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The
DAILY STORM
THIRD, FOURTH & FIFTH GRADERS
RADERS
READ FOR SUMMER-GRADES SOAR
by staff writer, Jennifer England-Burnside
Students at St. Mary’s Episcopal School have
been found to be reading over the summer with
some interesting results. “I never really thought
about reading as something to do for fun,” said
one student, who wished to remain anonymous.
“But now, I know that I can pick up a book and
not think of it as torture, but like it was a new
friend to meet.” Teachers are looking forwar
forward
to welcoming these well-exercised
exercised and well
wellread students to their classes in August. “We all
know that kids who read over the summer are
better able to start the new school year.
They’ve been using their noggins as well as their
muscles,” said a St. Mary’s teacher.
“It helps them to remember vocabulary, to use
their imaginations and to be generally inquisi
inquisi-
tive. “ The school’s
summer reading list
has helped some
students find great
books. It’s put together to help students
find a few books that
they might find
enjoyable. Studies show that students
stu
who read
a minimum of four books (that are on their
reading level) of their choice over the summer
are better able to succeed in the coming school
year. Students are encouraged to look at the
attached Summer Reading List for inspiration.
Looks like things are headed in a rosy direction
for St. Mary’s reading students!
St. Mary’s School Recommended
ed Reading List for Rising 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders, see pg. 2
THE DAILY STORM
A WELCOME AND THE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE 2
Dear St. Mary's Families and Friends,
Welcome to SUMMER!!! How glorious to trail toes through sparkly cool water, to smell
honeysuckle on the breeze and to bite into a red tomato, straight from the vine...ah, bliss! How
glorious also to plunge into a great book at the beach or on a plane bound for summer fun!
For students who take that plunge, the risk of "summer slump" (or "summer setback",
"summer reading loss", etc.) is greatly reduced or eliminated. When students read at least 4
books (on their reading level) over the summer, they keep their brains active and are therefore
much more able to resume their studies come the new school year. Many studies have proven
this over and over again. The benefits of reading over the summer goes much farther than just
being ready for a new school year as kids who make a habit of reading are ready for future
success (including acing college entrance exams).
"Reading" can mean reading books but also magazines, comic books, listening to audio
books or anything that can sustain solid reading for at least 20 minutes a day. At the end of this
guide is a calendar to help you plan your reading to meet your goal. So, to get you started on the
right track, use this guide to find a few great books and enjoy the plunge!
@
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ONE ……………………………….………….......AWARD WINNING BOOKS
PAGE TWO ……………………….……………………………………..KIDS' PICKS
PAGE THREE …………….………………………….. ……….TEACHER FAVORITES
PAGE FOUR ……..……………………………………………. FABULOUS FICTION
PAGE FIVE …………………………………………..... FABULOUS FICTION, CONT.
PAGE SIX …………………………………….............................NONFICTION
PAGE SEVEN ………………………………………...………………………POETRY
PAGE EIGHT…………………………......................…………. READING DIARY
Award
ward Winning Books
THE DAILY STORM
PAGE 3
Check out these books that have recently won major literary awards
CALDECOTT AWARD – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED PICTURE BOOK
Winner: Locomotive by Brian Floca
Honor Books: Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Journey by Aaron Becker
Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner
THEODORE SEUSS GEISEL AWARD – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED BEGINNING READER BOOK
Winner
Winner: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Honor Books: A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
Ball by Mary Sullivan
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
NEWBERY AWARD – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
Winner: Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Honor Books
Books: Doll Bones by Holly Black
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
SIBERT MEDAL – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED INFORMATIONAL BOOK
Winner: Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan Roth
& Cindy Trumbore
CORETTA SCOTT KING MEDAL – ILLUSTRATOR AWARD
Winner
Winner: Knock, Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me
by Brian collier, illustrated by Daniel Beaty
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD – YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE
Winner: The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata
BOSTON GLOBE/HORN BOOK AWARD - PICTURE BOOK
Winner
Winner: Building Our House by Jonathan Bean
SEQUOYAH AWARD – CHILDREN'S LEVEL (VOTED ON BY THE CHILDREN OF OKLAHOMA)
Winner: Sidekicks by Dan Santat
OKLAHOMA BOOK AWARD – CHILDREN'S
Winner: Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer
IRMA S. BLACK AWARD
Winner: That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems
KIDS’ PICKS!
