Recommended Books
Grades 3-5
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May/June/Summer
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During this past year, this site has featured children’s
favorite books. This section reflects
those books beloved by our staff. This
is the same information that will appear on both the K-2 recommendations and
the 3-5 ones. Books that are appropriate
for the younger set are in red; those that are best for those 9 and up are in blue. (If you have been following the suggestions
this year, you will notice that many of the adult favorities
were the same as those picked by the students.)
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Realistic fiction
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Because of
Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo The Both of these books have
been made into movies – but they are definitely worth reading Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch Wednesday
Surprise, The, by Eve Bunting |
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Historical fiction
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Little House
on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder )These series, and Farmer
Boy is particular, were favorites of every one of our staff that
submitted suggestions! Number the
Stars by Lois Lowry |
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Science fiction/fantasy
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Harry Pottter by J.K.
Rowling (any in the series) The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis |
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Mystery/horror |
Crispin:
Cross of Lead by Avi |
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Fairy tales/folktales
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Papa Gatto, by Ruth
Sanderson Mitten, The, by Jan Brett Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini Cinderella Snow White |
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Poetry/poets
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Douglas Florian’s
Animal Poetry, such as zoo’s who and Beast Feast A Child’s
Garden of Verses by Robert Louis
Stevenson |
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Magazines
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Weekly Reader Sports
Illustrated for Kids National
Geographic for Kids Cricket Ladybug |
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Childhood favorites
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Peter Pan by James Barrie Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Short stories by O-Henry Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Heidi
by Johanna Spri Corduroy by
Don Freeman Horton Hears a
Who by Dr. Seuss |
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March/April |
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Third graders are at the cusp. Some are still reading pictures books, while others are into chapter books of all types. The following list of their favorites represents both types. Many of the titles (or series) are also on the lists of higher (and younger) grades. I’ve given those grade levels in parentheses.
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Realistic fiction:
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- Junie B. Jones, by Barbara Park (series) (Also a favorite with grades 1,2 and 4) - The Man Who Loved Clowns, by June Rae Wood This book about Delrita and her uncle who has Down’s syndrome is more “grown-up” and complex than many of the titles in this list. However, once started, it holds the reader’s attention. - Super Fudge, by Judy Blume -
Ribsy, by -
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by |
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Historical fiction:
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- Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (series) (Grades 4 and 5 also picked this as a favorite.) |
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Mystery/horror:
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Adventures of Short chapter books just right for those still perfecting the art of reading. - Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner (series) (Grade 4 loves this too.) |
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Science fiction/fantasy:
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- Dogzilla, by Dav Pilkey This book, and the one following, are spoofs of Godzilla and King Kong. In this one, the residents of Mousopolis are terrorized by a giant dog, in the next title, by a cat. - Kat Kong, by Dav Pilkey - Martha Speaks, by Susan Meddaugh Whoever knew that eating alphabet soup could make a dog speak! - Magic Tree House Series, by Mary Pope Osborne (This series is beloved by both primary and upper elementary students.) |
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Folktales/legends:
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- Sylvester and the Talking Pebble, by William Steig Be careful what you wish for! Sylvester accidentally wishes to be turned into a rock – and must learn to adjust to his new “form.” - Talking Eggs, The, by Robert D. San Souci A Creole folktale about two sisters – mean, sneaky Rose and kind, loving Blanche. -
Ballad of Mulan, The, by Song - Legends of Michigan Series, by Kathy-jo Wargin (Also recommended by students in grade 5) |
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Poets/poetry:
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As in all grades, Shel Silverstein is the hand-down winner here. Particular favorites are Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Pizza the Size of the Sun. |
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January/February |
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Our January/February favorites are those from the fourth graders in our school. Since every student seems to have their own list, the ones below are just a sampling. (Series are in boldface.)
