The following are recommended summer reading lists chosen by several of our students. These books were chosen from several sources. The sources are listed at the end of the lists.

Third Grade

I Was a Third-Grade Science Project Mary Jane Auch

Three boys decide to try out hypnosis for their science project — on their dog.

Lunch Walks Among Us Jim Benton

Franny is new at school and tries to fit in, but she's different from the other little girls.

How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt Tamara Bower

Serpot, ruler of a land where women live free, without men, leads her Amazon warriors in battle against Prince Pedikhons of Egypt , who has come to see for himself if women can equal men, even in battle.

The Sword in the Tree Clyde Robert Bulla

The students in Mr. Magro's class submit stories for the SOS file about their biggest emergencies, and then they read them aloud for extra credit.

Amber Brown is Not A Crayon Paula Danziger

The year she is in the third grade is a sad time for Amber because her best friend Justin is getting ready to move to a distant state.

Charlotte's Web E. B. White
This is the story of a little girl named Fern who loves a little pig named Wilbur -- and of Wilbur's dear friend, Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful, large, gray spider who lives with Wilbur in the barn. With the help of Templeton, the rat who never does anything for anybody unless there is something in it for him, and by a wonderfully clever plan of their own, Charlotte saves the life of Wilbur, who by this time has grown up to be quite a pig.

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (Encyclopedia Brown Series #1)
by Donald J. Sobol
A Civil War sword ... a watermelon stabbing ... missing roller skates ... a trapeze artist's inheritance ... and an eyewitness who's legally blind! These are just some of the ten brain-twisting mysteries that Encyclopedia Brown must solve by using his famous computerlike brain. Try to crack the cases along with him -- answers to all the mysteries are found in the back of the book!

BUSYBODY NORA Hurwitz, Johanna
Relates the adventures of an inquisitive little girl who lives in a large apartment building in New York with her parents and little brother Teddy.

VOLCANOES Simon, Seymour
Beautiful photographs and brief text explain volcanoes.

VERONICA GANZ Sachs, Marilyn
Veronica defends herself against a new boy in class.

RATS ON THE ROOF Marshall, James
An illustrated collection of seven stories about various animals, including a frog with magnificent legs, a hungry brontosaurus, and a mouse who gets married.

RATS ON THE RANGE Marshall, James
In eight animal stories the reader meets a rat family that vacations at a dude ranch, a pig who takes lessons in table manners, a mouse who keeps house for a tomcat, and a buzzard who leaves his money to the Society for Stray Cats--or does he?

ABEL'S ISLAND Steig, William
A mouse's resourcefulness and endurance are tested as he struggles to survive a shipwreck.

ALL-OF-A-KIND FAMILY Taylor , Sydney
Five sisters share family adventures on the Lower East Side .

THE BAKER'S DOZEN : A COLONIAL AMERICAN TALE Forest , Heather
A greedy baker offends a mysterious old woman.

BASIL IN THE WILD WEST : A BASIL OF BAKER STREET MYSTERY Titus, Eve
Headed for the Grand Canyon to investigate a mystery, Basil finds himself trying to foil the schemes of a ruthless smuggler.

BUSYBODY NORA Hurwitz, Johanna
Relates the adventures of an inquisitive little girl who lives in a large apartment building in New York with her parents and little brother Teddy.

THE BIG BALLOON RACE Coerr, Eleanor
April helps to win a balloon race in this beginning reader.

COMMANDER TOAD & THE PLANET OF THE GRAPES Yolen, Jane
The planet of the Grapes is a strange new world for the crew of the spaceship "Star Warts."

THE HUNDRED DRESSES Estes, Eleanor
If she has a hundred dresses at home, why does she wear the same one every day?

JULIAN, SECRET AGENT Cameron, Ann
When Julian, his little brother Huey, and their friend Gloria decide to be "crime busters," they find themselves in one adventure after another.

Jenny Archer C ord, Ellen
Jenny uses her great imagination in everything she does.

JULIAN, DREAM DOCTOR Cameron, Ann
Julian and Huey try to find the perfect birthday gift for Dad with amusing results.

Duck for President Doreen Cronin

When Duck gets tired of working for Farmer Brown, his political ambition eventually leads to his being elected President.

The Many Troubles of Andy Russell David Adler

Fourth-grader Andy Russell has troubles! His gerbils escaped in the house, he's late for school, and now his mom is going to have another

Zoom Istvan Banyai

Hang on as pictures zoom in, and then out. Just when you think you know where you are, guess again.

Stanley , Flat Again! Jeff Brown

It has been nearly forty years since a bulletin board first fell on Stanley Lambchop, an ordinary boy, and transformed him into a flat hero. Finally, here is the long-awaited sequel.

Cool Crazy Crickets David Elliott

Four friends and a dog find a name, a meeting place, a mascot, and a purpose for their new club.

The Gadget War Betsy Duffey

Kelly Sparks is the gadget whiz of her third-grade class--and already has 43 inventions under her belt to prove it. Then Albert Einstein Jones walks into Kelly's class. Albert's determined to prove who the real gadget whiz is. It's sure to be a mastermind fight to the finish.

McBroom's Ghost Sid Fleischman

The McBroom family is plagued by a mysterious ghost that visits their amazing one-acre farm after every prolonged freezing spell.

