“Together Toward Tomorrow”

Summer Reading 2020

Tinton Falls School District

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Summer reading is crucial to student success. Continuing to develop strong reading habits over the summer allows students to excel in the coming school year and can even put them ahead of their peers. On the contrary, when students do not read over the summer, they are at risk of entering the next grade level having lost important academic skills.

Since reading over the summer is vital to your child’s education, our media specialist, media clerks, literacy coach, and teachers worked collaboratively to create a list of suggested books for students to enjoy during their time at home. This summer reading list can be used as a guide for parents and students to select reading level and age appropriate books. In an effort to continue to “Go Green,” our summer reading list will be available online on our school website at www.tfschools.org. As in years past, this comprehensive guide continues to be a great resource and tool to promote the love of reading in the summer months.

Please use this list as a guide, but do not feel limited to these choices. Titles are broken down by grade level. Since public libraries are closed at this time, here are a few free sites to find digital books: hoopla.com (need a library card), getepic.com, and rivet.area120.com.

With the right book, the right setting and a little incentive, your child will continue to develop good reading habits over the summer months. I hope that every child has an opportunity to relax and enjoy many wonderful books over the summer.

Sincerely, Lisa Goldey Superintendent ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to our Media Clerks, Media Specialist, Literacy Coach, and teachers for their collaboration with preparing this summer reading list. We thank all of them for sharing their expertise, as well as their love of books and reading with us.

Michelle McMullin Media Clerk Mahala F. Atchison School

Amy Mendat Media Clerk Swimming River School

Susan Sparrock Media Specialist Tinton Falls Middle School

All reviews were taken from Ebsco Host Novel LIst K-8.

Helpful Tips For Supporting Summer Reading

● Read everywhere! Make it fun by reading outdoors on the front steps, at the beach, on a blanket at the park, or anywhere else.

● Lead by example- Make reading a part of your own summer routine. One of the biggest factors that determine if a student will be a lifelong reader is seeing someone in their family set that example.

● Let your child choose what he/she wants to read even though it may not be your first choice.

● When reading, ask your child questions to monitor their comprehension. Questions such as, “Why did the character act that way?” or “What do you think will happen next?” can help deepen your child’s thoughts about the text.

● When a suggested title is not available, substitutions by the same author are recommended.

● For parents of young children, please keep in mind when helping your child select their summer reading that the book they choose should be at a comfortable “just right” level for them. You can help your child select a book by using the “five finger method.” Open the book to any page and have your child read aloud. Each time he/she does not know a word, have them hold one finger up. If they get to five before completing the page, the book is too difficult for them.

KINDERGARTEN (Entering 1st grade)

Bleiman, Andrew - Z00 BABIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD This picture book presents the most charming critters ever: baby animals, ranging from the adorable to the zany. (Various Titles)

Capucilli, Alyssa Satin - BISCUIT AND THE BIG PARADE The parade is here, and Biscuit can’t wait to see the fire trucks, jugglers, and even clowns! But when will it be his turn to march?The sweet little yellow puppy proves that with a little might and a lot of heart, any dream—big or small—can come true.Biscuit and the Big Parade! is a My First I Can Read, perfect for shared reading with a child.

Carle, Eric - WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? Everybody has a favorite animal. Some like little white dogs or big black cats or hoppy brown bunnies best. Others prefer squishy snails or tall giraffes or sleek black panthers. With beautiful illustrations and charming personal stories, 14 children's book artists share their favorite animals and why they love them.

Cleary, Brian P. - A DOLLAR, A PENNY, HOW MUCH AND HOW MANY? The comical cats of the wildly popular Words Are CATegorical® series show young readers how to count and combine pennies, nickels, fives, tens, and more.

Cornwell, Gaia -JABARI JUMPS Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.

