Green Acres School

Suggestions for Reading

for Students Entering 4th Grade

Albee, Sarah. Bugged: How Insects Changed History

Chronicles the rivalry between the human and insect worlds and the varying roles that bugs have played

in building and toppling empires and also relates the “bug stories” behind infamous disasters.

Alexander, Lloyd. Time Cat

Jason and his magic cat travel through time to visit countries all over the world during different

periods in history.

Angleberger, Tom. Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus (Origami Yoda series)

The seventh graders of McQuarrie Middle School and their Star Wars-inspired origami finger

puppets take a field trip to Washington, D.C. that is filled with shifting alliances, betrayals,

carsickness, and sugar rushes. (See all the books in this series.)

Appelt, Kathi. The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp

Twelve-year-old Chap Brayburn, ancient Sugar Man, and his raccoon-brothers try to save Bayou Tourterelle

from feral pigs Clydine and Buzzie, greedy Sunny Boy Beaucoup, and world-class alligator wrestler and

would-be land developer Jaeger Stitch.

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby

elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find a better life for her.

Avi. Perloo the Bold

Perloo, who has been chosen to succeed Jolaine as leader of the furry underground people called

Montmers, finds himself in danger when Jolaine’s evil son seizes control of the burrow.

Avi. Poppy (series)

Poppy, the deer mouse, urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all

forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.

Avi. Windcatcher

While learning to sail, 11-year-old Tony becomes involved in the search for a 200-year-old

shipwreck.

Babbitt, Natalie. The Search for Delicious

The innocent task of polling the kingdom's subjects for personal food preferences provokes civil

war in a zestful spoof of taste and society,

Barnett, Mac. The Terrible Two

When master prankster Miles Murphy moves to sleepy Yawnee Valley, he challenges the local mystery

prankster in an epic battle of tricks, but soon the two join forces to pull off the biggest prank ever seen.

Barton, Chris. Day-Glo Brothers

Before 1935, fluorescent colors did not exist. Barton discusses how two brothers worked together to

create the eye-popping hues.

Bauer, Marian Dane. Runt

Runt, the smallest wolf cub in the litter, seeks to prove himself to his father (King) and the rest of the

pack.

Bell, Cece. El Deafo

The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including

using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower."

Berlin, Eric. The Potato Chip Puzzles (sequel to The Puzzling World of Winston Breen)

Winston Breen, two friends, and an overeager math teacher enter a potato chip company’s puzzle-

solving contest.

Berlin, Eric. The Puzzler’s Mansion

Winston Breen attends a weekend of puzzles at a famous musician's mansion, but when he and other

young guests pursue a thief, they find themselves in big trouble. Puzzles for the reader to solve are

included throughout the text.

Berlin, Eric. The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

Winston Breen says that the only thing better than discovering a puzzle is stumping someone else with it.

When his sister uncovers mysterious strips of wood with words and letters on them, even Winston is

stumped.

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks (series)

While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters

ages four through twelve share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish

mother.

Birney, Betty. The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs

Life in Sassafras Springs always has been predictable, even boring, but that changes one afternoon when

Eben McAllister's pa challenges him to find Seven Wonders in Sassafras that rival the real Seven Wonders

of the World.

Blakemore, Megan. The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill

Hazel Kaplansky and new student Samuel Butler investigate rumors that a Russian spy has infiltrated their

small Vermont town amidst the fervor of Cold War era McCarthyism, but more is revealed than they ever

could have imagined.

Blume, Judy. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Nine-year-old Peter Hatcher has a terrible problem -- his two-year-old brother, Fudge.

Bond, Michael. A Bear Called Paddington (series)

After Mr. and Mrs. Brown find a small bear at Paddington Station in London, they take him home,

where the fun begins.

Borden, Louise. The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and

H. A. Rey Presents biographies of two individuals who fled Paris in 1940 as the Germans were advancing

and who later wrote children's literature featuring Curious George.

Bryant, Annie. Beacon Street Girls (series)

Boy trouble, alpha girls, and family problems keep things stressful for the Beacon Street Girls.

Bryant, Jennifer. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

The story of shy, young Peter Mark Roget, who grew up loving books and who used his love of words to

organize ideas and find just the right words to express his thoughts. His lists eventually turned into one of

the most important reference books of all time, Roget’s Thesaurus.

Burnett, Frances Hodgson. A Little Princess

When wealthy Sarah Crewe becomes penniless, she is at the mercy of Mrs. Minchin.

Butler, Dori Hillestad. Trading Places with Tank Talbott

Jason, who would rather work on his horror movie screenplay than learn to swim, finds an unlikely

ally in Tank, the class bully, who is being forced to take ballroom dance lessons.

Byars, Betsy. The Not Just Anybody Family (series)

With a young brother in the hospital, a grandfather in jail, and their mother traveling with a rodeo,

Maggie and Vern try to settle family problems.

Byrd, Robert. Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

A true Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin was the first American celebrity.

Campbell, L.A. Cartboy and the Time Capsule

Sixth grader Hal gets a year-long journal-keeping assignment in his least favorite class, history, much to

the delight of his history buff father.

Campbell, Sarah. Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature

Nature's repeating patterns, or fractals, are beautiful and universal, and they explain much about how

things grow. Fractals also can be quantified mathematically. This elegant introduction to fractals uses

examples that can be seen in parks, rivers, and our very own backyards.

Cavanaugh, Nancy. This Journal Belongs to Ratchet

Homeschooled by her mechanic-environmentalist father, 11-year-old Rachel "Ratchet" Vance records her

efforts to make friends, save a park, remember her mother, and find her own definition of "normal."

Cheng, Andrea. The Year of the Book

This story follows a young Chinese American girl as she navigates relationships with family, friends,

and her fourth grade classroom and finds a true best friend. (Also see The Year of the Baby and The

Year of the Fortune Cookie.)

