Mrs. Newman's

Banks: Max's Words c2006 fiction
Max wants to start a collection since his brothers collect coins and stamps. Max decides to collect words and discovers the importance of how words are put together to create stories.

Bridges: Ruby’s Wish c2002 historical fiction, ethnic diversity
During the 1800s in China, when few girls learn to read and write, Ruby fervently desires to attend university with all the males in her family.

Bunting: One Green Apple c2006 historical fiction, ethnic diversity
Farah is new to the U.S. and her class. She feels alone until she goes on a field trip and realizes things are alike everywhere.

Christelow: Where’s the Big Bad Wolf c2002 folk and fairy tale
Every time the three pigs get in trouble the big bad wolf is nowhere to be found.

Cox: Butterfly Buddies c2001 friendship, school story
In this transition to chapter book story, two students working together on a project study the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly and learn how important it is to feel accepted.

Curtis: The Bat Boy and His Violin c1998 sports, music, ethnic diversity
Reginald loves to play his violin, but Papa wants him to be outdoors more and enlists him as the bat boy for the baseball team Papa manages. Reginald plays his violin in the dugout, and the team improves.

Demi: One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale c1997 folklore, math
A clever village girl outsmarts a selfish raja as one grain of rice doubles each day and becomes millions of grains of rice.

DiCamillo: Mercy Watson to the Rescue c2005 animal, fantasy, humor
Cute little pig Mercy is happy until the lights turn off at night, and she decides to join her owners in their bed.

Goble: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses c1978 folklore, ethnic diversity
In this folk tale, a Native-American girl prefers to live with the wild horses with which she feels happy and free, even though she loves her people.

Grindley: Dear Max c2004 fiction
Max begins writing letters to his favorite author, D. J. Lucas. Together they share the problems of being a 9-year-old who is being bullied and a famous author who is having trouble with her next book.

Holm: Babymouse c2005 graphic fiction, friendship, imagination
A little mouse with a big imagination learns about true friendship and popularity.

Johnson: Just Like Josh Gibson c2007 sports fiction, historical fiction
A grandmother recounts the story of the day she was allowed to play in a baseball game, even though she was a girl.

Kerrin: Martin Bridge: Ready for Takeoff! c2005 fiction
Martin means well, but his ideas don’t always turn out as expected. In three stand-alone chapters, Martin deals with issues at home and school.

Pinkney: The Ugly Duckling c1999 fairy tale
This adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic portrays an unhappy year for an ugly duckling who eventually grows up and transforms into a beautiful swan.

Preller: Jigsaw Jones series mystery
Jigsaw Jones and his friend Mila put together pieces of information to solve various mysteries.

Stilton: The Geronimo Stilton series mice, fantasy, mystery
Geronimo Stilton is a mouse newspaper editor and journalist who travels the world to chase important interviews but winds up in the middle of adventures that involve solving intriguing mysteries.

Tunnell: Mailing May c1997 historical fiction
Five-year-old May wishes to visit her grandmother, but the train is too expensive. May's father and cousin concoct a clever means of sending the child after all.

Warner: Only Emma c2005 fiction
Emma’s mother loses her job, so Emma becomes the new kid in the school and neighborhood. An only child, Emma’s life changes when a four year old comes for a visit.

Willey: Clever Beatrice c2001 folklore
In this folk tale, a clever young girl matches her wits against a rich giant and wins all his gold, saving her family from poverty.

Wyeth: Something Beautiful c2002 fiction
A young girl finds just how many different forms beauty can take when she searches her urban neighborhood.

Birney: The World According to Humphrey c2005 fiction, humor
Humphrey, a classroom hamster, surveys his surroundings and finds ways to help the children in the class.

Birney: The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs c2005 fiction
Set in 1923, a 12 year old boy is inspired to find wonders in his small town after reading about the Seven Wonders of the World.

Clements: Lunch Money c1994 school, humor
Hart is a popular boy who sometimes "goofs off". When he hits the music teacher with a rubber band, he is put in charge of the holiday concert. Both Hart and his teacher learn lessons.

Curtis: Mr. Chickee's Funny Money c2005 mystery, ethnic diversity
Is the quadrillion dollar bill with a picture of soul singer James Brown that Steven Carter receives as a gift from his elderly blind neighbor real money? Steven, his friend Russell, and Russell's dog Zoopy decide to investigate.

Duffey: Hey, New Kid! c1996 school story
Jeremy worries about attending a new school, but he decides to make the best of it by reinventing himself in order to impress other students in his class.

Feelings: Soul Looks Back in Wonder c1993 poetry, ethnic diversity
Thirteen African American poets celebrate their heritage in their words and colorful illustrations created by Tom Feelings.

Fleming: The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School c2007 fiction, school
Mr. Jupiter becomes the 4th grade teacher of an unruly class with surprising results.

Grimes: Talkin' About Bessie c2002 biography, ethnic diversity
How Bessie Coleman became the first African-American woman to become a licensed pilot as told by her family and friends.

Gutman: My Weird School series school, humor
A fun series of books about school life that appeal to reluctant readers.

Howe: It Came From Beneath the Bed c2002 humor, fantasy
Uncle Harold, who wrote books about Bunnicula, helps Howie, his dachshund nephew to write a story in which he saves the world from a science experiment gone wrong.

Hurwitz: Fourth Grade Fuss c2004 school story
Julio and his friends enjoy their fourth grade activities - the yard sale, ice skating, and a surprise party; but the students get serious when they have to study for end-of-the-year statewide tests.

Kehret: Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays c1999 animals, non-fiction
Tells the story of 8 dogs who were saved from the animal shelter and went on to better lives.

MacDonald: No More Nasty c2001 humor, school story
An unruly fifth grade class receives a new perspective on learning from a substitute teacher who just happens to be Simon’s Great Aunt Matilda.

McDonald: Judy Moody c2000 humor, school story
On the first day of school, third grader Judy snaps out of her bad mood when she receives an assignment to create a collage all about herself.

Noble: The Last Brother (Tales of Young America series) c2006 historical fiction
Gabe becomes a bugler in the Civil War to protect his only surviving brother.

Pennypacker: Clementine c2006 fiction, series
Clementine is a funny, energetic, third grader with a talent for getting in trouble and a heart of gold.

Roy: A to Z Mysteries series, mystery stories
Elementary schoolers Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose work together to solve mysteries.

San Souci: The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club c2004 friendship, fiction
Brothers Bobby, Danny, and Mike decide to display the treasures they find on vacation and start a club with their friends.

Strickland: When Mack Came Back c2000 family, historical fiction
During World War II in rural Georgia, Maury’s older brother Ben enlists in the army, leaving Maury to care for Ben’s injured puppy and deal with their angry father.

Various authors: My America series historical fiction
These fiction stories are written in diary format and depict everyday children living during various time in American history.

from Summer Reading List