Summer Recommended Reading List 2005
Grade 3 and Grade 4
Any available unabridged edition of a title is acceptable.

Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Lewis and Clark. Holiday House, 2003.  An illustrated introduction to the lives of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the exploratory expedition they led from St. Louis to the Pacific in the early nineteenth century.

Ahlberg, Allan. The Cat Who Got Away. Candlewick, 2003.  It is an exciting couple of days for the Gaskitt family and their community, with missing pets, an unusual substitute teacher, and a new addition to their household.

Atwater, Richard. Mr. Popper’s Penguins. First published 1938.  The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortune of Mr. Popper. Newbery Honor book.

Avi. The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (And an Even Smaller Ant). Harcourt, 2004.  Snail and ant make discoveries about their world as they seek the meaning of an “adventure” while traveling from one end of a branch to the other.

Avi. The Mayor of Central Park. HarperCollins, 2003.  Oscar Westerwit, a squirrel who loves baseball, fights back when a gangster rat, Big Daddy Duds, moves into Central Park.

Barron, T. A.  High As a Hawk: A Brave Girl’s Historic Climb. Philomel, 2004.  In 1905, eight-year-old Harriett Peters wants to fulfill her dead mother’s dream by climbing Long’s Peak in Colorado with the help of an old mountain guide. Based on a true story.

Birney, Betty. The World According to Humphrey. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2004.  Humphrey, a pet hamster at Longfellow School, changes the lives of students and teachers “without saying a word.”

Blume, Judy. Double Fudge. Dutton 2002.  His younger brother’s obsession with money and the discovery of the long-lost cousins, Flora and Fauna, provide many embarrassing moments for twelve-year-old Peter.

Brown, Don. Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Houghton Mifflin, 2004.  Albert Einstein, a subject uncommon to young readers, is introduced in this picture book that portrays how his brilliance often caused him to be the odd boy in school and in life.

Byers, Betsy. My Dog, My Hero. Henry Holt, 2000.  A panel of three judges has to decide which dog out of eight finalists deserves to win the title of “My Hero.”

Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. First published 1865 and 1872.  This is the enchanting fantasy of Alice, who falls down the rabbit hole and meets the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, and other strange characters.

Chocolate, Debbi. Pigs Can Fly!: The Adventures of Harriet Pig and Friends. Carus Publishing, 2004.  In four stories, Harriet Pig realizes her dream to fly, helps a friend, trains for a swim race, and repays a mouse that saved her life.

Child, Lauren. Utterly Me, Clarice Bean. Candlewick Press, 2003.  Clarice and her best friend Betty Moody collaborate on a school project, but when Betty is absent, Clarice is paired with Karl, the worst boy in the class.

Cleary, Beverly. Ramona’s World. Morrow, l999.  Enjoy the adventures of nine-year-old Ramona as she experiences the ups and downs of fourth grade, tries to be a good role model for her new baby sister, Roberta, and delights in her new best friend, Daisy.

Cleary, Brian P.  Rainbow Soup. Carolrhoda Books, 2004.  This clever, comical introduction to various types of poetry, including limericks, concrete poems, and haiku, is sure to start some giggles!

Clements, Andrew. Jake Drake, Class Clown. Simon & Schuster, 2002.  Jake acts like a class clown in order to cheer up his teacher.

Clements, Andrew. The Report Card. Simon & Schuster, 2004.  Although she is a genius, Nora Rowley receives five D’s and one C on her report card after deciding that grades are unimportant. Will Nora succeed in her attempt to change things at her school?

Cole, Joanna. Ms. Frizzle’s Adventures: Medieval Castle. Scholastic, 2003.  When Ms. Frizzle and her student Arnold follow an underground passage beneath Craig’s Castle Shop and find themselves in a 12^th century English castle under siege, they learn a great deal about castles and the Middle Ages.

Colfer, Eoin. The Legend of Spud Murphy. Miramax Books, 2004.  When their mother starts dropping them off at the library several afternoons a week, nine-year-old William and his brother dread boredom and the overbearing town librarian, but they are surprised at how things turn out.

Craft, Mahlon F. Sleeping Beauty. Chronicle Books, 2002.  A beautiful and beloved princess, cursed by the one fairy who was not invited to her christening, pricks her finger on her sixteenth birthday and falls asleep for one hundred years.

Crisp, Marty. White Star: A Dog on the Titanic. Holiday House, 2004.  Sam, a young passenger on the Titanic, volunteers to help care for the dogs on board. When disaster strikes, he must make a difficult decision regarding Star, the beautiful Irish setter he has come to love.

Crowell, Cressida. How to Train Your Dragon. Little, Brown, 2004.  Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon.

Dahl, Roahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. First published 1964.  Charlie finds the winning ticket in a Wonka Bar and is rewarded for his kindness.

Dyer, Heather. The Fish in Room 11. Scholastic, 2004.  Toby, an orphan living in a hotel by the sea, finds the love and support of a real family when he meets Eliza Flot, a mermaid living with her family under the dock.

Easton, Patricia Harrison. Davey’s Blue Eyed Frog. Clarion 2003.  A bossy talking frog that claims to be a princess in need of a kiss causes Davey to think and then rethink how to help her.

Erdrich, Lise. Sacagawea. Carolrhoda, 2003.  A biography of the Shoshone girl, Sacagawea, from age eleven when she was kidnapped by the Hitdatsa to the end of her journey with Lewis and Clark, including speculation about her later life.

Farris, Christine. My Brother, Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing up with The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Simon & Schuster, 2003.  The reader views the early life of Martin Luther King, Jr. as seen through the eyes of his older sister.

Franco, Betsy. Mathematickles. McElderry Book, 2003.  Poems written in the form of mathematical problems are grouped according to seasonal themes.

Friedman, Laurie and Tamara Schmitz. Mallory on the Move. Carolrhoda, 2004.  Eight-year-old Mallory is unhappy after moving to a new town and remains torn between her old and new best friends.

Gardiner, John R. Stone Fox. First published 1980.  Willie hopes to win the purse in a dog sled race in order to pay the back taxes on his grandfather’s farm.

Gardner, Sally. The Countess’s Calamity. Bloomsbury, 2003.  Dolls abandoned in a park, are rescued by Mr. and Mrs. Mouse, who provide a home for them and protect them through various adventures despite the horrible behavior of the doll called the Countess.

Garland, Sherry. Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam. Harcourt, 2001.  Folktales featuring talking animals and beautiful princesses enrich the readers’ understanding of Vietnam.

Gibbons, Gail. Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs: A Book About Ancient Egypt. Little, Brown, 2004.  Explores daily life in ancient Egypt, with descriptions of the people, daily activities, beliefs and customs, and what has been learned from artifacts left behind.

Goodall, Jane. Rickie and Henri: A True Story. Penguin, 2004.  A frightened orphan baby chimpanzee meets a shaggy dog, and a bond is formed.

Greene, Stephanie. Owen Foote, Mighty Scientist. Clarion, 2004.  Owen and his best friend Joseph enter their tadpole project in the science fair, but when problems occur and some of the tadpoles die, the boys must find a way to salvage both the project and their friendship.

Haas, Jessie. Birthday Pony. Greenwillow, 2004.  Grandma Aggie tries to help her granddaughter Jane and the high-spirited pony Popcorn become riding partners.

Hamilton, Virginia. The Girl Who Spun Gold. Scholastic, 2000.  This beautifully illustrated folk tale is a West Indian variant of the Rumpelstiltskin story.

Hill, Elizabeth Starr. Wildfire. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004.  Ten-year-old Ben knows better than to disobey the Fourth of July ban on fireworks in hot, bone-dry Florida, but he lets newcomer Elliot influence him, and severe consequences occur.

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Simon & Schuster, 2004.  The poetry of fifteen well-known children’s poets is accompanied by colorful illustrations.

Hopkinson, Deborah. Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings. Atheneum, 2003.  In the early 1900’s Ann Weiss, a young woman who has always loved baseball, finds a way to play.

Holt, Kimberly Willis. Mister and Me. Penguin, 1998.  In a small Louisiana mill town in 1940, Jolene does not want her Momma to marry the logger who is courting her, but even her bad behavior does not drive him away.