Cronin, Doreen - CLICK, CLACK, QUACK TO SCHOOL They can stand in line (sort of), use indoor voices (perhaps), and are capable of sharing (rumor has it), so the Click Clack critters are ready for school…but is school ready for them? A charming addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott winning team who brought you Click, Clack, Moo and Click, Clack, Surprise!

Dean, James - PETE THE CAT’S GROOVY BAKE SALE The school's bake sale is a day away! Pete tries to make something yummy for his friends. But he seems to be only making a giant mess! Will Pete have something delicious in time for the bake sale?

Garland, Michael - FISH HAD A WISH Fish had a wish. But after enjoying a delicious mayfly snack, Fish realizes he’s happy exactly as he is.

Goodrich, Carter - SAY HELLO TO ZORRO! Mister Bud is a dog of routine. Then a stranger comes and throws everything off!

Hills, Tad - DUCK AND GOOSE GO TO THE BEACH Duck wants to go on an adventure. Goose doesn't. (Various Titles)

Jeffers, Oliver - ONCE UPON AN ALPHABET This is a collection of quirky, short stories highlighting each letter of the alphabet. London, Jonathan - FROGGY’S BIRTHDAY WISHES (Various Titles) In the latest book from the Froggy series, Froggy is afraid that everyone has forgotten his birthday. Luckily, Froggy is happily surprised at the end!

Long, Ethan - CLARA AND CLEM UNDER THE SEA Clara and Clem are off on an adventure under the sea! The two swim with dolphins, hug a shark, and even find buried treasure. Let's go!

Maccarone, Grace - FIRST GRADE FRIENDS: RECESS MESS GREEN/GREEN Sam needs to use the restroom, but he can’t read or spell. Is he a B-O-Y or a G-I-R-L?

Macken, JoAnn Early - WAITING OUT THE STORM A mother reassures her child about the wind, lightning, and thunder when a storm passes through.

McMullan, Kate - I’M BIG! He’s a great big sauropod. He’s a whole lotta lizard, and he’s . . . lost. Have you seen his herd?

Meltzer, Brad - ORDINARY PEOPLE CHANGE THE WORLD: I AM ALBERT EINSTEIN Even when he was a kid, Albert Einstein did things his own way. He thought in pictures instead of words, and his special way of thinking helped him understand big ideas like the structure of music and why a compass always points north. Those ideas made him want to keep figuring out the secrets of the universe. Other people thought he was just a dreamer, but because of his curiosity, Einstein grew up to be one of the greatest scientists the world has ever known. What makes a hero? This lively, fun biography series by best-selling author Brad Meltzer answers the question, one great role model at a time.

Patricelli, Leslie - HIGHER! HIGHER! The sky’s no limit in a witty picture book about a child on a swing and the wonders of the imagination.

Penfold, Andrea - ALL ARE WELCOME Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcome with open arms. A school where kids in patkas, hijabs, and yarmulkes play side-by-side with friends in baseball caps. A school where students grow and learn from each other’s traditions and the whole community gathers to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Phelan, Matt - PIGNIC A blue sky. A shady tree. A bright kite. And a full picnic basket. Four little pigs and their parents head outside to enjoy a beautiful day. With a little help from some new (and unexpected) friends, they climb trees, fly kites, and enjoy a delicious picnic. Even a sudden rain shower can’t ruin their fun. Because rain means . . . MUD! Hooray! The award-winning and New York Times–bestselling Matt Phelan has created a timeless, must-have picture book for the youngest reader. Expressive watercolors; a simple, repetitive text; and gentle, satisfying twists will delight fans of Tad Hills’s Duck & Goose and Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama books

Reynolds, Peter & Paul - GOING PLACES It ‘s contest time in Mrs. Chanda’s classroom. Time to build a go-cart, race it—and win. Who will be this year’s winner?

Reynolds, Peter H. - THE WORD COLLECTOR In this extraordinary new tale from Peter H. Reynolds, Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him -- short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Words that connect, transform, and empower. From the creator of The Dot and Happy Dreamer comes a celebration of finding your own words -- and the impact you can have when you share them with the world

Rosenthal, Amy Krouse - DUCK, RABBIT Really creative, helps kids see things from more than one perspective.

