FIFTY GREAT BOOKS FOR KIDS TO READ THIS SUMMER
By Valerie Strauss
May 30
Here, from Scholastic Instructor, is a list of 50 great
books for kids to read over the summer. The list, which was assembled with the
help of teachers and others, offers books that will appeal to students from
pre-K through eighth grade. Categories of books are humor, fantasy and adventure,
nonfiction, realistic fiction, magic and mystery, picture books.
HUMOR
Unusual Chickens for
the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
By Kelly Jones,
illustrated by Katie Kath. Grades 4–6.
In letters to her dearly departed abuelita and others,
Sophie worries about missing L.A., her dad’s unemployment, and poultry thieves.
Her voice rings true in this tale of family, adventure, and raising chickens.
Return to Augie
Hobble
By Lane Smith. Grades
4–7.
“This has a little bit of everything: twisted fairy tales,
werewolves, bullies, and humor.”
—Karen Arendt, librarian, T. J. Connor Elementary,
Scottsville, NY
The Terrible Two
By Jory John and Mac
Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Grades 4–6.
Far be it from us to condone pranking, but if we were to,
we’d recommend this very funny manual on the art. Plus, there are cows, goofy
drawings, shouting principals, and other stuff preteens will find hilarious.
Petlandia
By Peter Hannan.
Grades 2–5.
A fiendish alpha cat, her dim-witted canine nemesis, and a
lovesick hamster declare independence from humans and form the nation of
Petlandia. Power struggles ensue as rats, snakes, and even fleas demand a
voice. Sublimely immature.
Frank Einstein and
the ¬Electro-Finger
By Jon Scieszka,
illustrated by Brian Biggs. Grades 3–6.
“It has action and adventure, it’s graphic-intensive, and it
has a superhero vibe. I just won’t mention the science part too loudly.”
—Kendra Patterson, librarian, Andrews (TX) Middle School
Cassidy’s Guide to
Everyday Etiquette (and Obfuscation)
By Sue Stauffacher. Grades
3–7.
Worst Summer Ever? That’s what it looks like to tomboy
Cassidy, who is dreading the five weeks she must spend in etiquette classes.
Not to mention her mother’s tendency to use words like obfuscation.
Dragons at Crumbling
Castle
By Terry Pratchett. Grades
4–7.
From the fertile imagination of the late best-selling author
comes a ridiculously droll collection of stories that are one part Roald Dahl,
one part Monty Python, and the rest pure Pratchett.
Rude Cakes
By Rowboat Watkins. Grades
K–2.
This pretty pink cake is a nasty piece of work—pushy and
rude—until it’s taught a lesson about manners by a goofy troupe of colorful
Cyclopses.
FANTASY AND ADVENTURE
Circus Mirandus
By Cassie Beasley. Grades
4–8.
“Some books take readers to different places or let us
experience fantastical lands, but Circus Mirandus brings the magic to our
world.” —Jen Vincent, coordinator of instructional technology, School District
U-46, Elgin, IL
Last of the
Sandwalkers
By Jay Hosler. Grades
4–7.
In this funny, adventure-filled graphic novel deeply rooted
in science, a society of beetles, led by young scientist Lucy, explores the
precarious desert world outside its palm tree.
Ratscalibur
By Josh Lieb. Grades
3–7.
With his super-heightened sense of smell (chicken
bones—yum!) and a magical spork dubbed Ratscalibur in hand, kid-turned-rat Joey
fights to save a kingdom of fellow rats.
The Princess in Black
By Shannon Hale and
Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Grades K–3.
Princesses in black are bored by teatime, gallop breakneck
on jet-black ponies (not pink-maned unicorns), and rescue boys from monsters.
Finally, the perfect role-model princess!
Nightbird
By Alice Hoffman. Grades
5–8.
In a place where monsters might be real, 12-year-old Twig
stores up her hurts “as if they were a tower made of fallen stars”—until she
finds a friend to help her break a curse and release her family’s secrets.
Pip Bartlett’s Guide
to Magical Creatures
By Jackson Pearce and
Maggie Stiefvater. Grades 3–6.
High-strung unicorns and lilac-horned Pomeranians are a few
of Pip’s allies as she battles villains like government functionary Mrs.
Dreadbatch in this fantastical field guide to magical creatures.
The Lost Track of
Time
By Paige Britt,
illustrated by Lee White. Grades 4–7.
“For fans of The Phantom Tollbooth, Alice in Wonderland,
puns, space-time continuums, philosophy, and, most of all, those who know the
value of a good idea, this book is a must-read.” —Brian Wyzlic, teacher,
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Marine City, MI
Interstellar
Cinderella
By Deborah Underwood,
illustrated by Meg Hunt. Grades K–3.
