Summer
Reading Lists
Book lists for ages 3-17
We want U to read, write, and think throughout the summer!
Embedded Files
Summer
Why summer reading is important:
Summer reading is critical for students to retain knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year. In addition to helping kids maintain learning while school is out, summer reading also fosters social-emotional development, discovering the joy of stories, and elevating the importance of lifelong learning.
Reading is an essential skill and is required throughout our lives in most environments that we find ourselves in. For this reason alone, reading skills are an important part of building confidence and self-esteem, as students who fall behind can experience socio-emotional adjustment challenges when interacting with their peers.
In addition to the academic and socio-emotional challenges caused by poor reading skills, representation in literature plays a huge part in identity-formation, as children—from the youngest to the oldest—are constantly internalizing new information to help figure out who they are and what role they play in society. Literature, like other forms of media, broadens our scope of perception of society and the world.
We hope you enjoy this resource and find yourself coming back as your child grows.
Pre Kindergarten
A Map Into the World by Yang, Kao Kalia
Binny's Diwali by Thrity Umrigar
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Ho, Joanna
Ezra’s BIG Shabbat Question by Brown, Aviva
Freedom Soup by Charles, Tami
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Maillard, Kevin
Here is the World: A year of Jewish Holidays by Lesléa Newman
I am Mixed by James C. Webster
I am One by Susan Verde/Peter Reynolds
In a Garden by Tim McCanna
Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayer
Layla’s Happiness by Tallie, Mariahadessa
Leila in Saffron by Guidroz, Rukhsanna
Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn
My Brother, Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
Our Favorite Day by Oh, Joowon
P is for Palestine: A Palestine Alphabet Book by Bashi, Golbarg
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry
Red by Michael Hall
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Saturday by Oge Mora
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Muhammad, Ibtihaj
The Thing About Bees: A Love Letter by Larkin, Shabazz
Vamos!: Let’s Go Eat by Raul the Third
We Are Family by Patricia Hegarty
We Are Grateful: Ostaliheliga by Traci Sorrel
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff
Young Kap by Osei, Kingsley
For 25 years, the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education has been a leader in training educators on the value of Structured Literacy for all students, founded on the Science of Reading.
Click here for a PDF of IMSE's K-2 Inclusive Summer Reading List and Journal
For more information and other free resources, visit IMSE.com.
Wit & Wisdom Reading Lists
These Volume of Reading texts help students of all abilities expand their knowledge of each module topic.
The texts vary in genre and level of complexity and are a great way for students to get extra practice building vocabulary and content knowledge, and to develop a love of reading!
Kindergarten
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle
Geraldine, The Music Mouse by Leo Lionni
Hello Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan
No One Saw Ordinary Things Through the Eyes of an Artist by Bob Raczka
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
Rain by Manya Stojic
The Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Animal Tales by Naomi Adler
Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson
Follow the Dream by Peter Sís
Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth by Emily Haynes and Sanjay Patel
Koala Lou by Mem Fox
Life Story by Virginia Lee Burton
¡Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest* by Lulu Delacre
The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Cindy Trumbore; Susan L. Roth
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
Wee Gillis by Munro Leaf
1st Grade
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters
Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
Rain School by James Rumford
Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
The Library by Sarah Stewart
The Treasure Box by Margaret Wild
Vincent Can’t Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky by Barb Rosenstock
Wild About Books by Judy Sierra
A Bird or 2: A Story About Henri Matisse by Bijou Le Tord
Cinderella/Cenicienta by Francesc Boada
Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Youn
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters An African Tale by John Steptoe
Pablo Picasso (Revised Edition) (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia
Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story by Robert D. San Souci
Spotlight on South Korea by Bobbie Kalman
The Friendly Postman: The Art of Van Gogh by Yu-Ri Kim
The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox
This Is Ireland by Miroslav Šašek
Vincent’s Colors by Vincent van Gogh
Yeh-Shen A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie
2nd Grade
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant
The House of Four Seasons by Roger Duvoisin
The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown
Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy by Andrea Davis Pinkney
A Moose Boosh by Eric-Shabazz Larkin
Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech
Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup by Jorge Argueta
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
The Quest to Digest by Mary K. Corcoran
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
Your Digestive System by Rebecca L. Johnson
Yum! Mmmm! Qué Rico! Americas’ Sproutings by Pat Mora
3rd Grade
Down, Down, Down A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins
Narwal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
The Great Wave: Inspired by a Woodcut by Hokusai Hokusai and Véronique Massenot
Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg
Edgar Degas: Paintings That Dance Paintings That Dance by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Firebird by Misty Copeland
Sandy’s Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone
The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel
Sharks by Seymour Simon
Surprising Sharks Read and Wonder by Nicola Davies
Swimming with Sharks by Heather Lang
Tentacles!: Tales of the Giant Squid by Shirley-Raye Redmond
Explorers on the Moon by Hergé
Find the Constellations by H. A. Rey
Footprints on the Moon by Alexandra Siy
Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations by Jacqueline Mitton
At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock
Bull Run by Paul Fleischman
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Wiliams and Khadra Mohammed
Hannah’s Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl by Marissa Moss
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi
Lowji discovers America by Candace Fleming
Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
Paper Son: Lee's Journey to America by Helen Foster James
Statue of Liberty by Elizabeth Mann