Rylant, Cynthia - HENRY AND MUDGE (Various Titles) Henry is a boy and Mudge is a dog with a love of crackers and a tremendous loyalty to his fun-loving owner. This collection of books is sure to amuse children while teaching small life lessons alongside the giant dog.

Stevens, Janet - AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON RED Tired of reading nursery rhymes with very little interest or depth? This book is for you. You’ll enjoy this one over and over again.

Ward, Jennifer - OVER IN THE GARDEN Children will enjoy searching for the hidden numbers in this visual delight about gardening and insects.

Wiesner, David - TUESDAY This wondrous and mysterious picture book mixes the ordinary with the unimaginable. Use your imagination as frogs careen through suburbia on flying lily pads, startling witnesses and spooking a dog. And that’s just for starters….

Willems, Mo — ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE SERIES All beginning readers, including the most reluctant readers, will love these books - both for independent reading as well as reading with a parent, buddy, or tutor. This hilarious series of very easy readers.

Wilson, Karma - BEAR COUNTS (Various Titles) Numbers, numbers everywhere. Can you count along with Bear? Karma Wilson’s spirited text and Jane Chapman’s inviting illustrations make for a delightful introduction to numbers, perfect for young bear fans.

Yolen, Jane - BUG OFF! CREEPY-CRAWLY POEMS In Bug Off! readers meet thirteen bugs in playful, humorous poems and startling, intimate photographs. Nonfiction prose paragraphs broaden the perspective: Children will learn how bees make honey, that many butterflies can taste food with their feet, that love bugs can fly higher than the Empire State. FIRST GRADE (Entering 2nd grade)

Alman, Bobbie - WATER HABITATS (Introducing Habitats) Young readers will enjoy learning about the different types of water habitats, including oceans, lakes, rivers and swamps. (Various Titles)

Antle, Bhagavan (Doc) - SURYIA & ROSCOE: THE STORY OF AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP Who can imagine an orangutan being friends with a dog? Is it even possible? With Suryia and Roscoe it is! Here is a true story of a remarkable friendship.

Arnold, Tedd - FLY GUY PRESENTS: SHARKS Fly Guy is buzzzzing on over to the nonfiction genre! Award-winning author/illustrator Tedd Arnold brings nonfiction to life with the help of his very popular main character, Fly Guy! This engaging nonfiction reader combines the kid-friendly humor of Fly Guy with the high-interest topic of sharks! Fly Guy and Buzz introduce young readers to sharks with straightforward fun facts, humorous asides, and full-bleed photographs throughout.

Bell, Cece - RABBIT & ROBOT - THE SLEEPOVER BLUE (Award Winner) Rabbit is excited: His friend Robot is coming to spend the night! Rabbit has left nothing to chance and has drawn up a list of all the things they will do.

Blabey, Aaron - THE BAD GUYS (Various Titles) They may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deed….whether you like it or not! This New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants

Bland, Nick - THE VERY CRANKY BEAR Four animal friends meet a cranky bear. Not understanding why the bear is cranky, the other animals come up with ways to cheer up the bear.

Blumenthal, Deborah - CHARLIE HITS IT BIG He’s just a regular guinea pig but he dreams of the big time. Now he’s leaving the only home he’s ever known and heading for the coast. Stardom awaits him—but is it all he hoped it would be?

Bruel, Nick - BAD KITTY’S PUPPY’S BIG DAY Bad Kitty’s in a bad mood...a very bad mood, and Puppy is not helping. Uncle Murray is taking care of Puppy for the day and that’s when trouble begins.

Burleigh, Robert - HOME RUN: THE STORY OF BABE RUTH The award winning story of Babe Ruth—the legend.