Howe, James. It Came from Beneath the Bed! Simon & Schuster, 2002.  With help from his Uncle Harold, Howie, a wired-haired dachshund, writes a story in which he save the world from a science experiment gone awry.

Hurwitz, Johanna. Fourth Grade Fuss.  HarperCollins, 2004. Julio and his best friend Lucas share adventures in the fourth grade, including preparing to take the end-of-year statewide test.

Jennings, Patrick. The Weeping Willow: An Ike and Mem Story. Holiday House, 2002.  While trying to build a “boys only” tree house, Ike and his best friend Buzzy argue so much that Ike builds his sister Mem a playhouse.

Johnson, Tony. The Mummy’s Mother. Blue Sky Press, 2003.  When his mother is stolen from her tomb, Ramose, a 4,010-year-old mummy, tries to find her in the Egyptian desert, aboard an ocean liner, and in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum.

King-Smith, Dick. The Nine Lives of Aristotle. Candlewick, 2003.  Aristotle, a little white kitten, goes to live with a kind witch in an old cottage, where he finds many opportunities for risky adventures.

Krull, Kathleen. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew up to Become Dr. Seuss. Random House, 2004. Introduces the life of renowned children's author and illustrator Ted Geisel, popularly known as Dr. Seuss, focusing on his childhood and youth in Springfield, Massachusetts. A wonderful selection to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s 100^th birthday.

Leedy, Loreen and Pat Street. There’s a Frog in My Throat: 440 Animal Sayings a Little Bird Told Me. Winslow Press, 2002.  Animal idioms we hear every day are explained with humor and colorful illustrations.

Logan, Claudia. The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle.  Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2002.  Young Will Hunt is invited on the discovery expedition of a secret tomb in Giza, Egypt, and he shares his experiences with postcards, newspaper accounts, hieroglyphic puzzles and real photos.

Long, Laurel and Jacqueline K. Ogburn. The Lady and the Lion. Dial, 2003.  In this extravagantly illustrated fairy tale, a lady travels to save her beloved from the evil enchantress who turned him first into a lion, then a dove.

Lowry, Lois. Gooney Bird Greene. Houghton Mifflin, 2002.  A most unusual new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teachers and fellow students by telling absolutely true stories about herself and encouraging her classmates to become storytellers too.

Lubar, David. Dog Days. Darby Creek Publishing, 2004.  Larry’s summer of baseball and caring for stray dogs changes directions when his younger brother is convinced that a crime has been committed close to their neighborhood.

MacLean, Christine. Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan. Dutton Children’s Books, 2004.  Mary Margaret, desperate for a pet, develops a plan to get the cuddly, furry pet of her dreams, despite the fact that her father is allergic to both cats and dogs and her mother is expecting a baby and feeling “crabby.”

Markle, Sandra. Growing Up Wild: Wolves. Atheneum, 2001.  Extraordinary color photographs and informative text show how gray wolf cubs are born and grow up in the wild.

Markle, Sandra. Outside and Inside Giant Squids. Walker & Co., 2003.  Provides full-color photographs and fascinating facts about these giants of the deep.

McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody Predicts the Future. Candlewick, 2003.  After Judy obtains a mood ring, she tries to convince herself and her third-grade classmates that she can predict the future.

Miller, Debbie S. The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail. Walker & Co., 2002.  The exciting account of the dog relay to bring diphtheria serum to Nome in 1925 is enhanced by incredible illustrations by nature artist John Van Zyle.

Mills, Claudia. Perfectly Chelsea. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004.  Nine-year-old Chelsea’s experiences, which include a fight with her best friend, making mistakes in the handbell concert, and saying goodbye to the only church minister she has ever known, help her to accept that things change and that people, including herself, are not perfect.

Morgan, Clay. The Boy Who Spoke Dog. Dutton, 2003.  After being marooned on an island near New Zealand, Jack, an orphaned cabin boy from San Francisco, becomes allied with a group of dogs that protect the local sheep from the wild dogs.

