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Heinrich Learning
Resource Center
4th Grade Summer Reading Suggestions
Summer is a wonderful time to pick up a good book and develop the habit of reading for pleasure and
exploring unknown genres. At St. Johns, we hope you will have fun playing Book Bingo to discover
new books that will become favorites. Use the attached Book Bingo sheet to read at least five books in
a row and record the titles and authors on the sheet. The books should be titles you have not read
before. If a book under a certain genre is also part of a series, any book in that series may be read. If a
book fits multiple genres, it can be used for either genre. Parents, please sign the sheet when
completed. At the beginning of the school year, bring in your completed and signed sheet. We will
have a celebration in the library with peer-to-peer book talks and a rousing game of bingo! Below are
suggestions for each genre; you may choose other books in that genre as well. The public library and
local or online bookstores are resources to find these titles over the summer in addition to our
library’s eBooks and digital audiobooks. Have fun!
Action & Adventure:
Aiken, Joan. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Wicked wolves and a grim governess threaten
Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia when Bonnie's parents leave Willoughby Chase for a sea voyage. Left in
the care of the cruel Miss Slighcarp, the girls can hardly believe what is happening to their once happy
home. The servants are dismissed, the furniture is sold, and Bonnie and Sylvia are sent to a prisonlike orphan school. It seems as if the endless hours of drudgery will never cease. With the help of
Simon the gooseboy and his flock, they escape. But how will they ever get Willoughby Chase free from
the clutches of the evil Miss Slighcarp?
Clements, Andrew. A Week in the Woods. Mark is angry about his family’s move to New
Hampshire. He acts bored and disinterested in class and angers his science teacher, Bill Maxwell. Mr.
Maxwell decides that someone should teach this young man a lesson and the two square off in a test
of wills. Eventually, Mark must use his outdoor skills to survive while being pursued through the
woods.
Columbus, Chris. House of Secrets. Siblings Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia Walker once had
everything they could ever want. But everything changed when Dr. Walker lost his job. Now the family
must relocate to an old Victorian house, formerly the home of occult novelist Denver Kristoff—a house
that simultaneously feels creepy and too good to be true. By the time the Walkers realize that one of
their neighbors has sinister plans for them, they’re banished to a primeval forest way off the grid.
Gutman, Dan. Mission Unstoppable. (series- The Genius Files) The most exciting road trip in
history begins! Twelve-year-old twins Coke and Pepsi McDonald embark on a family vacation you'll
have to read to believe. As Coke and Pepsi dodge nefarious villains from the Pez museum in
California all the way to the Infinity Room in Wisconsin, black-and-white photographs and maps put
young readers right into the action.
Gutman, Dan. Nightmare at the Book Fair. Trip Dinkleman hates to read. Hates, hates, hates it.
All he wants to do is play lacrosse. So when the president of the PTA asks Trip to help her out on his
way to tryouts, he is not happy. He is even more not happy when a stack of books tumbles onto his
head and knocks him out cold. And he is even more not happy when he wakes up and has absolutely
no idea where he is. Now all he wants to do is get home. But after encountering a haunted house,
aliens, talking animals, and much, much more, he realizes getting home might be just a little bit
harder to do than he thought.
Hobbs, Will. Wild Man Island. Andy Galloway slips away from his Alaskan Adventure kayaking
group on the last day of their trip. Fourteen-year-old Andy is a seasoned kayaker and wants to visit
the place where his father had died nine years before. He successfully reaches the place and leaves a
tribute for his father. Unfortunately, on the way back to camp a storm hits, knocks him off course, and
Andy lands on a remote island.
Jinks, Catherine. How to Catch a Bogle. Birdie McAdam, a ten-year-old orphan, is tougher than
she looks. She's proud of her job as apprentice to Alfred the Bogler, a man who catches monsters for a
living. Birdie lures the bogles out of their lairs with her sweet songs, and Alfred kills them before they
kill her. On the mean streets of Victorian England, hunting bogles is actually less dangerous work
than mudlarking for scraps along the vile river Thames. Or so it seems—until the orphans of London
start to disappear . . .
Jensen, Marion. Almost Super. Everyone over the age of twelve in the Bailey family gets a super
power. No one knows why, and no one questions it. All the Baileys know is that it's their duty to
protect the world from the evil, supervillainous Johnson family. *shake fists* But when Rafter Bailey
and his brother Benny get their superpowers, they're, well . . . super-lame. Rafter can strike matches
on polyester, and Benny can turn his innie belly button into an outie. Along with Rafter's algebra class
nemesis, Juanita Johnson, Rafter and Benny realize that what they thought they knew about
superheroes and supervillains may be all wrong.
Kehret, Peg. Earthquake Terror. After Jonathan's mother breaks her ankle on a family camping
trip, Jonathan and his younger sister Abby are left alone on a deserted island. Then a devastating
earthquake hits — and suddenly, Jonathan and Abby are fighting for their lives.
Kehret, Peg. Escaping the Giant Wave. Thirteen-year old Kyle thought spending a vacation on the
Oregon coast with his family would be great. He'd never flown before, and he'd never seen the Pacific
Ocean. Kyle's perfect vacation becomes a nightmare while he's babysitting his sister, BeeBee. An
earthquake hits the coast and starts afire in their hotel. Can Kyle and BeeBee outwit and outrun
nature's fury to save themselves from tsunami terror?
Korman, Gordon. Shipwreck. (Island Trilogy) Six kids. One fate. Nick, J.J., Will, Lyssa, Charla, and
Ian. They didn't want to be on the boat in the first place. They didn't want to be stuck at sea with a
bunch of strangers. But when you're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there's no easy way out. And
when a terrifying storm hits, there's no way to fully prepare. It's all about survival.
LaFevers, R.L. Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh. (series) Eleven-year-old Theodosia of
twentieth-century England sets off to Egypt with her cat, Isis. Her plan is to return the Emerald
Tablet, embedded with the ancient world’s most guarded secrets. Then she’ll explore the mysteries
surrounding her own birth and, oh, yes—help her mother dig up treasures on her archeological
expedition. When the Serpents of Chaos get involved, however, Theo finds she’s digging up a lot more
than she expected!
Lerangis, Peter. The Colossus Rises. (series- Seven Wonders) Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid
with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die—unless he finds seven magic Loculi
that have been hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Lowry, Lois. The Willoughbys. The Willoughby's—Timothy; his twin brothers, Barnaby A and
Barnaby B; and their little sister, Jane—are old-fashioned children who adore old-fashioned
adventures. Unfortunately, the Willoughby parents are not very fond of their children, and the truth is
that the siblings are not too keen on their parents either. Little do the Willoughby kids know that their
neglectful mother and father are hatching an evil plan to get rid of them! Not to worry—these
resourceful adventurers have a few plans of their own.
Monninger, Joseph. Crash. (series- Stay Alive) Stranded in the middle of nowhere, you have to fight
to survive! When the members of Junior Action News Team crash land in the Alaskan backwoods, one
thing is clear: not everyone is going to survive. No cell phones. No internet. Their supplies are limited,
as is their knowledge of the wilderness. Part of the group wants to wait it out. Other wants to search
for help. But above all they must stay alive!
Oliver, Lauren. The Spindlers. Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza
feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that
he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers—evil, spiderlike beings—came during
the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him.
Petersen, P.J. White Water. Greg's rafting trip with his father turns into a life-and-death ordeal
when Greg's father is bitten by a rattlesnake, and the boy must find a way to overcome his fear of the
rapids and get his father to a doctor.
Primavera, Elise. The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls. Franny longs for adventure but
can't even do a cartwheel. Pru can do a cartwheel but prefers hiding under her quilt making up safety
tips. Cat has no use for safety tips but supposedly has ESP. And Ivy has had a seven-year string of bad
luck—a Jinx that's about to get a whole lot worse. The four are thrown together when a pair of
mysterious ruby red slippers turn up, along with the fashionably mad Cha-Cha Staccato, who bears a
frightening resemblance to a certain wicked witch. . . .
Roberts, Willo Davis. Hostage. Kaci's family's new house has everything-bathrooms and bedrooms
for everyone, room for her brother's grand piano-and a sense of security lacking in her old
community. Shortly after the move, Kaci goes home in the middle of the school day to get her allergy
medication and stumbles upon a burglary in progress. The robbers kidnap her, and when a nosy
neighbor suspects that something is wrong and tries to help, they take her as well. At first, Kaci
discounts Mrs. Banducci's ability to help them escape, but quickly discovers that the elderly woman
not only has some good suggestions, but also helps the girl keep up her courage.
Stephens, John. Emerald Atlas. (series- The Books of Beginning) These three siblings have been in
one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage. Yet these unwanted
children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies,
they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.
Until now. Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey through time to dangerous and
secret corners of the world.
Animal Stories:
Auch, Mary Jane. The Latchkey Dog. Determined not to let his parents get rid of his dog, Amber,
who has no one to keep him company during the day, Sam, with the help of his friend, Jamie, tries to
teach Amber to be a latchkey dog.
Brooke, Lauren. Coming Home. (series- Heartland) Amy calls Heartland home, and ever since she
can remember, she's watched her mom instill trust and hope in horses that were once fierce and
afraid. And Amy's inherited her mother's gift, the ability to listen to horses and understand what they
need. But when a tragic accident changes everything, Amy must cling to what her mother taught her;
she must truly believe miracles can happen at Heartland.
Bunting, Eve. The Summer of Riley. Eleven-year-old William never needed a friend more than
now. After his parents' separation, his father's new engagement, and his grandfather's dying without
any warning — adopting big, beautiful Riley is the first thing in a long time that has made him feel
better. That is, until Riley innocently chases a horse.
Daley, Michael J. Space Station Rat. A lavender rat, which has escaped from a laboratory,
accidentally stows away on a space station. In addition to the scientists, technicians, and astronauts
on board, a lonely young boy attracts the rat's attention, and she watches him in an effort to get food.
When the two encounter each other, the boy is amazed to discover that the rat has been trained to
communicate in sign language and by typing. The two misfits begin a friendship based on need, as
they fight off efforts to discover and stamp out the stowaway.
King-Smith, Dick. Babe: The Gallant Pig. Babe is a sensitive soul, deeply loyal to those who are
kind to him. So when he is taken in by Farmer Hogget's sheepdog, Fly, it's only natural that he would
want to follow in his foster mum's paw-steps. Even with Babe's considerable handicaps as a
sheepdog--namely, that he's a pig--he manages to overcome all with his earnestly polite and softspoken ways, proving once again that might doesn't always make right.
Delaney, Michael. Obi, Gerbil on the Loose. Life is good for Obi the gerbil. That is, until her owner
goes on vacation and leaves the pets home alone! A neighbor boy comes to feed the other animals but
never notices poor Obi. So the resourceful gerbil takes on the courage of her namesake (the famous
Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi) and breaks out of her cage in search of food and water.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. The Grand Escape. (series- Cat Pack) If only Marco hadn't read a
newspaper article about a ranch and become determined to see one. If only Polo hadn't found himself
longing for the mother he barely remembered as a soft-warm-wiggle-purr-milk-tongue. Then the two
tabbies might have been content to remain pampered house cats forever. But when their owners leave
a door open, Marco and Polo can't resist the temptation to escape to the outside world. Their search
for food and a dry place to sleep leads them to Texas Jake and the cats of the Club of Mysteries.
Oppel, Kenneth. Silverwing. (series) Shade, a young Silverwing bat and the runt of his colony,
wants to see the sun. He's determined to prove himself on the long, dangerous winter migration to
Hibernaculum, millions of wingbeats to the south. During a fierce storm, he loses the others and soon
faces the most incredible journey of his young life.
Reiche, Dietof. I, Freddy. (series) Freddy is not happy with his boring treadmill life at the pet store.
He continually embarrasses himself in an attempt to get adopted. Freddy believes he will have a more
civilized and exciting life as soon as he has a home. After a series of funny misadventures he teaches
himself to read and write. He then pens his witty and heartwarming autobiography that tells of his
journey to self discovery.
Vande Velde, Vivian. Smart Dog. Amy Prochenko is only in fifth grade, but she already has a sixth
grader's problems: She is wildly unpopular, she is the target of prissy Kaitlyn Walker's nastiness, and
everyone thinks she and the dweebiest boy in class are an item. Then one day Amy meets Sherlock, a
dog on the run from a university lab. Sherlock is not like other dogs: He can talk, he's smarter than
most of Amy's classmates--and he needs Amy's help. Suddenly Amy's life is full of danger and
excitement.
Author Study:
Andrew Clements Kate Dicamillo
Dan Gutman
Peg Kehret
Cynthia Lord
Richard Peck
Louis Sachar
Read any book you have not previously read from one (or more!) of these authors:
Blume, Judy
Gutman, Dan
Peck, Richard
Clements, Andrew
Kehret, Peg
Peck, Robert Newton
DiCamillo, Kate
Lord, Cynthia
Sachar, Louis
Giff, Patricia Reilly
Macaulay, David
Van Allsburg, Chris
Autobiography/Memoir:
Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. This is the story of a pivotal event in history related here as Ruby
Bridges saw it unfold around her. Ruby's poignant words, quotations from writers and from other
adults who observed her, along with dramatic photographs recreate an amazing story of innocence,
courage, and forgiveness. Ruby Bridges' story is an inspiration to us all.