Clements, Andrew. The Landry News

Cara Landry starts a newspaper with an editorial that prompts her burnt-out classroom teacher

to begin teaching again, but there are also unexpected consequences.

Clements, Andrew. The Map Trap

Sixth grader Alton Barnes loves maps, and when his portfolio of secret maps is stolen, he begins getting

notes with orders that he must obey to get the maps back. With the help of a popular classmate, he just

might succeed before his teacher, principal, or someone else learns that he has been studying and mapping

things about them.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage as the First Black-and-White

Jazz Band in History

This lyrical picture book relates how two musical prodigies from very different backgrounds -- Teddy

Wilson, a young black boy growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama and Benny Goodman, the son of struggling

Russian-Jewish immigrants from the West Side of Chicago -- formed the Benny Goodman Trio with

Gene Krupa in 1936 and helped create the jazz style known as swing.

Coburn, Broughton. Triumph on Everest: A Photobiography of Sir Edmund Hillary

Celebrates the life and achievements of the New Zealand farm boy whose love of snow, mountains,

and the outdoors culminated in his conquering the highest peak in the world in 1953.

Cody, Matthew. Will in Scarlet

In the late 1100s, 13-year-old Will, the future Lord of Shackley, is exiled to Sherwood Forest, where he

meets Robin Hood and the Merry Men and bands with them to try to retake Shackley Castle.

Colfer, Chris. Land of Stories (series)

Against the will of their grandmother, twins Alex and Conner must find their own way into the Land of

Stories to rescue their mother and save the fairytale world from the greatest threat it has ever faced -- the

return of the Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty.

Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander (series)

When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world,

they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by

ancient prophecy.

Cooper, Susan. The Boggart (series)

The Volnik family unwittingly returns to Canada from Scotland with the boggart, a mischievous

spirit who enjoys using modern technology to enhance his practical jokes.

Coulombis, Audrey. Jake

Jake and his widowed mom have always been fine on their own, but when Jake's mom ends up in the

hospital with a broken leg, the grandfather Jake barely knows comes to stay and brings his nightmare

dog, Max, with him.

Coville, Bruce. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (Magic Shop Book series)

Jeremy Thatcher unknowingly buys a dragon egg.

Coy, John. Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball

Taking over a rowdy gym class right before winter vacation is not something James Naismith wants to

do at all. This is the true story of how Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at a school in Springfield,

Massachusetts.

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Mighty Miss Malone

With love and determination befitting the "world's greatest family," 12-year-old Deza Malone, her older

brother Jimmie, and their parents endure tough times in Gary, Indiana and later in Flint, Michigan during

the Great Depression.

Dahl, Roald. The BFG

After she is snatched from her orphanage by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), Sophie and the BFG

plan how to save the world from other human-eating monsters.

Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach

After the untimely death of his parents, little James finds life with aunts Sponge and Spiker miserable

until a magic potion produces an enormous peach that becomes his new and exciting home.

Davies, Jacqueline. The Lemonade War (series)

Evan and his younger sister react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth

grade. As the end of summer approaches, they battle it out at lemonade stands, each trying to be the first

to earn 100 dollars. Includes mathematical calculations and tips for running a successful lemonade stand.

D'Aulaire, Ingri. D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths

A classic introduction to the Greek myths.

DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn Dixie

India Opal Buloni is friendless in a new town until she finds a stray dog outside the supermarket.

DiCamillo, Kate. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Rescuing a squirrel after an accident involving a vacuum cleaner, comic-reading cynic Flora Belle

Buckman is astonished when the squirrel, Ulysses, demonstrates astonishing powers of strength and flight

after being revived.

DiTerlizzi, Tony. The Spiderwick Chronicles (series)

When the Grace children go to stay at their Great Aunt Lucinda's run-down Victorian house, they

discover a field guide to fairies and other creatures and begin to have some unusual experiences.

Dowell, Frances O’Roark. Phineas L. Maguire… Erupts! The First Experiment (From the Highly

Scientific Notebooks of Phineas L. MacGuire)

Phineas (Mac) worries when he is assigned the new kid as his partner in a science fair project, but

he finds some unexpected talents in the boy. (See also other titles in this series.)

Downer, Ann. Hatching Magic

Can Theodora Oglethorpe set things right with a 13th-century wizard and his pet dragon?

Draper, Sharon. Out of My Mind

Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient fifth grader with cerebral palsy who

has a photographic memory but cannot talk struggles to make herself understood.

Duffey, Betsy. Cody Unplugged (Cody ser ies)

Concerned that Cody’s TV and video habits have gotten out of hand, Cody's parents send him to

Camp Bear, where he learns to experience real life rather than virtual reality.

Duffy, Chris (ed.) Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists

Seventeen fairytales, from old favorites (Puss in Boots and Goldilocks) to obscure gems (The Boy Who

Drew Cats), are adapted and illustrated in comic-book format by acclaimed artists Raina Telgemeier,

Brett Helquist, Cherise Harper, and others.

Durham, Paul. The Luck Uglies (trilogy)

Eleven-year-old Rye O’Chanter has witnessed many strange things in the medieval-like town of Village

Drowning. A terrifying event convinces her that the monstrous, supposedly extinct Bog Noblins have

returned, but there is no one left to protect the town… or is there?

Edinger, Monica. Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad

Presents the tale of a child who arrives in America on the slave ship Amistad. Her capture, mutiny aboard

the ship, and the Supreme Court trial that prompts her return to Africa are described. John Quincy Adams

argued for the Africans.

English, Karen. Skateboard Party

Richard can't wait to show off his flat-ground Ollies at a friend's birthday party at the skate park, but a

note sent home by his teacher threatens to ruin his plans.

