Reading Ideas
Crestwood Elementary School highly endorses reading for pleasure over the summer. Research shows that:
- Having your child read for 20-30 minutes each day, increases vocabulary, spelling, comprehension and reading ability. Reading aloud to your child is equally important and gives even excellent readers access to higher levels of literature. Make time for both every day.
- Light reading (comic books, children's magazines, series books) improves a child's skills dramatically if done regularly. Having a child read below his or her reading level helps build skills and fluency, and gives a greater sense of accomplishment than making a child struggle with a harder book. Encourage re-reading: it is excellent practice for consolidating skills and doesn't bore children.
- A child who reads only an average amount falls behind avid readers by many points on standardized tests each year. By the time a child reaches high school it is extremely difficult to make up for a lack of reading during these critical years.
What’s more fun than curling up with a good book?
Summer is a great time to read and talk about books. A reader grows from experience and expectations. A child learns to read by reading, especially by reading many different types of materials. Good role models, like seeing their parents read, are also essential.
Children need time and space to explore books. Most of all reading should be FUN! Try reading on a beach towel with sunglasses or reading with a stuffed animal. Put on a crazy hat or crazy socks. Read outside in a special location. Most importantly, just read!
I hope that this list of recommended titles may help you experience some wonderful moments with your child. As always I encourage you to make sure a book is appropriate for your child, don’t just take my recommendation for it. I encourage you to take advantage of the public library’s summer reading program as well.
This list is not an exhaustive list nor is it divided into rigid age groups because many books for older children are terrific read-alouds for young students, and more and more picture books are being written for children of all ages.
Picture Books
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears---Verna Aardema
A folktale explaining the reason mosquitoes annoy humans with their buzzing sound.
Where the Wild Things Are—Maurice Sendak
A naughty little boy is sent to bed without supper, where he sails off to the land of the wild things and becomes their king.
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude—Kevin O’Malley
A girl & boy have their own version of how a fairy tale should end.
Time to Say “Please”—Mo Willems
Mice and children cover the basics of polite conversation.
Sakes Alive—Karma Wilson
The cows steal Farmer’s keys and go on a real cattle drive.
Miss Rumphius—Barbara Cooney
A retired librarian resolves to travel the world and then to make the world more beautiful.
Actual Size—Steve Jenkins
Discusses and gives examples of the size & weight of various animals & parts of animals.
Hooway for Wodney Wat—Helen Lester
A timid rat who can't pronounce his r's becomes a hero when he outwits a bully.
Pictures from Our Vacation—Lynne Rae Perkins
With her sketchbook and camera a girl assembles a visual mosaic of what becomes a memorable trip with her relatives.
Lower Elementary Fiction (7-10 yrs)
Ramona Quimby, Age 8—Beverly Cleary
Ramona’s third grade year at school will keep readers laughing.
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little—Peggy Elizabeth Gifford
With summer coming to an end, about to be 4th grader, Moxy Maxwell does everything she can think of to avoid reading her assigned summer book.
The Talented Clementine—Sara Pennypacker
Clementine tries to avoid participating in the class talent show when she convinces herself she has no talent.
Maybelle in the Soup—Katie Speck
When the Peabodys invite a guest to dinner, Maybelle the cockroach decides to crash the party.
World According to Humphrey—Betty Birney
A pet school hamster learns he has an important role to play in helping his classmates and teacher.
Charlotte’s Web—E.B. White
Classic story of a spider who tries to save a pig by spinning her web.
Mercy Watson series—Kate DiCamillo
A pig has many adventures. Chapter book with color illustrations.
Tornado—Betsy Byars
A dog arrives during a storm.
Non-Fiction
Where the Sidewalk Ends—Shel Silverstein
Spiders—Nic Bishop
Great Estimations—Bruce Goldstone
Shake, Rattle, and Roll: the Founders of Rock and Roll —Holly George Warren
Upper Elementary Fiction (9-12 yrs)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret—Brian Selznick
An orphan is secretly living in the walls of a train station where he works on an incomplete invention from his father.
Mysterious Benedict Society—Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted orphans are sent out by Mr. Benedict on a dangerous journey to save the world from an evil scientist.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series—Jeff Kinney
Funny adventures in middle school told through comic like drawings & text.
Bella at Midnight—Diane Stanley
A new twist on the Cinderella story—Bella grows up into a brave woman who tries to save a kingdom at war.
No Talking—Andrew Clements
Noisy 5th grade boys challenge the equally loud 5th grade girls to a contest of no talking.
Eggs—Jerry Spinelli
Mourning the loss of his mother, a 9 yr old forms an unlikely alliance with a quirky 13 yr old as each helps the other deal with what is missing in their lives.
The Aurora County All-Stars—Deborah Wiles When Zachary Beaver Came to Town—Kimberly Willis Holt Books for Boys
A lot of boys aren’t too crazy about reading. Many boys are asked to read books about topics that do not appeal to them. The following books have been recommended by boys for boys, and are sure to appeal to most boys.
For young boys
Mercer Mayer books—Mercer Mayer
Great Fuzz Frenzy—Janet Stevens
I Spy books—Jean Marzollo
Pssst!—Adam Rex
Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups—David Wisniewski
Pigeon series—Mo Willems
For older boys
Baseball Card adventure series (e.g. Honus and Me)—Dan Gutman
Thief Lord—Cornelia Funke
Hatchet—Gary Paulsen
Swindle—Gordon Korman
Crash—Jerry Spinelli
Artemis Fowl series—Eoin Colfer
Harry Potter series—J.K. Rowling
Alex Rider series—Anthony Horowitz
Spiderwick Chronicles series—Holly Black
Sports books—Mike Lupica
Among the Hidden series—M. P. Haddix
Silverwing (and sequels) by Kenneth Oppel
On the Run series—Gordon Korman
How to Be the Funniest Kid in the Whole Wide World (or Just in Your Class)—Jay Leno
Other “Guy” reading materials
Calvin and Hobbes comics series—Bill Waterson
Comics
Magazines
Graphic novels (chapter books in comic book format)
Thank you to Mrs. Hadley at Liberty Elementary for working on this list.
In a small
During the summer of 1971 in a small