Elena's Serenade Campbell Geeslin

In this story set in Mexico , a little girl disguised as a boy sets out to master the art of glassblowing.

Dandelions Eve Bunting

Zoe and her family find strength in each other as they make a new home in the Nebraska territory.

Laugh-eteria Douglas Florian

A collection of more than 100 humorous poems on such topics as ogres, pizza, fear, school, dragons, trees, and hair.

Duck for President Doreen Cronin

When Duck gets tired of working for Farmer Brown, his political ambition eventually leads to his being elected President.

Lucy Dove Janice Del Negro

An aging seamstress outwits a terrible monster in this scary story.

Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock? Jean Fritz

A colorful story about the significance of Plymouth Rock in American history.

Ghost Trap: A Wild Willie Mystery Barbara M. Joosse

When Wild Willie's best friend Kyle moves back to the neighborhood the boys suspect that Kyle's new house is haunted.

The House of Wisdom Florence Parry Heide

Ishaq, the son of the chief translator to the Caliph of ancient Baghdad , travels the world in search of precious books and manuscripts and brings them back to the great library known as the House of Wisdom.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Mordicai Gerstein

A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers.

Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? Jean Fritz

A biography of the first signer of the Declaration of Independence outlining all that he did for himself as well as what he did for Massachusetts and his new nation.

Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea Gail Gibbons

Explore the mysterious world beneath the ocean's surface.

BLOOMERS! Blumberg, Rhoda
The "new-fashioned" outfit helps spread the word about women's rights.

THE BULLY OF BARKHAM STREET Stolz, Mary
A companion to the author's A dog on Barkham Street .

CAM JANSEN & THE CHOCOLATE FUDGE MYSTERY David A., Adler
When Cam Jansen and her friend Eric uncover a mystery while selling fudge door-to-door to raise money for the local library, Cam uses her photographic memory to foil a crime.

C.L.O.U.D.S. Cummings, Pat
Chuku the angel paints the skies of New York .

CLASS CLOWN Hurwitz, Johanna
Lucas Cott, the most obstreperous boy in the third grade, finds it very hard to turn over a new leaf when he decides to become the perfect student.

Frindle Andrew Clements

A champion troublemaker, Nick decides to invent a new word to torment his teacher.

A Fine, Fine School Sharon Creech

When a principal loves his school so much that he wants the children to attend classes every day of the year, it's up to his students to show him free time is a good thing, too.

Miss Nelson Is Missing! by Harry Allard, James Marshall (illus.)
The children in Miss Nelson's class go beyond misbehaving; they are downright terrible! Near her wits' end, Miss Nelson thinks up a brilliant plan. The next day the kids have a substitute -- the nasty Viola Swamp -- who loads the boys and girls with homework and never gives them a story hour. By the time Miss Nelson finally returns, the children are so grateful they behave well. But now Viola Swamp is missing!

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, Roy Doty (illus.)
Living with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter feel like a fourth-grade nothing. Fudge is never far from trouble. He's a two-year-old terror who gets away with everything -- and Peter's had enough. When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, it's the last straw.

The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson
The Herdmans are the

most famous kids at Woodrow Wilson School . In fact, they are the most famous kids in the whole town -- and they are the worst kids in the history of the world. They are dirty, rotten, lazy, and ornery. They tell lies and smoke cigars and set fire to things. They stay away from school whenever they want to and won't learn anything when they are there. Every September the students and teachers gear up for another year of dealing with the Herdmans. But no matter what precautions are taken, these modern-day outlaws still manage to cause hilarious mayhem year-round. Their wild behavior always leads to disaster for someone, but somehow all six of them continually escape blame. Could there be something good about this horrible clan after all? Also recommended: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Walking the Road to Freedom by Jeri Ferris
This is the important and inspiring story of a woman who called herself Sojourner Truth. Using only the power of her voice, she spoke out against slavery throughout New England and the Midwest .

Fire and Wings: Dragon Tales From East and West

An enchanting preface by Newbery Award winner Jane Yolen introduces this collection of 15 dragon stories from England , Western and Eastern Europe , Korea , Japan , and China .

The Flag Maker Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Relates events of the 1814 Battle of Baltimore as seen through the eyes of twelve-year-old Caroline Pickersgill, who had worked with her family and their servants to sew the enormous flag which waved over Fort McHenry .

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

Charlie finds a gold ticket that lets him into a world of chocolate and fantastic inventions.

Yesterday I Had the Blues Jeron Frame

A young boy ponders a variety of emotions and how different members of his family experience them, from his own blues to his father's grays and his grandmother's yellows.

Neale S. Godfrey's Ultimate Kids' Money Book Neale S. Godfrey

Provides an overview of economics and money, including earning, spending, saving, checks and credit cards, banks, and the history of money.

Everything On a Waffle Polly Horvath

Eleven-year-old Primrose tells of her parents' disappearance at sea and living with her Uncle Jack. Her only refuge is at a local restaurant, where the owner, Miss Bowzer, serves everything on waffles.

Just Like Josh Gibson Angela Johnson

A young girl's grandmother tells her of her love for baseball and the day they let her play in the game even though she was a girl.

The Puppeteer's Apprentice D. Anne Love

In this medieval adventure, a girl named Mouse works in a manor's scullery, dreaming of a different life. But what chance does she have?