THE DAILY STORM
PAGE 4
Here are recommendations from this year's
3rd, 4th and
5th graders for next year's students.
FOR NEW 3RD GRADERS:
Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada
“Animorphs” series by K. A. Applegate
Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
“NERDS” series by Michael Buckley
“Ramona” books by Beverly Cleary
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
“Never Girls” series by Disney
“Ember” series by Jeanne DuPrau
The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein
The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald
“Alex Rider” series by Anthony Horowitz
“Emily Windsnap” series by Liz Kessler
“The Hypnotist” series by Gordon Korman
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur
“The Doll People” series by Ann M. Martin
“Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne
“Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling
“The Boxcar Children” series by Gertrude
Chandler Warner
You’ll Like It Here, Everybody Does by Ruth White
FOR NEW 4TH GRADERS:
Beyond Lucky by Sarah Aaronson
Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan
Auxier
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
“Obi” series by Michael Delaney
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Wolf Story by William McCleery
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
“Captain Underpants” series by Dav Pilkey
The Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
“The Benedict Society” series by Trenton Lee
Stewart
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage
Angus and Sadie by Cynthia Voigt
Trapped in Death Cave by Bill Wallace
The World Book Encyclopedia
FOR NEW 5TH GRADERS:
“The Land of Stories” series by Chris Colfer
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
“Survivors” series by Erin Hunter
“Warriors” series by Erin Hunter
“Narnia” series by C.S. Lewis
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
“Percy Jackson” series by Rick Riordan
“Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling
The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer
“Series of Unfortunate Events” by Lemony
Snicket
The Hobbit by J. R. R. T0lkein
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
The Haunted Museum by Suzanne Weyn
“Spirit Animals” series by various authors
THE DAILY STORM
TEACHERS’ FAVORITES
PAGE 5
Here are some recommendations from the Faculty and Staff at St. Mary's!
Mrs. Airington Admires: Little Women “My mom was a teacher and she loved it and so did we.”
Mrs. Alltizer Advises:
“I would recommend any Dr. Seuss book or Berenstain Bear book. I would read to my kids at bedtime and they
loved these books even when they got older. I also loved to read the “Little House” books. I loved to imagine what it
would be like to live like Laura and Mary Ingalls. My all time favorite books are the “Junie B. Jones” books. I love to see
what she does in each book.”
Mrs. Beckman Suggests:
Dr. Seuss & P.D. Eastman's Early Readers like: Go Dog Go, Green Eggs and Ham, Are You My Mother?
"My son Andrew's Favorite was Captain Cat by Syd Hoff. When I was in grade school, my favorite book series were The
Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Little House on the Prairie books. I also remember A Wrinkle in Time and The Secret
Garden being favorites when I was older."
Mrs. Crabaugh Recommends:
"Shel Silverstein is one of my very most favorites!! His drawings and poems are so silly and so much fun!!!
What a happy day our kids will have diving into one of his books!!!! Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling
Up, Every Thing On It...plus so many more of his shorties like...The Giving Tree...The Missing Piece...Runny Babbit...Don't
Bump the Glump...etc..."
Mrs. Freedman Favors:
“My pick for elementary students is Harriet the Spy. I must have read that book 20 times growing up
and I have even read it as a grown up. I love reading all of Harriet’s spy notes!
My pick for Preschool would be the Pete The Cat books and Mortimer by Robert Munsch for elementary.
Mortimer reminds me of Mrs. Westhof who read the book every summer at KaleidEscape and did a special
performance which had everyone laughing. It’s a favorite of most SMES kids.”