Erickson, John R. The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (series)

Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, is framed for the murder of a chicken and becomes an

outlaw with the coyotes.

Fardell, John. The 7 Professors of the Far North

When Sam visits Zara and Ben and their great-uncle, quirky inventor Professor Ampersand, he never

expects to embark on a desperate rescue mission to the frozen Arctic Ocean.

Farley, Terri. Phantom Stallion (series)

Horse stories for equine lovers.

Ferrari, Michael. Born to Fly

In 1942, 11-year-old Bird McGill, who longs to be a pilot, and her family try to manage their lives in

Rhode Island when her father leaves to fight in World War II. When a Japanese American boy joins her

class, the students are convinced that he and his uncle want the Japanese to win the war.

Fienberg, Anna. Tashi (series)

Tashi, Jack's extraordinary imaginary friend, is a gnome-like character who comes from a place far

away. In the series opener, Tashi tells of being sold to a warlord and escaping with the help of a swan.

Flake, Sharon. Unstoppable Octobia May

In 1953, ten-year-old Octobia May lives in her Aunt's boarding house in the south, surrounded by an

African American community which has its own secrets and internal racism. She spends her days

wondering whether Mr. Davenport in Room 204 is really a vampire or something else entirely.

Fleischman, Paul. The Dunderheads

When the mean teacher crosses the line once too often, the misfit students teach her a lesson.

Fleming, Ian. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car

Two children persuade their inventor father to purchase and restore an old car that turns out to have

magical powers.

Forester, Victoria. The Girl Who Could Fly

When homeschooled farm girl Piper McCloud reveals her ability to fly, she is taken to a secret

government facility to be trained with other exceptional children, but she soon realizes that something

is very wrong and begins working with brilliant Conrad Harrington III, a powerful politician’s son, to

escape.

Foxlee, Karen. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

Ophelia, a timid 11-year-old girl grieving for her mother, suspends her disbelief in things nonscientific

when a boy locked in the museum where her father is working asks her to help him complete an age-old

mission.

Gaiman, Neil. Fortunately, the Milk

While picking up milk for his children's cereal, a father is abducted by aliens and finds himself on a wild

adventure through time and space.

George, Jessica Day. Tuesdays at the Castle (series)

Eleven-year-old Princess Celie lives with her parents, the king and queen, and her brothers and sister at

Castle Glower, which adds rooms or stairways or secret passageways almost every Tuesday. When the

king and queen are ambushed while travelling, it is up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of its never-

ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom.

Gill, Lewis. Wild Wings

A boy from Scotland and a girl from West Africa join together to save a migrating osprey and end up

saving each other.

Giovanni, Nikki. Rosa

The retelling of seamstress Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus to a white man and the

resulting events.

Gorman, Carol. Dork in Disguise (series)

When his family moves, science-loving Jerry resolves to shed his "dork" image.

Gownley, Jimmy. The Dumbest Idea Ever

The author’s graphic novel memoir about his beginnings as a cartoonist and the "dumb" idea that changed

his life forever.

Grabenstein, Chris. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight with other students in the new town library, which was

designed by the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello, but in the morning he finds out that he must work

with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape.

Grabenstein, Chris. The Island of Dr. Libris

Spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris, Billy discovers that a

powerful imagination can bring to life the characters from novels, comic books, video games, and card

games.

Greenwald, Tim. Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading

Middle schooler Charlie Joe is proud of his success at avoiding reading, but eventually his schemes go

too far.

Grahame, Kenneth. The Reluctant Dragon

The boy who finds the dragon in the cave knows that it is a kind, harmless one, but how can he

convince the frightened villagers and especially St. George the dragon killer that there is no

cause for concern?

Green, Michelle Y. A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson

A biography of Washingtonian Mamie Johnson, one of three women who played in the Professional

Negro League, discusses the challenges she faced as a black woman to make her way into professional

baseball.

Grill, William. Shackleton’s Journey

Tells the story of the shipwreck of the Endurance in a sea of ice en route to Antarctica and the survival of

all 28 members of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Grimes, Nikki. Words with Wings

Pairs twenty works of art by African American artists with twenty poems by African American poets.

Gutman, Dan. The Babe & Me (Baseball Card Adventure series)

With their ability to travel through time using vintage baseball cards, Joe and his father have the

chance to find out whether Babe Ruth really did call his shot when he hit that home run in the 1932

World Series against the Chicago Cubs. (Read all the books in this wonderful series.)

Gutman, Dan. The Homework Machine

Four fifth grade students -- a computer genius, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker -- as well as

their teacher and mothers each relate events surrounding a computer programmed to complete homework

assignments. (See also Return of the Homework Machine.)

Gutman, Dan. Million Dollar Kick

Whisper Nelson hates all sports with a passion! So when by some fluke she wins a chance to kick a goal

past a professional soccer star for a million-dollar prize, she is torn.

Gutman, Dan. My Weird Writing Tips

This bestselling author offers tricks for spelling hard words, understanding the difference between

similar words like "its" and "it's," and using commas and apostrophes. He also teaches readers how to

write an engaging story.

Hagen, George. Gabriel Finley and the Raven’s Riddle

Aided by the young raven Paladin, with whom he has a magical bond, 11-year-old Gabriel travels to the

foreboding land of Aviopolis, where he must face challenges and unanswerable riddles to rescue his long-

missing father.

Haig, Matt. Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest

Samuel and Martha’s new life with their Aunt Eda in Norway is filled with rules, but most important is

rule number nine: NEVER -- UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES -- GO INTO THE FOREST.

Hale, Bruce. The Big Nap: A Chet Gecko Mystery (series)

Chet Gecko, "the best lizard detective" at his school, investigates why his classmates have become

model students.