DEAR BENJAMIN BANNEKER Pinkney, Andrea Davis
Biography of the African American astronomer who wrote to Thomas Jefferson about slavery.

Mr. Popper's Penguins Richard Atwater, Florence Atwater, Robert Lawson (illus.)
It is hard enough for Mr. Popper to support himself, Mrs. Popper, Bill, and Janie Popper. The addition of 12 penguins to the family makes it impossible to make both ends meet. Then Mr. Popper has a splendid idea -- the talented penguins will be a sensation on the stage. And so they are.... A classic of American humor, this Newbery Honor-winning story of a gentle housepainter and his high-stepping penguins has delighted children for generations.

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, A Message from Chief Seattle Susan Jeffers
During the 1850s, the white man negotiated to buy some land from the Northwest nations. Chief Seattle, head of the Suqamish and Duwamish Indians, spoke to the white man in his native tongue about the importance of preserving the earth. His speech, translated and lushly illustrated by Susan Jeffers, eloquently conveys the message that we must respect the Earth and all it has on it. This speech has been the inspiration for many environmental movements.

Walking the Road to Freedom Jeri Ferris
This is the important and inspiring story of a woman who called herself Sojourner Truth. Using only the power of her voice, she spoke out against slavery throughout New England and the Midwest .

EARTHQUAKES. Branley, Franklyn M.
Why they happen, what their effects can be, where the danger zones are, and safety measures.

What Are You Figuring Now?, A Story About Benjamin Banneker
Jeri Ferris, Amy Johnson (illus.)
A biography of the African-American farmer and self-taught mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor for the new capital city of the United States in 1791, who also calculated a successful almanac notable for its preciseness.

The BFG Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (illus.)
Kidsnatched from her orphanage by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant) who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts with him a plan to save the world from nine other man-gobbling cannybull giants. Also recommended: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read Book Series) Peggy Parish, Fritz Siebel (illus.)
Meet Amelia Bedelia, the unflappable maid who does everything literally. With her purse on her arm and hat firmly on her head, Amelia Bedelia follows instructions to a T: Change the towels? Nothing a pair of scissors can't do! Dust the furniture? That's when the perfumed dusting powder really comes in handy. Dress the chicken for dinner -- well, do you want a boy chicken or a girl chicken? Amelia Bedelia's well-meaning gaffs cause readers to chuckle but her employer to fume -- it's a good thing she's such a good cook!

The Great Kapok Tree A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest Lynne Cherry
A man walks into a lush rain forest and starts chopping down a huge kapok tree. Lulled by the heat, he sits down and soon falls asleep. The forest dwellers approach, each whispering in his ear a reason to keep the tree standing. Suddenly, the man wakes up, and for the first time notices the beauty all around him. Will he still chop down the tree? The beauty of Cherry's art helps to convey an important message in this environmental tale.

Is Your Mama a Llama?
by Deborah Guarino, Steven Kellogg (illus.)
A young llama is curious -- are all his friends' mamas llamas? Each animal tells Lloyd facts about its mother, and Lloyd -- along with young readers -- guesses what kind of animal each mother is. The rhyming text and illustrations give hints, and preschoolers will enjoy yelling out the answers, which are revealed by turning the page.

Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy, Junie B. Jones Series #12
Barbara Park, Denise Brunkus (illus.)
Frustrated because the rules for her class's Pet Day will not let her take her dog to school, Junie B. Jones considers taking a raccoon, a worm, a dead fish, and other unusual

Stellaluna Janell Cannon, Jewell Cannon
Stellaluna, a little brown bat, is accidentally dropped by her mother. The helpless baby falls smack into a nest of fledglings and is immediately accepted as one of the family. Stellaluna tries to fit in but keeps acting unbirdlike, hanging upside down and wanting to fly at night. By chance Stellaluna is reunited with her mother and finally learns to be a proper bat.

Tonight on the Titanic, Magic Tree House Series #17
Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (illus.)
The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie away to the decks of that ill-fated ship, the Titanic. There they must help two children find their way to a lifeboat -- while they are in danger of becoming victims of that tragic night themselves

AMBER BROWN WANTS EXTRA CREDIT. Danziger, Paula
Unhappy over her parents' divorce and her mother's boyfriend Max, nine-year-old Amber finds her schoolwork suffering.

THE BULLY OF BARKHAM STREET Stolz, Mary
A companion to the author's A dog on Barkham Street .

D'AULAIRE'S BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS D'Aulaire, Ingri
An attractively illustrated collection.

FLATFOOT FOX & THE CASE OF THE MISSING EYE Clifford, Eth
A sly fox makes a good detective for his animal friends.

THE FORTUNE-TELLERS Alexander, Lloyd
A carpenter in Cameroon finds the predictions about his future come true in unusual ways.

FOREVER AMBER BROWN Danziger, Paula
Amber's life has changed dramatically: her parents are divorced, her father lives in France, her best friend has moved to another state, and now her mother must decide whether to remarry.

FRANKENSTEIN MOVED IN ON THE FOURTH FLOOR
Levy, Elizabeth
Robert and Sam suspect their weird new neighbor is really Frankenstein.

GO FISH Stolz, Mary
Thomas and his grandfather fish the Gulf of Mexico and share stories of their African heritage.