Chantrell, Charlie - A FRIEND FOR EINSTEIN This inspiring story about finding a true friend will bring joy to nature lovers of all ages.

Colandro, Lucille—THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED SERIES Lucille’s old lady swallows everything from leaves to pants to snow—always with a funny surprise at the end! (various titles)

DePaola, Tomie - STREGA NONA AND HER TOMATOES Strega Nona is excited! The tomatoes in her garden are ripe, and she picks enough to fill a basket. She wants to give twenty-four tomatoes to the convent, and counts them out on the kitchen table. She is in the middle of counting when Signora Goat starts to eat the laundry. While Strega Nona is outside, Big Anthony sees the tomatoes and wants to help. Poor Big Anthony. He puts the tomatoes back in the basket!

Dewdney, Anna - LLAMA LLAMA LOVES TO READ Throughout the school day , the teacher helps Llama Llama and the other children practice their letters, shows word cards, reads stories, and brings them to the library where they can all choose a favorite book. By the end of the day, Llama Llama is recognizing words and can't wait to show Mama Llama that he's becoming a reader!

Hill, Tad - ROCKET WRITES A STORY (Various Titles) Rocket loves books but he can’t think of a story of his own. A perfect book to inspire new readers and writers.

Hoose, Phillip & Hannah - HEY, LITTLE ANT This story ends with a question, “What do you think that kid should do? Squish the ant or not?” The story naturally leads to discussion.

Joyner, Andrew - THE PINK HAT Here is a clever story that follows the journey of a pink hat that is swiped out of a knitting basket by a pesky kitten, blown into a tree by a strong wind, and used as a cozy blanket for a new baby, then finally makes its way onto the head of a young girl marching for women's equality. Inspired by the 5 million people (many of them children) in 82 countries who participated in the 2017 Women's March, Andrew Joyner has given us a book that celebrates girls and women and equal rights for all!

Kann, Elizabeth - AQUALICIOUS (Various Titles) Fun in the sun becomes an aqualicious adventure when Pinkalicious meets a miniature mermaid.

Langham, Tony - CREEPY CRAWLY CALYPSO Kids can count their way through the rainforest to a Caribbean beat.

Munoz, Pam - HELLO OCEAN WHITE Experience the ocean through your senses.

Nesbitt, Kenn - MORE BEARS An incredibly fun, interactive book that’s perfect for reading aloud. (Various Titles)

Rosenthal, Amy Krouse - LITTLE OINK From the creators of Little Pea and Little Hoot comes this tidy tale of a decidedly different pig. Little Oink is a neat little fellow. Clean, clean, clean, that's all he wants to do. But Mama and Papa won't have it! They say in order to be a proper pig, he has to learn to make a proper mess. "Don't come out until your room is a pigsty," says Papa Pig. "I won't have any child of mine going out looking so neat and clean. It's just not acceptable," says Mama Pig. Readers who hate to clean up will love this humorous twist on a universal dilemma.

Rylant, Cynthia - PUPPIES AND PIGGIES (Various Titles) Rhyming text describes what animals do and love, as well as a baby who loves his bed and his mother.

Sauer, Tammi - WORDY BIRDY Wordy Birdy LOVES to talk. “Hello, sunrise. Hello, pink sky. Hello, orange sky!” But does she love to listen? NOPE. One day, while she’s walking through the forest, her gift of the gab gets her into hot water: “That’s a pretty tree and that’s a pretty tree and that’s a pretty danger sign and that’s a pretty tree. . . .” Will this inattentive bird walk right into danger? Will her faraway thoughts lead her along a path of doom? It’s up to her long-suffering, heard-it-all-before pals Squirrel, Raccoon, and Rabbit to save their distracted friend.

Sciezska, Jon and David Shannon - UH OH MAX Check out this awesome series from the brilliant mind of Jon Scieszka, author of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales . Max is having so much fun that he keeps getting stuck! Will anyone in Trucktown be able to help him out?

