Recommended Summer Reading
(Some reading levels have been identified to aid in book selection for independent
reading)
Picture Books
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead
The Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews & Emma Walton
Hamilton
What If? by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
Happy Birthday Sophie Hartley by Stephanie Greene
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (Level F)
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Not Last Night But the Night Before by Colin McNaughton
Little Polar Bear and the Whales by Hans de Beer
Cat the Cat, Who Is That? by Mo Willems
Tacky Goes to Summer Camp by Helen Lester (Level L)
Summer Wonders by Bab Raczka
The Barefoot Book of Fairy Tales by Malachy Doyle
My Abuelita by Tony Johnston
King Midas: the golden touch by Demi
Love and Roast Chicken: a trickster tale from the Andes
Mountains by Barbara Knutson
Illustrated Fiction (For Older Children)
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen
Mississippi Mud by Ann Warren Turner (Level P)
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Level Q)
Landed by Milly Lee (Level R)
The Rough-face Girl retold by Rafe Martin (Level S)
So Far From the Sea by Eve Bunting
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco (Level V)
The Elephant's Child by Rudyard Kipling
Easy Readers
Super Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (Level H)
http://www.teddarnoldbooks.com/superflyguy.html
Snow Trucking! by Jon Scieszka
http://www.trucktown.com/
Tea Party for Two by Michelle Poploff (Level K)
Vacation: We’re Going to the Beach by David L. Harrison
This is a short book of verse, telling of a road trip and a day at the
beach.
Andy Shane Hero at Last by Jennifer Jacobson (Level L)
http://jenniferjacobson.com/andy-shane-hero-at-last/
Babymouse Burns Rubber by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
http://www.jenniferholm.com/02_mybooks/11_babymouse.html
Ling & Ting by Grace Lin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAFEUIi6PU&feature=related
Busybody Nora by Johanna Hurwitz (Level N)
http://www.johannahurwitz.com/works.htm
Nonfiction
Duckling Days by Karen Wallace
Owls by Gail Gibbons (Level M)
Sharks! by Anne Schreiber
Butterflies & Moths by Nic Bishop
Season to Season: Nature’s Cycles by Jason Cooper
Fish: Animals in Disguise by Lynn M. Stone
Moonshot:The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca (Level N)
Storms: Weather Report by Ann Merk
Planets: Skywatch by Lynn M. Stone
Off-Road Motorcycles by Thomas Streissguth (Level P)
Amazing but True Sports Stories by Hollander (Level Q)
Pyramids and Mummies by Seymour Simon (Level R)
River of Dreams by Hudson Talbot
Pharoah’s Boat by David L. Weitzman
An Egret’s Day by Jane Yolen
Neo Leo: the ageless ideas of Leonardo DaVinci by Gene Barretta
Extraordinary Women Athletes by Judy Hasday (Level T)
Earthquakes by Seymour Simon (Level T)
Earth Matters by Yvonne Morrison (Level U)
How I Came to Be a Writer by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Level W)
I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi
A Rain Forest Food Chain: A Who-Eats-What Adventure in South
America by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn
Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation by Jacqueline
Jules
Everything Kids’ Environment Book by Sheri Amsel
Water and Ice by Melinda Lilly
Poetry
Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes
Messengers of Rain: and Other Poems from Latin America by
Claudia M. Lee
And the Green Grass Grew All Around: Folk Poetry From
Everyone by Alvin Schwartz
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Fiction
(arranged from easiest to most difficult)
Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Here is a book with three humorous stories about two best friends who
are unique in their personalities and style.
http://www.katedicamillo.com/books/bink01.html
Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (Level M)
Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin (Level N)
How to Be Cool in the Third Grade by Betsy Duffey (Level N)
Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary (Level O)
http://www.beverlycleary.com/characters.aspx#Ralph
Class Clown by Johanna Hurwitz (Level O)
http://www.johannahurwitz.com/index.htm
Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods & Heroes by Matthew Reinhart
and Robert Sabuda
Hank the Cowdog by John Erickson (Level P)
Narrated by a dog named Hank, this book is one of a series of
humorous mysteries with an interesting cast of characters.
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden (Level S)
A fast-talking mouse and a city-wise cat welcome a country cricket to a
new home in a NYC subway station.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (Level T)
Four English children go through a wardrobe door to Narnia where
Aslan, the noble lion, fights the spell of the white witch.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (Level V)
Author, Lucy Maude Montgomery draws upon her experiences
growing up on Prince Edward Island. She tells the story of Anne, an
irrepressible and truly memorable heroine.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Level W)
http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Level W)
The first book in the Heroes of Olympus series.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Level W)
A trio of whimsical characters, intent on helping Meg find her father,
take her, her brother, and a friend on a voyage to a distant planet where
an omnipotent brain has control over everyone.
