BellaOnline Forums Career Library Sciences Summer Reading Lists

Looking for summer reading lists for the young people in your home? You can find my recommendations at the Library Sciences site.

Kindergarten - 3rd
Fourth - Sixth

What books would you add to the list?

I'm not sure how many of these links include books for young people, but I stumbled onto this site a week or so ago when researching for a novel I'm writing.

http://library.utah.gov/literature.html

A wealth of information in answer to "What do I read next?".

Thanks, a great collection of links for any reader.

Well, I have not been in kindergarten to sixth grade for quite awhile, so my recommendations may be out of date, but I believe they are oldies but goodies. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> In early grades, my father and I loved to read the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. In fifth grade, I discovered Barbara Parks (by way of her book, Skinnybones) and she was my favorite author when I was at that age. I see she now has a whole series of young reader's books out, about a girl named Junie B. or something like that? I wish that series was around when I was her #1 fan! I bought the first book for my fiance's niece but I am not sure if it is any good or not. Anybody know what I'm talking about and if so, do you have any opinions about this series?

The Junie B. Jones series is a hit with students. I would recommend waiting until 2nd grade or higher to read the books. Younger students don't catch all the humor because they still see the world as June B. does.

I like Barbara Parks "Mick Hart Was Here." One of the best books about the death of a sibling I've ever read. Touching and funny.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli is a delightful book for ages 4-8. Eileen is the wife of Newberry winner Jerry Spinelli, author of Maniac Magee and other great books. His books are usually geared to 9-12 year olds, though.

My son is 4 1/2 so I can come up with some books for that age or a little older...

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. (Ages 4-8) It's not just for Christmas...

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, and If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Joffe Numeroff are great, too.

Silly Animals ABC's by Joan Gallup is a great book to introduce a toddler to ABC's. It's lage and whimsical. (Ages 4-8)

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is gorgeous. I just love the sparkly fish in it. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> (Ages 4-8)

The Very Hungry Caterpiller by Eric Carle. A perennial favorite. Anything by Carle is a winner.

Boy, I can really recommend books for the 9-12 crowd! (I'm a big fan of juvie fiction).

Some recent books I've read or that I like:

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi. (Newberry award winner)

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (ages 12-up. This book has won several awards, including the Newberry Honor and Nat'l Book Award).

Some oldies but goodies:

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger (Ages 9-12)

The House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs. (I loved this book when I was a kid. Very Potter-esque. Ages 9-12)

Deenie by Judy Blume. (Young adult) Heck, anything by Blume is good. Younger readers will like Blubber, and Super Fudge. (Ages 9-12.) In fact, there is a box set at Amazon.com for only $13.82 that includes Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, and Fudge-A-Mania.

I love the Nancy Drew books, as well as Trixie Belden, the Hardy Boys, and the Jupiter Jones series. (Not sure if the latter is still in print.)

Robert Cormier has written good books such as I Am The Cheese, The Chocolate War, and The Rag and Bone Shop. I read the latter last year, but it seems a tad dark to me. It's considered Young Adult, as I recall.

I loved the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. (And Rumble Fish, too) Again, these are Young Adult books, but I remember reading them at around 9-10 years of age. My reading level was always much higher than the grade I was in at the time.

The Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L'Engle is fantastic. (Wrinkle won a Newberry). The series is geared towards ages 9-12.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is one of my all time favorites. (Ages 9-12) Focus on the Family has made this entire series into an audio "Radio Theatre". Anyone who's ever heard any of their productions, including Adventures in Oddysey know how excellent and high quality their work is. http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=3631

Just a few recommendations from a bibliophile...

I'm smiling because it feels as if I have just taken a trip back in time. Seeing some of the old Juvie titles brings great memories...Deenie, and The Cat Ate My Gymsuit will be with me forever. (Speaking of Forever...my mother removed that from the shelf in my elementary library...she was my librarian! I found it at home in a drawer and read it on the sly.) Anything by Robert Cormier is great and I agree it would be best suited for the older group...very dark indeed but entertaining...After the First Death being one of my favs. S.E. Hinton, again, can not go wrong...male or female.

I was only in the elementary relm for 2 years, but found that I couldn't keep the Junie B. books on the shelf. Me? not a fan. I prefer The Box Car Children and the Little House books. For the younger ones....any Robert Munsch book was number one! I can't say enough wonderful things about Robert Munsch books. My students begged for them during read-aloud time each week...didn't matter how many times they had heard it....they couldn't get enough. (Note to the reader: You must do the voices!)

Two years ago I turned "Love You Forever" into a Parent Teacher production with the 5th grade students. I showed pictures of the students at different ages of their lives on the wall behind them. We then continued the "slide show" with more pictures with the background music of Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" (played on a seperate tape player of course <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )