Teacher Recommendations

The NFES staff would like to share their favorite books with you!

I recommend any books by Gail Gibbons for second graders. They are fun ways to learn about lots of topics like space, sharks, plants, etc.
~ Mrs. Hastings

I recommend The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan for 5th and 6th graders. It's an amazing introduction to Greek mythology with a modern and relatable twist! ~Mrs. Stoltze

I recommend Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper for students in grades 4-6. It is a unique perspective from a narrator who isn't often heard. A great story about giving someone the chance to show who they are.
~Mr. Schlosser

I recommend The Humphrey Series (grades 3-5) and Humphrey's Tiny Tales (grades K-2) by Betty G. Birney. Students fall in love with the character, Humphrey, and his friends. Humphrey gets himself in many silly situations, but always learns a lesson in the end.
~Mrs. Bianco

I recommend Gooseberry Park by Cythina Rylant. It is a good book for grades 1-3. It’s been a favorite of mine and my classes for years. ~Mrs. Woodard

I recommend The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate for students in grades 2-5. It is a heartwarming and powerful story of hope inspired by a real gorilla and shows readers how friendship, and courage can make a real difference when times are tough. Ivan begins to dream of something more in his life—and makes a promise that could change his (and his friends) lives forever. The first book in a 3 part series- read them all- you won't be sorry! ~Mrs. Lionetti

I recommend The Princess in Black Series by Shannon Hale for children in grades K-3. These are approachable, fun chapter books for families to read together.
~Mrs. Krompinger

I recommend Frindle by Andrew Clements for grades 3-5. It's a Realistic Fiction book about a 5th grade student who takes on a "war" of words with his strict teacher. The book is fun to read and makes you wonder ....why do we use certain words to name the everyday things in our lives? It makes me think of other characters like Matilda & Harriet The Spy- both curious characters who challenge authority in thoughtful ways! The ending of this book is one of my favorites! ~Mrs. Schlosser

I recommend The Henry and Mudge Series by Cynthia Rylant for children in grades K-1. I love the adventures that Henry and Mudge encounter.
~Mrs. Fecci

I recommend The Sour Grape by Jory John and Pete Oswald for readers in grades K-3.It helps students realize that the way they treat others matters and treating others with kindness is always the best choice.

~Mrs. Mahoney

I recommend The Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne for children in grades 1-2. A brother and sister travel through time and learn about new times and places. Sometimes they even work on finding clues to solve a mystery!
~Mrs. Duffy

I recommend the Diary of a Pug series by Kyla May for children in grades 1-3. The series gets kids excited to read. There are colorful illustrations as well as text and speech bubbles. If you like Diary of a Pug there are two other series, Diary of an Owl and Diary of a Unicorn.

~Mrs. Mapes

I recommend the Gerald and Piggie books by Mo Willems for children in grades K-2. My students love to read these books with expression! They are so much fun to read!
~Mrs. Manning

I recommend The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate for readers in grades 3-5.It’s a heartwarming story of friendship and compassion.

~Mrs. Rohwedder

I love recommending Charlotte’s Web to my 2nd graders because it’s such a special story about friendship, kindness, and helping others. It’s about a little pig named Wilbur who feels lonely—until he meets Charlotte, a wise and caring spider who becomes his best friend. Charlotte shows what it means to be a true friend by standing up for Wilbur and using her web to help him in an amazing way. The book is filled with fun farm animals, beautiful words, and moments that make us laugh and think. We can even connect the story to real life—learning about spiders, farms, and writing kind words just like Charlotte did in her web. It’s a great book to enjoy over the summer, whether you're reading at home, at the park, or on a family trip. Charlotte’s Web is a story you’ll remember for a long time! ~Ms. Pendergast

It's difficult to pick just one favorite! But I really enjoy the book A Piece of Cake by LeYuen Pham. It is a tale of friendship, sharing, and solving problems in unconventional ways. Students in grades K-2 would love it!

~Mrs. Bishop

I would recommend The Barnabus Project by The Fan Brothers. It's my favorite book because it has a great lesson in it -- nobody's perfect! I also love the illustrations

~Mrs. Johansson

I recommend The Napping House by Audrey Wood for children in grades PreK-1. The pictures have amazing details and foreshadowing of the story!
~Mrs. Allen

I recommend The Unteachables by Gordon Korman for students heading to 6th grade. I like this book because it's hilarious and engaging. It's all about fed up teachers, an unruly class, and how they begin to see they have more in common than they initially thought!

~Mrs. Stoltze

I recommend Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper for readers in grades 4-6. It is a unique perspective from a narrator who isn't often heard. It's a great story about giving someone the chance to show who they are. ~Mr. Schlosser

I recommend Humprhey's Tiny Tales by Betty G. Birney for students in grades K-3. Students fall in love with the character, Humphrey, and his friends.

~Mrs. Bianco

I recommend Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness by Maria Gianferrari for readers in grades K-3. It encourages students to be present in the moment, feel their emotions, and incorporates movement all while following the main character, Dog.

~Mrs. Mahoney

I would recommend The Little Mouse, the Red, Ripe Strawberry and the Big, Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood for children in PreK-first grade. The illustrations show the emotions of the mouse and the book has rhythmic language.

~Mrs. Allen

I recommend Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog by Cynthia Rylant for first graders. It is kind of a funny book about a naughty dog and I love dogs, even the naughty ones!

~Mrs. Duffy

I would recommend This Close to Home by Beth Turley because it’s a thoughtful and heartfelt story about family, friendship, and finding your voice. The main character goes through real-life challenges that many kids can relate to, like feeling unsure of where they fit in or dealing with changes at home. Beth Turley does a beautiful job of showing how strong and brave kids can be, even when things feel uncertain. Her writing is warm and honest, and the story encourages readers to be kind to themselves and others. It’s a great book for fifth grader readers who enjoy stories that feel real and meaningful.

~Ms. Pendergast

I love Charlotte's Web by E.B. White for readers in grades 2-4. It’s a beautifully written story of friendship, love and life. It’s a great family read aloud.

~Mrs. Rohwedder

I would recommend Billie B. Brown and Hey Jack by Sally Rippen for children in first and second grade. It is a great introductory chapter book. The stories a relatable to kids and each book is broken down into 3 or 4 chapters with larger font than a traditional chapter book. Both my daughters loved the series!

~Mrs. Mapes

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