Golden Tales: myths, legends, and folktales from Latin America by
Lulu Delacre
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Newbery Honor)
Set during one of the most tumultuous years in recent American
history, One Crazy Summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of three
girls in search of the mother who abandoned them.
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (Newbery Honor)
This is a depression era story about an eleven year old girl who is sent
to live with relatives in Florida. It is here that her world opens up in
unexpected ways and that she emerges from her shell.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (Newbery
Honor)
This book is an enchanted fantasy that teaches about the evil of greed
and the joy of gratitude.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (Newbery Medal)
A story with multiple narratives set during and after World War I about
a girl named Manifest who uncovers a mystery about her town and
family. Social issues such as war, depression, labor issues, prohibition,
poor race-relations, orphan trains, and immigration are presented.
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan (ALA Notable Book)
A fictional biography based on the true story of poet, Pablo Neruda.
This book offers an excellent introduction into the life of one of the
world’s most famous poets.
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus (Newbery Honor)
Based on a true story, Manjiro, a Japanese teenager living in the mid-
19th century finds refuge on a remote island after a storm destroys the
ship he is traveling on. Manjiro’s efforts to return to Japan shape him
into the admirable character he becomes.
The Batboy by Mike Lupica
When Brian Dudley becomes a batboy for his hometown’s major
league baseball team, he learns lessons far beyond the sport. This book
will appeal to readers who love baseball.
Series Fiction
Captain Awesome by Stan Kirby
The Littles Go Exploring by John Lawrence Peterson (Level J)
Read the story of a loving family of very tiny characters and their many
challenges and adventures.
Ivy & Bean: Doomed to Dance by Annie Barrows (Level M)
After Ivy and Bean read a book about ballet they decide that they
should take ballet, so they can become ballerinas. The only problem is
that ballet is not as fun or as easy as it seems.
Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pond by Steve Voake
With Daisy’s ability to talk and understand animals, she is bound for
adventure. Little girls will have a good role model in Daisy, a
character who is brave, kind and spunky.
Zach Files by Dan Greenburg (Level N)
A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy (Level N)
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol (Level P)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (Level S)
The 39 Clues written by various authors
http://www.the39clues.com
Amulet by Kazu Kubuishi
(Some reading levels have been identified to aid in book selection for independent
reading)
Picture Books
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead
The Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews & Emma Walton
Hamilton
What If? by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
Happy Birthday Sophie Hartley by Stephanie Greene
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (Level F)
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Not Last Night But the Night Before by Colin McNaughton
Little Polar Bear and the Whales by Hans de Beer
Cat the Cat, Who Is That? by Mo Willems
Tacky Goes to Summer Camp by Helen Lester (Level L)
Summer Wonders by Bab Raczka
The Barefoot Book of Fairy Tales by Malachy Doyle
My Abuelita by Tony Johnston
King Midas: the golden touch by Demi
Love and Roast Chicken: a trickster tale from the Andes
Mountains by Barbara Knutson
Illustrated Fiction (For Older Children)
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen
Mississippi Mud by Ann Warren Turner (Level P)
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Level Q)
Landed by Milly Lee (Level R)
The Rough-face Girl retold by Rafe Martin (Level S)
So Far From the Sea by Eve Bunting
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco (Level V)
The Elephant's Child by Rudyard Kipling
Easy Readers
Super Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (Level H)
http://www.teddarnoldbooks.com/superflyguy.html
Snow Trucking! by Jon Scieszka
http://www.trucktown.com/
Tea Party for Two by Michelle Poploff (Level K)
Vacation: We’re Going to the Beach by David L. Harrison
This is a short book of verse, telling of a road trip and a day at the
beach.