Antimatter hammers and sonic socket wrenches are the tools a
space-age Cinderella uses to win the heart of the prince—and the happy ending
involves her agreeing to be his chief mechanic, not his royal bride.
NONFICTION
Welcome to the
Neighborwood
By Shawn Sheehy. Grades
K–2.
This intricate pop-up book explores the dwellings of seven
animals that share the same forest home.
Emmanuel’s Dream: The
True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
By Laurie Ann
Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls. Grades K–3.
Emmanuel was born with only one functioning leg, but that
didn’t stop him from achieving great things. As a child, he hopped to school
two miles each way; as an adult, he bicycled 400 miles across Ghana for
disability awareness.
Gingerbread for
Liberty!: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution
By Mara Rockliff,
illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch. Grades 1–4.
Young history buffs will love this story about a
Philadelphia baker who helped change the course of the Revolutionary War with
gingerbread—and kindness.
Growing up Pedro
By Matt Tavares. Grades
2–5.
This picture-book bio captures the struggles, and the deep
brotherly bond, of MLB legends Pedro and Ramón Martinez—from their impoverished
upbringing in the Dominican Republic to their glory days in the big leagues.
A Nest Is Noisy
By Dianna Hutts Aston,
illustrated by Sylvia Long. Grades K–3.
Whether it’s the foamy home of a frog or the sandy one of a
sea turtle, this book reminds readers that all nests bustle with activity.
Why’d They Wear
That?: Fashion As the Mirror of History
By Sarah Albee. Grades
5–8.
Ever wonder why ruff collars became all the rage during the
Renaissance or how sneakers came to be? Learn from this detailed account of
fashion through the ages.
The Founding
Fathers!: The Horse-Ridin’, Fiddle-Playin’, Book-Readin’, Gun-Totin’ ¬Gentlemen
Who Started America
By Jonah Winter,
illustrated by Barry Blitt. Grades 3–5.
“Kids will love learning about the early leaders of our
country, and the good, the bad, and the ugly character traits of each one.” —Holly
Mueller, fifth- and sixth-grade ELA gifted intervention specialist, Kings Local
School District (OH)
I Will Always Write
Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives
By Caitlin Alifirenka
and Martin Ganda, with Liz Welch. Grades 6–8.
Caitlin and Martin lived a world apart—she in the U.S., he
in Zimbabwe—but they were brought together by a pen pal exchange that lasted
six years. This uplifting memoir will have students reaching for their pens.
REALISTIC FICTION
A Handful of Stars
By Cynthia Lord. Grades
3–7.
“Lord weaves themes of acceptance, friendship, and bravery
into a novel that also celebrates the beauty of nature and the richness that
animal companions bring to our lives.” —Jennifer Brittin, K–5 media teacher,
Warren E. Sooy Jr. Elementary School, Hammonton, NJ
The Penderwicks in
Spring
By Jeanne Birdsall. Grades
3–7.
The fourth installment of this series finds the Penderwicks
with a new sibling named Lydia. It’s an endearing story about friendship and
family.
Listen, Slowly
By Thanhhà Lai. Grades
5–8.
On a trip to Vietnam, California-born protagonist Mai
struggles to find a balance between the culture she was raised in and her
family’s roots. Unlike Lai’s award-winningInside Out and Back Again, this story
is told in prose instead of poetry, but it’s equally as powerful.
Gone Crazy in Alabama
By Rita
Williams-Garcia. Grades 4–6.
The award-winning author rounds out a trilogy about three
sisters as they travel from Brooklyn to Alabama to visit their grandmother.
Dear Hank Williams
By Kimberly Willis
Holt. Grades 4–7.
Eleven-year-old Tate P. Ellerbee writes a series of letters
to country music star Hank Williams as part of a class assignment in a
relatable story of family, tragedy, and love.
Ice Cream Summer
By Peter Sís. Grades
K–3.
Sís cleverly slips lessons on history, vocabulary, and math
into this tale of summer fun as Joe narrates everything he’s learned in a
letter to his grandfather.
The Way Home Looks
Now
By Wendy Wan-Long
Shang. Grades 4–7.
Amid family loss, a boy turns to baseball in hopes of
bringing some normalcy back to his homelife. This touching story is more than a
sports book—it’s a testament to the healing power of family.
Fish in a Tree
By Linda Mullaly Hunt.
Grades 4–7.
Ally struggles with dyslexia, which she covers up with
troublemaking antics. Mr. Daniels—who reminds his students of the maxim that no
one should “judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree”—is a wonderful role model.
