Book Suggestions

Independent reading at home should be enjoyable for students. The books listed below are suggestions of books that students may like to read on their own at home. If your child does not like reading a book, it is okay for him or her to abandon a book. Finding books that children like to read and want to read is a huge step in creating children who become life-long readers.

Good Books for First Graders

  • BOB books by Bobby Lynn Maslen

  • Big Dog and Little Dog series by Dav Pilkey

  • Tiny series by Cari Meister

  • Puppy Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant

  • Ollie the Stomper by Olivier Dunrea

  • Gossie and Gertie books by Olivier Dunrea

  • Pig and Pug by Laura Marchesani

  • Robot, Go Bot! by Dana Meachen Rau

  • Biscuit books by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

  • National Geographic Kids Pre-Reader books such as Jump, Pup!, Play, Kitty! and Hop, Bunny!

  • Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

  • Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin

  • Sports Illustrated Kids Starting Line Readers such as Baseball Buzz and Basketball Break by C.C. Coven

  • Mo Jackson book series by David A. Adler (Sports)

  • Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold

Good Books for Second Graders

  • Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems

  • Pigeon series by Mo Willems

  • Don't Throw It to Mo! and other Mo Jackson books by David A. Adler

  • Young Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler

  • Poppleton series by Cynthia Rylant

  • Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant

  • Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant

  • Katie Woo series by Fran Manushkin

  • Aggie and Ben series by Lori Ries

  • Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

  • Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey

  • Zinc Alloy vs. Frankenstein by Donald B. Lemke

  • Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline

  • Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series by Dav Pilkey

  • Pinky and Rex Ready-to-Read Series by James Howe

Good Books for Third Graders

  • Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

  • Narwhal and Jelly graphic novels by Ben Clanton

  • Princess in Black series by Dean Hale and Shannon Hale

  • Ivy & Bean series by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall

  • Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers

  • The PS Brothers by Maribeth Boelts

  • Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

  • Daisy Dawson series by Steve Voake

  • Clementine series by Sarah Pennypacker

  • My Father's Dragon series by Ruth Stiles Gannett

  • My Weird School series by Dan Gutman

  • Black Lagoon Adventure series by Mike Thaler

  • The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin

  • Geronimo Stilton series by Elisabetta Dami

  • Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine

  • Dragon Masters series by Tracey West

Good Books for Fourth Graders

  • The New Kid by Jerry Craft

  • Smile by Raina Telgemeier

  • Books by Roald Dahl:

    • Fantastic Mr. Fox

    • James and the Giant Peach

    • The Big Finger

  • Whatever After series by Sarah Mylnowski

  • I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis

  • Rescue Dog series by Jane B. Mason

  • The Terrible Two series by Mac Barnett and Jory John

  • Who Was...? series by different authors

  • The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

  • The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate

  • The Baby-sitter's Club series by Raina Telgemeier (graphic novels)

  • Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan