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Incoming Fourth Grade Summer Reading 2009 |
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Dear Parents and Students,
Summer reading should be fun. These reading lists have been prepared by the librarians in the Santa Monica-Malibu USD in collaboration with the Santa Monica Public Library. The lists provide a selection of good books that children enjoy. Not every good book is included, but the lists have something for every reader. Reading levels are suggestions only as every child learns to read at his or her own speed. Children can read many of the books, especially books in a series, by themselves, while others are perfect to read aloud. Most authors included on these lists have written more than one good book, and many, such as Judy Blume, Christopher Paul Curtis, Ursula LeGuin, and Jack Gantos write for all ages. Some titles are also available as audio books so families can enjoy a good book together.
Realistic
Blume, Judy. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Peter finds his demanding two-year-old brother an ever-increasing problem.
Creech, Sharon. Granny Torrelli Makes Soup - With the help of her wise old grandmother, Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend.
Gifford, Peggy. Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little - With summer coming to an end, Moxy Maxwell does a hundred different things to avoid reading her assigned summer reading book.
Greene, Stephanie. Falling into Place - As Margaret struggles to find a way of coping with a new stepfamily, she learns that her Gran is facing similar concerns after moving to a retirement home.
Mead, Alice. Junebug (series) - A young boy who lives with his mother and sister in a housing project approaches his tenth birthday with mixed feelings.
Williams, Vera B. Scooter - With the help of her silver blue scooter and a positive attitude, Elana slowly adjusts to her new home in New York City.
Humor
David, Lawrence. Horace Splattly (series) - When fourth grader Horace Splattly eats his sister’s special cupcakes, he becomes the Cupcaked Crusader, Blootinville Elementary’s superhero.
Gantos, Jack. Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (series)- Ten-year-old Jack becomes confused by a crush on his teacher, contradictory advice from his parents, and a very strange neighbor.
Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Longstocking (series)- Escapades of a lucky little girl who lives with a horse and a monkey--but without any parents--at the edge of a Swedish village.
Mason, Simon. The Quigleys (series) - The hilarious escapades about an irrepressible, yet warmly affectionate family.
Rockwell, Thomas. How To Eat Fried Worms - A boy sets out to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days in order to win a bet.
Sachar, Louis. Wayside School (series) - Unusual things happen in Wayside School, which was built sideways with one classroom on each story.
Smith, Robert K. Chocolate Fever - Henry breaks out in brown bumps from eating too much chocolate.
Animal Stories
Avi. Poppy (series) - Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a big field of corn, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.
Cleary, Beverly. The Mouse and the Motorcycle (series) - Ralph, an adventure-loving mouse, and his adventures on a toy motorcycle.
King-Smith, Dick. Funny Frank - Being a duck isn't all it's quacked up to be. But don't try telling that to Frank – he's a chicken with a dream.
Selden, George. The Cricket in Times Square - The adventures of a country cricket who unintentionally arrives in New York and is befriended by Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat.
Mystery & Adventure
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money (first in the Flint Future Detectives series) - Flint Future Detective Club members solve the mystery of a quadrillion-dollar bill.
Hale, Bruce. Chet Gecko (series) - Green-scaled, smart-aleck fourth grader, Chet Gecko stars in these mysteries as the intrepid, private-eye lizard.
Howe, James and Deborah. Bunnicula (series) - The madcap tales of the beloved vampire bunny, Bunnicula, and his animal pals, Harold, Chester, and Howie.
Joosse, Barbara M. Wild Willie (series) - These mysteries feature Wild Willie, King Kyle, and Lucky Lucy--otherwise known as the Scarface Detectives.
Sobol, Donald J. Encyclopedia Brown (series) - Encyclopedia Brown, America's Sherlock Holmes in sneakers, uses common sense to solve mysteries in each book.
Non-fiction & Poetry
Bishop, Nic. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close - Describes a variety of animals and insects that can be found close to home and offers tips on how to observe them.
Rosen, Michael J. Balls! - All about basketball, soccer, football, tennis, handball, golf, volleyball, and ping pong balls.
Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends - A boy who turns into a TV set and a girl who eats a whale are two of the characters in a collection of humorous poetry.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Abbott, Tony. The Secrets of Droon series - Eric and his friends find entry into the mysterious world of Droon by using a staircase in Eric's basement.
Amato, Mary. The Word Eater - Lerner Chanse, a new student at Cleveland Park Middle School, finds a worm that magically makes things disappear.
Dahl, Roald. The BFG - Kidsnatched from her orphanage by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), Sophie concocts a plan with him to save the world.
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux - The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, as he attempts to win the love of a human princess.
Elliott, David. The Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle - After eating at a fast food restaurant, ten-year-old Roscoe finds himself turning into a bug.
Le Guin, Ursula K. Catwings (series)- Four young cats with wings leave the city slums in search of a safe place to live.
Juster, Norton. The Phantom Tollbooth - Through the Phantom Tollbooth lies a strange land and stranger adventures for Milo in his quest for Rhyme and Reason.
Winthrop, Elizabeth. The Castle in the Attic (series) – A gift of a toy castle introduces William to magic and adventure.
Historical Fiction
Giff, Patricia Reilly. All the Way Home - When fire destroys the apple crop on his family's upstate New York farm in 1941, Brick's parents must find work elsewhere and send their son to live temporarily in Brooklyn.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Riding Freedom - Charlotte Parkhurst knows the world of the 1860s holds more opportunities for boys than girls, so she cuts off her hair, dons boys' clothing, and begins a new life as a boy.
Taylor, Mildred. The Friendship - Four children witness a confrontation between an elderly black man and a white storekeeper in rural Mississippi in the 1930s.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie (series) Join Laura and her family on their adventures on America’s frontier.
Yep, Laurence. When the Circus Came to Town - An Asian cook and a Chinese New Year celebration help a girl at a stage coach station to regain her confidence after smallpox scars her face.
April 2008 (jb/eb)