LREI: Library/Resources

To help your child develop independent reading skills, we have created the following list of suggested titles. Daily reading during the summer months allows students to strengthen and solidify their reading skills. Many titles on this list are series, which help support the reader with familiar characters, fewer words per page, and controlled vocabulary. These titles and others by the same authors are readily available at the public library and at local and online bookstores.

Picture Books
Alborough, Jez. Hug
Have you ever felt like you needed a big hug from someone who loves you? That’s exactly how chimp feels!

Bercaw, Edna Coe. Halmoni’s Day
Jennifer is worried that Halmoni, her grandmother from Korea, will embarrass her on grandparent’s day. After all, she doesn’t speak English, and her clothes aren’t western.

Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius
Deciding in childhood that she would seek adventure in faraway places, Miss Rumphius fulfills her dreams…then has one thing left to do.

Curtis, Gavin. The Bat Boy and His Violin
Reginald is more interested in his violin than in his father's job managing the worst team in the Negro Leagues. His father learns the joy of music when his son's playing helps the team.

Diakite, Penda. I Lost My Tooth in Africa
A child’s connection with her extended family in Mali lends to appreciation and learning about traditions.

Ehrhardt, Karen. This Jazz Man
Told to the tune of “This Old Man”, jazz greats are explored. Mini bios appear in the back, giving additional information.

English, Karen. Hot Day on Abbott Avenue
Kishi and Renee’s tempers flare up with the temperature, but soon a Double Dutch game gets them down off their porches. Beautiful collages by Javaka Steptoe.

Garden, Nancy. Molly’s Family
When Molly draws a picture of her family, a classmate tells her that
she can’t have two moms. Molly’s class then explores what makes
a family.

Henkes, Kevin. Kitten’s First Full Moon
Follow the sweet struggle of kitten that sees her first full moon and thinks it’s a bowl of milk in the sky. Caldecott winner 2005.

Hills, Tad. Duck and Goose
An unlikely friendship is forged through a finder’s keepers dispute.

Hopkinson, Deborah. Apples to Oregon
“In this original tall tale, Delicious describes her family’s journey from Iowa to Oregon in the 1800s.”

Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.

Look, Lenore. Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding
Jenny is back, this time attending her uncle’s wedding. It’s not easy playing second fiddle to the bride.

McDonald, Megan. Insects Are My Life
No one at home appreciates Amanda's love of insects…not until Maggie comes along.

McKissack, Patricia. Mirandy and Brother Wind
Mirandy thinks that by capturing the wind for a dance partner, she can win the Junior Cakewalk.

Mitchell, Rita Phillips. Hue Boy
A boy, smaller than his peers, tries one remedy after another to achieve greater physical stature.

Near, Holly. The Great Peace March
A thoughtful celebration of what the world would be like if everyone joined together for a Great Peace March.

Portis, Antoinette. Not A Box
A racecar, a mountain, a burning building, a robot…but NOT a box!

Recorvits, Helen. My Name Is Yoon
An exquisite picture book. Watch Yoon’s transition from a girl who is too shy to share the Americanized version of her Korean name, to a girl who is proud to share.

Rohmann, Eric. My Friend Rabbit
Something always seems to go wrong when rabbit is around, but Mouse lets him play with his new toy anyway!

Shannon, David. The Rain Came Down
After an unexpected rain shower, the people of the town start to argue with each other.

Steig, William. Brave Irene
Irene, the daughter of a seamstress, braves a snowstorm to deliver a gown to the Duchess in time for the ball.

Tompert, Ann. Grandfather Tang's Story
Grandfather uses tangrams to tell a story of fox fairies that try to best each other, until hunters endanger them both.

Willems, Mo. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
A pigeon longs to drive a bus and tries to make his dreams come true when the driver takes a short break!

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Beginning Chapter Books
Blume, Judy. Freckle Juice
Andrew wants freckles so badly that he is even willing to pay for them!

Cameron, Ann. The Stories Julian Tells
Episodes in the life of 7 year old Julian. Making friends, dealing with his brother, trying to grow taller are part of Julian's days.

Dahl, Roald. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Three mean farmers try everything to get rid of fox and his family.

DePaola, Tomie. On My Way
A memoir in which author Tomie DePaola recounts exciting and scary aspects of his childhood.

Erickson, John R. Hank the Cowdog (series)
Hank, head of ranch security, matches wits with an escaped circus monkey.

Greenburg, J.C. Andrew Lost (series)
When 10-year-old Andrew invents a shrinking machine, the last thing he wants is to use it on himself! Now the size of a flea, Andrew and Judy find themselves on the eighbour’s dog!

Holm, Jenny and Matt Holm. Baby Mouse: Queen of the World (series)
In graphic novel format, Baby Mouse hatches scheme after scheme to become Queen of the World, and attend Felicia’s party.

Le Guin, Ursula. Catwings (series)
Four young cats with wings leave the city in search of safer place to live.

Levy, Elizabeth. Something Queer in the Library (series)
Gwen and Jill discover some mutilated books. How are these books tied into the dog show…or are they?

Lowry, Lois. Gooney Bird Greene
An eccentric second grader tells her classmates tall tales.