Silverman, Erica - COWGIRL KATE AND COCOA The first book in the series is bound to be a hit with young readers everywhere. (Various Titles)

Thomas, Jan - LET’S SING A LULLABY WITH A BRAVE COWBOY (Various Titles) This playful picture book features a courageous cowboy who sings to his cows before bed—with just a few fearful interruptions.

Thompson, Kay and Margaret McNamara - ELOISE BREAKS SOME EGGS In this hilarious Level 1 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for emerging readers, Eloise learns to cook...or does she? How marvelous! Nanny and the cook try to teach Eloise to cook. But Eloise doesn’t think they should bother—she’s got room service!

Wardlaw. Lee - WON TON AND CHOPSTICK: A CAT AND DOG TALE TOLD IN HAIKU In this charming sequel, a new puppy threatens a cat’s existence in an enjoyable spin on the “adjusting to new baby” theme. Wardlaw relates his tale through short unrhymed lines of haiku containing a maximum of 17 syllables.

Watt, Melanie - SCAREDY SQUIRREL (Various Titles) Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It’s way too dangerous out there. Day after day, he watches and waits until one day he finds himself outside out of his tree! But when he leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting.

Willems, Mo - WE ARE IN A BOOK!: AN ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE BOOK RED In We Are In A Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being readers. But what will happen when the book ends? (Various Titles)

Young, Ned - ZOOMER’S SUMMER SNOWSTORM Who's ever heard of a snowstorm in the summer? Zoomer, that's who! It's a hot summer day and Zoomer is all ready to cool off with a snow cone. But when the snow cone–making goes too far, the hot summer day turns icy cold! Luckily Zoomer knows just how to make the best of the situation: He goes on a snow safari, visits the polar empire of Zoomarctica, rides his snow locomotive—and that's just the tip of the iceberg! SECOND GRADE (entering 3rd grade) Adler, David - CAM JANSEN MYSTERY SERIES A series of books following the exploits of a fifth grade female detective named Jennifer "Cam" Jansen and her best friend Eric. Nicknamed Cam for her photographic memory, the protagonist closes her eyes and says "click" at various points in a story, mimicking the noise of a camera while memorizing a scene in front of her. She later recalls these scenes to aid in solving a mystery. The Cam Jansen character was based on an elementary school classmate of Adler's who was believed to have a photographic memory. (Various Titles)

Barkley, Callie - CRITTER CLUB: ELLIE AND GOOD LUCK PIG When The Critter Club takes in an abandoned pig named Plum, the girls are really excited. Soon after Plum arrives, Ellie starts having some unusually good luck. She does really well on a test for her least favorite subject; she aces an audition for a play at a local theater; and she wins a prize at school! Ellie is sure that Plum is bringing her good luck. So when the rest of the girls tell Ellie that they’ve found someone to adopt the pig, Ellie knows she should be excited...but she’s not. Will Ellie’s good luck turn bad once Plum leaves?

Barrows, Annie - IVY AND BEANS SERIES Bean is loud and wild and goofy. She loves to be involved in games and poke her nose in other people’s business. Ivy is quiet and full of ideas. She spends most of her time learning how to be a witch. Each girl thinks the other one is weird. For Ivy and Bean, their differences mean that they have more fun together than they could ever have separately. It also means that, together, they do more wacky things than any one kid could ever dream up. The Ivy and Bean books are about the adventures—and disasters—created by this unlikely team. (Various Titles)

Burleigh, Robert - TRAPPED! A WHALE’S RESCUE Based on true events, this is a story of interspecies cooperation and the importance of human responsibility to protect the earth and its many inhabitants.

Clanton, Ben - NARWHAL’S OTTER FRIEND Narwhal and Jelly . . . and Otty?! Exuberant Narwhal and skeptical Jelly test the waters of adding a new friend to their pod when they meet Otty the super-adventurous otter in the fourth book of this blockbuster early graphic novel series!