Carle, Eric. Flora and Tiger: 19 Very Short Stories from My Life. The author recalls
experiences from his childhood in Germany and his later life in the United States, all in some way
connected to various animals.
Fletcher, Ralph. Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. Imagine learning from a nosy
classmate that your mother is having yet another baby. To Ralph’s classmates, news of one more
Fletcher baby is just “scuttlebutt.” But for Ralph, the oldest of nine, being part of a large family means
more kids to join in the fun—from making tripods in the woods and “snicking” up the rug to raising
chicks and even discovering a meteor (well, maybe).
Hodgeman, Ann. The House of a Million Pets. Ann Hodgman’s basement is home to three guinea
pigs, a cage full of birds, a big gray rabbit, a prairie dog, a bulbul (look it up), two little rabbits, a
hamster, and twenty-six pygmy mice. And that’s just the basement. Here is the true story of what it’s
like to live in her barnyard—er, house—with more animals than you’ll be able to keep track of.
Millman, Isaac. Hidden Child. The author details his difficult experiences as a young Jewish child
living in Nazi-occupied France in the 1940s.
North, Sterling. Rascal. (Newbery Honor). Rascal is only a baby when young Sterling brings him
home. He and the mischievous raccoon are best friends for a perfect year of adventure until the spring
day when everything suddenly changes.
Paulsen, Gary. My Life in Dog Years. Gary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and
amazing dogs. In each chapter he tells the story of one special dog, among them Snowball, the puppy
he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Dirk, the grim
protector; and Josh, one of the remarkable border collies working on Paulsen's ranch today.
Ripkin, Cal. Cal Ripkin, Jr.: My Story. The author tells of his personal life and his professional
baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles.
Sciekszka, Jon. Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up
Scieszka. Part memoir, part scrapbook, this hilarious trip down memory lane provides a unique
glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit.
Sis, Peter. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. In his most personal work to date,
award-winning author Peter Sis offers a brilliant graphic memoir, taking readers on an extraordinary
journey as he recalls his youth growing up in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, when his country was on
the Communist side of the Iron Curtain.
Award Winner :
Cleary, Beverly. Dear Mr. Henshaw. (Newbery Medal). This Newbery Award-winning book by
veteran author Beverly Cleary traces the inner life of a sometimes lonely and often troubled boy
during that all-important but painful transition into adolescence, and she does so with grace and
humor.
Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. (Newbery Honor). On a long car trip from Ohio to Idaho, 13year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle tells her grandparents about her friend Phoebe, who is coping with
the disappearance of her mother. Beneath Phoebe's story is Sal's search for her own mother, who left
one sunny morning and never returned.
Dubois, William Pene. Twenty-One Balloons. (Newbery Medal, Classic, Adventure). Professor
William Waterman Sherman just wants to be alone. So he decides to take a year off and spend it
crossing the Pacific Ocean in a hot-air balloon the likes of which no one has ever seen. But when he is
found after just three weeks floating in the Atlantic among the wreckage of twenty hot-air balloons,
naturally, the world is eager to know what happened. How did he end up with so many balloons . . .
and in the wrong ocean?
Holm, Jennifer. Turtle in Paradise. (Newbery Honor). Life isn't like the movies, and 11-year-old
Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a
Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce.
But when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle is forced to
head off to Key West, Florida, to stay with relatives she's never met. Florida is like nothing Turtle has
ever seen: hot, strange, and full of wild, ragtag boy cousins...and even secret treasure.
Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out & Back Again. (2011 National Book Award, Newbery Honor). Based on
the author's own childhood and written in free-verse poems, this unforgettable story captures a fierce
girl's struggles to find her place in her family, in her new home, and in the world. Things are changing
in Hà's world, as the Vietnam War comes closer and closer to her home in Saigon. Her friends and
neighbors are leaving, her oldest brother is speaking out against the North, and the likelihood of being
reunited with her father — who has been missing in action for nine years — is growing dimmer.
Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. (Coretta Scott King
Award, Sibert Informational Book Award). Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson
tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after
Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you
are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great
ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. The Dreamer. (Pura Belpré Award, multicultural). Combining elements of
magical realism with biography, poetry, and literary fiction, Pam Muñoz Ryan weaves sound poems
and thought-provoking questions into her exquisitely crafted prose to create a narrative tapestry of
color, rhythm, and emotion, while Peter Sis’s delicate, mesmerizing drawings transport readers to the
lushness of the rainforest, the vastness of the sea, and the whimsy of Neftali’s imagination. This
moving story about the birth of an artist is also a celebration of childhood, imagination, and the
strength of the creative spirit and is sure to inspire young writers and artists.
Selsnick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. (Caldecott Medal) Orphan, clock keeper, and
thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and
anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old
man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put
in jeopardy.
Speare, Elizabeth George. The Sign of the Beaver. (Newbery Honor, Classic, Historical Fiction)
Although he faces responsibility bravely, thirteen-year-old Matt is more than a little apprehensive
when his father leaves him alone to guard their new cabin in the wilderness. When a renegade white
stranger steals his gun, Matt realizes he has no way to shoot game or to protect himself. When Matt
meets Attean, a boy in the Beaver clan, he begins to better understand their way of life and their
growing problem in adapting to the white man and the changing frontier.
Tonatiuh, Duncan. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calveras (Sibert Medal,
Pura Belpré Honor; Biography; Multi-Cultural). Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing
calaveras—skeletons performing various everyday or festive activities—came to be. They are the
creation of Mexican artist José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852–1913).
Turnage, Sheila. Three Times Lucky. (Newbery Honor). Quick-thinking and precocious Mo
LoBeau is hilarious in this modern-day mystery set in a small North Carolina town. The 11-year-old
discovers the true meaning of family as she searches for her "upstream mother." As a baby, Mo was
found washed ashore during a hurricane and has led a quiet life with the Colonel, a café owner with a
hidden past, and Miss Lana, the fun and colorful café hostess. Then one day, this idyllic town is
turned upside down by a murder investigation.
Williams, Rita Garcia. One Crazy Summer. (Newbery Honor, Scott O’Dell Award for historical
fiction, Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalist). Set during one of the most
tumultuous years in recent American history, one crazy summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of
three girls in search of the mother who abandoned them — an unforgettable story.
Yelchin, Eugene. Breaking Stalin’s Nose. (Newbery Honor). Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of
the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six. But now that it is finally time to join the Young
Pioneers, the day Sasha has awaited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's
glasses with a snowball. He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway. And worst of
all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested just last night. This moving story of a tenyear-old boy's world shattering is masterful in its simplicity, powerful in its message, and
heartbreaking in its plausibility.
Biography:
Byrd, Robert. Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. (Sibert
Honor Informational Book Award). A true Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin was the first
American celebrity. In pictures and text, master artist Robert Byrd documents Franklin's numerous
and diverse accomplishments, from framing the Constitution to creating bifocals. The witty, wise, and
endlessly curious Franklin is the perfect subject for Byrd's lively style and vibrant art. The pages pulse
with facts, quotes, and captions, while the inventive design and intricately detailed illustrations make
a striking tribute to the brilliant American.
Fern, Tracey. Barnum’s Bones. Barnum Brown's (1873-1963) parents named him after the circus
icon P.T. Barnum, hoping that he would do something extraordinary--and he did! As a paleontologist
for the American Museum of Natural History, he discovered the first documented skeleton of the
Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as most of the other dinosaurs on display there today.
Fleming, Candace. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. In
alternating chapters, Fleming deftly moves readers back and forth between Amelia's life (from
childhood up until her last flight) and the exhaustive search for her and her missing plane. Includes
incredible photos, maps, and handwritten notes from Amelia herself—plus informative sidebars
tackling everything from the history of flight to what Amelia liked to eat while flying (tomato soup).
Golio, Gary. Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey. Growing up, John was a seeker.
He wondered about spirit, and the meaning of life. And whether music could be a key to unlocking
those mysteries. Like his grandfather’s preaching and his parents’ songs, could John’s music bring
people closer to God?
Grimes, Nikki. Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman. Coretta Scott
King Honor, poetry) Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman was always being told what she could & couldn't do.
In an era when Jim Crow laws and segregation were a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie
didn't let that stop her. Although she was only 11 when the Wright brothers took their historic flight,
she vowed to become the first African -American female pilot. Her sturdy faith and determination
helped her overcome obstacles of poverty, racism, and gender discrimination. Innovatively told
through a series of poem/monologues.
Krull, Kathleen. Louisa May’s Battle: How the Civil War Led to Little Women. Louisa May
Alcott is best known for penning Little Women, but few are aware of the experience that influenced
her writing most-her time as a nurse during the Civil War. Caring for soldiers' wounds and writing
letters home for them inspired a new realism in her work.
Lasky, Kathryn. The Man Who Made Time Travel. This dramatic picture-book biography brings
to life – with illustrations that glow with wit and inspiration – the fascinating story of the quest to
measure longitude. While the scientific establishment of the eighteenth century was certain that the
answer lay in mapping the heavens, John Harrison, an obscure, uneducated clockmaker, dared to
imagine a different solution: a seafaring clock.
McGinty, Alice B. Gandhi: A March to the Sea. Mohandas Gandhi’s 24-day March to the Sea,
from March 12 to April 5, 1930, was a pivotal moment in India’s quest to become an independent
country no longer ruled by Great Britain. Gandhi believed that peaceful protests were an effective way
to challenge British law, and his peaceful but ultimately successful movement became known as
Satyagraha.
Nelson, Kadir. Nelson Mandela. (Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Multicultural). In this picture
book biography, award-winning author and illustrator Kadir Nelson tells the story of Mandela, a
global icon, in poignant free verse and glorious illustrations. It is the story of a young boy's
determination to change South Africa, and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the
president of his country by believing in equality for all people, no matter the color of their skin.
Nobleman, Marc Tyler. Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman. (Graphic
Novel) Every Batman story is marked with the words "Batman created by Bob Kane." But that isn't the
whole truth. A struggling writer named Bill Finger was involved from the beginning. Bill helped
invent Batman, from concept to costume to character. He dreamed up Batman's haunting origins and
his colorful nemeses. Despite his brilliance, Bill worked in obscurity. It was only after his death that
fans went to bat for Bill, calling for acknowledgment that he was co-creator of Batman.
Robinson, Sharon. Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America. A biography
of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the major leagues, as told by
his daughter.
Classic:
Atwater, Richard. Mr. Popper’s Penguins. (Newbery Honor) A classic of American humor, the
adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for
generations.
Blume, Judy. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Millions of fans young and old have been
entertained by the quick wit of Peter Hatcher, the hilarious antics of mischievous Fudge, and the
unbreakable confidence of know-it-all Sheila Tubman.
Bond, Michael. A Bear Called Paddington. The Browns first meet Paddington on a railway
platform in London. He is sitting on a battered suitcase, wearing an odd-looking hat and a sign
around his neck that reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." And that is just what they do,
unaware that home will never be the same once Paddington becomes a member of the family.
Brink, Carol Ryrie. Caddie Woodlawn. (Historical Fiction, Newbery Medal). Scarcely out of one
scrape before she is into another, she refuses to be a "lady," preferring instead to run the woods with
her brothers. Whether she is crossing the lake on a raft, visiting an Indian camp, or listening to the
tales of the circuit rider, Caddie's adventures provide an exciting and authentic picture of life on the
Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s.
Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In this timeless classic, Willy Wonka, a crazy
chocolatier, opens his chocolate factory doors for the first time to five lucky children who have
randomly purchased the coveted chocolate bars containing the golden ticket. Besides a lifetime supply
of chocolate, the children get a chance to tour the mysterious factory with their guide, Willy Wonka.
Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet the Spy. Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down
everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses
track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have
read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she's written about each of them.
Henry, Marguerite. Misty of Chincoteague. (Newbery Honor, animal stories) Paul and Maureen
live with their grandparents on the Chesapeake island of Chincoteague. On the nearby island of
Assateague lives a band of wild ponies, whose ancestors came to the New World on Spanish galleons
centuries before.
Konigsburg, E.L. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. (Newbery Award).
Bored with her life, twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid is ready for a big change. In fact, she wants to run
away from home. But she doesn't like discomfort. She doesn't even like picnics. So an old-fashioned,
knapsack kind of running away is out of the question. Instead of running from somewhere, she
decides to run to somewhere — some place comfortable, and preferably beautiful. Where else, but the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City?
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (fantasy) Air-raids over London during
WWII compel four siblings — Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — to be sent away from the city to the
house of a kindly, but remote Professor "who lived in the heart of the country.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh. (Newbery Medal, animal stories). When 11-year-old Marty Preston
finds a young beagle up in the hills behind his home near Friendly, West Virginia, he is convinced that
the poor pup is in trouble. Certain that the dog is being abused by his owner, Judd Travers, Marty
names him "Shiloh" and immediately feels that he will do anything to save the dog from further harm.
