Chapter Books - The Ramaz School

Summer Reading List
CHAPTER BOOKS
Chapter Books help students transition from easy readers to longer novels. They
contain more complex vocabulary and sentence structure, lengthier texts broken
into easy-to-digest chapters, and illustrations that add detail and help to hold
interest.
Prepared by: Haviva Donin Peters, Head Librarian, Ramaz Lower School
Adler,DavidA.(2004).CamJansen.NewYork:PuffinBooks.Summary:Afifth-graderwitha
photographicmemoryandherfriendErichelpsolvethemysteryofthestolendiamonds.Note:
Series
Auch,MaryJane.(2003,c2001).Iwasathirdgradespy.NewYork:DellYearling.Summary:
WhenBrian'sdogArfulsuddenlybeginstalking,Brianandhistwofriendssendthedogtofind
outwhattheirclassmatesareplanningfortheschooltalentshow.Note:Series
Barrows,Annie.(2011).Ivy+Bean.SanFranciscoEdina,Minn.:ChronicleBooksSpotlight.
Summary:Whenseven-year-oldBeanplaysameantrickonhersister,shefindsunexpected
supportforheranticsfromIvy,thenewneighbor,whoislessboringthanBeanfirstsuspected.
Note:Series
Blume,Judy.(c2008).Going,going,gone!withthePain&theGreatOne.NewYork:Delacorte
Press.Summary:Describesthesiblingrivalrybetweenthird-gradeAbigailandherfirst-grade
brotherJacobEdward.Note:Series
Brown,Jeff.(c2003).Stanley,flatagain!.NewYork:HarperCollinsPublishers.Summary:After
StanleyLambchopgoesflatonceagain,heuseshisflatnesstohelpwinasailboatraceandto
rescueaclassmatefromacollapsedbuilding.Note:Series
Catling,PatrickSkene.(1979,c1952).Thechocolatetouch.NewYork:MorrowJuniorBooks.
Summary:Aboyacquiresamagicalgiftthatturnseverythinghislipstouchintochocolate.
Christopher,Matt.(c1987).TouchdownforTommy.NewYork:Little,Brown.Summary:A
youngboyworriesaboutmakingthefootballteamandconvincinghisfosterparentstoadopt
him.Note:Series
Cleary,Beverly.(2000).HenryHuggins.NewYork:HarperTrophy.Summary:HenryHuggins
picksupastraydog,nameshimRibsyandsetsoutonnumerousadventureswithhim,including
breedinghundredsoffishandcollectingoverathousandworms.Note:Series
Cleary,Beverly.(2006,c1968).Ramonathepest.NewYork:HarperTrophy.Summary:Ramona
startskindergartenwherehergoodintentionsanduncontrollablecuriosityleadhertobe
labeledapest.Note:Series
DeLaCroix,Alice.(c2002).Theheroofthethirdgrade.NewYork:HolidayHouse.Summary:
WhenRandallchangestoanewschool,hepretendstobeananonymousherountil,whenhis
thirdgradeclassplansafundraiser,hefindsthatbeinghimselfisgoodenough.
Friedman,LaurieB.(c2004).Malloryonthemove.Minneapolis,MN:CarolrhodaBooks.
Summary:Aftermovingtoanewtown,eight-year-oldMallorykeepsthrowingstonesinthe
"WishingPond"butthingswillnotgobacktothewaytheywerebefore,andsheremainstorn
betweenoldandnewbestfriends.Note:Series
Giff,PatriciaReilly.(c1989).Spectacularstonesoup.NewYork:DellPub.Summary:WhenMrs.
Zacharywantsherclasstobepeople-helpersandpreparestonesouptogether,Stacyworks
hardtobehelpfulbutnooneseemstonotice.Note:Series:PolkStreetSchool
Greene,Stephanie.(c2001).OwenFoote,superspy.NewYork:ClarionBooks.Summary:Owen
andhisfriendsdecidethatspyingontheschoolprincipalathisownhousewillbeafun
challenge.Note:Series
Gutman,Dan.([2004]).MissDaisyiscrazy!.NewYork:HarperCollinsSummary:MissDaisy's
unusualteachingmethodssurprisehersecondgradestudents,especiallyreluctantlearnerA.J.
Note:Series:MyWeirdSchool
Hale,Shannon.(2014).Theprincessinblack.Somerville,Massachusetts:CandlewickPress.
