Students entering 1^st grade:

Reading to young children is a superb way to prepare them for school.  We encourage parents to provide a daily reading time for their children during the summer.  The number of interesting writers and illustrators for this age group is very large.  Some suggestions are listed below.  A good source book for parents is Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, available at our school library.  We request that each family purchase the books that are asterisked (**).  We will use them during the school year.

• Amelia Bedelia – Parish
• Biscuit – Capucilli
• Christopher Columbus – Krensky                  
• Frog and Toad All Year Long – Lobel
• Little Bear’s Friend – Minarik            
• Long Way to a New Land – Sandin
• Growing Up in Viking Times – Tweddle        
• Vikings Don’t Wear Wrestling Belts (Bailey School Kids)
• Picture Book of Sacagawea  - Adler
• **Red Fox and His Canoe – Benchley
• **Very First Americans – Ashrose
• **The Vikings – Binns                        
• **North Pole, South Pole - Levinson
• **Viking Ship at Sunrise – Osborne (Magic Tree House Series #15)

Students entering 2^nd grade:

Emerging readers should spend a minimum of 15 minutes a day reading independently.  As children move from beginning to independent readers, it is important to remember that they still need and enjoy having an adult read aloud to them.

• Dolphin – Morris (I can read series)                
• Harry and the Lady Next Door – Zion
• Moonwalk: First Trip to the Moon –Donnelly
• True Story of Pocahontas – Penner
• Pinky and Rex (any of these books) – Howe               
• Daniel’s Mystery Egg – Flor Ada
• Frog and Toad are Friends – Lobel               
• Poppleton Forever – Ryland
• Knights and Castles – Osborne (Magic Tree House Series)
• Knights of the Round Table – Gross (Magic Tree House Series)

Students entering 3^rd grade:

Please read one of the following chapter books:

• Stone Fox – Gardiner                         
• Muggie Maggie – Cleary

Please read two of the following books:

• Dandelions – Bunting                          
• Magic School Bus: On the Ocean Floor – Cole         
• Mummies Made in Egypt – Aliki      
• Lewis & Clark: Explorers of the West – Kroll

Students entering 4^th grade:

Please read any two of the following chapter books:

• Mr. Popper’s Penguins – Atwater                              
• Trumpet of the Swan – White
• Misty of Chincoteague – Henry                                  
• Tarantula in my Purse – George
• Otis Spofford – Cleary                                    
• Frindle – Clements

And at least one Patricia Polacco book (any one is fine).  Some suggestions are:

• Babushka’s Doll
  
• Mr. Lincoln’s Way
• Rechenka’s Eggs
• Picnic at Mudsock Meadow
• Pink and Say
• Chicken Sunday
• Thank you, Mr. Falker

Students entering 5^th grade:

Please read the summer reading books before school resumes in August.

Required Reading: Magician’s Nephew – Lewis

Students should choose and read two additional books from the following list:

• Wrinkle in Time – L’Engle                  
• Westing Game – Raskin
• Week in the Woods – Clement
• Notes from a Liar and her Dog – Choldenko
• Secret School – Avi                            
• There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom – Sacher

Students entering 6^th grade:

Please read the summer reading books BEFORE school resumes in August.

Required reading:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Lewis

In addition, select and read any two of the following books:

• The Man Who Was Poe – Avi (mystery)                     
• Wolf Brother – Paver (fantasy)
• Ravenmaster’s Secret – Woodruff (historical fiction)
• Where the Red Fern Grows – Rawls (fiction)

Students entering 7^th grade:

All three books are required reading and should be read before school resumes in August.

• Nothing but the Truth – Avi                                      
• The Giver – Lowry                 
• Fever 1793 – Anderson

Students entering 8^th grade:

All three books are required reading and should be read before school resumes in August.

• Pigman – Zindel                                                         
• Trouble with Lemons – Hayes
• Harris and Me - Paulsen