4th Grade
Breakthrough!: How Three People Saved Blue Babies and Changed Medicine Forever by Jim Murphy
Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman
Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero by Patricia McCormick
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Tiny Stitches: Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas by Gwendolyn Hooks
Who Was Clara Barton? By Stephanie Spinner
Adventures of the Greek Heroes by Anne M. Wiseman
Classic Myths to Read Aloud: The Great Stories of Greek and Roman Mythology by William F. Russell
Cupid and Psyche by Marie Charlotte Craft
Fables by Arnold Lobel
Pegasus by Marianna Mayer
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
5th Grade
As Long As the Rivers Flow by Constance Brissenden
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Sing Down the Moon by Scott O’Dell
Zia by Scott O’Dell
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jennifer Bryant
Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley
America’s Champion Swimmer Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler
Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The Making of a Champion by Russell Freedman
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
Mr. Matisse and His Cutouts by Annemarie van Haeringen
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Reprint) by Jonah Winter
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jennifer Bryant
Bat Boy and His Violin by Gavin Curtis
Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy
Who Was Roberto Clemente? by James Buckley
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull
6th Grade
A Long Way From Chicago: A Novel in Stories by Richard Peck
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
No Promises in the Wind by Irene Hunt
On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells
Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly was Invented by Tanya Lee Stone
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug for Troy by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Odyssey by Geraldine McCaughrean
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart* by Candace Fleming
Every Bone Tells a Story: Hominin Discoveries, Deductions, and Debates by Jill Rubalcaba
The Emperor’s Silent Army: Terracotta Warriors of Ancient China by Jane O’Connor
The Lost Colony of Roanoke by Jean Fritz
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot” by Michael O. Tunnell
Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Shackleton’s Stowaway by Victoria McKernan
Shipwrecked!: The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg
Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet Below the Chilean Desert by Marc Aronson
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
7th Grade
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E. L. Konigsburg
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
Miguel’s Brave Knight: Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote by Margarita Engle
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz
The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park
The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa by Fredrick McKissack and Patricia McKissack
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
Navajo Code Talkers by Nathan Aaseng
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís
Oh Rats!: The Story of Rats and People by Albert Marrin
8th Grade
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices by Walter Dean Myers
I Am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman
Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
Witness by Karen Hesse
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Emma by Jane Austen
King Of Shadows by Susan Cooper
Shakespeare’s Stories for Young Readers by Edith Nesbit
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Midsummer Night's Dream the Graphic Novel: Original Text by John McDonald
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something That Matters by Laurie Ann Thompson
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
Freedom’s Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories by Ellen Levine
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition) by William Kamkwamba
The Boys in the Boat: The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Peterson and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
We’ve Got a Job The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
High School (9th-12th Grades)
Grade_9_Independent_Reading_List (1).pdf9th Grade
Grade_10_Independent_Reading_List (1).pdf10th Grade
Grade_11_Independent_Reading_List (1).pdf11th Grade
Grade_12_Independent_Reading_List.pdf12th Grade
Why reading is important for the development of identity:
Children are able to detect the differences in skin color as early as six-months-old and are capable of internal racial biases before entering kindergarten. That means by the time a Black child is in kindergarten, they’re able to see books in class and recognize when they aren’t in them.
In order for parents to foster a love for reading in their child, it helps for Black children to see themselves or people they can relate to in the characters. It’s a crucial element to keeping them engaged and staying on track—not just for school, but for life itself.
Reconstruction_BlackBookList.pdfHow To Use This Recommended Resource:
The Great Black Book List
For each recommended book, we’ve included a short synopsis. Picking one is as simple as finding the age-appropriate category, reading the brief summary, and finding one or two books you think your child will enjoy. At the end of every age group section, we’ve included a list of suggested activities.
This list is a guide on how to interact with your child and ensure they understand what they’re reading. It includes games, questions, and a few strategies if you notice they’re having trouble with the book.
The books are both age and subject-appropriate:
For the youngest, we’ve recommended picture books with simple words that your child will be able to understand. Our book recommendation for the shorties features lots of light-hearted tales and narratives featuring both grounded and fantastical fictional stories. There are also great introductions to historical Black figures for those a little older, such as a story about the four Black women who helped NASA get to the moon.
Middle schoolers receive reading suggestions that are a little more complex, teaching different elements of being Black in America and expanding their knowledge base on some of the more complicated issues regarding Black identity. We’ve included fictional sports narratives, friends growing apart due to racial tensions, and fictional tales of what it’s like growing up in America’s darkest historical periods.
High schoolers are taken on a journey through Black history where they can read texts depicting both real-life and fictional accounts of what it’s like to be Black in America at their age. There are books regarding police brutality, Black people passing as white people as a method of safety, and tracing the lives of Black people from pre-slavery Africa all the way to modern-day America.
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