HORRIBLE HARRY & THE ANT INVASION. Kline, Suzy
Horrible Harry of classroom 2B cuts back on his mischievous pranks after falling for Song Lee.

HORRIBLE HARRY & THE DUNGEON Kline, Suzy
It's almost summer vacation and the students in room 2B are having trouble concentrating on their butterfly project, until a frightening-looking new teacher comes to supervise the Suspension Room and Harry is sent there as punishment for unruly behavior.

HORRIBLE HARRY IN ROOM 2B Kline, Suzy
Doug discovers that though being Harry's best friend in Miss Mackle's second grade class isn't always easy, as Harry likes to do horrible things, it is often a lot of fun.

HORRIBLE HARRY'S SECRET Kline, Suzy
Horrible Harry falls in love with Song Lee, and Harry's best friend, Doug, can't stand all the mush.

HOW MUCH IS A MILLION? Schwartz, David M.
An entertaining and very informative picture book introduction to "big" numbers.

KNIGHTS OF THE KITCHEN TABLE Scieszka, Jon
Joe gets a magic book for his birthday which enables him and the rest of the "Time Warp Trio" to travel back in time.

LON PO PO : A RED RIDING HOOD STORY FROM CHINA Young, Ed
Three sisters are endangered by a hungry wolf in this Caldecott Award winning folk tale.

MAX & ME & THE TIME MACHINE Greer, Gery
Steve buys a time machine at a garage sale and takes his friend Max to the year 1250, where they land in the middle of a jousting match, with the fierce Sir Bevis as an enemy.

MCBROOM'S WONDERFUL ONE- ACRE FARM : THREE TALL TALES.

Fleischman, Sid
Three humorous adventures on McBroom's wonderful one-acre prairie farm.

MOUSE & THE MOTORCYCLE Cleary, Beverly
Ralph S. Mouse gets wheels.

MR. MYSTERIOUS & COMPANY. Fleischman, Sid
A family of magicians travels the West in the 1880's.

NASTY, STINKY SNEAKERS Bunting, Eve
Ten-year-old Colin has lost his sure-to-be prize winning entry for the stinkiest sneakers in the world contest

STONE FOX Gardiner, John R.
An exciting dogsled race between a young boy and a famous Indian.

Fourth Grade

Title: Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls (The Baby-Sitters Club Series #2)
by Ann M. Martin
Claudia decides to investigate when she and the other members of the Baby-Sitters Club receive mysterious phone calls while out on assignments. Also recommended: Baby-Sitters Club: Little Sister Series and the Baby-Sitters Club Series

Earthquake Terror Peg Kehret
When an earthquake hits the isolated island in northern California where his family has been camping, 12-year-old Jonathan Palmer must find a way to keep himself, his partially paralyzed younger sister, and their dog alive until help arrives.

The Indian in the Cupboard Lynne Reid Banks, Brock Cole (illus.)
The first book in this bestselling series begins with young Omri receiving an old family wooden medicine cupboard as a birthday gift. Given to him by his mother in order to house his plastic toy soldiers, the cupboard has a magical power: It can bring Omri's toys to life. When his toy Indian comes alive and befriends him, Omri finds himself involved in all kinds of adventure and excitement.

Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade Barthe DeClements
Jenny knows one thing for sure -- Elsie Edwards is a fat thief who steals people's lunch money to buy candy. So when the book club money disappears, why is the whole class punished? Nothing's fair! But soon Jenny realizes some things aren't fair for Elsie, either. Elsie is on a strict diet, but when she starts losing weight, her mother won't buy her new clothes. Instead, she plans to send Elsie to boarding school. Suddenly everyone wants to help Elsie. Nothing's fair in fifth grade -- but sometimes things get better

The Mouse and the Motorcycle Beverly Cleary, Louis Darling (illus.)
Ralph the mouse is terrified. All he had wanted to do was ride the little motorcycle someone had left on the table. Instead, both Ralph and the motorcycle have taken a terrible fall -- right into the bottom of the wastepaper basket. He is trapped, left to wait for whatever fate has in store for him. But it turns out to be Ralph's lucky day. Along comes Keith, the owner of the toy motorcycle, who is staying with his family in the hotel room where Ralph lives. Not only does Keith save Ralph's life, but he teaches him how to ride the bike. And when everyone is asleep, he turns Ralph loose in the hotel halls to enjoy the biking adventure of his life. But adventures can be both fun and trouble...as Ralph and Keith soon find out! Also recommended: Ralph S. Mouse and Runaway Ralph.

Sarah and the Magic Science Project Hutchins, Hazel

What if You Met a Pirate? When a local grocer zaps a shoplifter into a frog, Sarah and Ben know there's something afoot. Their science teacher doesn't believe them, so they set off to make a science project out of this mysterious magic caster.

Bad Girls Wilson, Jacqueline

Mandy White is picked on by bad girls, until a bigger, badder girl becomes her special friend. Tanya, a foster child across the street, is nothing like Mandy. Mandy's overprotective mother wants her daughter to have nothing to do with the new neighbor.