Myers, Laurie. Surviving Brick Johnson
Afraid that making fun of the husky new kid will get him hurt, Nick signs up for karate lessons.

Rylant, Cynthia. High Rise Private Eyes:The Case of the Missing Monkey
Bunny and Jack try to solve a mystery that is not quite what it seems. Look for others in the series!

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Longer Fiction
Baum, L. Frank. The Wizard of Oz
Travel with Dorothy to the Land of Oz, and meet some friends on a quest.

Cleary, Beverly. The Mouse and the Motorcycle
A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy at the Mountain View Inn and learns the joy of motorcycling.

Eager, Edward. Half Magic
Four children looking forward to an ordinary summer enjoy a series of fantastic adventures by double wishing on an ancient coin.

Gannett, Ruth Stiles. My Father’s Dragon
A young boy is determined to rescue a poor baby dragon that is being used
by a group of lazy, wild animals to ferry them across the river on Wild
Island.

Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Longstocking
Escapades of a lucky girl who lives with a horse and a monkey, but without parents.

Martin, Ann M. and Laura Godwin. The Doll People
A doll family that has lived in the same house for 100 years is shocked when a new family of plastic dolls moves in. (See also the Meanest Doll in the World)

Paterson, John. The Littles.
Only a few inches tall, the Littles experience a myriad of dangers and adventures.

Travers, P.L. Mary Poppins.
Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane is never the same after a magical nanny comes to stay.

Wesley, Valerie Wilson. Willimena and the Cookie Money
When Willimena spends all the money she earned selling girl scout cookies, her big sister Tina comes up with ways to help earn the money back. How long can they keep this secret?

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Non-Fiction
Adler, David. A Picture Book Benjamin Franklin
Looks at the life of Benjamin Franklin, including his work as an inventor and Statesman.

Adler, David. Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man
The story of Lou Gehrig is inspirational far beyond Yankee stadium. A simple biography of this athlete’s life.

Borden, Louise. Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman
This short biography introduces Bessie Coleman, the first African American to receive a pilot’s license. When she wasn’t allowed to fly in the USA, she moved to France to get an international license.

Branley, Franklyn. Comets: (A Let's Read and Find Out Science Book)
The history of comets and the science behind them.

Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. Planets of Our Solar System
A simple introduction to the planets in our solar system. Filled with fun facts.

Brenner, Martha. Abe Lincoln’s Hat
A different biography told through a series of anecdotes. History is brought to life!

Cole, Henry. Jack’s Garden
Cumulative text is used to show how parts of nature connect and grow together. A “nature” version of The House Jack Built.

Donnelly, Judy. Tut’s Mummy
The exciting story of King Tut’s life, and the discovery of his tomb!

Gibbons, Gail. The Milk Makers
Have you ever wondered where the milk you drink comes from? There are many steps milk has to go through before it ends up in your fridge.

Gibbons, Gail. Sunken Treasure
Find out about the Atocha, a Spanish ship that sunk near Florida in a 1622 hurricane.

Gilliland, Judith Heide. Steamboat!
The true story of an unusual girl whose courage and determination help her to become the country's first female steamboat captain.

Hunter, Ryan Ann. Dig a Tunnel
In bold pictures and lively text, this books tells about the busy underground and underwater world of tunnels.

Kuklin, Susan. How My Family Lives
Three children talk about their families and their pride in their cultural traditions.

Schwartz, David. The Hidden Life of the Forest
Beginning with a hibernating bear and ending with the next coming winter, the reader is taken on a nature walk through a typical American woodland.

Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends
A boy who turns into a TV and a girl who eats a whale, are two characters in this collection of humorous poetry.

Sis, Peter. Train of States
Peter Sis has done it again! Marvel at the detailed watercolors depicting each state in the Union. Cars are lined up chronologically according to their date of statehood.

Averill	Hamilton	Parish
Bulla	Havill	Pinkwater
Bunting	Hoban	Rylant
Burmingham	Hoff	Say
Capucilli	Hurd	Steig
Cleary	Lobel	\|Van Leeuwen
Cole	Marshall	Wilder
Ehlrich	McCauly	Zelinsky

Graves, R. (Ed).
The RIF Guide to Encouraging Young Readers.
A compilation of family reading activities designed to keep reading FUN!

Kaye, Peggy.
Games for Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read.
A great resource for parents, this book will help children learn to read by doing what they like to do best: play games. The games are easy to follow and easy to play, and designed for the beginning reader. However, even if your child is already reading, these games are fun and worth trying! A section at the end suggests creative ways to encourage your child to read independently on a daily basis.

Lipson, Eden Ross.
The New York Times Parents' Guide to the Best Books for Children
A revised an updated guide to some of the best American children's books of the twentieth century. Multiple indices group books by title, author, illustrator, age appropriateness, read-aloud potential and special interests.

Trelease, Jim.
The Read-Aloud Handbook
Trelease mixes scientific proof and anecdotal evidence about the life changing nature of reading aloud to children. The last section of this book lists literature appropriate for reading aloud to various ages.

All three library systems maintain web pages that include booklists which are categorized by grade level. Librarians annotate many of the lists.