Norton, Juster. The Phantom Tollbooth. (fantasy) Milo is in a deep blue funk. Nothing and no one
capture his interest. Boredom is Milo's middle name. The young boy is resigned to this state of affairs
until he returns from school one day to find a package containing a giant toy tollbooth in his bedroom.
When Milo puts the tollbooth together, and takes a ride on his toy car through the booth, a whimsical
adventure begins.
Norton, Mary. The Borrowers. (fantasy) There aren't many miniature people left in the world
today! But the Borrowers quietly and secretly make their living borrowing from the "human beans"
they live with.
Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. (Newbery Honor). Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his
father when the single engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone
in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his
mother has given him as a present — and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart ever
since his parents' divorce.
White, E.B. Charlotte’s Web. (Newbery Honor, animal stories). Wilbur is the runt of a litter born to
a pig on the farm of Fern Arable's father. When it is announced that her father is going to kill the pig,
Fern rushes forth to save it, asking of her father: "If I had been very small at birth, would you have
killed me?" Her father spares the pig, but only if Fern agrees to care for it.
Williams, Garth. The Cricket in Times Square. (Newbery Honor, animal stories). This Newbery
Honor Book tells the story of Chester, a cricket from Connecticut, and his friendship with a little boy
named Mario, a mouse named Tucker, and a cat named Harry in New York's Times Square..
eBook:
eBooks from the HLRC library are available with the Follett Brytewave K-12 app for mobile devices, or
through the FollettShelf link on the virtual library: http://www.sjcdslibrary.net/readingresources.html. Usernames to check out the books are FirstnameLastname and passwords are the
student’s unique ID number.
Fantasy:
Alexander, Lloyd. The Book of Three. (series- The Chronicals of Prydain, Newbery Awards). Taran,
The Assistant Pig-Keeper , longs to be a hero. He begins his journey with a strange assortment of
companions on a dangerous mission to save his beloved land, Prydain. Packed with action, humor,
romance, and gallantry, Taran's adventures chronicle his beloved Prydain and his battle with the
forces of evil.
Amato, Mary. The Word Eater. Lerner Chanse, a new student at Cleveland Park Middle School,
finds a worm that magically makes things disappear, and she hopes it will help her fit in, or get
revenge, at her hated school.
Blakemore, Megan Frazer. The Water Castle. Ephraim Appledore-Smith is an ordinary boy, and up
until his father’s stroke he lived an ordinary life. But all that changes when his family moves to the
Water Castle—their ancestral home in the small town of Crystal Springs. Mallory Green’s family has
always been the caretakers of the Water Castle—and the guardians of the legendary Fountain of
Youth, hidden on the estate grounds. Will Wylie’s family has been at war with the Applegates for
generations, all because of the Water Castle’s powerful secrets.
Brittain, Bill. The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree. (Newbery Honor) When a strange
little man comes to the Coven Tree Church Social promising he can give people exactly what they ask
for, three young believers-in-magic each make a wish that comes true in the most unexpected way.
Baker, E.D. The Frog Princess. (series- Tales of the Frog Princess) Princess Emeralda is incredibly
clumsy, she brays like a donkey when she laughs, and she would rather spend time outdoors or
learning magic from her witch-aunt Grassina than marry self-centered Prince Jorge. When she runs
off to the nearby swamp, she meets "Frog" who, naturally, claims to be an enchanted prince and begs
her for a spell-breaking kiss. But when she finally complies, something goes terribly wrong, and
suddenly Emma is a green-skinned, pond-hopping frog.
Coville, Bruce. The Skull of Truth. Charlie Eggleston is the biggest liar in town. When he finds
himself at Mr. Elives' magic shop, his eyes light upon the skull. He steals it, and it puts him under
some sort of spell: Soon he can only tell the truth--but now no one believes him!
Dahl, Roald. Matilda. Poor, misunderstood Matilda fights back against an unappreciative world
through a hidden talent: Matilda is the world's greatest practical joker! Little effort is needed to put
one over on her obnoxious parents, but can shy little Matilda handle the formidable headmistress,
Miss Trunchbull, and win the respect of every kid in school?
De Lint, Charles. Seven Wild Sisters: A Modern Fairy Tale. Sarah Jane has always wanted to
meet a fairy, but she has no idea that the tiny wounded man she discovers in the Tanglewood Forest is
about to ensnare her in a longtime war between rival magical clans. When her six sisters are
kidnapped and split up by the opposing sides, she'll need the help of several friends--from the
reclusive Aunt Lillian to the mysterious Apple Tree Man--to bring them home. But if they don't
untangle themselves from the feud quickly, they could all be trapped in the fairy world forever.
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some
Soup, and a Spool of Thread. (Newbery Medal). Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a
mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called
Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery
Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are
about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering
castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives.
Foxlee, Karen. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. A luminous retelling of the Snow Queen, this is
the story of unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard who doesn't believe in anything that
can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their
father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the
museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her
Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.
George, Jessica Day. Tuesdays at the Castle. (series) Princess Celie loves Castle Glower, and the
castle loves her back! For this is no ordinary castle: Castle Glower has an opinion about everyone and
even decides who should be king. What's more, this amazing castle is always changing, adding a new
staircase or secret passageway or even a room to hide in. When the king and queen are declared
murdered and Celie's 14-year-old brother becomes king, Celie needs the castle more than ever. Are
her parents really dead, or is it part of a plot to take over the kingdom?
Ibbotson, Eva. The Secret of Platform 13. A forgotten door on an abandoned railway platform is
the entrance to a magical kingdom--an island where humans live happily with mermaids, ogres, and
other wonderful creatures. Carefully hidden from the world, the Island is only accessible when the
door opens for nine days every nine years. When the beastly Mrs. Trottle kidnaps the Island's young
prince, it's up to a strange band of rescuers to save him. But can the rescuers--an ogre, a hag, a wizard,
and a fey--sneak around London unnoticed?
Levine, Gail Carson. Ella Enchanted. (Newbery Honor). At birth, Ella of Frell was given the gift of
obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly
be herself if at any time anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her
kingdom — and she'll have to obey? Spunky Ella does not tamely accept her fate and embarks on a
quest to break this curse once and for all.
Maguire, Gregory. Seven Spiders Spinning. (series- The Hamlet Chronicles) Seven tarantulas
preserved in a glacier since prehistoric times are discovered, fall out of their refrigerated crate on their
way to Harvard scientists, and thaw in rural, present-day Vermont. Given this premise, readers follow
the rather intelligent creatures' trail of poisonous love and revenge. The objects of their affection (and
later their hate) are The Tattletales, a group of girls whose school rivals are the Copycats (boys). The
two groups finally call a truce and combine forces to rescue their beloved teacher, Miss Earth, when
she receives a deadly bite.
Mlynowski, Sarah, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins. Upside-Down Magic (series). Nory, Elliott,
Andres, and Bax are just four of the students in Dunwiddle Magic School’s Upside-Down Magic class.
In their classroom, lessons are unconventional, students are unpredictable, and magic has a tendency
to turn wonky at the worst possible moments. Because it’s always amazing, the trouble a little wonky
magic can cause . . .
Nimmo, Jenny. The Snow Spider. (trilogy) On Gwyn's 9th birthday, his grandmother tells him he
may be a magician, like his Welsh ancestors. She gives him five gifts to help him--a brooch, a piece of
dried seaweed, a tin whistle, a scarf, and a broken toy horse. One blustery day, unsure what to do with
his newfound magic, Gwyn throws the brooch to the wind and receives a silvery snow spider in return.
Will he be able to use this special spider to bring his missing sister, Bethan, home?
Rylant, Cynthia. The Van Gogh Cafe. At the Van Gogh Cafe, anything can happen. Clara's dad owns
the cafe, and she's seen it all--from food that cooks by itself to poems that foretell the future. Miracles
are always in the making at the Van Gogh Cafe in Flowers, Kans.: the small restaurant, housed in a
renovated theater, has "magic enough to last forever in its walls." Readers will share the wonder of 10year-old Clara and her father Marc, the cafe's owner, as they witness a series of serendipitous
occurrences involving stranded sea gulls, aged film stars, magic muffins, lost pets and mysterious
travelers.
Sackett, Frances. The Misadventures of the Magician’s Dog. Peter Lubinsky doesn't even like
dogs and can't understand why he asked for one for his birthday. But it turns out that this pet, whom
Peter calls The Dog, can talk and do magic—and he needs Peter's help. In return, The Dog promises to
teach Peter conjuring and to help him bring his father home from the Middle East, where he is
deployed with the air force. Soon Peter finds himself flying through the air on a mission to rescue The
Dog's master. But as Peter's magical powers grow, he finds himself filled with a dark anger.
Webb, Holly. Rose. Mr. Fountain's grand mansion is a world away from the dark orphanage Rose had
left behind. The gleaming, golden house is practically overflowing with sparkling magic—she can feel
it. And though Rose had always wanted to be an ordinary girl with an ordinary life, she realizes she
may possess a little bit of magic herself.
Yep, Laurence and Joanne Ryder. A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans. A
story about dragons with a twist: Miss Drake (the dragon) has a new human pet!
Folklore (fairy tales/folk tales/mythology):
Andersen, Hans Christian. Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales. (Puffin, 2010 with introduction by Jan
Pienkowski). This enchanting collection, retold by writer and critic Naomi Lewis, contains twelve of
Hans Christian Andersen's magnificent stories. It includes Thumbelina, a little girl no more than a
thumb-joint high, "The Emperor's New Clothes", the tale of a man who cares only for his appearance
and The Little Mermaid, who longs to one day marry a human prince.
Calcutt, David. Robin Hood. The champion of the destitute and downtrodden rides again. Meet
young Robin Hood before he becomes the hero of Sherwood Forest, and follow along with his band of
merry men as his adventures become the stuff of legend.
D’Aulaire, Ingrid. D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths. Mighty Zeus, with his fistful of
thunderbolts, Athena, goddess of wisdom, Helios the sun, greedy King Midas — here are gods,
goddesses, and legendary figures of ancient Greece brought to life in the myths that have inspired
great literature and art throughout the ages.
Goldman, Judy. Whiskers, Tails, & Wings: Animal Folk Tales from Mexico. Judy Goldman
retells animal folktales from five indigenous groups in Mexico--the Tarahumara, Seri, Huichol, Triqui,
and Tseltal. Each story is followed by information about the featured culture, enriching readers'
understanding of the diverse peoples who make up Mexico.
Hamilton, Virginia. A Ring of Tricksters: Animal Tales from America, the West Indies,
and Africa. Newbery Medalist Virginia Hamilton and National Book Award-winner Barry Moser
join forces to tell 11 humorous trickster tales from the story ring of the slave trade. Following the
migration of stories during the Plantation Era, Hamilton presents readers with a fascinating history of
the first African Americans and the wonderful stories they brought with them to the West Indies and
America
Hamilton, Virginia. Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales.
(Coretta Scott King Author Award). A collection of twenty-five African-American folktales focuses on
strong female characters and includes "Little Girl and Bruh Rabby," "Catskinella," and "Annie
Christmas."
Hansen, Doug. Aesop in California. Guess who just arrived in California? Aesop! Here among the
plants, animals, and places of the Golden State, his timeless fables from ancient Greece take on a new
vitality and immediacy. From blackberry-munching grizzlies to Hollywood house mice, this is a book
to delight the eye, stimulate the imagination, and teach us some very important lessons.
Hickox, Rebecca. The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story. An Iraqi version of
the Cinderella story. Known in Arabic as "The Red Fish and the Clog of Gold," this is the story of
Maha, a fisherman's daughter, and her tribulations with her stepmother and stepsister. Maha finds a
small red fish in a basket one day. Releasing it back into the water, she is told that no kindness goes
unrewarded. The fish becomes her source of help whenever life becomes too difficult.
Larsen-Lunge, Lise. Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words and Wisdom from Greek &
Roman Mythology. Ancient names come to rich and fascinating life in this lavishly illustrated gift
book for mythology fans and word lovers.
Lester, Julius. The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit. (Coretta Scott
King Award) Generations of children have been captivated by the hair-raising adventures and
misadventures of Brer Rabbit. Come along as he sneaks into Mr. Man's garden, persuades Brer Wolf
to be burned in a hollow log, and kicks Brer Fox's Tar Baby. Jerry Pinkney's lively and humorous
illustrations are a perfect match for Julius Lester's contemporary approach, which expertly introduces
a modern sense of humor to these forty-eight tales while paying homage to their roots as traditional
American folklore.
Louie, Ai-Ling. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China. This version of the Cinderella story,
in which a young girl overcomes the wickedness of her stepsister and stepmother to become the bride
of a prince, is based on ancient Chinese manuscripts written 1000 years before the earliest European
version.
Lupton, Hugh. Tales of Wisdom and Wonder. How can a blind man see more than his
companion, the hunter? And how do fishes find themselves swimming in the grass of a forest?
Nothing is quite as it seems in this unusual collection of tales from around the world.