Summary:PrincessMagnoliausuallywearspinkandbehavesinadaintymanner,butwhenever
amonsterarrivesfromMonsterLand,shetransformsintothePrincessinBlackand,alongwith
herponyBlacky,sendsthemonstersbacktoMonsterLand.Note:Series
Harper,ChariseMericle.(2007).JustGrace.Boston:HoughtonMifflin.Summary:Misnamedby
herteacher,seven-year-oldJustGracepridesherselfonbeingempathetic,butwhenshetriesto
helpaneighborfeelbetter,hergoodintentionsbackfire.Note:Series
Hurwitz,Johanna.(2007).MostlyMonty.Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress.Summary:
Becausehesuffersfromasthma,six-year-oldMontyisnervousaboutstartingfirstgradebuthe
soonlearnstocopewithhisillnessandusehisspecialtalentstomakefriends.Note:Series
Kelly,DavidA.(2011).Thepinstripeghost.NewYork:RandomHouse.Summary:Whilevisiting
NewYork'sYankeeStadiumwithKate'smother,cousinsMikeandKatedecidetoinvestigatethe
rumorthattheghostofBabeRuthishauntingthestadium.Note:Series
Kerrin,JessicaScott.(c2005).MartinBridgereadyfortakeoff!.Toronto:KidsCanPress.
Summary:FeaturesthreestoriesaboutMartinBridgeandhiselementaryschooladventures.In
"Riddles,"Martingetsasubstitutebusdriverforthecrankyonehedoesn'tlike.Martinfinds
himselfinanawkwardpositionin"FasterBlaster"whenthehamsterheiscaringfordies.In
"Smithereens,"Martingiveshisfriendagoodideafordecoratingarocketshipthencan'tcome
upwithagoodoneforhimself.Note:Series
Kirby,Stan.(c2012).CaptainAwesometotherescue!NewYork:LittleSimon.Summary:When
second-graderEugeneandhisfamilymovetoanewneighborhoodandhestartsatanew
school,hehasachancetobringouthissuperheroalterego,CaptainAwesome,tofindthe
kidnappedclasshamster.Note:Series
Kline,Suzy.(2002).HerbieJones.NewYork:PuffinBooks.Summary:Herbie'sexperiencesin
thethirdgradeincludefindingbonesintheboy'sbathroom,wanderingawayfromhisclasson
theirfieldtrip,andbeingpromotedtoahigherreadinggroup.Note:Series
Kline,Suzy.(1997).HorribleHarryinroom2B.NewYork:PuffinBooks.Summary:Doug
discoversthatthoughbeingHarry'sbestfriendinMissMackle'ssecondgradeclassisn'talways
easy,asHarrylikestodohorriblethings,itisoftenalotoffun.Note:Series
Krailing,Tessa.(1998).Jillythekid.Hauppauge,N.Y.:Barron'sEducationalSeries.Summary:
Whenagroupofchildrenformsaclubtobabysitanimals,theyendupwithapetgoatwhich
leadsthemonaSeriesofwildadventures.Note:Series
Krulik,NancyE.(2006).Anyonebutme.NewYorkEdina,Minn.:Grosset&DunlapSpotlight.
Summary:KatieCarewistiredofbeingherselfandwantstobesomebodyelse,butwhenher
wishcomestruesheisshocked.Note:Series
Levine,GailCarson.(c2005).Fairydustandthequestfortheegg.NewYork:DisneyPress.
Summary:PrillaisanewfairytoNeverLand,butheroddbehaviorsurprisestheotherfairies,
whoquestionwhethersheissuitableforFairyHaven.ThewiseMotherDovehasfaithinPrilla,
whotriestoidentifyhertruetalentandbecomeaself-respectingNeverfairy.Intheprocess,
Prillaencountersahurricane,aselfishfairy,theevilCaptainHook,snobbymermaids,a
frighteninggoldenhawk,andanevildragon.Note:Series
Look,Lenore.(c2009).Look,Lenore.(c2009).AlvinHo.NewYork:Schwartz&WadeBooks.