My Teacher Is an Alien Mary Downing Hahn
When he goes to spend the summer with his great-aunt in the family's old house, 11-year-old Drew is drawn 80 years into the past to trade places with his great-great-uncle, who is dying of diphtheria

Time for Andrew, A Ghost Story by Bruce Coville, Mike Wimmer (illus.)
Susan can tell that her new substitute teacher is really weird. She doesn't know how weird until she catches him peeling off his face -- and realizes Mr. Smith is really an alien! Now it's up to Susan and her friends to get rid of the extraterrestrial visitor

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar, Julie Brinckloe (illus.)
There'd been a terrible mistake. Wayside School was supposed to be built with 30 classrooms all next to each other in a row. Instead, they built the classrooms one on top of the other ... 30 stories tall! (The builder said he was very sorry.) That may be why all kinds of funny things happen at Wayside School -- especially on the 30th floor. You'll meet Mrs. Gorf, the meanest teacher of all; terrible Todd, who always gets sent home early; and John, who can only read upside down -- along with all the other kids in the crazy mixed-up school that came out sideways. But you'll never guess the truth about Sammy, the new kid ... or what's in store for Wayside School on Halloween

Adventures of Super Diaper Baby Pilkey, Dav

Meet Super Diaper Baby, the most powerful peewee to pack a punch. Includes action-packed Flip-o-Rama pages in every chapter and a special guest appearance by Captain Underpants himself.

Nanny McPhee Brand, Christianna

A bilingual collection of humorous and serious poems about family, nature, and celebrations by a renowned Mexican American poet. Based on the Collected Tales of Nurse Matilda. A governess uses magic to reign in the seven ne'er-do-well children in her charge. These three classic stories are the basis of the new movie. Includes: Nurs Matilda, Nurse Matilta Goes To Town, and Nurse Matilda Goes to Hospital.

Title:

California Diaries #03 Maggie Martin, Ann M

William Shakespeare and the Globe Series uses diary format to talk about life, love and everything in between. Description:

Tells the story of the well-known playwright, William Shakespeare, and of the famous Globe Theatre in which many of his works were performed.

Description:

Garbage Monster from Outer Space Erickson, John R.

Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, has an adventure.

W.I.T.C.H. Graphic Novel #04 Between Light and Dark Godwin, Parke

How will Mr. Popper, a housepainter, deal with the addition of twelve penguins to his household? Contains two W.I.T.C.H. stories, shown in their original comic format and bound in this supercool and unique graphic-novel format.

Title:

X-Men 3: The Official Movie Scrapbook Tbd

The Search For Delicious This ultimate insider's guide to the third installment of the blockbuster film series is packed with full-color photos, movie stills, and behind-the-scene shots.

Description:

The Prime Minister is compiling a dictionary and when no one at court can agree on the meaning of delicious, the King sends his twelve-year-old messenger to poll the country.

Description:

X-Men: The Ultimate Guide Sanderson, Peter

This comprehensive guide includes information on the films and animated series as well as new characters and plotlines from the comics. Each chapter focuses on a different character. Includes photos from the movies.

X-Men: How It All Began Teitelbaum, Michael

Relates events of the 1814 Battle of Baltimore as seen through the eyes of twelve-year-old Caroline Pickersgill, who had worked with her family and their servants to sew the enormous flag which waved over Fort McHenry. Uses simple, informative text to help children learn to read while supplying information about the X-Men.

Small Steps Sachar, Louis

Safari Three years after being released from Camp Green Lake , Armpit is trying hard to keep his life on track, but when his old pal X-Ray shows up with a plan to make some easy money scalping concert tickets, Armpit reluctantly goes along.

Maddie on TV LeBlanc, Louise

While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother Maddie jumps at the chance to audition for a commercial with the stars of her favourite TV show. There is lots of competition, including her classmate Clementine. Maddie is over the moon when she is chosen. With Gran's help, she puts everything she can into it, but Maddie is in for some very unpleasant surprises.

Author:

Lady Grace Mystery #05 Exile Burchett, Jan & Cavendish, Grace

Beverly Cleary There's a new arrival at Court, the mysterious Princess Banoo Yasmine, who possesses the renowned Heart of Kings Ruby, a stone that legend says has the power to make kings. When the famed jewel goes missing, the finger is pointed at Grace's dear friend Ellie. Title:

Henry Huggins

Description:

Molly Gets Mad Kline, Suzy

Enjoy the adventures of Henry and his new friend, a hungry, lost dog he names Ribsy Marvin thinks that the new girl in class, Lucy Tinker, is a liar and a thief, but then he finds that he may have misjudged her.

Author:

Andrew Clements

Title: Paint by Magic Reiss, Kathryn

Frindle When Connor's mother begins to act like a 1920's housewife, he suspects an old art book is the cause. When he is transported back in time, he realizes that its up to him to solve the mystery and break the hold the books has over his mother. Description:

A champion troublemaker, Nick decides to invent a new word to torment his teacher

Danger Along the Ohio Willis, Patricia

Danger at the Fair Kehret, Peg

Fifth Grade

Holes Louis Sachar
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune, which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish boys' juvenile detention center in the Texas desert. As punishment, the boys here must each dig a hole every day, five feet deep and five feet across. Ultimately, Stanley "digs up the truth" -- and through his experience, finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself. HOLES is a wildly inventive, darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment -- and redemption.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson Bette Bao Lord, Marc Simont (illus.)
Shirley Temple Wong sails from China to America with a heart full of dreams. Her new home is Brooklyn , New York . America is indeed a land full of wonders, but Shirley doesn't know any English, so it's hard to make friends. Then a miracle -- baseball -- happens. It is 1947, and Jackie Robinson, star of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is everyone's hero. Jackie Robinson is proving that a black man, the grandson of a slave, can make a difference in America . And for Shirley as well, on the ball field and off, America becomes the land of opportunity.

