Summer Reading 2024
Rising First & Second Grade:
Reading is a wonderful way for your children to prepare for the upcoming school year. We encourage rising first and second graders to spend a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes per day reading independently. As children move from beginning to independent readers, there is also great value and enjoyment in having an adult read to them. Below are some grade-level appropriate suggestions for your emerging readers.
Rising First Grade
Suggested Summer Reading List
- Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
- Little Bear series by Else Minarik
- Biscuit series by Alyssa Capucilli
- Puppy Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant
- I am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges
- Any books by Eric Carle
- Any books by Dr. Seuss
- Any books by Ezra Jack Keats (ex. The Snowy Day, Whistle for Willie)
- Any books by Mo Willems (ex. Piggie and Gerald, Knuffle Bunny)
- National Geographic Leveled Readers
- Shel Silverstein poetry books
Rising Second Grade
Suggested Summer Reading List
- Owl Diaries series by Rebecca Elliot
- Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo
- Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows
- Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Bad Guys by Aaron Blagbey
- Nate the Great by Craig Sharmat
- Stink by Megan McDonald
- Discover Science: Animal Disguises by Belinda Weber
- Any books by Dan Gutman (ex. My Weird School series)
Rising Third and Fourth Grade:
Summer is a wonderful time to read for pleasure and spending time reading each day will only strengthen fluency and comprehension. Students should read at least 3 books from the lists below. As the new school year begins, they will complete several projects from their reading. By maintaining an active literacy life over the summer, you ensure your child the best start for the next grade level!
Rising Third Grade
Required Summer Reading List
Please choose one of the following:
- Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardner
- Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary
- Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Please choose two of the following:
-
Anglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep by Elaine Alexander
- Dandelions by Eve Bunting
- Eight Dolphins of Katrina by Janet Wyman Coleman
- Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the American West by Steven Kroll
- National Geographic Kids: Ancient Egypt by Stephanie Drimmer
Rising Fourth Grade
Required Summer Reading List
Please choose two of the following:
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
- The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story by Emma Bland Smith
- Frindle by Andrew Clements
- The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
- The Boxcar Children (Book 1) by Gertrude Cahndler Warner
Please choose at least one book by author, Patricia Polacco
Examples: Babuska’s Doll, Chicken Sunday, Pink and Say, Rechenka’s Eggs, Picnic at Mudsock Meadow, Thank you Mr. Falker, Mr. Lincoln’s Way
Middle School Summer Reading:
Please read the grade-specific novel(s) below by the first day of school. Bring your hard copies to school on the first day to allow for annotations.
Grade 5: Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt
Grade 6: Ungifted by Gordon Korman and Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Grade 7: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Grade 8: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Fifth Grade
In addition to your grade-specific novel, please read at least one book from the list below
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- Shiloh by Phillis Raynolds Naylor
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherin Applegate
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean George
Sixth – Eighth Grade
In addition to your grade-specific novel, please read at least one book from the list below
- Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis written by Susan Hood and Greg Dawson
- Attack of the Black Rectangles written by Amy Sarig King
- Camp Scare written by Delilah S. Dawson
- Falling Short written by Ernesto Cisneros
- Gallant written by V. E. Schwab
- Nowhere Better Than Here written by Sarah Guillory
- Swim Team written and illustrated by Johnnie Christmas
- The Switch written by Roland Smith
- Tumble written by Celia C. Pérez
- Wave written by Diana Farid, illustrated by Kris Goto