Summary:WhenAlvin'sfathertakeshimcampingtoinstillaloveofnature,likethatoftheir
home-townheroHenryDavidThoreau,Alvinmakesanewfriendandlearnsthathecanbe
bravedespitehisfearofeverything.Note:Series
MacDonald,BettyBard.(2007).Mrs.Piggle-Wiggle.NewYork:HarperCollins.Summary:From
herupside-downhouse,theeccentricMrs.Piggle-Wiggleissuestoparentshermarvelouscures
forsuchcommonchildren'sdiseasesasWon't-Put-Away-Toys-itis,Answerbackism,andFighterQuarrelitis.Note:Series
Maddox,Jake.(c2013).Pointguardprank.NorthMankato,Minn.:StoneArchBooks.Summary:
SomebodyisplayingnastytricksonRyanDeMoss,pointguardfortheHillcrestHammers,andit
isstartingtointerferewithhisgamerightbeforethebigtournament.Note:Series
Maddox,Jake.([2009]).Skater'ssecret.Minneapolis:StoneArchBooks.Summary:Maggieis
alwaysskatinginhersisterShannon'sshadowbutthistimesheisdeterminedtomakeherown
success.Includesdiscussionquestionsandwritingprompts.Note:Series
McDonald,Megan.(2010).JudyMoody.Somerville,Mass.:CandlewickPress.Summary:Third
graderJudyMoodyisinafirstdayofschoolbadmooduntilshegetsanassignmenttocreatea
collageallaboutherselfandbeginscreatinghermasterpiece,theMecollage.Note:Series
McDonald,Megan.(2010).Stink:theincredibleshrinkingkid.Edina,Minn.:Spotlight.Summary:
Theshortestkidinthesecondgrade,JamesMoody,alsoknownasStink,learnsallaboutthe
shortestpresidentoftheUnitedStates,JamesMadison,whentheycelebratePresidents'Dayat
school.Note:Series
Mitchelhill,Barbara.(2007).Howtobeadetective.Minneapolis:StoneArchBooks.Summary:
SupersleuthDamianDroothtakeshisstudentstothestreetstofindsomerealcrimes,but
thingsgoawrywhenDamianandhistraineesarriveatthelocaldogshow.
Montgomery,LewisB.(2009).Thecaseofthestinkysocks.NewYork:KanePress.Summary:
Detectives-in-trainingMiloandJazzjoinforcestotackletheirfirstbigcase--findingoutwho
stoletheluckysocksfromthehighschoolbaseballteam'sstarpitcher.Note:Series
Mlynowski,Sarah.(2012).Fairestofall.NewYork:ScholasticPress.Summary:Aftermovingto
anewhouse,ten-year-oldAbbyandheryoungerbrotherJonahdiscoveranantiquemirrorthat
transportsthemintotheSnowWhitefairytale.Note:Series
O'Connor,Jane.(c2012).NancyClancy,supersleuth.NewYork:Harper.Summary:Nancy
ClancyandherfriendBreeputtheirsleuthingskillstowork,usingtheirmagnifyingglassand
code-breakingskillstosolveacrimethathappenedrightintheirclassroom.Note:Series
O'Ryan,Ray.([2013]).Hello,Nebulon!NewYork:LittleSimon.Summary:WhenZackNelson's
fathergetanewjobontheplanetNebulon,theirentirefamilyhastomoveandZackworries
aboutadjusttolifeonanewworld.Gradually,however,helearnsthatlifeisn'treallysobadon
thisfuturisticplanet.Note:Series:GalaxyZack
Osborne,MaryPope.(c1992).Dinosaursbeforedark.NewYork:RandomHouse.Summary:
Eight-year-oldJackandhisyoungersisterAnniefindamagictreehouse,whichwhisksthemback
toanancienttimezonewheretheyseelivedinosaurs.Note:Series:TheMagicTreehouse
Parish,Peggy.(1980,c1968).Cluesinthewoods.NewYork:BantamDoubledayDellBooksfor
YoungReaders.Summary:Missinggarbagescraps,aredsweaterfoundinthewoods,anda
trappedpuppyleadthreechildren,stayingwiththeirgrandparents,tothinksomeoneisinneed.
Paterson,Katherine.(c1999).Theking'sequal.NewYork:HarperTrophy.Summary:Inorderto
wearthecrownofthekingdom,anarrogantyoungprincemustfindanequalinhisbride.
Instead,hefindssomeonefarbetterthanhe.