Frindle Andrew Clements, Brian Selznick (illus.)
When he decides to turn his fifth-grade teacher's love of the dictionary around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of events that quickly moves beyond his control.

Matilda Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (illus.)
Matilda Wormwood started reading books at the age of four, but her crooked father and bingo-playing mother regard book reading as a waste of time -- and much prefer watching TV. In fact, they take no notice of their genius daughter at all! Only Miss Honey, Matilda's lovely and gentle teacher, recognizes her special gifts. Yet Miss Honey has problems of her own: Her aunt is the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull, an evil headmistress who bullies children and parents alike -- and has taken Miss Honey's house and money. Can Matilda use her extraordinary talents to seek revenge -- and make all of the wrong-doing grown-ups pay? Also recommended: James and the Giant Peach

Number the Stars Lois Lowry
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. When the Nazis begin "relocating" the Jews of Denmark, Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. And as Annemarie helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis and embarks on a dangerous mission, she learns how to be brave and courageous -- to save her best friend's life.

D Day McGowen, Tom

Cornerstones of Freedom Series. Lively introduction to American History. With Color photos, illustrations and index.

Auschwitz: The Story of a Nazi Death Camp Lawton , Clive A

Provides a looks at the people who ran, died in and survived this notorious death camp. First person narratives, rare photos and expert storytelling make this an unforgetable look at a tragic piece of history.

Time for Andrew: Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn:
Drew goes back in time to 1910 and lives the life of his great uncle

The Fear Place by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor:
Gordon leaves after a fight with his brother, Doug. Doug must overcome his fear and search for him.

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix:
When an epidemic hits her 1840 village, Jessie discovers that it is really a 1995 tourist site

Attack on Pearl Harbor McGowen, Tom

Cornerstones of Freedom Series. Lively introduction to American History. With Color photos, illustrations and index.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones Adler, David
Cam (short for "Camera") Jansen has a photographic memory--which comes in handy when she notices something wrong at a museum exhibit.

Abarat by Clive Barker

Candy Quackenbush from Chickentown, U.S.A., is about to embark on an epic journey that will change her boring life forever as she dives from a barren field in Minnesota into the enormous Sea of Izabella. 100+ full-color images painted by the author illuminate this imaginative text.

Bad Hare Day Stine, R L

Goosebumps book #41

Baseball All-Star January, Brendan

Making of a Champion series. Features close-up case studies of world-class athletes as it presents the training, techniques, and skills necessary to be a champion. The various levels of the sport are also covered, as are the realities of life as a professional athlete.

Olympic Black Women Plowden, Martha

Highlights the accomplishments of Black women athletes

NBA Finals Stewart, Mark & Kennedy, Mike

Watts History of Sports series.

NBA: Make the Play! Scholastic Books

Inside this book, you'll find the moves and strategies you need to become the best basketball player, coach, and fan that you can be. 32 pages with color photos and a wipe-off board

Football All-Pro Ingram, Scott & Ingram, William Scott

Making of a Champion series. Features close-up case studies of world-class athletes as it presents the training, techniques, and skills necessary to be a champion. The various levels of the sport are also covered, as are the realities of life as a professional athlete.

Little Giant Book of Football Facts Pellowski, Michael J

This book contains thousands of football facts and fun trivia as well as great stories, amazing plays and players and lots more football info.

Sports Heroes: Football Littleton , Mark

Discover how the worlds of faith and sports unite in this fast paced book with 8 page of black and white action photos.

Best on Ice: The World's Top Figure Skaters Cranston , Patty

A behind-the-scenes look at skating's most famous stars, including Elvis Stojko, Michael Weiss, Tara Lipinski, and many others.

Figure Skating Champions MIlton, Steve

Photos of leading skaters from around the world are accompanied by detailed profiles, statistics and stories. Includes information on 2002 Winter Olympic results.

Hockey the NHL Way : Tips from the Pros Rossiter, Sean & Carson, Paul

Filled with inside information, this official NHL volume contains words of wisdom from legendary coaches Scott Bowman and Pat Quinn, while such players as Jaromir Jagr, Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, and Mark Messier provide their insights on topics such as scoring goals, being consistent, staying focused, and leading by example.

Hockey: How to Play Like the Pros Rossiter, Sean & Carson, Paul

This fast-paced, illustrated guide shows young hockey players how to have fun while improving their game to play like their pro heroes. Features easy-to-follow analysis of the game's core skills; personal tips from the experts; and more.

Kickboxing Sipe, Daniel

Action Sport series. Covers basic equipment and how to buy it, beginning techniques, advanced skills, competition, conditioning and safety tips, plus profiles of pioneering people. 48 page book includes color photos, table of contents, glossary, bibliography, and index.

World-Class Judo Player Mason, Paul

Making of a Champion series. Features close-up case studies of world-class athletes as it presents the training, techniques, and skills necessary to be a champion. The various levels of the sport are also covered, as are the realities of life as a professional athlete.