Hale, Nathan. Big Bad Ironclad! (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series)

Covers the history of the amazing ironclad steam warships used in the Civil War -- from the ship's

inventor, who had a history of blowing things up and only 100 days to complete his project, to the

mischievous William Cushing, who pranked his way through the whole war. (Read all the books in

this graphic novel series, which is filled with surprisingly true facts and funny, brave characters.)

Hamilton, Virginia. Cousins

Concerned that her grandmother may die, Cammy is unprepared for the accidental death of another

relative.

Haskell, Merrie. Handbook for Dragon Slayers

Yearning for life in a convent where she can write great treatises, 13-year-old Princess Matilda, lame

since birth and considered cursed, escapes her scheming cousin Ivo and joins her servant Judith and an

old friend, Parz, in hunting dragons and writing about them.

Healy, Christopher. Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

Four Princes Charming join forces on a farcical quest to defeat an evil plot that could threaten each of

their kingdoms.

Heiligman, Deborah. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos

Growing up in Hungary during WWI, Erdos was fascinated by numbers and, by age 20, was known as the

Magician from Budapest. He spent his adult life working collaboratively on challenging math problems

with mathematicians from around the world.

Hill, Laban Carrick. When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop

This book tells the story of Clive Campbell/DJ Kool Herc, from his childhood in Jamaica to his youth in

the Bronx and how Kool Herc came to be a DJ, how kids in gangs stopped fighting in order to

breakdance, and how the music he invented went on to define a culture and transform the world.

Hill, Kirkpatrick. The Year of Miss Agnes

Ten-year-old Fred (short for Frederika) narrates the story of school and village life among the

Athabascans in Alaska during 1948, the year when Miss Agnes arrives as the new teacher.

Holm, Jennifer. Our Only May Amelia (the sequel is The Trouble with May Amelia)

It isn′t easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899, but it′s particularly hard when you are

the only girl ever born in the new settlement.

Holm, Jennifer. Turtle in Paradise

Eleven-year-old Turtle is smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood

ending. After all, it's 1935, during the Great Depression, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams

are scarce.

Horvath, Polly. Everything on a Waffle

In a small fishing village in British Columbia, apparently orphaned Primrose Squarp is cared for,

reluctantly, by her Uncle Jack, but her true sanctuary is at a restaurant called The Girl in the Swing, where

everything is served on a waffle.

Horvath, Polly. One Year in Coal Harbor (sequel)

Twelve-year-old Primrose tries to be a matchmaker for her Uncle Jack, befriends a new foster child, Ked,

tries to decide whether she is willing to go to jail for her convictions, and publishes a cookbook with Ked

to raise money for the Fisherman's Aid. Includes recipes.

Horvath, Polly. The Trolls

Aunt Sally delights the Anderson children with hilarious family stories at bedtime. All of her tales lead

up to a momentous story about trolls, which had the power to change her life forever.

Hughes, Langston. The Dream Keeper and Other Poems

A collection of lyrical poems, songs, and blues poems, many about the black experience.

Hughes, Langston. The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Watercolor illustrations accompany the author's poem about the strength and courage of African

American people throughout history.

Hunter, Erin. The Warriors (series)

Adventurous animal fantasies involving cat clans.

Ibbotson, Eva. Island of the Aunts

Three aging aunts need help caring for their magical animals and resort to kidnapping.

Jacques, Brian. Redwall (series)

Mice, rats, weasels, and rabbits engage in great battles of good and evil in this beloved series.

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl

In this graphic novel a 12-year-old girl discovers roller derby just as she and her best friend are growing

apart.

Jarrell, Randall. The Animal Family

A lonely hunter living in the wilderness near the sea gains a family made up of a mermaid, a bear, a

lynx, and a boy.

Jonell, Lynne. Secret of Zoom

Ten-year-old Christina lives a sheltered life until she discovers a secret tunnel, an evil plot to enslave

orphans, and a mysterious source of energy known as zoom.

Kadohata, Cynthia. Half a World Away

Twelve-year-old Jaden, an emotionally troubled adopted boy fascinated by electricity, feels a connection

to a small, weak toddler with special needs in Kazakhstan, where Jaden's family is trying to adopt a

"normal" baby.

Kadohata, Cynthia. The Thing About Luck

Just when 12-year-old Summer thinks nothing else can possibly go wrong in a year of bad luck, an

emergency takes her parents to Japan, leaving Summer to care for her little brother while helping her

grandmother cook and do laundry for harvest workers.

Katz, Alan. Smelly Locker: Silly Dilly School Songs

Well-known songs, including "Oh Susannah" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," are presented

with new words and titles such as "Heavy Backpack!" and "I Don't Want to Do Homework!"

Kennedy, Caroline (compiler). Poems to Learn by Heart

There's a poem to celebrate every moment in life, whether it's hitting a home run, watching a sunset, or

laughing with your best friend.

Kibuishi, Kazu. Amulet (series)

A graphic fantasy series about a girl and her brother who move to a house rumored to be haunted and

go through a small basement door to an alternate version of earth.

King-Smith, Dick. Harry's Mad

Harry's legacy from his great-uncle, a talking parrot, proves to be a much more exciting gift than

he ever imagined.

King-Smith, Dick. The Water Horse

In 1930 on the coast of Scotland, eight-year-old Kirstie finds a large egg that hatches into an

unusual sea creature, and as he grows her family must decide what to do with him.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series)

Thrust into Middle School and faced with a succession of social landmines, Greg Heffley schemes

unsuccessfully to win the recognition he thinks he deserves.

Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie. The Canada Geese Quilt

Ten-year-old Ariel worries that the arrival of a new baby and her grandmother's serious

illness will change the warm, familiar life on her family's Vermont farm.