Nagda, Ann Whitehead. Meow Means Mischief. Holiday House, 2003.  A stray kitten turns out to be the perfect way to help Rana make friends in her new school and to feel more comfortable with her grandparents, who are visiting from India while her parents are away.

Pinkney, Jerry. Noah’s Ark. SeaStar, 2002.  Retells the biblical story of the great flood and how Noah and his family responded to God’s call to save life on earth. Caldecott Honor book.

Prelutsky, Jack. Scranimals. Greenwillow, 2002.  A beautifully illustrated collection of nonsense verse about the curious creatures of Scranimal Island.

Pringle, Laurence. Whales! Strange and Wonderful. Boyds Mills, 2003.  Discusses species, physiognomy, and behavior of whales while always stressing their conservation and the efforts made to save whales.

Reiche, Dietlof. Freddy In Peril: Book Two In the Golden Hamster Saga. Scholastic, 2004.  When the evil Professor Fleischkophf attempts to kidnap Freddy in order to dissect his brain and discover why he can read and write, Freddy needs the help of his humorous and talented friends to outsmart the villain.

Rylant, Cynthia. Lighthouse Family: The Eagle. Simon & Schuster, 2004.  Mice children Lila and Whistler leave their lighthouse to explore the nearby woods but eventually need the help of Stanley the Eagle to find their way back home.

Scieszka, Jon. Me Oh Maya. Penguin, 2003.  The Time Warp Trio is whisked on an adventure to Mexico in 1000 A.D.  They arrive in the middle of a Mayan court ball game where they must play and win the game to prevent being sacrificed. Time Warp Trio Series

Sepulveda, Luis. The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her to Fly. Scholastic, 2003. A seagull, dying from the effects of an oil spill, entrusts her egg to Zorba the cat, who promises to care for it until her chick hatches, then teach the chick to fly.

Silverstein, Shel. Falling Up. HarperCollins, 1996.  Enjoy the last collection of humorous poems written by the popular American author.

Simon, Seymour. Dogs. HarperCollins, 2004.  This colorful photo essay provides young dog lovers with a basic introduction to the behavior and characteristics of dogs.

Simon, Seymour. Hurricanes. HarperCollins, 2003.  Learn how and where hurricanes are formed, the destruction they cause, and what precautions to take when a hurricane strikes.

Smith, David J. If the World Were a Village. Kids Can Press. 2002.  This book gives diverse information about the population of the world as if it was a village of 100 people.

St. George, Judith. So You Want to Be an Inventor? Philomel, 2002.  This humorous, but true, presentation of the characteristics of many inventors is a delightful way to learn about men and women such as Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Hedy Lamarr.

Turner, Pamela S. Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog. Houghton Mifflin, 2004.  Relates the true story of a dog who accompanied his master to and from a Tokyo train station for a year and, after his master died, continued to wait for him there every day for many years.

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Secret Identity: Shredderman. Random House, 2004.  Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a new secret identity: Shredderman.

Wallace, Bill. No Dogs Allowed. Holiday House, 2004.  After her beloved horse Dandy dies, Kristine is convinced she never wants another pet.

Ward, Helen. Unwitting Wisdom: An Anthology of Aesop’s Fables. Chronicle Books, 2004.  In this beautifully illustrated anthology, twelve of Aesop’s fables are uniquely retold, complete with the essential morals.

Winthrop, Elizabeth. The Castle in the Attic. Holiday House, 1985.  A miniature castle comes to life for ten-year-old William when he shrinks to fit into its adventures.

Wisniewski, David. The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups: The Second File. HarperCollins. 2001.  Creative reasons behind rules made by grownups for children are laugh-out-loud funny.

Yolen, Jane. Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys. Silver Whistle, 2003.  A collection of 14 folktales from around the world demonstrates the triumph of brain over brawn and strength in compassion and kindness.

Compiled by: Sandy Bryan (Chair), River Oaks Baptist School;

Shirley Dodson, First Baptist School; Caro Ann Germann, Kinkaid School;

Connie Harper, Second Baptist School; Laurie Mitchell, St. Mark’s Episcopal School;

Sandra Walsh, Duchesne Academy