And Nobody Got Hurt! Berman, Len

The World's Weirdest, Wackiest, True Sports Stories. Showcases the funniest and most amazing stories in the history of sports in this collection taken from the author's popular TV segments.

Play-By-Play Soccer Coleman, Lori

Play By Play Sports Series. Colorful, informative, step-by-step introduction to the sport includes sequential photos to demonstrate basic maeuvers and techniques. Includes brief history, strategy and philosophy of the sport.

World Soccer Star Godsall, Ben

Making of a Champion series. Features close-up case studies of world-class athletes as it presents the training, techniques, and skills necessary to be a champion. The various levels of the sport are also covered, as are the realities of life as a professional athlete.

Slam Dunk Jokes for Kids Phillips, Bob

Collection of wacky puns, knock-knocks, jokes, and riddles. 220 pages.

Baseball Jokes and Riddles Christopher, Matt

The House of Dies Drear Hamilton , Virginia
Thomas Small discovers a secret in his family's home, which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor:

Indian Chiefs by Russell Freeman:
Biographies of six Western Indian chiefs who lead their people in historic moments

The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton:
African-American folktales of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and a desire for freedom.

The Rainbow People by Laurence Yep:
A collection of twenty Chinese folktales that were passed on by word of mouth for generations.

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie:
A Chinese girl overcomes the wickedness of her step family to become the bride of a prince

Journey of the Sparrows Fran Leeper Buss
Nailed into a crate in the back of a truck, 15-year-old Maria, her older sister Julia, their little brother Oscar, and a boy named Tomas endure a cruel journey across the U.S. border and then north to Chicago. There they struggle to find work -- cleaning, sewing, washing dishes -- always careful to remain "invisible" so the authorities won't arrest and deport them. Despite the family's ordeals, hope and love can be found -- in Maria's budding romance with Tomas, in the help given by a kindly midwife and priest, and most of all, in the stories Maria tells to lift the family's spirits, of a little sparrow who brings a rainbow. Starkly realistic and tenderly poetic, this powerfully moving story of the secret lives of immigrants who courageously triumph over incredible obstacles is not to be missed.

Belle Prater's Boy Ruth White
When Woodrow's mother suddenly disappears, he moves to his grandparents' home in a small Virginia town where he befriends his cousin, and together they find the strength to face the terrible losses and fears in their lives.

Absolutely Normal Chaos Sharon Creech
A prequel to the Newbery Medal-winning Walk Two Moons, this book chronicles the daily life of 13-year-old Mary Lou Finney during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever. Mary Lou's summer journal -- which she begins grudgingly as a dreaded assignment for school -- becomes a hilarious chronicle of the circle of people and events that make her summer. There is Carl Ray, the mysterious and troublesome cousin that comes to visit; Beth Ann Bartels, her best friend who's recently gone boy crazy; Alex Cheevy, the boy that makes Mary Lou's brains "mushy;" and, of course, the Finney clan, her "normally strange family." What follows is the story of a summer filled with lessons and observations on love, death, friendship, and family.

Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson, Donna Diamond (illus.)
An extraordinarily powerful tribute to friendship, this Newbery Award-winning novel recounts the unlikely friendship of a country boy, Jess, and his neighbor, an uprooted city girl named Leslie. When Leslie is killed during a storm while trying to reach Terabithia, their secret hiding place, Jess must gather all his strength to come to terms with his loss and find a way to heal.

Catherine, Called Birdy Karen Cushman
Catherine, the spirited and inquisitive daughter of an English country knight, narrates in diary form the story of her 14th year -- in the year 1290. Here, she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia C. S. Lewis, Chris Van Allsburg (illus.)
Enter the magical land of Narnia , where enchanted creatures live and battles are fought between good and evil! The seven volumes of C. S. Lewis's famed fantasy series come boxed in a hardcover case.

The Egypt Game Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Alton Raible (illus.)
Even to Melanie, who knew that you could never predict what a new kid would be like, April Hall was something of a surprise. One look at her stringy upswept hair, false eyelashes, and ragged fox-fur collar, convinced Melanie that April was not going to be easy to integrate into the sixth grade at Wilson School . Within a month, April and Melanie had developed a common interest in ancient Egypt and had begun to develop a land of Egypt in an abandoned storage yard. Complications arose when other people joined the original Egyptians, when a murderer ranged the neighborhood, and when an oracle predicted strange things. But it was all in the game, which gave even April a fall and winter to remember.

The Giver Lois Lowry
Eleven-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. There is no war or pain, and there are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community.

Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck
While the powerlessness of the laboring class is a recurring theme in Steinbeck's work of the late 1930s, he narrowed his focus when composing Of Mice and Men, creating an intimate portrait of two men facing a world marked by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. But though the scope is narrow, the theme is universal; a friendship and a shared dream that makes an individual's existence meaningful.

I Heard the Owl Call My Name Margaret Craven
Amid the grandeur of the remote Pacific Northwest stands Kingcome, a village so ancient that, according to Kwakiutl myth, it was founded by the two brothers left on earth after the great flood. The Native Americans who still live there call it Quee, a place of such incredible natural richness that hunting and fishing remain primary food sources. But the old culture of totems and potlatch is being replaces by a new culture of prefab housing and alcoholism. Kingcome's younger generation is disenchanted and alienated from its heritage. And now, coming upriver is a young vicar, Mark Brian, who has two years to live. Sent to this Indian parish in British Columbia , Mark embarks on a journey of discovery that can teach him -- and us -- about life, death, and the transforming power of love.