Mrs. Javaheri Just Loves:
“I recommend all the Pete the Cat books. I love to see what Pete is up to in each book.”
Mrs. Mackiewicz Mentioned:
“ALL of Jim Arnosky’s books-especially Crinkleroot’s Guide to Walking in Wild Places.”
Also:
Compost, by Gosh! An Adventure With Vermicomposting by Michelle Eva Portman
Dear Children of the Earth by Schim Schimmel,
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel and
Recycle! A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons
Mrs. Mitchell Says:
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
"We read it (to my kids) at bedtime and had to reread it several times."
… and these favorite authors: Tomie DePaola, Mem Fox, Kevin Henkes, Leo Lionni, Ezra Jack Keats,
Jan Brett, Audrey Wood, Paulette Bourgeois, and Audrey Penn. Just to name a few.
Patricia Polacco,
Mrs. Pierce Proposes:
“Nate the Great” series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, “Encyclopedia Brown” series by Donald J. Sobol,
The “Who Was….?” series by assorted authors and “Let’s Read and Find Out” series by assorted authors
Mrs. Woods Adores:
“To Kill a Mockingbird is my absolute favorite novel, and I try to read it each year. You truly can’t help falling in
love with the characters. What I love most about TKAM, is the advice that Atticus gives his children. Truly, Atticus’s
words of wisdom are words by which we can all live. I strive to be as wise as he.”
THE DAILY STORM
FABULOUS FICTION!
PAGE 6
A little bit of everything to suit anyone’s tastes…
= Classic, \= Science Fiction/Fantasy, = Mystery, = Action/ Adventure, = Historical Fiction
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
by Kathi Appelt
Like Appelt’s previous triumph, The Underneath, this is set in the deep and thick swampland. The characters’
interwoven stories (especially raccoon brothers Bingo and J’miah’s) are rich as the choicest mud. They are
trying to save their home, but will they be able to? Let the writing pull you page to page and find out!
Midnight Magic
by Avi
Master storyteller, Avi, delights with a tale set in the middle ages of mystery and even a little magic! A ghost
appears each night to scare the Princess. Her protective father, the King, charges Magnus, the Magician with
the task of solving the problem of the ghost and chaos ensues. A good spooky read for a stormy night!
Peter Pan
by J. M. Barrie
Prepare for the St. Mary's big musical production of Peter Pan in the 2014-15 school year by sharing this
together over the summer. Deserving of a place in every child's library, it would make a super bedtime book.
Malcolm at Midnight
by W. H. Beck
Malcolm is a new class pet in McKenna School’s 5 grade classroom. Almost as soon as he arrives, he
discovers the “Midnight Society”, a gathering of other class pets who, among other things, solve mysteries!
th
\
Jinx
by Sage Blackwood
How many orphaned wizard stories does the world need? Definitely this one! The first of a new series, Jinx
introduced us to, well… Jinx, who, despite being horribly mistreated by his stepfather, discovers that the
magical forest he’s been dumped in actually needs him as much as he needs it.
N.E.R.D.S. series
by Michael Buckley
The first of this series was the popular choice for the 4 quarter Lunch Bunch this year. Having read the first,
most Lunch Bunchers started right away on the sequels as they are just so good! Be sure to read in order!
th
\The Sisters Grimm series
by Michael Buckley
Yep, another series by Michael Buckley makes the Recommended Reading list, and if you read the first in this
series (The Fairy Tale Detectives) you will know why. Super page-turning and fun; again, read in order!!!
\ The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell
by Chris Colfer
This first of a new series was the book choice for the 5th graders’ Lunch Bunch in the 4th quarter. Find out
about your favorite fairy tale characters through the eyes of two siblings, trapped in the magical kingdoms.
The Lemonade War
by Jacqueline Davies
What a to-do: Evan has found out that his annoying little sister, Jessie, has been promoted into his grade—
into his class! How can he save face when school starts after summer break? It all starts with a lemon…
THE DAILY STORM
FABULOUS FICTION, CONT.
Do you LOVE to laugh or to make others laugh?
