Thoughts Regarding Book Selection:
Please check in with your child to discuss his or her reading level, current book selections and personal reading goals. We encourage students to read a variety of levels. Too easy books are comfort reads and great for fluency. Just right selections are enjoyable and increase confidence and reading duration. Frequently, students are reading multiple selections simultaneously. We encourage each student to read a variety of texts. To mix it up by genres, length, reading level, topic, etc. is a great way to choose new and interesting books and become excited about reading. Depending upon a reader's (and our) purpose, students can take on a challenge with a more difficult read, then take a break with an easier/shorter "reread" for fun. It's satisfying to complete both. In second grade we are building our reading muscle to read lengthier books and attend to the text for longer amounts of time.
Keep in mind:
*Use use the 5 finger rule to select a "good fit" book. If 5 words stop the flow of reading to decode on one page, the book is "too hard" and will either cause frustration in reading or there will be limited comprehension.
*Read about 1 chapter book each week by the end of the year.
View videos for parents that give literacy learning tips here.
1st to 2nd Grade level: Bridge into chapter book reading Selections:
Henry & Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish
*Fox books by James Marshall
Junie B. Jones (if you can stand the poor grammar. Kids love it!)
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard
2nd Grade
A-Z Mysteries
The Adventures of Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadey
Ark in the Park by Wendy Orr
Amber Brown by Laura Danziger
Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin
Cam Jansen by David Adler
*Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Horrible Harry by Suzy Kline
Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows
Jigsaw Jones Mystery by James Preller
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osbourne
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
My Weird School by Dan Gutman
Puppy Place by Ellen Miles
Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott (High Interest for mature readers)
3rd Grade
*Boxcar Children’s Mysteries by Gertrude Chandler Warner
*Bunnicula by Deborah & James Howe
*Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Franny K. Stein - Mad Scientist by Jim Benton
*Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
Puppy Place by Ellen Miles
Judy Moody by Megan & Peter McDonald
Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Ramona Quimby Age 8
Stink the Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald
My Weird School series by Dan Gutman
4th Grade:
Animal Ark (horses) by Ben Baglio
Animorphs by K.A. Applegate
Bone by Jeff Smith
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
*Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton
The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald and Mercer Mayer
Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky
*Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler
Hardy Boys by Franklin Dixon
**Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingals Wilder
*Matt Christopher Sports Classics by Matthew F Christopher
Mrs. Cooney is Looney! by Dan Gutman
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Phantom Stallion by Terri Farley
Poppy Series by Avi
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Luis Sachar
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing & Fudge stories by Judy Blume
5th Grade level:
The 39 Clues by Peter Lerangis
**Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
*Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Pendragon by D.J. MacHale
Ralph S Mouse by Beverly Cleary
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
Warriors by Erin Hunter
Advanced levels:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger by Lois Lowry
*excellent for reluctant boys
**imaginative descriptions
Web Site: The Best Children's Books recommended reading list.
Love this one! Books Every Geek Should Read to their Kids before age 10.
Accelerated Reader Quiz list for levels & points. Forty books recommended to every child to read here.