Looking for something to read???

Books are often marked with some sort of reading level. 

Books at a grade 4 level can be marked with a DRA level 40 (grade 5 = 50 and grade 6 = 60...) 

OR a Lettering system ~ P - S (end of grade 3 to beginning of grade 5)

OR go to amazon.ca and search. They often provide a general age that books are recommended for. 

RULE OF FIVE TEST: Read any random page from a book. If there are 5 or more words ON THAT page that you do not know, then the book is probably too hard, for now. You won't enjoy it and you'll spend all your 'reading time' trying to figure out what those words are trying to tell you... and that's not reading for enjoyment! If you're eager, try that book a few months later! Maybe you'll surprise yourself at how quickly you've grown as a reader!!

 I STRONGLY Recommend: 

Louis Sachar - we'll read his Sideways Stories from Wayside School early in the school year and there are two more that follow that one. Also, his novel Holes is incredible. Two opposite and unrelated stories that intertwine and find their way together. Unusually, the movie of this book does an EXCELLENT job of representing the book. 

Anything by Kate DiCamillo - We will read Flora and Ulysses in class.

https://www.katedicamillo.com/novels/ and I hear her novel The Magician’s Elephant is coming to Netflix!

Cornelia Funke - is one of my favourite authors. She has written a variety of novels including: the Inkheart series, Dragon Rider, and The Thief Lord. She also writes picture books and some low-level/ high-interest chapter books. Cornelia Funke has an incredible way with words. Her descriptive language catches your attention and pulls you in to her fantasy worlds and, honestly, you won’t want to leave. Inkheart was made into an OK movie!

The Time Warp Trio books are funny too. Good fun reading! Some ancient history, some adventure, and always entertaining. 

Sharon Creech - This year, we'll hopefully read Granny Torelli Makes Soup. She’s an incredible award-winning author that tries a variety of book formats. 

The Series of Unfortunate Events** - a phenomenal Dark Comedy/ Mystery series. There are 13 books in the series with a couple of side-books as well. All by author Lemony Snickett (aka Daniel Handler).  The books get better, more descriptive and more mysterious as you read! (BEWARE the movie. The only thing good about it is the costumes! However,  this has been made into a NETFLIX series with Neil Patrick Harris as the villain Count Olaf and it is I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E. (if you enjoy dark comedies, give it a look-see!)

Anything Gordon Korman - he is awesome! Many of his older books are hilarious comedies.  If you like more adventurous books, try his Island series, Everest series, or Dive series. 

Anything Jerry Spinelli - he is also HILARIOUS!

The sequel to The Castle in the Attic - Battle for the Castle! We will read book 1 together in class later in the year.

Artemis Fowl series - Another higher level - could be a great listen to /read to book! Boy genius plans to steal fairy gold. If you’re into sci/fi/fantasy, you’ll love it. Book 1 was FANTASTIC. Book 2 was good. Book 3 was FANTASTIC again! I believe there are at least two more in the series and Book 1 has already been made in a graphic novel version.  Also a movie!

The Harry Potter series - I love all of them. The writing, detail, and intrigue all improve as the series continues. They are mostly about friendship and perseverance but, a little about school, growing up, and magic. I'm conflicted recommending the author due to her vocal stances, however, the books are good!

The Origami Yoda series of books are CUTE! (not overly taxing, but funny!)

If you like adventure/fantasy - try:

The Hobbit - And if that goes well, consider The Lord of the Rings series. 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series by CS Lewis. 

The Akhenaten Adventure - is a good adventure one!

Chasing Vermeer (followed by: The Wright 3 then Calder's Game) - SUPER smart kids solving mysteries in SUPER smart ways.

Island of the Blue Dolphins and My Side of the Mountain = both challenging CLASSIC novels about survival on your own (before Hunger Games, better "survival" literature existed!) Two great ones to compare!

I love love love Neil Gaiman's kids books! - Also conflicted on this author's life-choice, but his picture books and kids novels are fantastic!

POETRY! AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN!  It's short and FULL of fantastic word choices and imagery.  GREAT for inferring! Try copying formats....  STRONGLY RECOMMENDED! 

Non-fiction - choose appropriate books about topics students are interested in.  CBC kids news has some great world news articles!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jasper Fforde's kids novels! Try the Dragonslayer series (The Last Dragonslayer, The Song of the Quarkbeast, and The Eye of Zoltar)!

NEED MORE?!?!

TRY THIS! - click on TRY THIS!  

Type in a level (775 = end of gr 4 readers, 875 = end of gr 5 readers) then choose genres you like! 1000 book recommendations will POP up! INCREDIBLE! 

OR click your grade (and whether you want, hard, just right, or easy)! SO FUN!

ALSO, Consider: amazon.ca and indigo.ca both have links by grade 4 level.

And, here's some tween books recommendations:

http://theartofsimple.net/tweenbooks/

FINALLY: this link lets you type in books or authors you like then recommends others!

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE: 

Picture Books on BEING POSITIVE: http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/05/17/50-top-childrens-books-with-a-positive-message/

http://growingbookbybook.com/books-about-having-a-positive-attitude/Hope that helps!

Picture Books focusing on POSITIVE VALUES: http://www.goodnet.org/articles/25-childrens-books-that-teach-kids-meaningful-values

Picture Books for SELF-ESTEEM:  http://www.the-positive-parenting-centre.com/kids-story-books.html

Growth Mindset picture books: https://www.reallygoodstuff.com/community/10-childrens-books-for-teaching-growth-mindset/ 

and, https://selfsufficientkids.com/growth-mindset-childrens-books/

and, https://www.weareteachers.com/perfect-read-alouds-for-teaching-growth-mindset/

GRIT and GROWTH novels: https://rewardingeducation.wordpress.com/2016/06/07/nine-young-adult-novels-that-teach-gratitude-grit-and-a-growth-mindset-to-kids/

FINALLY - yes really this time - a million books sorted by 'theme': 

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/booksbytheme