Martin, Rafe. The Rough-Face Girl. In an Algonquin village by the shores of Lake Ontario, many
young women have tried to win the affections of the powerful Invisible Being who lives with his sister
in a great wigwam near the forest. Then came the Rough-Face girl, scarred from working by the fire.
Can she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters have failed? A Native American Cinderella story.
McKissack, Patricia. Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily
characters. The nine original tales in this uproarious collection draw on African American oral
tradition and blend history and legend with sly humor, creepy horror, villainous characters, and wild
farce. McKissack based the stories on those she heard as a child while sitting on her grandparents'
porch; now she is passing them on to her grandchildren. Without using dialect, her intimate folk
idiom celebrates the storytelling among friends, neighbors, and family as much as the stories
themselves.
Napoli, Donna Jo. Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses,
Monsters, & Mortals. The new National Geographic Treasury of Egyptian Mythology is a stunning
tableau of Egyptian myths, including those of pharaohs, queens, the boisterous Sun God Ra, and
legendary creatures like the Sphinx.
Napoli, Donna Jo. Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories if Gods, Goddesses,
Heroes, & Monsters. The tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena
and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage
children’s imaginations.
Osborne, Mary Pope. American Tall Tales. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of these collection of
tales. There are among nine "tall" heroes featured in this exuberant collection of traditional American
folk tales, including Paul Bunyan, JohnnyAppleseed, John Henry, and other American folk heroes.
Osborne, Mary Pope. Favorite Greek Myths. This handsome collection consists of a dozen tales
from Greek mythology, most drawn from Ovid's Metamorphoses , including the stories of Echo and
Narcissus, Ceres and Proserpine, Cupid and Psyche, King Midas.
Pollock, Penny. The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story. To a young girl who tends turkeys
for a living, an opportunity to go to The Dance of the Scared Bird seems but a distant dream.
Yolen, Jane. Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls. These thirteen
folktales have one thing in common: brainy, brawny, brave heroines--and not one damsel in distress!
Drawing from diverse cultures around the world, renowned author Jane Yolen celebrates the smart,
strong, and sassy heroines of legend and lore in a collection that will encourage bravery in every girl.
Graphic Novel:
Duffy, Chris. Fable Comics (Folklore). Various graphic novelists retell twenty-eight fables from
different cultures and traditions in this vibrant collection of comics.
Guibert, Emmanuel. Ariol: Just a Donkey Like You and Me. Ariol is your everyday tween
donkey. He lives in the suburbs with his mom and dad. His best friend is a pig. He’s in love with a
beautiful cow in his class. His teacher is a dog. His gym teacher is a huge rooster. In short, Ariol is just
like you and me.
Guibert, Emmanuel. Sardine in Outer Space. (series) Sardine is the sprightly, swashbuckling
niece of Captain Yellow Shoulder, a galactic pirate who saves children from orphanages run by a
costume-wearing villain (Supermuscleman). Twelve chapters each contain a short adventure, as
Sardine and her cousin Little Louie fight Supermuscleman and his Assistant, Doc Krok, as well as
various aliens, creatures, and robots.
Hale, Nathan. One Dead Spy. (series- Hazardous Tales, Historical Fiction) One Dead Spy tackles
the story of Hale himself, who was an officer and spy for the American rebels during the
Revolutionary War. Author Hale highlights the unusual, gruesome, and just plain unbelievable truth
of historical Nathan Hale—from his early unlucky days at Yale to his later unlucky days as an officer—
and America during the Revolutionary War.
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons. t's a new school year, and Greg
Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with
kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you're ready are
uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. (series) Hector, Terrence, and
Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out
the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know,
Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no
match for LUNCH LADY!
Loux, Matthew. Salt Water Taffy: The Legend of Old Salty. (series) Eleven-year-old Jack
Putnam and his eighth-year-old brother Benny are being dragged against their will on a summer-long
vacation with their family. And not to somewhere cool like Disney World, but to a little port town in
Maine named Chowder Bay, far away from anyplace fun. But what promises to be a very bleak
summer quickly becomes a series of exciting adventures in one of the most mysterious places on
earth! Warring Seagulls! Giant Lobsters! Kleptomaniac Eagles! Ghosts from the Civil War! Chowder
Bay has far more adventures and mysteries in store than these two boys could have ever imagined!
McCranie, Stephen. Mal and Chad: The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever. (series) Mal is a super kid
genius and Chad is a talking dog, but no one knows it. What's it like to be so extraordinary and yet so
invisible? Not even Megan, Mal's secret crush, has any idea that Mal is anything more than a dork.
Fortunately, Mal and Chad are best friends with a penchant for adventure . . . even if the timetraveling does get them grounded by Mal's mom.
Santat, Dan. Sidekicks. Captain Amazing, superhero and savior of Metro City, is getting old. He's out
all hours battling arch-villains, catching thieves, and helping little old ladies cross the street. He
doesn't even have time for his house full of pets. He needs - a SIDEKICK! Captain Amazing's four pets
agree. But each one of them thinks HE should get the sidekick spot - and a chance for one-on-one
time with the Captain. Get ready for sibling rivalry royale as pets with superpowers duke it out for the
one thing they all want - a super family.
Shiga, Jason. Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities. Shiga introduces readers
to a whole new technique of reading comics. Jimmy must decide if he wants chocolate or vanilla ice
cream. That's the first choice readers face in order to determine the fate of the world in this "Choose
Your Own Adventure" style graphic novel. Rather than reading panels left to right, color-coded
tubelike lines send children in the direction the panels should be read, from right to left/left to right,
up to down/down to up, and flipping backwards to pages rather than going forward. Tabs on the edge
of the pages help move the tubes along, directing readers to which page to read next.
Slade, Christian. Korgi (series) A woodland fantasy about a young girl named Ivy, her dog Sprout
and their amazing adventures in Korgi Hollow. This amazing combination of adventure and fantasy
will appeal to anyone who loves Andy Runton's Owly and Jeff Smith's Bone. Get ready for the launch
of something very daring and very new!
Sturm, James. Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles into Comics. In this
action-packed cartooning adventure, kids will have as much fun making comics as reading them!
Varon, Sara. Robot Dreams. This moving, charming graphic novel about a dog and a robot shows
us in poignant detail how powerful and fragile relationships are. After a Labor Day jaunt to the beach
leaves the robot rusted, immobilized in the sand, the dog must return alone to the life they shared. Historical Fiction:
Ayers, Katherine. Silver Dollar Girl. In 1885, determined Valentine Harper leaves her comfortable
Victorian lifestyle in Pittsburgh to search for her father in the silver boomtown of Aspen, Colorado.
Disguised as a boy, Vallie faces overwhelming odds on the quest to locate her father in this fast-paced
adventure in which she learns to rely on her own wits and courage.
Bradley, Kimberly. The Lacemaker and the Princess. This vivid portrait of France on the eve of
the Revolution is also a touching tale of two friends torn apart by class and the powerful political force
of democratic freedom.
Byers, Betsy Comer. Trouble River. Faced with the imminent danger of attack by marauding
Indians while both his parents are away, twelve-year-old Dewey Martin prevails upon his
grandmother to escape by means of his homemade log raft.
Crisp, Marty. White Star: A Dog on the Titanic. Sam Harris is on the trip of a lifetime. He's
traveling from England to New York on the first voyage of the greatest ocean liner in history: the
Titanic. Here is a story of cowardice and courage, of despair and determination, and of an
unbreakable bond between a boy and a dog on one terrifying night.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. House of Tailors. Dina, 13, can't wait to leave Germany and begin her new life
in America with Mama's rich brother and his family. She longs to finally escape the drudgery of her
mother's sewing shop, even though she is often reminded, "As much as you hate sewing, Dina, that's
how much the needle and thread love you." As soon as she arrives at the cramped, five-story walk-up,
however, she knows that she has entered a house of tailors, "no different from my own, except that it
was poorer." She also nurses Barbara and Maria through smallpox and carries the child to safety
during a devastating fire. Readers get a glimpse into life in Brooklyn in the 1870s, especially the
dreaded Health Department inspections during the epidemic.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Lilly’s Crossing. (Newbery Honor) When Lily meets Albert, a refugee from
Hungary, during the summer of 1944, they begin a special friendship. However, Lily and Albert have
both told lies, and Lily has told a lie that may cost Albert his life.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Nory Ryan’s Song. All day long, Nory dreams of food, coin [money], and a
faraway place in America called Brooklyn, where no one is ever poor or hungry. But when a deadly
disease strikes the Irish potato crop, the Ryans' dreams for a better life are destroyed. With her father
and older sister far from home, Nory must be the one to find enough to eat, look after friends and
family, and keep their hopes alive. Will Nory's family survive the Great Hunger?
Holm, Jennifer. Penny from Heaven. It's 1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of
butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing's that easy in Penny's family. For
starters, she can't go swimming because her mother's afraid she'll catch polio at the pool. To make
matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father's name is
mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren't speaking to each other!
Holm, Jennifer. Turtle in Paradise. (Newbery Honor). Life isn't like the movies, and 11-year-old
Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a
Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce.
But when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle is forced to
head off to Key West, Florida, to stay with relatives she's never met. Florida is like nothing Turtle has
ever seen: hot, strange, and full of wild, ragtag boy cousins...and even secret treasure.
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. (Newbery Award). Ten-year-old Annemarie and her best friend
Ellen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943, and their life is filled with school, food
shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews are "relocated," Ellen moves
in with Annemarie's family and pretends to be one of them, yet her life is still in danger.
MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall. (Newbery Medal, Scott O’Dell Award). Set in the late
nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of
how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a
wife and mother. Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother Caleb wait and wonder. Will
Sarah be nice? Will she sing? Will she stay?
Marino, Nan. Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me.
Tamara Ann Simpson is determined to expose Muscle Man McGinty, a foster boy new to her
neighborhood, for the liar that she knows he is. Muscle Man tells the other kids his uncle is Neil
Armstrong and he even has the audacity to challenge the entire block to a kickball game. So, why is
Tamara the only one who can see through this kid? It’s the summer of 1969 and things are changing
in Tamara’s little town of Massapequa, Long Island, and in the world. Perhaps Tamara can take one
small step towards a bit of compassion and understanding.
McKissack, Patricia. A Friendship for Today. The year is 1954, the place is Missouri, and twelveyear-old Rosemary Patterson is about to make history. She is one of the first African American
students to enter the white school in her town. Headstrong, smart Rosemary welcomes the challenge,
but starting this new school gets more daunting when her best friend is hospitalized for polio.
Suddenly, Rosemary must face all the stares and whispers alone. But when the girl who has shown her
the most cruelty becomes an unlikely confidante, Rosemary learns important truths about the power
of friendship to overcome prejudice.
McSwigan, Marie. Snow Treasure. In the bleak winter of 1940, Nazi troops parachuted into Peter
Lindstrom's tiny Norwegian village and held it captive. Nobody thought the Nazis could be defeated—
until Uncle Victor told Peter how the children could fool the enemy. It was a dangerous plan. They
had to slip past Nazi guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds. It meant risking
their country's treasure—and their lives.
Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us. During World War II, a young Japanese-American boy and
his family are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despondent in their
desolate surroundings, father and son pull the camp together to build a baseball diamond and form a
league.
Peck, Richard. A Long Way from Chicago. Set during the years 1929–1942, and told in eight
engaging episodes, this fresh and funny novel recounts a boy and his sister's annual summer trips to
rural Illinois to visit their eccentric grandmother. Grandma Dowdel, a remarkable larger-than-life
character, continually astounds her grandchildren with her nonconformist behavior and her gutsy,
take-charge attitude.
Polacco, Patricia. Pink and Say. Sheldon Curtis, 15, a white boy, lies badly wounded in a field in
Georgia when Pinkus Aylee, an African American Union soldier about Sheldon's age, finds him and
carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. Sheldon, known as Say, is nursed back to health in her
nurturing care. But then she is killed by marauders, and the boys return to their units. They are then
are captured and taken to Andersonville.
Russell, Krista. The Other Side of Free. It is 1739. Young Jem has been rescued from slavery and
finds himself at Fort Mose, a settlement in Florida run by the Spanish. He is in the custody of an
ornery and damaged woman named Phaedra, who dictates his every move. When Jem sets out to
break free of her will, an adventure begins in which Jem saves a baby owl, a pair of runaway slaves,
and, eventually, maybe all the residents of Fort Mose.
Scattergood, Augusta. Glory Be. It's the summer of 1964 in a small Mississippi town, and Glory,
who's about to turn 12, wishes she could turn back the clock a year. Her sister Jesslyn is entering high
school and no longer has any time, and things have suddenly gotten awkward with Glory's best friend,
Frankie. Plus, a new girl from the North has arrived, and everyone is riled up about what to do about
the town's segregated pool. Whether she wants to or not, Glory has to make some big decisions.
