Kurtz. Hundreds of choices to make, things to consider and think about or discuss.

Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder. You are invited to follow Rosie down many possible paths which may lead to a sleeping maiden, a hungry wolf, a girl locked in a tower or a goose that lays golden eggs. With some luck, and some smart choices, Rosie may save herself and her fellow fairy tale characters.

This or That? A Story About Choosing by Kell Andrews. Unable to make decisions, especially about what to be for Halloween, what to eat and what to wear, Alexander finally has a breakthrough on his birthday and finds his own decision-making style.

This or That? A Wacky Book of Options to Reveal the Hidden You by Crispin Boyer. This title presents simple quizzes combined with informative facts and psychological insights for assisting middle school children to discover their personality traits and possible career paths.