Lost in the Sun
By Lisa Graff. Grades
5–8.
Perfect for students preparing for middle school, Graff’s
latest is all about making a fresh start. Trent struggles with a tragic
accident in his past while trying to start anew.
MAGIC & MYSTERY
The Island of Dr.
Libris
By Chris Grabenstein. Grades
3–7.
Stuck at an old cabin with a broken iPhone, 12-year-old
Billy braces himself for a boring summer—until he opens a book.
Echo
By Pam Muñoz Ryan. Grades
5–9.
Set before and during WWII, this magical tale follows an
enchanted harmonica and the lives it touches as it travels through space and
time.
Randi Rhodes, Ninja
Detective: The Sweetest Heist in History
By Octavia Spencer. Grades
4–7.
“The diverse cast of characters solves an intriguing mystery
that is more interesting than ones in many clue-oriented books.” —Karen
Yingling, teacher-librarian, Blendon Middle School, Westerville, OH
Pieces and Players
By Blue Balliett. Grades
3–7.
Thirteen masterpieces go missing from a museum, and finding
the perpetrator might be tough—but it’s nothing compared with becoming a
teenager.
Smashie McPerter and
the Mystery of Room 11
By N. Griffin,
illustrated by Kate Hindley. Grades 2–5.
When Room 11’s hamster goes missing, Smashie and best friend
Dontel are on the case. Great for developing logical reasoning skills.
Wiilliam & the
Missing ¬Masterpiece
By Helen Hancocks. Grades
K–2.
Crisis in Paris: The Mona Cheesa is missing! William, cat
detective, agrees to put his vacation on hold and use his observational skills
to save the day.
Honey
By Sarah Weeks. Grades
3–7.
When Melody overhears her widowed father calling someone
“honey,” she sets out to track down the mystery woman—and discovers a
connection to her mother.
Bayou Magic
By Jewell Parker
Rhodes. Grades 3–7.
New Orleans native Maddy is nervous about spending a summer
with her grandmother, but she soon discovers the magic of the bayou—and her own
ancestors.
Book Scavenger
By Jennifer Chambliss
Bertman. Grades 4–9.
Emily’s family is always moving. One constant: Book
Scavenger, a game where players solve puzzles to find books. When the game’s
creator is attacked, Emily embarks on the ultimate scavenger hunt.
PICTURE BOOKS
Last Stop on Market
Street
By Matt de la Peña,
illustrated by Christian Robinson. Grades 2–5.
CJ’s nana helps him see beyond poverty to the beauty around
them. De la Peña tackles questions of class and privilege in a way that will
resonate.
Sea Rex
By Molly Idle. Grades
K–1.
Cordelia enjoys a day of fun with her little brother, a
basket of beach supplies, and a few dinosaurs. Kids will absorb summer safety
tips while laughing out loud at Idle’s subtle humor.
An Ambush of Tigers:
A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns
By Betsy R. Rosenthal,
illustrated by Jago. Grades K–3.
“Who could resist the shiver of sharks with their scarves
and hats? I highly recommend this for any language arts class.” —Suzanne
Costner, library media specialist, Fairview Elementary School, Maryville, TN
Duncan the Story
Dragon
By Amanda Driscoll.
Grades K–2.
Duncan has a problem: He loves to read, but when he gets
excited, his fire-breath burns the story up!
Marilyn’s Monster
By Michelle Knudsen,
illustrated by Matt Phelan. Grades K–3.
In a world where every kid has his or her own monster,
Marilyn hasn’t found hers yet. Rather than wait as told, she sets off to find
her monster—and prove that it doesn’t always pay to play by the rules.
999 frogs and a
Little Brother
By Ken Kimura,
illustrated by Yasunari Murakami. Grades K–2.
When the smallest tadpole in the family meets a baby
crayfish, he is thrilled to be mistaken for the crayfish’s big brother. What
begins as a funny misunderstanding becomes a sweet friendship.
How to Read a Story
By Kate Messner,
illustrated by Mark Siegel. Grades K–3.
Messner takes young readers from the library shelf to “the
end” with time-tested tips such as “Find a cozy reading spot…just be careful
not to get stuck.” What better way to get kids excited about reading?
Drum Dream Girl: How
One Girl’s Courage Changed Music
By Margarita Engle,
illustrated by Rafael López. Grades K–3.
Based on a true story, this vibrant book stars a
Chinese-African-Cuban girl who dreamed of playing the drums at a time when
female drummers were taboo. The poetic verse has a beat of its own.
