Recommended Reading

Tips for Reading with Your Children

Kindergarten

1^st Grade

2^nd Grade

3^rd Grade

4^th Grade

5^th & 6^th Grade

Tips for Reading with Your Children

1. Read with your children at least 15 minutes every day.

2. Read for enjoyment and interact with the book.

3. Stop reading when your child loses interest.

4. Be expressive – read slowly, pronounce clearly & be enthusiastic.

5. Get to know the book – let your child ask many questions about the story.

6. Give praise – this builds confidence and self esteem and learning will become natural, rewarding & fun.

7. Visit your local library – go often and borrow many different kinds of books.

8. Be a role model – children learn from example and if they see their parents reading they will also want to read!

Good Books for Kindergarten

Baby Brains by Simon James (2004)

Beatrice Doesn’t Want to by Laura Numeroff (2004)

Beverly Billingsly Can’t Catch by Alexander Stadler (2004)

Big Red Tub by Julia Jaiman (2004)

Brave Brave Mouse by Michaela Morgan (2004)

Buster by Denise Fleming (2003)

Calicos’ Curious Kittens by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes (2003)

Captain Duck by Jez Alborough (2002)

Chair for Baby Bear by Kaye Umansky (2003)

Come on Baby Duck by Nick Ward (2005)

Davy in the Middle by Brigitte Weninger (2004)

Day the Babies Crawled Away by Peggy Rathmann (2003)

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (2003)

Dinosaurumpus! By Tony Mitten (2003)

Don’t Forget I Love You by Miriam Moss (2004)

Don’t Get Lost! By Pat Hutchins (2004)

Dumpy La Rue by Elizabeth Winthrop (2001)

Flora’s Surprise by Debi Gliori (2002)

Food for Thought by Saxton Freymann (2005)

Froggy Plays in the Band by Jonathan London (2002)

Froggie Went a Courtin by Iza Trapani (2002)

Good Dog Paw by Chinlun Lee (2004)

Guji, Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen (2004)

Hilda Must be Dancing by Karma Wilson (2004)

I.Q. Goes to the Library by MaryAnn Fraser (2003)

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004)

Kumak’s Fish by Michael Bania (2004)

Little Bunny’s Bathtime by Jane Johnson (2004)

Little Humpty by Margaret Wild (2004)

Little Quack’s Bedtime by Lauren Thompson (2005)

Miss Bindergarten Has a Wild Day in Kindergarten by Joseph Slate (2005)

Manatee Morning by Jim Arnosky (2005)

Moo Who? by Marge Palatini (2004)

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann (2002)

My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells (2004)

Newton by Rory Tyger (2001)

Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems (2004)

Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn (2004)

Princess Chamomile Gets Her Way by Hiamwyn Oram (1999)

Prancing Dancing Lily by Marsha Diane Arnold (2004)

Ravenous Beast by Niamh Sharkey (2003)

Shhh! Everybody’s Sleeping by Julie Markes (2005)

Superdog: The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner (2004)

Sweet Tooth by Marge Palatini (2004)

Trouble on the Tracks by Kathy Mallat (2001)

Good Books for 1^st Grade

Aunt Lucy Went to Buy a Hat by Alice Low (2004)

Albert’s Impossible Toothache by Barbara Williams (2003)

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (2002)

Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle (2004)

Best Picnic Ever by Clare Jarett (2004)

Book! Book! Book! By Debra Bruss (2001)

Carlos and the Really Nice Librarian by Jessica Spanyol (2004)

Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin (2000)

Dahlia by Barbara McClintock (2002)

Day in the Life of Murphy by Alice Provensen (2003)

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (2003)

Dolores and the Big Fire by Andrew Clements (2002)

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin (2004)

Epossumondas by Colleen Salley (2002)

Froggy Goes to Bed by Jonathan London (2000)

Hoptoad by Jane Yolen (2000)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night by Jane Yolen (2000)

I Stink! By Kate McMullan (2002)

Magic Hat by Mem Fox (2002)

Max Cleans Up by Rosemary Wells (2004)

My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza (2003)

Olivia by Ian Falconer (2000)

Plaidypus Lost by Susan Crummel (2004)

Rainbow all Around Me by Sandra Pinkney (2002)

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root (2001)

Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee (2003)

Sometimes I’m Bomballoo by Rachel Vail (2002)

Superdog, the Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner (2004)

Wake Up House! By Dee Lillegard (2000)

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert (2001)

What’s the Hurry, Fox? By Joyce Carol Thomas (2004)

What’s the Time Grandma Wolf? By Ken Brown (2001)

Where’s the Big Bad Wolf? By Eileen Christelow (2002)

Widget and the Puppy by Lyn McFarland (2004)

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra (2004)

With Love, Little Red Hen by Alma Flor Ada (2004)

Wolf ! by Becky Bloom (1999)

READERS

Biscuit Wants To Play by Kate Capucilli (2001)

Brave Norman by Andrew Clements (2001)

Bug in Teacher’s Coffee by Kalli Dakos (1999)

Clifford for President by Acton Figueroa (2004)

Did You See Chip? By Wong Yee (2004)

Giant Jelly Bean Jar by Marcie Aboff (2004)

Good Night, Good Knight by Shelley Thomas (2000)

Hamster Chase by Anastasia Suen (2001)

Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Coerr (1986)

Let the Good Times Roll with Pirate Pete & Pirate Joe by A.E. Cannon (2004)

Meet Dinah Dinosaur by B.G. Hennessy (2000)

Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant (2001)

Seasons by Charlotte Zolotow (2002)

Good Books for 2^nd Grade

EASY

Angelo by David Macaulay (2002)

Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson (2004)

Blue Ribbon Day by Katie Couric (2005)

By My Brother’s Side by Tiki Barber (2004)

Camel’s Lament by Charles Edward Carryl (2004)

Cliffhanger by Jean Craighead Beorge (2002)

Lighthouse Cat by Sue Stainton (2004)

Lucky Leaf by Kevin O’Malley (2004)

Mother to Tigers by George Ella Lyon (20030

Mary Celeste by Jane Yolen (1999)

Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gerstein (2003)

Mr. Maxwell’s Mouse by Frank Asch (2004)

No Place for a Pig by Suzanne Bloom (2003)

Other Dog by Madeleine L’Engle (2001)

Pinduli by Janell Cannon (2004)

Princess and the Pizza by Mary Jane Auch (2002)

Sector Seven by David Weisner (1999)

Sweet Tooth by Margie Palatini (2004)

Well at the End of the World by Robert San Souci (2004)

Zathura: a space adventure by Chris Van Allsburg (2003)

READERS

Abigail Takes the Wheel by Avi (1999)

Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm by Herman Parish (2003)

Max & Jax in Second Grade by Jerdine Nolen (2002)

Mr. Putter & Tabby Write the Book by Cynthia Rylant (2004)

Pinky & Rex & the Just Right Pet by James Howe (2001)

Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown by Paula Danziger (2004)

Tales from the Waterhole by Bob Graham (2004)

Young Cam Jansen and the Double Beach Mystery by David Adler (2002)

STACKS (J Fiction)

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry (2003)

Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve by Mary Pope Osborne (2003)

Mimmy and Sophie, All Around the Town by Miriam Cohen (2004)

Nine Lives of Aristotle by Dick King-Smith (2003)

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look (2004)

Secret Weapon by Matt Christopher (2000)

SOS File by Betsy Byars (2004)

Things Will Never Be the Same by Tomie DePaola (2003)

PAPERBACKS

Case of the Tricky Trap by John Erickson (2005)

Cody Unplugged by Betsy Duffey (2001)

Miss Daisy is Crazy by Dan Gutman (2004)

Real Slam Dunk by Charisse Richardson (2005)

Robert Henry Hendershot by Susan E. Goodman (2005)

Seal Island School by Susan Bartlett (2001)

Good Books for 3^rd Grade

Into the Land of the Lost by Tony Abbott

Cam Jansen Mystery Series by David Adler

Miss Nelson is Missing (and others in the series) by Harry Allard

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater

The Latchkey Dog by Mary Jane Auch

Poppy , Poppy and Rye by Avi

Howie Banks, Secret Agent by Kate Banks

Beans on the Roof by Betsy Cromer Byars

The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron

Sebastian (Super Sleuth) Series by Mary Blount Christian

The Catcher’s Mask Series by Matt Christopher

Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Math Rashes and Other… by Douglas Evans