Walter, Mildred Pitts. Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World. Sure, he can catch a greased
pig at a local rodeo, but can he bake biscuits? Ten-year-old Justin struggles to "feel like a guy" in a
family dominated by females. When he goes to spend a week at his grandfather's ranch, he discovers
there's more to being a man than riding horses and tending to livestock. Provides a look at the littleknown history of the black cowboys who helped settle the West and create rodeos.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie. (series). The adventures continue for Laura
Ingalls and her family as they leave their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and set out for
Kansas. They travel for many days in their covered wagon until they find the best spot to build their
little house on the prairie. Soon they are planting and plowing, hunting wild ducks and turkeys, and
gathering grass for their cows. Sometimes pioneer life is hard, but Laura and her folks are always busy
and happy in their new little house.
Williams, Rita Garcia. One Crazy Summer. (Newbery Honor, Scott O’Dell Award for historical
fiction, Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalist). Set during one of the most
tumultuous years in recent American history, one crazy summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of
three girls in search of the mother who abandoned them — an unforgettable story.
Wolf, Joan M. Someone Named Eva. “Remember who you are, Milada.” Milada’s grandmother
says these words on the night the Nazi soldiers come to their home in Czechoslovakia. But what do
they mean? She is Milada, who lives with her mama and papa, her brother and sister, and her beloved
Babichka. Milada with the sun-kissed hair, eleven years old, fastest runner in her school. How could
she ever forget? Then the Nazis send Milada to a Lebensborn center in Poland, and Milada quickly
discovers that holding on to her true identity will be the greatest struggle of her young life.
Yep, Laurence. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Based
on actual events of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and told from the alternating perspectives of
two young friends, the earth dragon awakes chronicles the thrilling story of the destruction of a city,
and the heroes that emerge in its wake.
Yep, Laurence. Hiroshima. Twelve-year-old Sachi's life is forever changed when the U.S. drops the
first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. Sachi's city is destroyed and she later moves to the
U.S. to be treated for her devastating injuries.
Magazine:
Cobblestone Publishers is offering many of their titles free online for the summer. Go to
cricketmag.com/SummerReading to access the interactive editions. Titles good for 4th grades are:
Odyssey: Adventures in Science; Muse: The Magazine of Life, the Universe, and Pie
Throwing; Cricket; Cobblestone: American History; Faces: Exploration of People,
Places, and Cultures
Kids Discover. Each edition is on a single topic with no advertising. This magazine is an excellent
way for students to explore nonfiction text features and to improve their reading of informational text.
Go to the Reading Resources page of the virtual library to see a list of other recommended
periodicals: http://www.sjcdslibrary.net/reading-resources.html
Multi-Cultural:
Cheng, Andrea. The Year of the Book. In Chinese, peng you means friend. But in any language, all
Anna knows for certain is that friendship is complicated. When Anna needs company, she turns to her
books. Whether traveling through A Wrinkle in Time, or peering over My Side of the Mountain, books
provide what real life cannot—constant companionship and insight into her changing world. Books,
however, can’t tell Anna how to find a true friend. She’ll have to discover that on her own.
Cofer, Judith Ortiz. Call Me Maria. Maria is a girl caught between two worlds: Puerto Rico, where
she was born, and New York, where she now lives in a basement apartment in the barrio. While her
mother remains on the island, Maria lives with her father, the super of their building. As she struggles
to lose her island accent, Maria does her best to find her place within the unfamiliar culture of the
barrio. Finally, with the Spanglish of the barrio people ringing in her ears, she finds the poet within
herself.
Fleming, Candace. Lowji Discovers America. A boy from Bombay moves to a small town in
Illinois at the beginning of summer vacation, so he's faced with no friends and nothing to do. Before
long, though, he persuades his grouchy landlady to adopt a succession of animals (first a cat, then a
dog, and finally a goat), rescues a pet pig that belongs to a very sweet tough guy, and wistfully watches
a mysterious girl on a blue bicycle pass by his apartment.
Hartfield, Claire. Me and Uncle Romie: A Story Inspired by the Life and Art of Romare
Beardon. A fictionalized version of Harlem Renaissance artist Bearden through the eyes of a nephew
visiting from North Carolina, at first, young James catches only glimpses of his busy, distracted Uncle
Romie and quickly decides that this elusive giant of a man must not be much fun. He makes collages,
which seems awfully easy, and he's always shut away behind the closed door of his studio. To James's
pleasant surprise, his uncle knows how to have fun and even knows about baseball.
Hesse, Karen. Letters from Rifka. (Historical Fiction) Rifka knows nothing about America when
she flees from Russia with her family in 1919. But she dreams she will at last be safe from the Russian
soldiers and their harsh treatment of the Jews in the new country. Throughout her journey, Rifka
carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by Alexander Pushkin. In it, she records her
observations and experiences in the form of letters to her beloved cousin she has left behind.
Krishnaswami, Uma. The Grand Plan to Fix Everything. (Realistic Fiction) Clementine, a notso-common third grader, knows her way around the principal's office as well as she does the artsupply closet. Daily rituals take on a different view when seen from her eyes. She's constantly being
told that she needs to pay attention, but to her mind she is paying attention and making astute
observations. Whether looking out the window during the Pledge of Allegiance at the janitor locked in
an embrace with the lunch lady or dealing with a pesky pigeon problem at her apartment building, her
concentration is always focused.
Lat. Kampung Boy. (Historical Fiction) Mat is a Muslim boy growing up in rural Malaysia in the
1950 with adventures and mischief-making, fishing trips, religious study, and work on his family's
rubber plantation. Meanwhile, the traditional way of life in his village (or kampung) is steadily
disappearing, with tin mines and factory jobs gradually replacing family farms and rubber smallholders. When Mat himself leaves for boarding school, he can only hope that his familiar kampung
will still be there when he returns. Kampung Boy is hilarious and affectionate, with brilliant, superexpressive artwork that opens a window into a world that has now nearly vanished.
Lord, Bette Bao. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. (Realistic Fiction) Ten-year-old
Bandit is excited when her grandfather announces to the family that she will be going with her mother
to join her father in America. She must leave her clan and the only life she has known in China, but
she is sure that moving to America will be an adventure. To celebrate, she chooses a new name—
Shirley Temple Wong. Life in America is not easy because everything is new and Shirley doesn't speak
English. She is ignored by her classmates until she gains the respect of the toughest girl in class.
Shirley learns to love baseball and begins to play stickball. It's 1947, and Jackie Robinson of the
Brooklyn Dodgers is everyone's hero, proving that a black man can play baseball as well as anyone.
Slowly Shirley learns about the opportunities available to her in America and begins to make true
friends.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. The Dreamer. (Pura Belpré Award, multicultural). Combining elements of
magical realism with biography, poetry, and literary fiction, Pam Muñoz Ryan weaves sound poems
and thought-provoking questions into her exquisitely crafted prose to create a narrative tapestry of
color, rhythm, and emotion, while Peter Sis’s delicate, mesmerizing drawings transport readers to the
lushness of the rainforest, the vastness of the sea, and the whimsy of Neftali’s imagination. This
moving story about the birth of an artist is also a celebration of childhood, imagination, and the
strength of the creative spirit and is sure to inspire young writers and artists.
Smothers, Ethel Footman. The Hard Times Jar. Emma Turner loves books and dreams of one day
having the store-bought kind, but the Turners are migrant workers and money is tight. That means
“no extras,” so Emma must be content to make her own stories and books. Emma has a plan, though
– she’s going to save all the money she earns picking apples and put it in Mama’s hard-times jar. Then
there will surely be enough for extras. But when Mama tells Emma that this year she has to go to
school instead of to work, it spoils everything. Now she will never own a store-bought book! But
school turns out to have a wonderful surprise in store for Emma.
Wisniewski, David. Golem. (Caldecott Medal) Golem is the Hebrew word for shapeless man.
According to Jewish legend, the renowned scholar and teacher Rabbi Loew used his powers to create
a Golem from clay in order to protect his people from persecution in the ghettos of 16th-century
Prague. David Wisniewski's cut-paper collage illustrations are the ideal medium for portraying the
stark black-and-white forces of good and evil, pride and prejudice, as well as the gray area that
emerges when the tormented clay giant loses control of his anger.
Mystery:
Avi. Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? The mystery revolves around a rare edition of The Wizard of Oz
missing from the local library. When Becky is accused of stealing it, she and her twin brother Toby set
out to catch the real thief and prove her innocence.
Baccalario, Pierdomenico. The Door to Time. (series- Ulysses Moore) Eleven-year-old twins Jason
and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is
filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and the twins can't wait to
discover all its secrets. Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysteriouslooking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it.
Colfer, Eoin. Half Moon Investigations. Fletcher Moon has never been like other kids. For one
thing, he has had to suffer the humiliating nickname "Half Moon" because of his short stature. But the
real reason Fletcher is different is that ever since he was a baby, he's had a nose for sniffing out
mysteries. And after graduating at the top of his Internet class, he is officially certified as the youngest
detective in the world. He even has a silver-plated detective's badge to prove it. Everything is going
along fine until two things happen: a classmate hires him to solve a crime, and his prized badge is
stolen. All signs point to the town's most notorious crime family, the Sharkeys.
Clements, Andrew. Room One: A Mystery or Two. Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in
the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of
Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? Out here on the Great Plains
in western Nebraska, everyone understands that if you lose the school, you lose the town. But the
mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper
window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two
years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be.
Hahn, Mary Downing. The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story. When Ashley discovers a turn-ofthe-century doll it is just the first of several puzzling events that lead her through the hedge and into a
twilight past where she meets Louise, an ailing child whose beloved doll has mysteriously
disappeared.
Hilton, K.C. The Magic of Finkleton. In the perfect little village of Finkleton, the weather is always
perfect. Every farm grows the best, biggest, healthiest crops in the entire world, and everyone is
happy. Soon after the Finkles inherit their Uncle Harry's shop and move to Finkleton, they discover
magical secrets hidden in his shop. One clue at a time, Jack, Lizzy and Robert learn the town's
amazing secret. No, Mother Nature is not in charge in Finkleton! Ever since Uncle Harry's death, the
weather has not been cooperating. Farms are starting to fail. Will the Finkle children be able to solve
all the magical mysteries before the village is destroyed?
Kehret, Peg. The Ghost’s Grave. What Josh thought would be the dullest summer of his life, spent
with his eccentric great-aunt, turns chilling when he meets the ghost of a miner killed in a mine
explosion and then finds a box of cash buried in the miner's grave.
Klise, Kate. Letters from Camp. The brother-sister pairs who arrive for the summer at Camp
Happy Harmony are almost too busy fighting with each other to notice how strange the camp really is.
Not only are the campers forced to wear bizarre uniforms, eat gross food, and do chores all day, but
the members of the family that runs the camp fight constantly--with each other. Are the campers in
danger? Or--in spite of sibling wars--do they need to stick together to solve the mystery humming
under the surface of Camp Happy Harmony?
Korman, Gordon. Kidnapped: The Abduction. (series) It's every brother's worst fear: As Aiden
and his sister Meg are walking home from school one day, a van pulls over and Meg is kidnapped.
There's no way for Aiden to stop it from happening. He's the only witness to his sister's
disappearance.
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked. (series) When a call
comes in about a crime down at the docks involving a missing schoolteacher and a duffle bag full of
illegal fish, Zengo and O’Malley are going to have to learn to set their differences aside if they want to
get to the bottom of this. Especially when the clues all point to Frank Pandini Jr., Kallamazoo’s first
son and its most powerful, well-respected businessman.
Turnage, Sheila. Three Times Lucky. (Newbery Honor). Quick-thinking and precocious Mo
LoBeau is hilarious in this modern-day mystery set in a small North Carolina town. The 11-year-old
discovers the true meaning of family as she searches for her "upstream mother." As a baby, Mo was
found washed ashore during a hurricane and has led a quiet life with the Colonel, a café owner with a
hidden past, and Miss Lana, the fun and colorful café hostess. Then one day, this idyllic town is
turned upside down by a murder investigation.
Turnage, Sheila. Ghosts of Tupelo Landing. This sequel to Three Times Lucky takes place only
three months after the Desperado Detective Agency's first case in Tupelo Landing. Mo and her
partner, Dale, are entering the sixth grade and their very first assignment is to interview a town elder.
Mo blurts out that she and Dale will interview the ghost that is purportedly haunting the inn that her
guardian, Miss Lana, impulsively purchased at an auction with Grandmother Miss Lacy as her
partner.
Nonfiction:
Ash, Russell. (DK Publishers) Great Wonders of the World. From the Great Pyramid at Giza to
the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, recent and beautiful illustrations illuminate the wonder of these
marvelous achievements of the ancient world. Compare with those wonders of both the modern and
the natural world.
Barton, Chris. The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright
Ideas. (Sibert Honor Informational Book Award). A discovery that made the world a brighter place!
Joe and Bob Switzer were very different brothers. Bob was a studious planner who wanted to grow up
to be a doctor. Joe dreamed of making his fortune in show business and loved magic tricks and
problem-solving. When an accident left Bob recovering in a darkened basement, the brothers began
experimenting with ultraviolet light and fluorescent paints. Together they invented a whole new kind
of color, one that glows with an extra-special intensity—Day-Glo.