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How to Eat Fried Junie B. Jones, by Barbara Park (any title) Lucky Baseball Bat, The,, by Matt Christopher When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, by Kimberly Willis Holt |
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Becoming Little Women: Louisa May at Fruitlands, by Jeannine Atkins Based on diaries and journals, this represents six months in the life of Louisa May Alcott, when she was almost 11 years old. Thanksgiving on Thursday, (A Magic Tree House Book), by Mary Pope Osborne Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls American Girl Series (various authors) Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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Box Car Children
Series, by Gertrude Nate the Great Series, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat Fear Place by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Doug and his
brother are left at a American Girl Mysteries (various authors) American Chillers by Johnathan Rand |
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Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling Doll People, by A. Martin, L. Godwin, and B. Selznick Carnival at Candlelight, by Mary Pope Osborne (a Magic Tree House Book) Spiderwick Chronicles (series) by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzie Star Wars (series) – various authors |
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Paul Bunyan Cinderella Johnny Appleseed Aesop’s Fables Rough-Face Girl, The, by Rafe Martin This is an Algonguin Indian version of Cinderella. |
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Poets/Poetry |
Jack Prelutsky (Any and all works by these authors Shel Silverstein are loved by the fourth graders) Dr. Seuss |
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Miscellaneous and non-fiction
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Books on figure-skating Aunt Clara Brown by Linda Lowery (biography) The story of a
freed slave who made her fortune in Benjamin Franklin (biography) James Herriot stories (true stories about animals that the vet has known) |
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November/December |
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As promised, most of the recommendations this year will be made by the students in our school. The November/December selections were made by our fifth graders. The following table lists books by genre, title, and author. Series books are printed in red. A brief summary is given for some of the titles. (Note that some of these titles are quite sophisticated; others are not.)
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Title and Author |
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Realistic fiction
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Hatchet by Gary Paulson A book about Brian’s survival in the wilderness for fifty-four days, after the plane he was in crashes. Monster by Walter Dean Meyer Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is accused of murder. Dealing with his trial, he creates a screenplay in his mind. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls During the Depression, a young mountain boy earns money to buy two coonhounds, who he then trains. |
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Historical fiction
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Little House on the Prairie Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder Righteous Revenge of Artemus Bonner by Walter Dean Meyer A tale of the Wild West, in which Artemis Bonner and his friend Frolic try to avenge Artemis’s uncle's death and recover the treasure that belongs to his widowed aunt. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis Ten-year old Bud Caldwell leaves his third foster home in an attempt to find his father. |
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Mystery/horror
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Inspector Gadget Series by Scott Farentino Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene Hardy Boys Series by Franklin Dixon |
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Science fiction/fantasy
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Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle Meg and Charles Wallace go on a mission in search of their scientist father. |
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Folktales/legends
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Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien The Legend of Sleeping Bear by Kathy-Jo Wargin The Legend of the Loon by Kathy-Jo Wargin The Legend of These three books are all illustrated by Gilbert Van Frankenhuysen. This team has also written other books with similar themes – all revolving around Native American lore. Mystery of the |
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Poets or poetry
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The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (And anything else written by Shel Silverstein Love That Dog by Sharon Creech This is actually a short novel written in verse, about a boy who discovers poetry. |
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September/October |
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This
year the book suggestion part of this website will be devoted to “favorites” – whether
they come from magazine articles, classrooms, or just ideas from staff
members. The first four books listed
below have been chosen as favorites by students in
Favorites of students in the intermediate grades in 2006:
& Right Dog for the Job: Ira’s Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog, by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (Grades 2-3)
This non-fiction book is a photo essay that follows a puppy through his training to be a service dog and then on to becoming a guide dog for the blind.
& Ida B…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World, by Katherine Hannigan (grades 4-5)
Ida B’s perfect, home-schooled world is disrupted when her mother develops cancer and Ida is sent to public school A caring teacher and the love of her parents help her deal with the changes in her life.
& Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman (4-5)
This is the true story of Hachi, an
a Japanese symbol of loyalty and hope by waiting ten years
at a train station for his (dead) master to return, ending only
with his own death.
& Young Man and the Sea, The, by W. Rodman Philbrick (4-5)
Reminiscent of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, young Skiff Beaman tries to catch a giant tuna with a harpoon made by his dad. Fans of Gary Paulsen will enjoy this book.
& Bicycle Man by David L Dudley (The IRA Children’s Book Award winner for intermediate fiction)
Twelve year old Carissa meets Bailey, an elderly gentleman, and is inspired by his bicycle who has taken him on many an exploration. Carissa wonders if the bicycle will expand her world too. This is a book about meeting the challenges of growing up and racism.
& Whittington, by Alan W. Armstrong (A 2006 Newberry Honor Award book)
Three stories are interwoven here – the retelling of the tale of the original Dick
Whittington and his cat, friendship and survival of a group of outcast animals, and Ben’s struggle to overcome his dyslexia. Readers who enjoyed Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Despereaux will want to read Whittington.
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