Andy Shane Hero at Last by Jennifer Jacobson (Level L)
http://jenniferjacobson.com/andy-shane-hero-at-last/
Babymouse Burns Rubber by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
http://www.jenniferholm.com/02_mybooks/11_babymouse.html
Ling & Ting by Grace Lin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAFEUIi6PU&feature=related
Busybody Nora by Johanna Hurwitz (Level N)
http://www.johannahurwitz.com/works.htm
Nonfiction
Duckling Days by Karen Wallace
Owls by Gail Gibbons (Level M)
Sharks! by Anne Schreiber
Butterflies & Moths by Nic Bishop
Season to Season: Nature’s Cycles by Jason Cooper
Fish: Animals in Disguise by Lynn M. Stone
Moonshot:The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca (Level N)
Storms: Weather Report by Ann Merk
Planets: Skywatch by Lynn M. Stone
Off-Road Motorcycles by Thomas Streissguth (Level P)
Amazing but True Sports Stories by Hollander (Level Q)
Pyramids and Mummies by Seymour Simon (Level R)
River of Dreams by Hudson Talbot
Pharoah’s Boat by David L. Weitzman
An Egret’s Day by Jane Yolen
Neo Leo: the ageless ideas of Leonardo DaVinci by Gene Barretta
Extraordinary Women Athletes by Judy Hasday (Level T)
Earthquakes by Seymour Simon (Level T)
Earth Matters by Yvonne Morrison (Level U)
How I Came to Be a Writer by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Level W)
I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi
A Rain Forest Food Chain: A Who-Eats-What Adventure in South
America by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn
Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation by Jacqueline
Jules
Everything Kids’ Environment Book by Sheri Amsel
Water and Ice by Melinda Lilly
Poetry
Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes
Messengers of Rain: and Other Poems from Latin America by
Claudia M. Lee
And the Green Grass Grew All Around: Folk Poetry From
Everyone by Alvin Schwartz
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Fiction
(arranged from easiest to most difficult)
Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Here is a book with three humorous stories about two best friends who
are unique in their personalities and style.
http://www.katedicamillo.com/books/bink01.html
Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (Level M)
Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin (Level N)
How to Be Cool in the Third Grade by Betsy Duffey (Level N)
Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary (Level O)
http://www.beverlycleary.com/characters.aspx#Ralph
Class Clown by Johanna Hurwitz (Level O)
http://www.johannahurwitz.com/index.htm
Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods & Heroes by Matthew Reinhart
and Robert Sabuda
Hank the Cowdog by John Erickson (Level P)
Narrated by a dog named Hank, this book is one of a series of
humorous mysteries with an interesting cast of characters.
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden (Level S)
A fast-talking mouse and a city-wise cat welcome a country cricket to a
new home in a NYC subway station.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (Level T)
Four English children go through a wardrobe door to Narnia where
Aslan, the noble lion, fights the spell of the white witch.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (Level V)
Author, Lucy Maude Montgomery draws upon her experiences
growing up on Prince Edward Island. She tells the story of Anne, an
irrepressible and truly memorable heroine.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Level W)
http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Level W)
The first book in the Heroes of Olympus series.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Level W)
A trio of whimsical characters, intent on helping Meg find her father,
take her, her brother, and a friend on a voyage to a distant planet where
an omnipotent brain has control over everyone.
Golden Tales: myths, legends, and folktales from Latin America by
Lulu Delacre
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Newbery Honor)
Set during one of the most tumultuous years in recent American
history, One Crazy Summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of three
girls in search of the mother who abandoned them.
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (Newbery Honor)
This is a depression era story about an eleven year old girl who is sent
to live with relatives in Florida. It is here that her world opens up in
unexpected ways and that she emerges from her shell.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (Newbery
Honor)
This book is an enchanted fantasy that teaches about the evil of greed
and the joy of gratitude.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (Newbery Medal)
A story with multiple narratives set during and after World War I about
a girl named Manifest who uncovers a mystery about her town and
family. Social issues such as war, depression, labor issues, prohibition,
poor race-relations, orphan trains, and immigration are presented.
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan (ALA Notable Book)
A fictional biography based on the true story of poet, Pablo Neruda.
This book offers an excellent introduction into the life of one of the
world’s most famous poets.
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus (Newbery Honor)
Based on a true story, Manjiro, a Japanese teenager living in the mid-
19th century finds refuge on a remote island after a storm destroys the
ship he is traveling on. Manjiro’s efforts to return to Japan shape him
into the admirable character he becomes.
The Batboy by Mike Lupica
When Brian Dudley becomes a batboy for his hometown’s major
league baseball team, he learns lessons far beyond the sport. This book
will appeal to readers who love baseball.
Series Fiction
Captain Awesome by Stan Kirby
The Littles Go Exploring by John Lawrence Peterson (Level J)
Read the story of a loving family of very tiny characters and their many
challenges and adventures.
Ivy & Bean: Doomed to Dance by Annie Barrows (Level M)
After Ivy and Bean read a book about ballet they decide that they
should take ballet, so they can become ballerinas. The only problem is
that ballet is not as fun or as easy as it seems.
Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pond by Steve Voake
With Daisy’s ability to talk and understand animals, she is bound for
adventure. Little girls will have a good role model in Daisy, a
character who is brave, kind and spunky.
Zach Files by Dan Greenburg (Level N)
A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy (Level N)
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol (Level P)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (Level S)
The 39 Clues written by various authors
http://www.the39clues.com
Amulet by Kazu Kubuishi