Klise, Kate. Regarding the Fountain

When the Middle School principal asks a water fountain designer to replace the school’s old

fountain, the project takes on a life of its own when the fifth graders get involved. (Also look at

other titles by this author.)

Kramer, Stephen P. Hidden Worlds: Looking Through a Scientist's Microscope

The author takes readers behind the scenes of scientist/photographer Dennis Kunkel's life as he

uses powerful microscopes to reveal the hidden beauty of everyday objects.

Kurtz, Chris. Adventures of a South Pole Pig

Flora the pig abandons sedentary life on the farm for an adventure in Antarctica, where she escapes the

knife and lives her dream of pulling a sled with a team of dogs.

Lai, Thanha. Inside Out & Back Again

Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In

America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its

food, the strange shape of its landscape . . . and the strength of her very own family. Told in narrative

verse.

Larson, Kirby. Duke

In 1944 Hobie Hanson's father is flying B-24s in Europe, so Hobie decides to donate his beloved German

shepherd, Duke, to Dogs for Defense in the hope that he can help end the war sooner. When he learns that

Duke is being trained for combat, he is shocked, frightened, and determined to get his dog back.

Latham, Irene. Dear Wandering Wildebeest and Other Poems from the Water Hole

Beautifully illustrated poems are accompanied by additional facts about the animals of the African

grasslands.

Lawlor, Laurie. Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World

A biography of the pioneering environmentalist in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the publication

of her famous work Silent Spring.

Lawrence, Caroline. The Case of the Deadly Desperados

In 1862 Nevada Territory, after finding his foster parents murdered and scalped, 12-year-old Pinky

Pinkerton, son of a railroad detective and a Sioux Indian, inherits a valuable deed and must hide from

dangerous Whittlin’ Walt and his gang of desperados.

Le Guin, Ursula K. Catwings (series)

Four young cats with wings leave the city slums in search of a safe place to live and finally meet two

children with kind hands.

Lean, Sarah. A Dog Called Homeless

Fifth grader Cally Louise Fisher stops talking, partly because her father and brother never speak of her

mother who died a year earlier, but visions of her mother, friendships with a homeless man and a disabled

boy, and a huge dog ensure that she still communicates.

Levine, Gail Carson. Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems

Inspired by William Carlos Williams’ famous poem "This Is Just to Say," these ironic apology poems

imagine how tricksters really feel about the mischief they make.

Levy, Dana Alison. The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher

Relates the adventures of a family with two fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as they make

their way through a school year in Kindergarten through sixth grade and deal with a grumpy new

neighbor.

Lin, Grace. Starry River of the Sky

An innkeeper's chore boy discovers that a visitor's stories hold the key to returning the moon to the Starry

River of the Sky.

Lindbergh, Anne. The People in Pineapple Place

Feeling alone and friendless when he moves from Vermont to the Georgetown section of

Washington, DC, August Brown discovers a wondrous fantasy street and experiences thrilling

adventures with his new playmates.

Lindbergh, Anne. The Prisoner of Pineapple Place

In this sequel to The People in Pineapple Place, Jeremiah meets a girl from the outside world who can

see him in reflections.

Lord, Cynthia. Rules

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life, which is almost impossible with a brother with

autism and a family that revolves around him.

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars

During the German occupation of Denmark, Annemarie learns how to be brave when she helps to

shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.

Lowry, Lois. Anastasia Krupnik (series)

Anastasia's 10th year has some good things like falling in love and really getting to know her

grandmother and some bad things like finding out about an expected baby brother.

Lupica, Mike. Travel Team

Twelve-year-old Danny Walker is cut from his travel basketball team and forms his own very special

team.

Mann, Elizabeth. The Great Pyramid: The Story of the Farmers, the God-King and the Most

Astounding Structure Ever Built (Wonders of the World series)

Thousands of farmers left their homes to chisel 2,300,000 stones to build this structure 4,500 years

ago. (Other titles in this informational series include The Roman Colosseum, The Panama Canal,

and The Great Wall.)

Martin, Ann. Belle Teal

As a new school year begins, Belle Teal faces unexpected challenges, including her grandmother¹s

memory loss, her mother’s longer work hours to support the family, the bruises inflicted upon her friend

Little Boss by his father, and the two new students at her school.

Martin, Ann. Everything for a Dog

In parallel stories, Bone, an orphaned dog, finds and loses a series of homes; Sunny, a family pet, helps

Charlie through the grief and other aftereffects of his brother's death; and lonely Henry pleads for a dog

of his own.

Mass, Wendy. The Candymakers

When four 12 year olds, including Logan -- who has grown up never leaving his parents' Life Is Sweet

candy factory compete in the Confectionary Association's annual contest, they unexpectedly become

friends and uncover secrets about themselves in the process.

Mass, Wendy. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Just before his 13th birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a keyless locked box, set aside by his father before his

death five years earlier, that is supposed to hold the meaning of life.

Mass, Wendy. Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap (Twice Upon a Time series)

The two tales of an unconventional prince and an unconventional princess are intertwined in this

humorous adaptation of the fairytale.

McGraw, Eloise. The Moorchild

Feeling that she is neither full human nor "folk," a changeling learns her true identity and attempts

to find the human child whose place she has been given.

McKay, Hilary. Saffy's Angel

Saffy, a member of an eccentric English family, searches for a memento from her past. (Also see

other books by this author.)

McKissack, Patricia C. Abby Takes a Stand

Gee recalls for her grandchildren what happened in 1960 in Nashville, Tennessee w h e n , at age ten,

she handed out flyers while her cousin and other adults held sit-ins at restaurants and lunch

counters to protest segregation.

McMullan, Kate. Get to Work, Hercules! (Myth-o-Mania series)

In this updated version of Greek mythology, Hades, King of the Underworld, tells the true story of

Hercules and his twelve labors. (See also other titles in this series.)