Cate, Annette. Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard. (Sibert Honor
Informational Book Award)This conversational, humorous introduction to bird-watching encourages
kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and really look around. Quirky full-color illustrations portray
dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and
beak and foot types, while tongue-in-cheek cartoons feature banter between birds, characters, and the
reader. Interactive and enjoyable tips bring an age-old hobby to new life for the next generation of
bird-watchers.
Claybourne, Anna. 100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet. Learn how to face and survive
the most dangerous and disastrous things that could possibly happen! From natural disasters to
dangerous weather, from the dangers of getting lost in the wild to fighting off dangerous animals, any
child can imagine the special skills they'll need to combat 100 real-life dramas.
Davies, Nicola. Poop: A Natural History of the Unmentionable. A noted zoologist teams up
with a playful illustrator to present a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating (if not fragrant) world of
poop across species.
DiSpezio, Michael A. How Bright is Your Brain?: Amazing Games to Play with Your
Mind. Top science author Michael DiSpezio devises some bright fun to show kids exactly how their
brain, nerves, and senses work. Entertaining, informative, and all in color, this varied collection of
great brain tricks, experiments, puzzles, quizzes, and activities provides a cool road map to exploring
the most awesome part of the body.
Janeczko, Paul B. Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing. Pssst! Do
you know the difference between a code and a cipher? Can you tell a St. Cyr slide from a Cardano
grille? Did you know that the discovery of a substitution cipher caused Mary Queen of Scots to lose
her head? Don't look now, but packed into this practical field guide is everything a young person
needs to know about the art of concealment - making and breaking codes, mastering cipher systems,
and experimenting with secret writing.
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. Will Allen is no ordinary
farmer. A former basketball star, he's as tall as his truck, and he can hold a cabbage, or a basketball, in
one hand. But what is most special about Farmer Will is that he can see what others can't see. When
he looked at an abandoned city lot he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. No space,
no problem. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named
him one.
Macaulay, David. Castle. (or any of his architectural books) (Caldecott Honor). The word itself
conjures up mystery, romance, intrigue, and grandeur. What could be more perfect for an author/
illustrator who has continually stripped away the mystique of architectural structures that have long
fascinated modern man? With typical zest and wry sense of humor punctuating his drawings, David
Macaulay traces the step-by-step planning and construction of both castle and town.
Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. (Coretta Scott King
Award, Sibert Informational Book Award, sports). Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir
Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline
after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if
you are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the
great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences.
Rockwell, Anne F. Hey Charleston! The True Story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band. In
1891, Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins opened his orphanage in Charleston, South Carolina. He soon
had hundreds of children and needed a way to support them. Jenkins asked townspeople to donate
old band instruments—some of which had last played in the hands of Confederate soldiers in the Civil
War. He found teachers to show the kids how to play. Soon the orphanage had a band. And what a
band it was.
Schanzer, Rosalyn. George vs. George: the American Revolution as Seen by Both Sides.
Two leaders on different sides of the Atlantic, yet with more in common than we sometimes
acknowledge. We are lead through their story, and the story of their times, and see both sides of the
arguments that divided the colonies from the Kingdom.
Schwartz, David. G is for Google: A Math Alphabet Book. B is for Binary, F is for Fibonacci, P is
for Probability... even a small sample begins to give you the idea that this is a math book unlike any
other. Ranging freely from exponents to light-years to numbers found in nature, this is a smorgasbord
of math concepts and trivia.
Sutcliffe, Jane. Stone Giant: Michelangelo’s David and How He Came to Be. No one wanted
the "giant." The hulking block of marble lay in the work yard, rained on, hacked at, and abandoned—
until a young Michelangelo saw his David in it. This is the story of how a neglected, discarded stone
became a masterpiece for all time. It is also a story about art—about an artist’s vision and process, and
about the ways in which we humans see ourselves reflected in art.
Trumbore, Cindy. Parrots Over Puerto Rico. (Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award) Above
the treetops of Puerto Rico flies a flock of parrots as green as their island home. . . . These are Puerto
Rican parrots. They lived on this island for millions of years, and then they nearly vanished from the
earth forever. Puerto Rican parrots, once abundant, came perilously close to extinction in the 1960s
due to centuries of foreign exploration and occupation, development, and habitat destruction. In this
compelling book, Roth and Trumbore recount the efforts of the scientists of the Puerto Rican Parrot
Recovery Program to save the parrots and ensure their future.
Wood, Douglas. Franklin and Winston: A Christmas that Changed the World. At the height
of World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill held an
extraordinary month-long visit, during which they planned the success of the Allied powers and
strategized a continuing peace for when the war ended.
Wulffson, Don. The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle: And Other Extraordinary Stories
Behind Everyday Things. Did you know that the ice cream sundae was invented because of a law
forbidding the sale of ice cream on Sundays? Or that the first motorcycle was really just a tricycle with
a motor? Would you believe that Mickey Mouse started out as a rabbit? Arranged in alphabetical
order with anecdotal, fun-to-read text, this fascinating book is packed with the stories behind these
and over 100 more inventions.
Poetry/Drama:
Collections: any of the Poetry for Young People books (Sterling Children’s Books- publisher) that
focus on a particular poet (such as Poetry for Young People: Robert Louis Stevenson)
Poets: any works by Paul Janeczko, Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein that you have not previously read.
Brown, Calef. Flamingoes on the Roof. In the very near future you will find yourself dining on
Snow Flurry at the famous Weatherbee’s Diner. Everyone will be there—Bob and Bossy Casey,
Medusa’s sister Sally, both of the Appleton Twins, and Mr. Andy Mandolin singing “Biscuits in the
Wind.” Remember him? You will also meet Angus, visit the silly Soggy Circus, and as soon as the
moon is out (unless there’s an eclipse), you may even glimpse a Tiny Baby Sphinx! Until then, here’s
what I recommend: listen for flamingos, write some haiku, then take a ride in a Barnacle Built for
Two. Sound good to you?
Brown, Calef. Pirateria: The Wonderful Plunderful Pirate Emporium. Welcome to Pirateria,
the most glorious pirate emporium on the seven seas! When pirates need superior wares for life at
sea, they head on down to Pirateria, where they can find treasure chests (the very best), peg legs,
planks, eye patches, head rags, vests, pantaloons—and even satchels and pouches for gems and
doubloons—all at prices that can’t be beat.
Burdett, Lois. A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Kids. (series- Shakespeare Can Be Fun!) "Who
is William Shakespeare?" For more than 20 years, Lois Burdett has asked that question of her
elementary school students in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, leading them on a voyage of discovery that
brings the Bard to life for boys and girls ages seven and up.
Carroll, Lewis. The Hunting of the Snark. This humorous poem tells the tale of an impossible
voyage for an improbable crew hunting an imaginary creature.
Fleischman, Paul. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. Written to be read aloud by two voices—
sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous--here is a collection of irresistible poems that
celebrate the insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the book louse. Funny,
sad, loud, and quiet, each of these poems resounds with a booming, boisterous, joyful noise.
Florian, Douglas. Laugh-eteria. Poem-riddles, flipped perspectives, and references to stinky feet,
slimy food, monsters, noses, bugs, dinosaurs, and other perennial favorites. Get ready for the laugh of
your life!
Florian, Douglas. On the Wing. From the familiar roadrunner and common crow to the exotic
quetzal and Andean cock-of-the-rock, this unusual aviary of twenty-one colorful creatures soars with
feathery frivolity.
Florian, Douglas. Poetrees. Seeds are sprouting, roots are spreading, and branches are swaying in
this tree-mendous poetry collection. From coconut palms and bristlecone pines to baobabs and
banyans, Douglas Florian explores the arboreal world with his signature wit and whimsy.
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Amazing Places. In this collection of original poems, acclaimed anthologist
Lee Bennett Hopkins brings together fourteen selections that celebrate through poetic imagery some
of the amazingly diverse places in our nation. These include Denali National Park, the Oneida Nation
Museum, San Francisco s Chinatown, the Grand Canyon, the Ringling Circus Museum, Harlem, the
Liberty Bell, Fenway Park, and more.
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems. Combining a diverse selection of
classic quotations and forty-eight poems, twelve for each of the four seasons, with the energetic and
colorful paintings of a Caldecott Medal winning illustrator, this is the definitive collection of poems
about the seasons for children and adults.
Katz, Susan. The President’s Stuck in the Bathtub. Playful political poems about the penchants
and peccadilloes of the presidents! Sure, William Taft got stuck in his tub, but did you know that John
Quincy Adams used to skinny-dip in the Potomac? Herbert Hoover spoke Chinese with his wife, and
Gerald Ford had his name changed from Leslie Lynch King. It’s true!
Kennedy, Caroline. A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children. Caroline Kennedy
has chosen a rich variety of Kennedy family favorite poems to include in this priceless collection. With
thoughtful personal introductions written by Caroline herself, and beautiful new original artwork by
award-winning artist, Jon J Muth, this collection is sure to become a family favorite for years to come.
Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out & Back Again. (2011 National Book Award, Newbery Honor). Based on
the author's own childhood and written in free-verse poems, this unforgettable story captures a fierce
girl's struggles to find her place in her family, in her new home, and in the world. Things are changing
in Hà's world, as the Vietnam War comes closer and closer to her home in Saigon. Her friends and
neighbors are leaving, her oldest brother is speaking out against the North, and the likelihood of being
reunited with her father — who has been missing in action for nine years — is growing dimmer.
Levine, Gail Carson. Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems. “This Is Just to Say/
If you’re looking for a nice happy book/ put this one down and run away quickly/Forgive mesweetness and good cheer are boring.” This is the perfect book for anyone who’s ever apologized . . .
and not really meant it.
Salas, Laura Purdie. Book Speak!: Poems About Books. A collection of wacky, whimsical poems
about books and all the treasures they contain.
Sidman, Joyce. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. (Newbery Honor). Sidman
continues her explorations of natural history in this set of poems about nocturnal life in the forest. As
in her other collections, each selection is set in an expansive spread that includes a factual discussion
of the featured subject.
Viorst, Judith. What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? Poems for When a
Person Needs a Poem. From the beloved and internationally bestselling author of Alexander and
the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst comes a brand-new collection of clever,
hilarious, and poignant poems that touch on every aspect of the roller-coaster ride that is childhood.
Realistic Fiction:
Clements, Andrew. The Report Card. Nora Rose Rowley is a genius, but don't tell anyone. She's
managed to make it to the fifth grade without anyone figuring out that she's not just an ordinary kid,
and she wants to keep it that way. But then Nora gets fed up with the importance everyone attaches to
test scores and grades, and she purposely brings home a terrible report card just to prove a point.
Suddenly the attention she's successfully avoided all her life is focused on her, and her secret is out.
And that's when things start to get really complicated....
Draper, Sharon M. Out of My Mind. Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but
she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever
experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her
classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally
challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral
palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.
Feiffer, Jules. The Man in the Ceiling. He's bad at sports and not much better at school, but
Jimmy sure can draw terrific cartoons. And his dream, like that of his Uncle Lester, who writes flop
Broadway musicals is to be recognized for what he loves doing most.
Fogelin, Adrian. Anna Casey’s Place in the World. Anna must deal with the loss of her family
and adjust to living in a foster home. Feeling abandoned and alone, Anna turns to her closest
companion, her explorer journal. With the help of a scrawny new friend named Eb, Anna discovers a
sense of belonging… and her own place in the world.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Dexter the Tough. It's only the first day of school for Dexter, but he's
already mad at the principal, and the secretary, and the janitor, and the kids who laugh at him. When
his teacher tells the class to write a story, Dexter writes about how tough he is -- and how he's already
gotten into a fight. Is any of Dexter's story true? Why was the other boy crying before Dexter hit him?
And why would the other boy still want to be Dexter's friend?
Hurwitz, Johanna. Hot and Cold Summer. Poor Rory and Derek. just as the boys are looking
forward to their best summer ever, they're ordered to play host to a girl, named Bolivia, visiting
nearby. "You'll love her," parents and neighbors insist -- but the ten-year-old best friends know better.
So the boys unleash Rory's revenge: clever schemes to avoid meeting or speaking with their unwanted
guest.
Konigsberg, E.L. The View from Saturday. (Newbery Medal) It was a surprise to a lot of people
when Mrs. Olinski's team won the sixth-grade Academic Bowl contest at Epiphany Middle School. It
was an even bigger surprise when they beat the seventh grade and the eighth grade, too. And when
they went on to even greater victories, everyone began to ask: How did it happen?
Lay, Kathryn. Crown Me! As part of a special history class project, Andrea Garey and Justin Davies
will have two wonderful weeks to be king and queen of the fifth grade at Payton Intermediate School.
During this time their classmates must obey them and, if they don't, it's into the dungeon for them.
Plus, with school elections coming up, Justin figures that as king he'll be a shoe-in for class president.
Could life be better? Andrea and Justin are about to find out.
Lord, Cynthia. Half a Chance. Twelve-year old Lucy and her parents have moved from an
apartment in Boston to a lakeside cottage in New Hampshire, and her father, a prominent nature
photographer, is immediately off to Arizona for a photo shoot. Her apprehension over fitting in at a
new school is temporarily allayed when she is welcomed by Nate, whose family is spending the
summer with his grandmother in the house next door. Kayaking, hiking, and loon-monitoring with
Nate, Lucy chronicles their experiences using her own budding talent for photography.
Lord, Cynthia. Rules. (Newbery Honor, Schneider Family Book Award) Twelve-year-old Catherine
just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family
that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is
not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"---in order to head off David's
embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and
Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns
everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?
Lowry, Lois. Anastasia Krupnick. To Anastasia Krupnik, being ten is very confusing. For one
thing, she has this awful teacher who can't understand why Anastasia doesn't capitalize or punctuate
her poems. Then, there's Washburn Cummings, a very interesting sixth-grade boy who doesn't even
know she is alive. Even her parents have become difficult. They insist she visit her 92-year-old
grandmother who can never remember Anastasia's name. On top of that, they're going to have a baby
-- at their age! It's enough to make a kid want to do something terrible.
Pitchford, Dean. The Big One-Oh. Charley Maplewood has never been one for parties- that would
require friends, which he doesn’t have. But now that he’s turning ten- the big one-oh, he decides to
throw a birthday party for himself. Of course things don’t work out as he plans. In trying to make
friends, he ends up inviting the class bully, and that’s before he ruins the cake and sets the garage on
fire.
Sachar, Louis. There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom. Bradley Chalkers, a fifth grader at the Red
Hill School, has trouble getting along with his classmates until he meets Carla, a new school
counselor. She not only listens to his wacky stories, but encourages him to use his powerful
imagination. But just when Bradley's social world begins to broaden, the school board decides to let
Carla go.
Spinelli, Jerry. Fourth Grade Rats. Fourth graders are tough. They aren't afraid of spiders. They
say no to their moms. They push first graders off the swings. And they never, ever cry. Suds knows
that now he's in fourth grade, he's supposed to be a rat. But whenever he tries to act like one,
something goes wrong. Can Suds's friend Joey teach him to toughen up... or will Suds remain a fourth
grade wimp?
Tolan, Stephanie. Surviving the Applewhites. Tough guy Jake Semple meets his match in the
eccentric Applewhites family who operate the unstructured Creative Academy. After Jake is sent there
as a last chance for attending school, he resists getting involved with the manic household’s creative,
talented members, but he is finally pulled into Mr. Applewhite’s little theater production of The Sound
of Music.
Urban, Linda. The Center of Everything. For Ruby Pepperdine, the “center of everything” is on
the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors in her donut-obsessed town of Bunning, New Hampshire,
stargazing from the circle of her grandmother Gigi’s hug. That’s how everything is supposed to be—
until Ruby messes up and things spin out of control. But she has one last hope. It all depends on what
happens on Bunning Day, when the entire town will hear Ruby read her winning essay. And it
depends on her twelfth birthday wish—unless she messes that up too.
Weeks, Sarah. Honey. Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It's been
just her and her father, and she's been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone
Honey -- and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It's up to Melody and her best
friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden. Meanwhile, a dog
named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps
having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he's sure, will change everything.
Weissman, Elissa Brent. Nerd Camp 2.0. For Gabe, the equation for ideal summer bliss equals six
glorious weeks of vigorous learning immersion at the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment—aka,
Nerd Camp. Last year was amazing, and this summer will be even better. At least, that’s what Gabe
thinks until a new variable is introduced: Zack, Gabe’s cool stepbrother, was supposed to attend a
camp nearby, but in the aftermath of a recent wildfire, Zack’s camp and nerd camp will be sharing
territory. As these two very different worlds collide, will both camps—and both stepbrothers—survive
the summer?
Wiles, Deborah. Love, Ruby Lavender. Ruby Lavender and Miss Eula are a pretty good team, for a
couple of chicken thieves. What other granddaughter-grandmother duo could successfully drive the
getaway car for chickens rescued from a journey to the slaughterhouse, paint a whole house shocking
pink, and operate their own personal secret-letter post office? So, when Miss Eula leaves for Hawaii to
visit her new grandbaby, Ruby is sure that she will have a lonely, empty, horrible summer in boring
old Halleluia, Mississippi.
Science Fiction:
Anderson, M.T. Whales on Stilts. (series- Pals in Peril) A madman has unleashed an army of stiltwalking, laser-beaming, thoroughly angry whales upon the world! Luckily, Jasper Dash and his
friends Katie Mulligan and Lily Gefelty are around to save the day.
Avi. The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic. At the dawning of the Middle
Ages, Thorston, an old alchemist, works feverishly to create gold and to dose himself with a
concoction that will enable him to live forever. The key to his success lies in a mysterious book with
blank pages that can only be read by desperate, green-eyed people. Master Bashcroft, enforcer of law
and order for the city, desires Thorston's secrets for himself. Brother Wilfrid, a priest with green eyes,
knows the dangers of the book and seeks to retrieve it.
Boniface, William. The Hero Revealed. (series- The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy). In
the town of Superopolis, everyone has a superpower. Everyone, that is, except Ordinary Boy. But
things are not so super in Superopolis these days with the evil Professor Brain-Drain on the loose! To
make matters worse, Ordinary Boy and his friends are thrown into the middle of a baffling mystery.
Forget the regular superheroes. In a city where everyone is extraordinary, this just might be a job
for . . . Ordinary Boy.
Cohen, Rich. Alex and the Amazing Time Machine. Alex Trumble is a pretty ordinary kid—
except for the fact that his IQ borders on genius, and he loves to read books on vortexes and time
travel. But when two angry hit men kidnap his big brother Steven, Alex’s life changes fast. Inventing a
time machine (using an iPod, mirrors, duct tape, and a laser pointer) is only half the battle. With the
help of the time-bending Dingus, Alex and his best friend Todd must travel back in time to collect
clues, outwit the bad guys, and race against the clock to save his family from total oblivion.
Fields, Bryan W. Lunchbox and the Aliens. Lunchbox is your average basset hound: round,
floppy, and not too bright . . . until he’s abducted by aliens. Then he suddenly becomes a lean, mean,
garbage-machine-making, uh, machine. Frazz and Grunfloz, the hapless aliens who abducted
Lunchbox, have set him the task of converting Earth’s trash into froonga, a food adored by aliens and
dogs alike. Will Lunchbox and his boy, Nate, solve the world’s garbage crisis and form the first
interplanetary alliance? Or will the fate of the whole solar system come to rest on whether Lunchbox
can ever learn to catch a Frisbee?
Fox, Helen. Eager. It's the end of the 21st century where technocrats rule and robots take care of
humans’ every need. Your house watches you, knows your secrets, and talks to you. And your closest
friend can be—a machine? Gavin Bell and his teenage sister Fleur come from a middle-class family.
Their much-loved, old-fashioned robot, Grumps, is running down and can’t be repaired, so a scientist
friend loans them EGR3, an experimental new robot to help Grumps.
Gutman, Dan. The Homework Machine. Meet the D Squad, a foursome of fifth graders at the
Grand Canyon School made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker. They are bound
together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code-named Belch, is
doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of attention.
And attention is exactly what you don't want when you are keeping a secret.
Hurd, Thacher. Bongo Fishing. Jason has a pretty normal life: he lives with his mom, he goes to
school, he does his homework. But when he meets a short, bluish alien named Sam, his life begins to
seem much less normal and a lot more...well, alien. Sam takes Jason bongo fishing in space, and a
whole new world opens up. But when Jason's cat, Sputnik, disappears, things start to get a little weird.
Interstellar travel isn't just fun and games, after all! Is the evil Dr. Zimburger involved? Or are there
even more sinister forces at work?
Nimno, Jenny. Midnight for Charlie Bone. (series- Children of the Red King). Charlie doesn't
want to believe it when he can hear people speaking through their photographs. But his horrible aunts
are delighted it means that he is one of the chosen. Sent to a special school that is filled with hidden
secrets and mysterious rooms, Charlie must use his wits, as well as his powers, to escape from the
clutches of the evil Dr. Bloor.
Searies, Rachel. The Lost Planet. This debut novel is a rousing space adventure, filled with
government conspiracies, a quest for identity, and nonstop action. In the distant future, intergalactic
space travel is possible, Earth has colonies, all humanoid races are ranked, and the Fleet, controlled
by Earthans, enforce justice. Chase Garrety wakes up on the planet Trucon with a blaster wound to
the head and a case of amnesia. He is taken in by Parker, an orphaned ward under the care of the
mysterious and absent Asa. It becomes clear that Chase is no ordinary boy, and no one is quite sure
who or what he really is.
Walsh, Jill Paton. The Green Book. Pattie and her family are among the last refugees to flee a dying
Earth in an old spaceship. And when the group finally lands on the distant planet which is to be their
new home, it seems that the four-year journey has been a success. But as they begin to settle this
shiny new world, they discover that the colony is in serious jeopardy. Nothing on this planet is edible,
and they may not be able to grow food. With supplies dwindling, Pattie and her sister decide to take
the one chance that might make life possible on Shine.
Series (read any you haven’t read in the series):
Avi, Poppy. (Animal Stories) Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a field of corn
big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.
Blume, Judy. Superfudge. (Realistic Fiction) Twelve-year-old Peter Hatcher's brother, Fudge, has
driven him up the wall since Day One! Now that he's older, Fudge is an even bigger pain; he eats
worm brownies, insists on getting a myna bird for a pet, and is constantly singing words he knows
how to spell.
Cabot, Meg. Moving Day. (series- Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, Realistic Fiction) When nine-yearold Allie Finkle's parents announce that they are moving her and her brothers from their suburban
split-level into an ancient Victorian in town, Allie is sure her life is over. She's not at all happy about
having to give up her pretty pink wall-to-wall carpeting for creaky floorboards and creepy secret
passageways — not to mention leaving her modern, state-of-the-art suburban school for a rundown,
old-fashioned school just two blocks from her new house.
DiTerlizzi, Tony. The Field Guide. (series- The Spiderwick Chronicles, Fantasy) It all starts when
Jared Grace finds their great uncle's book, 'Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastic World
Around You' and the Grace kids realize that they are not alone in their new house. Now the kids want
to tell their story but the faeries will do everything they can to stop them.
Hunter, Erin. Into the Wild. (series-Warriors, Power of Three, Omen of the Stars, Dawn of the
Clans, New Prophecy, Fantasy, Animal Stories) For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared
the forest according to the laws laid down by the powerful ancestors. But the warrior code is
threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger
every day. Noble warriors are dying — and some deaths are more mysterious than others. In the midst
of this turmoil appears an ordinary house cat named Rusty... Who may yet turn out to be the bravest
warrior of them all.
Hunter, Erin. The Quest Begins. (series- Seekers, Fantasy, Animal Stories) Three young bears from
different species — black, polar, and grizzly — are separated from their families when they are just
young cubs. They find themselves brought together on a perilous journey. Fate is about to change all
these bears' lives forever, setting their paws on a path toward a future they cannot yet imagine...
Kessler, Liz. The Tail of Emily Windsnap. (Fantasy) A young girl learns she’s half mermaid and
plunges into a scheme to reunite with her father in this entrancing, satisfying tale that beckons
readers far below the waves.
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons. (Graphic Novel) t's a new school
year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the
hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before
you're ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.
Lasky, Kathryn. The Capture. (series- Guardians of Ga’Hool, Animal Stories) In this first book in
the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, the reader is introduced to Soren, a barn owl and the centerpiece of
the series. When Soren is pushed from his family's nest by his older brother, he is rescued from
certain death on the forest floor by agents from a mysterious school for orphaned owls, St. Aggie's.
When Soren arrives at St. Aggie's, he suspects there is more to the school than meets the eye.
Lasky, Kathryn. Lone Wolf. (series- Wolves of the Beyond) A wolf mother has given birth, but the
warm bundle snuffling next to her brings only anguish. The pup, otherwise healthy, has a twisted paw,
and the mother knows what the harsh code of the pack demands. Her pup will be taken from her and
abandoned on a desolate hill. The pack cannot have weakness - the wolf mother knows that her pup is
condemned to die. But alone in the wilderness, the pup, Faolan, does not perish. This his story - a
story of survival, of courage, and of love triumphant.
Mull, Brandon. The Candy Shop War. (fantasy). Rock candy that makes you weightless?
Jawbreakers that make you unbreakable? Chocolate balls that turn you into a master of disguise?
Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon discover these magical candies and more at the Sweet Tooth Ice
Cream & Candy Shoppe. But they also discover that the shop's owner is a magician, and that she's not
the only one in town!
Mull, Brandon. Fablehaven. (fantasy). Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather
is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among
greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when
the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest
challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the
courage to do what she fears most.
Pierce, Lincoln. Big Nate: In a Class By Himself. (graphic novel) Big Nate is in a class by himself!
But things don't always go your way just because you're awesome. Nate barely survives his dad's toxic
oatmeal before rushing off to school—minus his lunch. He body slams the no-nonsense principal. He
accidentally insults his least favorite teacher, the horrifying Mrs. Godfrey (aka Godzilla). And school
has barely started!
Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief (series- Percy Jackson and the Olympians, fantasy). Twelveyear-old Percy is always in trouble, and it doesn't help that he's started seeing monsters everywhere!
Things become clearer when Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon, God of the Sea. Percy is sent to
a summer camp on Long Island, but trouble starts all over again when Percy is sent on a quest to
prevent war on Mount Olympus.
Russell, Rachel Renée. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life. Nikki confesses all
in her first diary ever: her epic battle with her mom for an iPhone, meeting her new soon-to-be BFFs
Chloe and Zoey, falling for adorably sweet crush Brandon, dealing with her zany little sister Brianna’s
antics—and the immediate clashes with mean girl Mackenzie, who becomes Nikki’s rival in a schoolwide art competition.
Various Authors. 39 Clues (mystery) This interactive series challenges readers to discover clues and
figure out the mysteries behind the Cahill family. Look for visual clues placed randomly throughout
the pages!
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Secret Identity. (series- Shredderman, Realistic Fiction) Alvin Bixby:
Hulking, knuckles of steel, hideous breath, foul temper. Kids call him: Bubba. Nolan Byrd: Puny,
power walker, math genius, can't keep shoes tied. Kids call him: Nerd. Bubba has been the bane of
Nolan's existence for five long years. So when Mr. Green asks the class to become reporters, Nolan
decides he'll write an expose — on Bubba. He doesn't want to sign his name to it (that'd be suicidal),
so Nolan creates a secret identity for himself — on the Internet. He launches Shredderman.com as a
place where truth and justice prevail — and bullies get what's coming to them.
Sports:
Barber, Tiki and Ronde. Kickoff! (series- Barber Game Time Books). Tiki and Ronde's twelfth
summer is winding down -- the nights are getting shorter and the evenings cooler. That means two
things: The first day of junior high is just a few days away, and it's almost the start of football season
at last. With two championships and an 8-2 season last year, Tiki and Ronde are ready to graduate
from the Peewee League and hit the field as starting players for the Hidden Valley Eagles.
Bildner, Phil. Game 1. (series- Barnstormers: Three Kids, a Mystery, and a Magic Baseball). Griffith,
Graham, and Ruby's father passed away in the war. And now they must join their mother and their
father's wartime traveling baseball team, The Travelin' Nine, on a tour of America to raise money. No
one will tell the kids why the team needs money so badly. Their only clue is a baseball with a hole the
size of an acorn in it that their Uncle Owen gave to them the night of their father's funeral. They know
very little about its significance except that their father made it with his own two hands and carried it
with him throughout the war. And when all three kids hold the ball, strange things begin to happen...
Bowen, Frank. Touchdown Trouble. (series- Frank Bowen Sports Story). Twelve-year-old Sam's
extracurricular life revolves around football. After watching a video replay of an important game, the
team realizes that its winning score was made inadvertently on an illegal fifth down. Bowen uses
historical events—a game between Cornell and Dartmouth played in 1940—to anchor the plot
realistically.
Cline-Ransome, Lisa. Satchel Paige. (biography) No one pitched like Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Fans
packed the stands to see how many batters he could strike out in one game. He dazzled them with his
unique pitching style, and he even gave nicknames to some of his trademark pitches -- there was the
"hesitation," his magic slow ball, and the "bee ball," named because it would always "be" where he
wanted it to be. Follow Satch's career through these beautiful illustrations as he begins playing in the
semipros and goes on to become the first African American to pitch in a major League World Series,
and the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Gordon, Samantha. Sweet Feet: Samantha Gordon’s Winning Season. (autobiography).
Gordon leapt into the public consciousness after her highlight reel as a quarterback in the Utah
Gremlin football league went viral. Her stats are amazing: 65 tackles; 1,911 yards; and 35 scores,
including 25 touch downs. The kicker? It was her first season playing football, and she is nine years
old. Sam’s rise as “sweet feet,” a moniker given by her coach, has landed her on a Wheaties box, Good
Morning America, and Sports Center.
Green, Tim. Football Genius. (series). Twelve-year-old Troy uses his gift of seeing football plays
before they happen to help his favorite local team, the Atlanta Falcons, turn its season around and
start winning.
Gutman, Dan. Honus and Me. (series- Baseball Card Adventure). Joe Stoshack lives for baseball.
He knows everything there is to know about the game -- except how to play well. His specialty is
striking out. Stosh feels like a real loser, and when he takes a low-paying job cleaning a bunch of junk
out of his neighbor's attic, he feels even worse -- until he comes across a little piece of cardboard that
takes his breath away. His heart is racing. His brain is racing. He can hardly believe his eyes. Stosh
has stumbled upon a T-206 Honus Wagner -- the most valuable baseball card in the world! And he's
about to find out that it's worth a lot more than money....
Gutman, Dan. Million Dollar Shot. (series- Million Dollar). Eleven-year-old Eddie gets a chance to
win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot at the National Basketball Association finals.
Jennings, Patrick. Out Standing in My Field. Ty has been named for baseball legend Ty Cobb, but
the hero of Jennings' wonderful new novel isn't living up to his namesake's reputation when it comes
to The Game. He loves baseball; he just isn't great at it, despite all the efforts of his coach and father,
who himself once dreamed of playing in the majors. To complicate matters, Ty's younger sister Daisy
is a baseball whiz (as well as the school genius).
Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. (Coretta Scott King
Award, Sibert Informational Book Award). Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson
tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after
Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you
are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great
ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences.
Ripken, Cal Jr. Wild Pitch. (series- Cal Ripken, Jr.‘s All Stars). Robbie Hammond is the hardest
throwing pitcher in the Babe Ruth League. But what good is all that heat when he can't seem to find
the plate? With Robbie struggling, the Orioles are suffering through a nightmare season, still looking
for their first win. Robbie's teammates are whispering that the only reason he's even pitching is
because he's the coach's kid. They've even given him a new nickname: Ball Four. What the other
Orioles don't know is that Robbie is still haunted by a fastball that got away from him and injured a
batter in last year's All-Star Game. Now, with the pressure mounting, he's willing to try anything to
get his control back, including listening to a mysterious boy who just might hold the key to helping
Robbie and the Orioles save their season.
Ritter, John H. The Desperado Who Stole Baseball. (prequel to The Boy Who Saved Baseball).
The fate of a Wild West gold-mining town rests in the hands of two individuals. One is a twelve-yearold boy with a love and instinct for baseball unmatched by any grown-up. The other is the country’s
most infamous outlaw, on the run and looking for peace of mind. Together, they pair up to prove that
heroes can emerge from anywhere.
Smith, Charles R. Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson. (poetry, biography) Commemorates
the 100th anniversary of Jack Johnson becoming the first black man to win the World Heavyweight
Championship on July 4, 1910. It chronicles Johnson’s life, from early on as the child of two former
slaves to his crowning achievement. In capturing Johnson’s battles in and out of the ring, the authors
relay one of life’s most important messages: never give up on your dreams, no matter what barriers
stand in your way.
Van Vleet, Carmella. Eliza Bing Is (Not) a Big Fat Quitter. In this uplifting novel about
determination and the rewards of hard work, a preteen girl struggling with ADHD must stick with a
summer taekwondo class to prove that she s dedicated enough to pursue her true passion: cake
decorating.
Wallace, Rich. Sports Camp. As one of the youngest and smallest kids at sports camp, it's hard for
Riley to fit in. He's not very good at sports like basketball and softball, and he doesn't want to ruin
things for his bunkmates as they compete for the Camp Olympia Trophy, especially since they're
finally starting to befriend him. Riley is good at swimming, however, and he's counting on bringing in
major trophy points in the final mile-long swim across the lake, until he spots Big Joe, the giant
vicious snapping turtle of camp lore!
SSYRA 3-5 (Sunshine State Young Readers Award):
*The books are also listed on the Reading Resources page of the virtual library:
http://www.sjcdslibrary.net/reading-resources.html
SSYRA books are on a third grade - fifth grade reading level. The above pictured books are on a 4th
grade reading level. Parents may read any of the SSYRA titles as a read-aloud to their child, and it will
count towards both the BINGO card and the SSYRA voting and ice cream party at the end of the
school year. Students must read at least three of the SSYRA books to be eligible to vote in the spring.
Airgood, Ellen. Prairie Evers. Prairie Evers has been home-schooled her whole life. After a move up
north with her family, Prairie finds herself going to public school for the very first time. Prairie
discovers that between raising chickens and nurturing a brand new friendship with a girl her age,
school and life in upstate New York aren’t quite as bad as she anticipated.
Barnett, Mac and Jory John. The Terrible Two. Miles moves to quiet Yawnee Valley with plans to
make mischief, but he is quickly involved in a battle to be the best prankster in town. This book is full
of many pranks and 1,346 interesting facts about cows!
Beasley, Cassie. Circus Mirandus. Micah’s grandfather, Ephraim, has always shared stories with
him about Circus Mirandus, a magical circus. As his grandfather is dying, Micah realizes the stories
are true. Can the magic of the mysterious circus save his grandfather from dying? Micah is
determined to find out.
Burg, Ann. Serafina’s Promise. Eleven-year-old Serafina’s life in Haiti is filled with chores and
struggle. But she dreams of going to school and becoming a doctor. She is still mourning the death of
her baby brother when she learns her Manman is about to have another baby. Just as her dreams may
come true, her family faces natural disasters and separation. This novel, written in verse, weaves a
story of Haitian history, culture, and one girl’s determination to help her family and achieve her
dreams.
Conners, Daryle and Elise Allen. Gabby Duran and the Unsittables. Gabby Duran, babysitter
extraordinaire, has many celebrity clients all over the country. She soon finds herself as the newest
associate working for the Association Linking Intergalactics and Earlthlings (also known as
A.L.I.E.N.) as a babysitter for the “unsittables” — some of the galaxy’s toughest extraterrestrials!
Dairman, Tara. All Four Stars. Gladys has been cooking gourmet dishes since the age of seven, just
don’t tell her microwave-loving parents! After a small accident involving the crème brûlée, Gladys is
cut off from the kitchen. But when Gladys is mistakenly offered an opportunity to write for a major
newspaper as a food writer in New York City, she sets off to live her dream and keep her true identity
a secret. Just, still don’t tell her parents!
Farber, E.S. Fish Finelli: Seagulls Don’t Eat Pickles When the town bully bets nine-year-old
Norman “Fish” Finelli that he can’t find Captain Kidd’s famous treasure, Fish and his friends embark
on a quest to discover the pirate’s buried wooden trunk of lost booty.
Graff, Lisa. Absolutely Almost. Have you ever felt like you could never do anything right? And you
spend most of your life trying to figure out what you’re good at? Albie spends most of his time
wondering just that. His new babysitter, Calista, opens up a world of adventures teaching him new
skills and sometimes getting him in trouble.
Hicks, Betty. The Worm Whisperer. Fifth grader Ellis Coffey wants to win the annual Woolly
Worm Race, because the prize is $1,000, and his father needs just that amount to pay for his back
surgery. To win, he must befriend and train a worm to be the fastest in the race. But will it be enough?
Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. Fish in a Tree. Ally uses her strengths in math and art, along with some
behavior distractions, to help her get through school. When a new teacher discovers Ally’s dyslexia, he
builds up Ally’s confidence, as well as her ability to read, maybe for the first time ever. With the help
of her new friends, Ally learns that it is not always about fitting in, but about what it means to find a
place that fits.
Lord, Cynthia. Half a Chance. Lucy’s family moves to a small, lakeside community in New
Hampshire. She and her new friend Nate secretly plan to spend the summer taking photos for a
contest which her professional photographer father will be judging. To their surprise, they learn that
photos can sometimes show more than people want to see.
Oakes, Cory Putman. Dinosaur Boy. The summer before he begins fifth grade, Sawyer sprouts a tail
with spikes. As a result, he is bullied in school. When the bullies begin to disappear, Sawyer, his best
friend Elliot, and the new girl in school know they need to get to the bottom of the mystery before it is
too late.
Pearce, Jackson and Maggie Stiefvater. Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures. Thanks to a
Unicorn Incident at her school, Pip spends the summer with her aunt at a clinic for magical creatures.
It’s fun... until Fuzzles appear and begin bursting into flames. Pip and her friend Tomas must take
quick action to solve the problem before it causes more trouble for all creatures, magical or not.
Wells, Marcia. Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile. Sixth-grader Edmund
Xavier Lonnrot code-name “Eddie Red,” has a photographic memory and a talent for drawing
anything he sees. When the NYPD is stumped by a mastermind art thief, Eddie becomes their secret
weapon, drawing Eddie deeper into New York’s famous Museum Mile. Can Eddie help catch the
thieves in time, or will his first big case be his last?
Woodrow, Allen. The Pet War. Eleven-year- old Otto’s desire for a dog turns into sibling rivalry
when his older sister, Lexi, claims she wants a cat. Their mother wants neither. The competition is on
after their mother gives them a challenge: whomever can earn $500 in a month will get the pet of his
or her choice. As the competition gets fiercer, the stakes get higher. Let the Pet War begin!
*Annotations are from Follett Destiny library catalog, Amazon, the publisher, or School Library Journal