Coats, Lucy - BEASTS OF OLYMPUS #6: ZEUS’S EAGLE Demon's life on Mount Olympus has never been busier. Thanks to the awful heroes down on Earth, he has a whole slew of injured beasts to care for. And worse still, the goddess Psyche wants Demon to "borrow" Zeus's prized eagle for an urgent mission. But is her task worth the risk of offending the king of the gods? Will Demon's latest quest bring down the wrath of Zeus?

Cobb, Amy - BIRDHOUSE BUILDER Libby Wimbley is a spunky girl who is curious about the world around her. From bugs to plants to animals, there is just so much to learn about! Join Libby on her outdoor adventures, exploring the wonders that nature and the animal world have to offer.

Cole, Joanna - MAGIC SCHOOL BUS TAKES A DIVE With help from Red Beard's treasure map, Ms. Frizzle and her class discover the animals and plants of the coral reef and their symbiotic relationships.

Deedy, Carmen - THE LIBRARY DRAGON Miss Lota Scales is hired by the principal to protect the library books.

Edwards, Roberta - WHO WAS JANE GOODALL? (Who was Biography Series) Jane Goodall, born in London, England, always loved animals and wanted to study them in their natural habitats. So at age twenty-six, off she went to Africa! Goodall's up-close observations of chimpanzees changed what we know about them and paved the way for many female scientists who came after her. Now her story comes to life in this biography with black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Estellon, Pascale - IT’S ABOUT TIME: UNTANGLING EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TIME Follow along as friends Jacob and Lily unravel time, starting from the second and finishing with the century.

Gutman, Dan - MISS DAISY IS CRAZY (Various Titles) School has never been this mixed up or this much fun. Dan Gutman pulls out all the stops for this second grade hilarity.

Heos, Bridget - I, FLY: THE BUZZ ABOUT FLIES AND HOW AWESOME THEY ARE Fly is fed up with everyone studying butterflies, flies are so much cooler.

Higgins, Carter - EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A TREEHOUSE Treehouses are for wonder. Treehouses are for snacks. Treehouses are for whispers and snickers and echoes. Treehouses are for everyone. This magical work of art from acclaimed picture book creators Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes celebrates the universal wonder of treehouses and all the adventure that live among branches.

Kenah, Katherine - THE BEST TEACHER IN SECOND GRADE The second grade is planning a family night, and Luna is planning a midnight circus.

McDonald, Megan - STINK: HAMLET AND CHEESE It’s spring break, and Stink is faced with a difficult choice: hang out at home with his sister, Judy, or become a Shakespeare Sprite with his friend Sophie of the Elves. Hanged be! When Sophie tells Stink that there will be swordplay and cursing at Shakespeare camp, his choice is made. But wait! How now? The eager young thespian hadn’t counted on Riley Rottenberger being a Sprite, too. And he positively had not counted on being the only boy! Fie upon’t!

Kinney, Jeff - DIARY OF AN AWESOME FRIENDLY KID Introducing the newest Wimpy Kid author—Rowley Jefferson! Rowley’s best friend Greg Heffley has been chronicling his middle-school years in thirteen Diary of a Wimpy Kid journals . . . and counting. But it’s finally time for readers to hear directly from Rowley in a journal of his own.

O’Connor, Jane - FANCY NANCY AND THE QUEST FOR THE UNICORN Nancy and Bree are unicorn experts (that’s a fancy way of saying they know almost everything about them). When they decide to go on an epic quest to find a unicorn, Freddy and JoJo want to play too.

Osborne, Mary Pope - MAGIC TREEHOUSE: A BIG DAY FOR BASEBALL (Various Titles) PLAY BALL! Jack and Annie aren’t great baseball players . . . yet! Then Morgan the librarian gives them magical baseball caps that will make them experts. They just need to wear the caps to a special ballgame in Brooklyn, New York. The magic tree house whisks them back to 1947! When they arrive, Jack and Annie find out that they will be batboys in the game—not ballplayers.