The Killer Angels Michael Shaara
In the four most bloody and courageous days of our nation's history, two armies fought for two dreams. One dreamed of freedom, the other of a way of life. Far more than rifles and bullets were carried into battle. There were memories. There were promises. There was love. And far more than men fell on those Pennsylvania fields. Shattered futures, forgotten innocence, and crippled beauty were also the casualties of war. A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Killer Angels is unique, sweeping, unforgettable -- a dramatic re-creation of the Battle of Gettysburg. Orphaned as a baby, Harry Potter has spent 11 awful years living with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin. But everything changes for Harry when an owl delivers a mysterious letter inviting him to attend a school for wizards. At this special school, Harry finds friends, fun, and magic in everything from classes to meals, as well as a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.

The Island Gary Paulsen
Every morning 15-year-old Wil Neuton gets up, brushes his teeth, leaves the house, and rows away from shore. He's discovered the island, a place where he can go to be alone and learn to know nature -- and himself. On the island he watches the loons and the fish in the lake, and he writes and paints. It feels good to get away from the tension rising between his parents -- tension brought on by yet another move to a new town. But Wil can't stay away from the outside world forever. He must face Ray Bunner, the bully determined to challenge him, and his parents, who worry when Wil decides to stay on the island indefinitely. Can Wil bridge the growing gap between himself and the rest of the world?

Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli
When Jeffrey Lionel Magee wanders into Two Mills, Pennsylvania , a legend is in the making. Before too long, stories begin to circulate about how fast and how far he can run and about feats so incredible they earn him the nickname "Maniac."

The Midwife's Apprentice Karen Cushman
In medieval England , a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she wants most: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.

Number the Stars Lois Lowry
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. When the Nazis begin "relocating" the Jews of Denmark, Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. And as Annemarie helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis and embarks on a dangerous mission, she learns how to be brave and courageous -- to save her best friend's life.

The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster, Jules Feiffer (illus.)
This ingenious fantasy centers around Milo , a bored ten-year old who comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates and begins a memorable journey. He meets such characters as the foolish yet lovable Humbug, the Mathemagician, and the not-so-wicked "Which," Faintly Macabre, who gives Milo the "impossible" mission of returning two princesses to the Kingdom of Wisdom . Along his journey, Milo learns the importance of words and numbers -- and learns to appreciate life.

The River Gary Paulsen
In this exciting sequel to Hatchet, 15-year-old Brian Robeson, who survived alone in the wilderness for 54 days, returns to the wilderness at the request of a government survival school. This time, however, he won't be alone: Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him to observe and take notes. But during a freak storm, Derek is hit by lightning and falls into a coma. Afraid that Derek will die of dehydration unless he can get him to a doctor, Brian's only hope is to build a raft and try to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred D. Taylor
The Logans, a black family living in the South during the 1930s, are faced with prejudice and discrimination which their children don't understand. It takes the events of one turbulent year -- the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black -- to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride, for no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans posess something no one can take away.

German Soldier Bette Greene
The summer that Patty Bergen turns 12 is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during World War II, Patty learns what it means to open her heart. Even though she's Jewish, she begins to see a prison escapee, Anton, not as a Nazi, but as a lonely, frightened young man with feelings not unlike her own. In Anton, Patty finds someone who softens the pain of her own father's rejection and who appreciates her in a way her mother never will. While patriotic feelings run high, Patty risks losing family, friends -- even her freedom -- for this dangerous friendship. It is a risk she has to take and one she will have to pay a price to keep.

Where the Red Fern Grows Wilson Rawls
A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. Together, the three of them experience danger, adventure, love, and sorrow.

Sites used for choosing books.

Online books

http://kids.nypl.org/reading/Childrensebooks.cfm

Third Grade

http://www.weberpl.lib.ut.us/booklists/books.php?BookListID=13&SortOrder=Author

http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=62

http://www.education-world.com/summer_reading/3rd_grade.shtml

http://www.just-for-kids.com/48.HTM

http://www.neisd.net/read/summer_reading/3-4.pdf

http://www.teaching-tools.com/language-arts/recommended-books/grades3_4.php

Fourth Grade

http://www.education-world.com/summer_reading/4th_grade.shtml

http://www.weberpl.lib.ut.us/booklists/books.php?BookListID=14&SortOrder=Author

http://www.weberpl.lib.ut.us/booklists/books.php?BookListID=15&SortOrder=Author

http://www.just-for-kids.com/912.HTM

http://www.neisd.net/read/summer_reading/3-4.pdf

http://www.teaching-tools.com/language-arts/recommended-books/grades3_4.php

Fifth Grade

http://www.education-world.com/summer_reading/5th_grade.shtml

http://www.just-for-kids.com/912.HTM

http://www.neisd.net/read/summer_reading/5-6.pdf

http://www.teaching-tools.com/language-arts/recommended-books/grades5_6.php

All the Grades (have to scroll to age group)

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/booklists/suggestedbooks.htm