Montgomery, Sy. Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cats

Describes the cheetah's essential role in the ecosystem and the ways in which Namibia's Cheetah

Conservation Fund is promoting cohabitation between cheetahs and farmers.

Montgomery, Sy. The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New

Guinea (Scientists in the Field series)

Follows conservation scientist Lisa Dabek to Papua New Guinea's cloud forest in search of Matschie's

tree kangaroo. (See also other titles in this series.)

Mora, Pat. Water Rolls, Water Rises: El agua rueda, el agua sube.

Bilingual poems about the movement and moods of water around the world and the ways in which water

affects different landscapes and cultures.

Morgenstern, Susie. A Book of Coupons

Elderly Monsieur Noel, an unconventional teacher, gives coupons for dancing in class and sleeping

late that are bound to get him in trouble with the school principal.

Moss, Marissa. Barbed Wire Baseball

Traces the childhood dream of Japanese American baseball pioneer Kenichi Zenimura of playing

professionally and his family's struggles in a World War II internment camp where he introduces baseball

to raise hope.

Myers, Christopher. H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination

Two friends try to outdo each other on the basketball court in an out-of-this-world game of H.O.R.S.E.

Mull, Brandon. The Candy Shop War (series)

When fifth graders Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon meet the owner of the new candy store in town and

receive a magical candy that endows them with superpowers, they find that along with its benefits there

are dangerous consequences.

Myers, Walter Dean. Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly

This biography of the civil rights leader offers an in-depth look at his life and includes quotes

from his speeches.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. The Boys Start the War (Boy/Girl Battle series)

Just when the Hatford brothers are expecting three boys to move into the house across the river where

their best friends used to live, the Malloy girls arrive instead. Wally and his brothers decide to make

Caroline and her sisters so miserable that they'll want to go back to Ohio. (Also look at other books in

this series.)

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh (series)

When Marty finds a lost beagle in the hills behind his West Virginia home, he hides it from his

family and the real owner, a mean-spirited man known to shoot deer out of season and to mistreat his

dogs.

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.

S. Marshal

As a U.S. Marshal -- and former slave who escaped to freedom in the Indian Territories -- Bass was

the most feared and respected lawman in the territories for three decades.

Neri, G. Hello, I'm Johnny Cash

In free verse the author portrays an ordinary boy with an extraordinary talent who grew up in extreme

poverty, faced incredible challenges, and ultimately found his calling by always being true to the gift of

his voice.

Nivola, Claire. Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle

Whether designing submersibles, swimming with the whales, or taking deep-water walks, Sylvia Earle

has dedicated her life to learning more about what she calls “the blue heart of the planet.”

Nobleman, Marc. Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman

A struggling writer named Bill Finger helped to invent Batman, but he worked in obscurity and was

acknowledged only after his death.

Nobleman, Marc. Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman

Chronicles the lives of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as teenagers and as creators of Superman.

Norton, Mary. The Borrowers (series)

All is well with a family of tiny people living underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country

manor, with furnishings “borrowed” from the “human beans” living above them, until a human boy spots

them.

Oppel, Kenneth. Silverwing (series)

When a newborn bat becomes separated from his colony during migration, he grows in ways that

prepare him for even greater journeys.

Orr, Wendy. Nim's Island

Nim loves her island home and the animals she shares it with even while her scientist father is away

doing research, but trouble is on the way and a new email friend could be the only one who can help.

Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky

Fearing that her legal guardian plans to abandon her and return to France, 10-year-old aspiring

scientist Lucky Trimble decides to run away while also continuing to seek the Higher Power that will

bring stability to her life.

Peck, Richard. Secrets at Sea

The tale of a family of mice stowaways on a grand cruise ship sailing to England in 1887.

Peirce, Lincoln. Big Nate (series)

In graphic novels, follows the adventures of self-described middle school genius Nate Wright, who fights

valiant battles against overzealous teachers, undercooked cafeteria food, and peers who try to beat his

record for the most detentions.

Pelletier, Mia. A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds

This picture book features migratory birds as well as those that live in the Arctic year-round and is filled

with fun and useful facts.

Pennell, Christopher. The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root

Eleven-year-old Carly Bean Bitters, an orphan, can sleep only during the day and feels very lonely until

she meets a rat, Lewis, and sets off on an adventure to figure out what is threatening the woods and its

inhabitants.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. Nuts to You

A rascally squirrel has an indoor adventure in a city apartment.

Pitchford, Dean. The Big One-Oh

Charley Maplewood has never been one for parties, since that would require friends, which he doesn’t

have, but now that he’s turning ten he decides to throw a birthday party for himself.

Pitchford, Dean. Captain Nobody

When Newt Newman's football-star brother, Chris, is knocked into a coma during the biggest game of

the season, Newt's two best friends keep his mind off the accident by helping him create the ultimate

Halloween costume: Captain Nobody.

Powell, Patricia. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker

This book paints a portrait of passionate performer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker, the

woman who worked her way from the slums of St. Louis to the grandest stages in the world.

Prineas, Sarah. The Magic Thief

In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and

adventure.

Pullman, Philip. Spring-Heeled Jack

A high-spirited spoof about the adventures of three orphans in Victorian England.

Rappaport, Doreen. To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt

A picture book biography of a sickly boy with big dreams who became an American president.

Raschka, Christopher. The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy Is Enlightening

This 100th birthday tribute to the late jazz artist, who said that he came from Saturn, explores his

observations about humanity's discriminatory and violent behaviors as well as his efforts to forge

world peace through music with the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Robinson, Nick. Making Paper Airplanes That Really Fly

Make 20 origami planes that look great and fly like birds.

Robinson, Sharon. Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America

A biography of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in the major leagues,

as told by his daughter.