PAGE 7
If so, these great books are for you:
= Classic, \= Science Fiction/Fantasy, = Mystery, = Action/ Adventure, = Historical Fiction
Johnny Tremain
by Esther Forbes
Set in the early days of the American Revolution, we meet Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith.
Johnny is confident in his abilities, but something happens that turns his life on its ear. A Newbery winner.
My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannet
This first of a classic series tells of Elmer Elevator's determination to free a captive dragon on Wild Island.
My Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
Many kids, at some point, dream of running away. Sam does just that when he leaves his crowded NYC home
and runs off to the Catskill Mountains. During his year away, he learns about survival and his own strengths.
Our Only May Amelia
by Jennifer Holm
Based on Holm’s grandmother’s story. May Amelia’s pioneering family have moved to Washington, where
she is the only girl in the whole settlement. People expect her to be a dainty little lady, which is a lot of
pressure. Now that mother is going to have a baby, perhaps there’s hope that she won’t be the only girl?
Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
by Anthony Horowitz
The first of the “Alex Rider” series, this packs a lot of great characters, tons of action and funny scenes into
its pages. If you like James Bond or other spy stories, give Alex a go—you won’t want to put it down!
Letters From Camp
by Kate Klise
Some of us will be headed to sleep-away camp soon, but for those who aren’t, pick up this neat little story!
Through letters home, readers can uncover the mystery that falls upon the campers. Will you figure it out?
The Adventures of a South-Pole Pig
by Chris Kurtz
For those who love free-thinking pigs like Babe or Mercy Watson, another porcine heroine enters our midst:
Flora. Flora is a pig whose thirst for adventure leads her to Antarctica where she has amazing experiences.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
by Stephen Pastis
If I could have found a little icon for “just a ridiculous book”, this would have it. It is ridiculous…ly funny!
Despite his very, very best efforts, Timmy, CEO of the best detective agency in town (Total Failure, Inc.) is
just totally unaware (thank heavens) of his own failings. First of a fantastic series!
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency
by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Another classic, this time from way back in 1977. Hoboken, NJ has never seen the likes of Henrietta, 266pound chicken that Arthur Bobowicz brought home instead of a Thanksgiving turkey..wait till she gets loose.
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell
A new story of finding one’s identity and of family. Sophie’s quest to find her mother begins when she is
found after a shipwreck, floating in the English Channel in a cello case. Sophie’s new guardian wants to help
her find her family but to do so they must avoid the child welfare workers who only want to stick her in an
orphanage with no hope of a reunion with her mother. A magical and touching tale.
THE DAILY STORM
NONFICTION, OR, THE “REAL” STUFF
PAGE 8
For fans of “really True” things—You’ll learn some good stuff!
Babar’s Yoga for Elephants
by Laurent de Brunhoff
Babar walks us through the story of how yoga came to Celesteville and then demonstrates lots of poses
…good for stretching before playing outside!
Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution
by Don Brown
War can bring out the worst in people as well as the best. Henry Knox, a man who preferred “a good meal
to a good fight”, went 300 miles to bring back 58 cannons to General Washington’s weaponless army.
Outside Your Window: a First Book of Nature
by Nicola Davies
A super-appealing resource for even reluctant explorers, this beautifully illustrated gem shows children a lot
of the amazing things in nature that are hiding in plain sight.
Locomotive
by Brian Floca
You don’t have to be a fan of “Thomas the Tank Engine” to be in awe of the workings of the train painstakingly and wondrously drawn by Caldecott Medalist, Brian Floca. For children of all ages, all aboard!
Just a Second : a Different Way to Look at Time
by Steve Jenkins
Featuring Mr. Jenkins’ trademark cut-paper illustrations, readers are invited to think about ordinary time in
new ways. Presents a lot of thought-provoking information in an engaging way.