Pennypacker,Sara.(c2006).Clementine.NewYork:HyperionBooksforChildren.Summary:
WhilesortingthroughdifficultiesinherfriendshipwithherneighborMargaret,eight-year-old
Clementinegainsseveraluniquehairstyleswhilealsohelpingherfatherinhiseffortstobanish
pigeonsfromthefrontoftheirapartmentbuilding.Note:Series
Pennypacker,Sara.(c2003).Stuartgoestoschool.NewYork:Scholastic.Summary:Worried
abouthisfirstdayatanewschool,eight-year-oldStuartwearshismagiccapeandhopesthatit
willhelphim.Note:Series
Peterson,JohnLawrence.(c1967).TheLittles.NewYork:Scholastic.Summary:TomLittle
suggeststryingtotamethecattoscareawaythemice.Note:Series
Pilkey,Dav.(c2000).RickyRicotta'smightyrobotvs.themutantmosquitoesfromMercury:the
secondrobotadventurenovel.NewYork:Scholastic.Summary:WhenMr.Mosquitofrom
planetMercurymanufacturesamobofmutantstoattackEarth,itisuptoRickyRicottaandhis
robotfriendtosaveSqeakyvilleandtheplanet.Note:Series
Preller,James.(c1999).Thecaseofthespookysleepover.NewYork:Scholastic.Summary:
WhenRalphieJordanthinkshishouseishaunted,Jigsawtakesthecaseandtriestopiece
togethertheclues.Note:Series
Ransom,CandiceF.(c2009).Thedayoftheblackblizzard.Minneapolis:MillbrookPress.
Summary:Whenten-year-oldOrryandhisstepsistergooutsidetoplay,theybecometrapped
inanenormousduststormandtrytofindtheirwaybackhome.
Riddell,Chris.(2009).Ottolinegoestoschool.NewYork:Harper.Summary:OttolineandMr.
Munroe,herveryhelpfuldog,enrollintheAliceB.SmithSchoolfortheDifferentlyGifted.While
Ottolineworriesthatshemaynothaveaspecialgift,Mr.Munroeworriesabouttheghostthat
issaidtohaunttheschoolatnight.Note:Series
Roop,Peter.(c1986).ButtonsforGeneralWashington.Minneapolis,Minn.:CarolrhodaBooks.
Summary:Reconstructsapossiblemissionofthefourteen-year-oldspywhocarriedmessages
toGeorgeWashington'scampinthebuttonsofhiscoatduringtheRevolutionaryWar.
Roy,Ron.(1997).Theabsentauthor.NewYork:RandomHouse.Summary:DinkDuncanand
histwofriendsinvestigatetheapparentkidnappingoffamousmysteryauthorWallisWallace.
Note:Series:AtoZMysteries
Sachar,Louis.(c1992).MarvinRedpost.NewYork:RandomHouse.Summary:Red-haired
Marvinisconvincedthatthereasonhelooksdifferentfromtherestofhisfamilyisthatheis
reallythelostprinceofShampoon.
Sachar,Louis.(2005,c1978).SidewaysstoriesfromWaysideSchool.NewYork:HarperTrophy.
Summary:PresentshumorousepisodesfromtheclassroomonthethirtiethfloorofWayside
School,whichwasaccidentallybuiltsidewayswithoneclassroomoneachstory.
Sheinmel,Courtney.(c2012).StellaBattsneedsanewname.AnnArbor,MI:SleepingBear
Press.Summary:Whenaclassmatemakesfunofhername,eight-year-oldStellapicksanew
oneforherself,butdiscoversthatthenamesheabandonedsuitsherjustfine.Note:Series
Sobol,DonaldJ.(2007).EncyclopediaBrown,boydetective.NewYork:PuffinBooks.Summary:
EncyclopediaBrown,ten-year-olddetective,helpsthepolicesolvetenpuzzlingcases.Note:
Series
Sternberg,Julie.(2014).Likecarrotjuiceonacupcake.NewYork:AmuletBooks.Summary:A
newgirlatschoolthrowsnine-year-oldEleanor'srelationshipwithherbestfriendPearlinto
disarray.Note:andotherbooksbythisauthor
Taylor,Sydney.(1989).All-of-a-kindfamily.NewYork:Dell.Summary:Theadventuresoffive
sistersgrowingupinaJewishfamilyinNewYorkintheearlytwentiethcentury.Note:Series
Warner,Sally.(2005).OnlyEmma.NewYork:Viking.Summary:Third-graderEmma'speaceful
lifeasanonlychildisdisruptedwhenshehastotemporarilysharehertidybedroomwithfouryear-oldAnthonyScarpetto,abonafide"paininthepatootie."Note:Series