Rodowsky, Colby. Not My Dog

Eight-year-old Ellie has to give up her life-long dream of getting a puppy after her parents agree to

take in the dog that Great-Aunt Margaret can no longer keep.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter (series)

Seven fantasy novels chronicle the life of boy wizard Harry Potter as he struggles against the evil Lord

Voldemort.

Rumford, James. Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

As bombs and missiles fall on Baghdad in 2003, a young boy uses the art of calligraphy to

distance himself from the horrors of war.

Rusch, Elizabeth. The Mighty Mars Rovers

The story of the two robot vehicles, Spirit and Opportunity, that were sent to explore Mars, lasted far

beyond their projected lives of 3 months, and sent back invaluable images of the environmentally hostile

planet.

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Riding Freedom

A historical novel based on the life of Charlotte Parkhurst, who disguised herself as a boy at age

12 and made a life for herself working with horses.

Rylant, Cynthia. God Got a Dog

Fifteen illustrated poems imagine a God inspired to try new things and experience what it means to be

human.

Sachar, Louis. Holes

Cursed Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility that has no lake, where

the boys get up before dawn each day to dig a big hole. Stanley begins to realize that the warden has an

ulterior motive.

Sachar, Louis. Small Steps

Two years after Armpit is released from Camp Green Lake, a buddy from the detention center devises a

get-rich-quick scheme.

Sachar, Louis. Wayside School (series)

The zany stories in Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger,

and Wayside School Is Falling Down are set in a school that is 30 floors high with just one room per

floor and no 19th floor.

Sage, Angie. Septimus Heap (series)

This 7-book fantasy series that follows the adventures of Septimus Heal, who, as a seventh son of a

seventh son, has extraordinary magical powers.

Scattergood, Augusta. Glory Be

“Freedom people” who want to desegregate her Mississippi town appear the summer before Glory’s 12th

birthday, in 1964, and the turmoil becomes personal.

Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Night Fairy

Flory, a tiny young night fairy, loses her wings and must do whatever it takes to survive.

Schwabach, Karen. The Storm Before Atlanta

At a time when most people have grown weary of the Civil War battles between the Union and the

Confederacy, two children are desperate to make their way to the battlefields.

Scieszka, Jon. Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Frank Einstein series)

In his Grandpa Al's garage workshop, child genius Frank Einstein tries to invent a robot that can learn on

its own, and after an accident brings wisecracking Klink and overly expressive Klank to life, they set

about helping Frank perfect his Antimatter Motor until his archnemesis, T. Edison, steals the robots for

his doomsday plan.

Scieszka, Jon (ed.). Guys Read (series)

Well chosen tales, stories, and essays to engage even the most reluctant reader. Choose from True

Stories, Funny Business, Thriller, The Sports Pages, and Other Worlds.

Selfors, Suzanne. The Lonely Lake Monster (The Imaginary Veterinary series)

Ten year olds Pearl and Ben encounter otherworldly animals, including a lake monster, during their first

official day as apprentices to Dr. Woo, a veterinarian for imaginary creatures.

Selfors, Suzanne. Smells Like Treasure (Smells Like Dog series)

Farm boy Homer Pudding receives a mysterious note emblazoned with the letters L.O.S.T. and knows

that it is time to meet the society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures, take his Uncle's place, and

hunt for treasure.

Shalant, Phyllis. Bartleby of the Mighty Mississippi

After being abandoned in a pond, pet turtle Bartleby meets many other creatures, learns to survive

in the wild, and decides to go in search of his birthplace. (See also Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou.)

Shane, Wendy. The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Eleven-year-old aspiring basketball star and interior designer Lucy Wu is excited about finally having her

own bedroom, until she learns that her great-aunt is coming to visit and Lucy will have to share a room

with her for several months, shattering her plans for a perfect sixth grade year.

Shannon, George. More True Lies: 18 Tales for You to Judge

What's the truth? Short folktales and stories challenge the reader to figure out where the truth lies.

Shurtliff, Liesl. Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

This novel describes Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth and explains why his name is so important,

how he is able to spin straw into gold at age 12, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the

miller's daughter-turned-queen.

Sidman, Joyce. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold

Discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives under the snow.

Siegel, Siena. To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

A graphic memoir about how the author became a ballerina, from her early dreams in Puerto Rico to

dance class in Boston to her debut performance on stage with the New York City Ballet.

Simon, Seymour. Seymour Simon’s Extreme Oceans

The author explores the most extreme environments, animals, plants, and weather in the oceans.

Singer, Marilyn. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems

Witty double takes on well loved fairytales.

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems

A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairytale characters

they feature.

Singh, Vandana. Younguncle Comes to Town

In a small town in northern India, three siblings await their father's youngest brother, Younguncle,

who is said to be somewhat eccentric.

Slote, Alfred. My Trip to Alpha I

Natives of the planet Alpha I kidnap Jack's Aunt Katherine and substitute a computerized

dummy that is programmed to give away her vast mining fields.

Smith, Jeff. Bone (series)

This graphic novel series describes the adventures of three cousins who, banned from Boneville, have

wild experiences and form new friendships when they are trapped in a wonderful land filled with secrets

and danger.

Smith, Robert Kimmel. Chocolate Fever

A young boy who loves to eat chocolate all day develops a disease called Chocolate Fever and

decides to run away.

Snicket, Lemony. A Series of Unfortunate Events (series)

Three orphans survive darkly humorous misadventures as they go from home to home and book

to book directed by their well meaning but bumbling guardian.

Sobol, Donald J. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (Encyclopedia Brown series)

The son of the Idaville police chief opens his own detective agency in this series. Each chapter

presents a mystery for the reader to solve before learning how Encyclopedia Brown solved it.