Roots, Shoots, Buckles and Boots
by Sharon Lovejoy
This book is chock-full of fabulous ideas for kids and their families for gardening and summertime activities.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909
by Michelle Markel
No one likes to be treated unfairly—it’s not the St. Mary’s way! When Clara moved to the US, she found that
some bosses were quite mean. Clara & co-workers decided to make those bosses be nice—find out how!
Bedtime Math
by Laura Overdeck
A genius idea for getting kids to crave math. Overdeck created math puzzles for her kids which they loved.
Her friends kept asking for more puzzles so she made this book designed for varying levels of difficulty.
The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and Our National Parks
by Barbara Rosenstock
The true story of a camping trip taken by Teddy Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir. Their hikes led Roosevelt
to realize that some areas need to be preserved for future generations—the creation of our national parks!
ChopChop: the Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food With Your Family
by Sally Sampson
Winner a major culinary award, this book shows children how easy it is to get into the kitchen and help out
with the massively important task of making a healthy and delicious meal for your family.
Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled: How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Really Looked Like? by Catherine Thimmesh
Since the first fossils were found, people wondered what dinosaurs really looked like. Using fossils from the
earliest days and the most recent discoveries, artists have been able to put together some amazing images.
Cooking on a Stick: Campfire Recipes for Kids
by Linda White
Thinking of camping, whether you’re in your backyard, the Rockies or Yosemite, this is a must-read for those
planning a campout over the summer. Bring lots of sticks!
THE DAILY STORM
POETRY!
PAGE 9
We all have poetry lurking somewhere in our hearts, beating its own rhythm. read a
few and find out what speaks to you!
The Llama Who Had No Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems
by Mary Ann Hoberman
Hoberman has been tickling children’s funny bones with her poems for over 40 years and this collection
includes many of her old favorites. The new illustrations make the collection fun and appealing!
National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!
edited by J. Patrick Lewis
A clever collection of perfectly paired photos and poems that you won’t want to put down!
Once I Ate a Pie
by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest
Even if you’re not a “dog person” you will still adore these autobiographical poems told in free verse. Each
dog’s poem so wonderfully carries through their voice and personality, you’ll smile and laugh and laugh!
The Frogs and Toads All Sang
by Arnold Lobel
Mr. Lobel wrote the beloved “Frog and Toad” series of early readers, so it was not a shock when a collection
of poetry on frogs and toads was found after he died. His daughter gathered them in this lovely book.
Now We Are Six
by A.A. Milne
The beloved creator of Winnie the Pooh wrote more than about Christopher Robin and the inhabitants of
the 100 Acre Wood—he wrote delightful poetry of childhood…poems you will want to read over and over.
Hi, Koo!
by Jon J. Muth
Koo, the nephew of Stillwater (the panda from Muth’s other books including Zen Ties) is on his own,
exploring the seasons through haiku. A fun way to introduce the idea of haiku.
Poetry Speaks to Children (Book and CD)
edited by Elise Paschen
Many will insist that poetry is meant to be heard, not just read. Enter this amazing collection that children
can not only read but hear read by the authors, including Robert Frost, Roald Dahl, J.R.R.Tolkein and more!
Stardines Swim High Across the Sky: And Other Poems
The latest collection of poems from one of America’s most beloved children’s poets!
by Jack Prelutsky
Truckery Rhymes
by Jon Scieszka
Leave it to Jon Scieszka to lovingly twist our favorite rhymes into a whole new collection of silliness! Boys
and girls alike will appreciate these, but do read the originals first so the new twists make sense.
A Light in the Attic
by Shel Silverstein
What list of recommended poems would be complete without one of Mr. Silverstein’s amazing works? If
you haven’t read this yet, just plonk yourself down on a comfy cushion and let yourself be lost!
Follow, Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems
by Marilyn Singer
The companion to Mirror Mirror, this collection has more reversible poems to delight readers!
READING DIARY!
Here is a spot where you can keep track of the books you've finished reading over the summer. Be
sure to read at least five (5) books that are on your actual reading level, as that will keep your brain
happy and ready to start the new school year! If you do read at least 5 books, you will be
recognized at Storm Central in August!
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