McBroom and the Big Wind by Sid Fleischman

Sable by Karen Hesse

Class Clown or E is for Elisha (and others) by Johanna Hurwitz

Anna and the Cat Lady by Barbara Joose

The Invisible Dog by Dick King-Smith

Horrible Harry Moves Up to Third Grade (and others) by Jackie French Koller

Meg MacKintosh and the Case of the Missing Babe Ruth Baseball by Lucinda Landon

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Rats on the Roof and Other Stories by James Marshall

Judy Moody Saves the World (and others) by Megan McDonald

Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne

Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park

Blue Moose by Daniel Pinkwater

Harry in Trouble (and other Harry stories) by Barbara Porte

Jigsaw Jones Series by James Preller

The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson

Cobble Street Cousins Series by Cynthia Rylant

Marvin Redpost Series by Louis Sachar

The Flunking of Joshua T. Bates by Susan Shreve

Encyclopedia Brown Series by Donald Sobol

Lizzie Logan Series by Eileen Spinelli

Many Moons by James Thurber

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Good Books for 4th Grade

J PAPERBACK

Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements (1981)

Harvey Angell by Diana Hendry (2001)
Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene

Great Quick Solve Whodunit Puzzles (mini-mysteries) by Jim Sukach (1998)

J INTERMEDIATE

The Good Dog by Avi (2001)

No More Magic by Avi (1997)

Prairie School by Avi (2001)

The Secret School by Avi (2001)

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (1995)

On My Honor by Marion Bauer (1987)

Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume (1990)

Tales of a 4^th Grade Nothing by Judy Blume (1972)

Spiderman’s Amazing Powers by James Buckley Jr.

Gloria Rising by Ann Cameron (2002)

Notes From a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko

The Jacket by Andrew Clements (2002)

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (2001)

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (2001)

The Big Nap (a Chet Gecko Mystery) by Bruce Hale (2002)

Holes by Louis Sachar (1999)

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar (1998)

The Story of Spiderman by Michael Teitelbaum (2001)

Love Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles (2001)

Amber Was Brave, Essie was Smart by Vera Williams (2001)

The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson (2001)

The Pictish Child by Jane Yolen (1999)

The Wizard’s Map by Jane Yolen (1999)

J INTERMEDIATE SERIES

Dear America (various authors)

My America

Princess Tales by Gail Levine (2002)

Orphan Train Children by Joan Lowery Nixon

Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieska

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (1999)

Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede

J INTERMEDIATE NON-FICTION

Boredome Blasters J793.7 Todd (2000)

Cartoon Magic QJ741.5 Cart (2001)

Cartooning for Kids J741.5 Arte (2002)

Crafting fun Stuff with a Crowd of Kids J745.5 Sche (2003)

The Hero’s Trail J170.44 Barr (2003)

Leonardo’s Horse J730.92 Frit (2001)

Little Lit: Folklore & Fairytale Funnies J741.5973 Litt (2001)

Poetry by Heart QJ808 Poet (2001)

Skateboarding QJ796.22 Hors

Good Books for 5^th and 6^th Grades

Abduction by Peg Kehret (2004)

Agnes Parker, Girl in Progress by Kathleen O’Dell (2003)

Beware! – R.L. Stine’s favorite scary stories collection by R.L. Stine (2002)

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliot (2004)

Coyotes in the House by Elmore Leonard (2004)

Crow Girl: The Children of Crow Cove by Bodil Bredsdorff (2004)

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (2001)

Good Dog by Avi (2001)

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (2003)

Green Boy by Susan Cooper (2002)

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (1998-2005)

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech (2004)

Indigos Star by Hilary McKay (2003)

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love by Bruce Coville (2003)

Lizzie Bright & the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt (2004)

Loser by Jerry Spinelli (2002)

Madame Squidley & Beanie by Alice Mead (2004)

Millions by Frank Cottrell (2005)

Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones (2001)

Not Just a Witch by Eva Ibbotson (2003)

Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliori (2001)

Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques (2004)

Rope Trick by Lloyd Alexander (2002)

Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (1999-2004)

Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson (2004)

Stowaway by Karen Hesse (2000)

Top 10 Ways to Ruin the 1^st Day of 5^th Grade by Kenneth Derby (2004)

Trout & Me by Susan Richards Shreve (2002)

What Would Joey Do? By Jack Gantos (2002)

Whistle, the Grave & the Ghost by John Bellairs (2003)

Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (2000)