Sperry, Armstrong. Call It Courage

Called a coward for being afraid of the sea, the 10-year-old son of a Polynesian chieftain sets out to

conquer his fear.

Spyri, Joanna. Heidi

The classic story of a Swiss orphan who is heartbroken when she must leave her beloved grandfather

and their happy home in the mountains to go to school and to care for an invalid girl in the city.

Steig, William. Abel's Island

A castaway on an uninhabited island, Abel, a very civilized mouse, finds his resourcefulness and

endurance tested to the limit as he struggles to survive and return to his home.

Stewart, Trenton Lee. The Mysterious Benedict Society

After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires

them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there

are no rules.

Stout, Shawn. Penelope Crumb (series)

A series for fans of Ramona, Judy Moody, and Clementine.

Taylor, Sydney. All-of-a-Kind Family (series)

The adventures of five sisters growing up in a Jewish family in New York during the early

20th century.

Telgemeier, Raina. Sisters

A graphic memoir about two bickering sisters on a family road trip.

Thimmesh, Catherine. Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled: How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Really

Looked Like?

Paleoartists take readers through the scientific process of pulling together clues in order to reconstruct the

skeletons of various dinosaurs from millions of years ago.

Thomson, Sarah. Dragon’s Egg

Mella tends to the inn’s small farm dragons but dreams about the fire-breathing monsters of legend. Hardly

anyone believes they still exist, until a Knight reports evidence of the mythic creatures.

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation

A decade before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, the family of an eight-

year-old girl – an American citizen -- of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who was not allowed to

attend a “Whites only” school filed a lawsuit and helped to end segregated education in California.

Torrey, Michele. The Case of the Gasping Garbage (Doyle and Fossey, Science Detectives series)

Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey combine their detective and scientific investigation skills to solve a

variety of cases.

Turnage, Sheila. The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing (sequel to Three Times Lucky)

When Miss Lana accidentally buys a haunted inn at the Tupelo Landing town auction, the Desperado

Detectives (Mo LoBeau and her best friend Dale) set out to solve the ghost's identity before the town's big

250th anniversary celebration.

Turnage, Sheila. Three Times Lucky

Washed ashore as a baby in tiny Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, 11-year-old Mo LoBeau and her best

friend Dale turn detective when the amnesiac Colonel, owner of a café and co-parent of Mo with his cook,

Miss Lana, becomes implicated in a murder.

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Secret Identity (Shredderman series)

In the first book of the series, fifth grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully,

creates a secret identity – Shredderman.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Smart Dog

Fifth grader Amy finds her life growing more complicated when she meets and tries to hide an

intelligent talking dog that has escaped from a university lab.

Vos, Ida. Hide and Seek

A young Jewish girl living in Holland tells of her experiences during the Nazi occupation, her years

in hiding, and the aftershock when the war finally ends.

Weiner, Ellis. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea (series)

Abigail and John, the Templeton twins, and their dog Cassie foil a pair of inept kidnappers intent on

stealing one of their father's newest inventions.

Wells, Rosemary. On the Blue Comet

The stock market crash of 1929 changes 11-year-old Oscar Ogilvie’s life forever. His father has to sell their

cherished model trains and leave to find work, and Oscar witnesses a crime and is catapulted onto an

incredible train journey through time and space.

Welsh, M.L. Mistress of the Storm

Verity Gallant knows that she'll never be as pretty and popular as her perfect little sister, but everything

changes when a mysterious stranger hands her an old book and she has to solve the riddle of an ancient

pledge.

White, E. B. Charlotte’s Web

Wilbur the pig is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until

his spider friend, Charlotte decides to help him.

White, E. B. Stuart Little

The debonair mouse Stuart Little, born to a family of humans in New York City, loves exciting

experiences. His greatest adventure involves the search for his best friend, a beautiful bird named

Margalo.

Wiles, Deborah. Love, Ruby Lavender

When her quirky grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer, nine-year-old Ruby learns to survive

on her own in Halleluia, Mississippi.

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer; P.S. Be Eleven; Gone Crazy in Alabama

In this historical fiction ”trilogy,” three African American sisters spend the summer of 1968 in Oakland,

California with their mother and the Black Panthers, return home to Brooklyn to find changes large and

small, and travel to the rural South to visit their grandmother.

Wilson, Jacqueline. Double Act

Ten-year-old twins Ruby and Garnet try to deal with the big changes in their lives when their

father starts dating and they face the possibility of being separated.

Wissinger, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse

In this novel told through poems, nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad, so when his pesky little

sister intrudes on their fishing trip, he is not pleased. Includes information on rhyme, poetry techniques,

rhythm, stanzas, and poetic forms.

Woodson, Jacqueline. Brown Girl Dreaming

The author tells the story of her childhood in vivid poems. Her focus is on what it was like to grow up as

an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement, and

her joy at finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a

child.

Worth, Valerie. Pug and Other Animal Poems

In the follow-up to Animal Poems, this collection presents 18 animal verses illustrated

with Steve Jenkins’ collage art.

Yee, Lisa. Millicent Min, Girl Genius

In a series of journal entries, 11-year-old child prodigy Millicent Min records her struggles to learn to

play volleyball, tutor her enemy, deal with her grandmother's departure, and make friends over the

course of a tumultuous summer.

Yee, Lisa. Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time

After flunking sixth grade English, basketball prodigy Stanford Wong must struggle to pass his

summer school class, keep his failure a secret from his friends, and satisfy his academically

demanding father.

Yep, Laurence. A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

This is the first part of a series narrated by a curmudgeonly dragon who introduces a curious 10 year old

to the hidden magical world in San Francisco.

Yolen, Jane. Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist

What did those fairytale characters really want to say? Paired poems present a bewitching brew of voices

- grumbling, pleading, bragging, reminiscing, confiding – that are complemented by rich paintings.