Page, Robin - EGG: NATURE’S PERFECT PACKAGE Hatching a plan for survival isn’t always easy in the wild. There are as many kinds of eggs as there are animals that depend on them.

Pennypacker, Sara - COMPLETELY CLEMENTINE Summer is coming and Clementine is not ready. She is not ready to start speaking to her father again, she is still mad at him for eating meat. A new baby is on the way and she is not ready to say good-bye to her 3rd grade teacher. Everything may be changing around her, but that doesn’t mean that she has to.

Pilkey, Dav - RICKY RICOTTA’S MIGHTY ROBOT (Various Titles) Young readers will cheer as Ricky and his enormous flying robot friends soar through the air and battle the diabolical Dr. Stinky.

Powell, Jillian - SAM’S SUNFLOWER Class 2B is growing sunflowers. There is a prize for the tallest, but Sam’s sunflower will not grow. What is wrong with it?

Romero, Libby - JELLY WITH NAT GEO: ANIMAL ARCHITECTS Ever wondered why beavers build dams? Or how spiders weave their intricate webs? In this reader, you'll meet brilliant birds, inventive insects, and amazing mammals that all share a special skill. Packed with beautiful and engaging photos, this leveled reader introduces kids to the most extreme engineers of the animal kingdom.

Salamon, David - BABY PANDA GOES WILD This book's "up close and personal" photographs of pandas and its array of panda facts will captivate young nonfiction lovers. Readers will learn how one mother and her cub are being protected and raised in a Chinese panda reserve, which seeks to help this vulnerable species survive.

Stine, Megan - WHO WAS MARIE CURIE WHITE Born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Salisbury, Graham - DOG HEAVEN RED/RED (Calvin Coconut Series) What do you want so badly you can taste it -- and can you persuade someone to give it to you? That’s the subject of a writing assignment. (Various Titles)

St. George - SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? ORANGE Presents a summary of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. Presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton. (2001 Caldecott Award)

Stilton, Geronimo - SHIPWRECK ON PIRATE ISLAND RED/RED (Various Titles) (Stilton series of books) Chock full of pirate lore, survival tips, sailor jokes and even a recipe for “pirate soup”

Toft, Kim Michelle - THE WORLD THAT WE WANT BLACK What is the world that we want? It’s a place where the air is fresh, the rain forests thrive, and the water is clean. Toft warns of the dangers and encourages us to preserve the world that we want.

Winkler, Henry - ROBOT ON THE LOOSE Hank may not be the best at spelling (or math, or reading) but he always tries his hardest, whether he’s helping out his younger sister, standing up to the class bully, or getting into — and out of! — trouble with his two best friends

Yoshi, Andrew Clements - BIG AL & SHRIMPY WHITE A tale of friendship and a small fish with big ideas.

Zuckerman, Amy - 2030: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF TOMORROW’S KIDS What will our world be like in twenty years? Come take a look at what a kid’s daily life might be like in the year 2030.

THIRD GRADE (entering 4th grade)

Adler, David - DANNY DOODLES - THE SQUIRTING DONUTS Something has gone wrong in Danny and Calvin’s fourth-grade classroom out of the blue, Mrs. Cakel has transformed from a rampant rule-enforcer to a quiet excuse-acceptor.

Birney, Betty G. - THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY With a hamster’s eye view of school, families, and treats to hide in a cheek pouch, this will elicit laughter and a new appreciation for classroom hamsters everywhere.

Bruel, Nick– BAD KITTY GETS A BATH (Various Titles) In Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, Kitty has to, well . . . take a bath. But she absolutely, positively doesn't want to! Young readers will be cracking up at the antics that ensue, and at the lively line art of frantic, bad Bad Kitty as she desperately, at times crazily, tries NOT to take a bath.

Buckley, James - WHO WERE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS? (Various Titles) This is the fascinating story of two inventors and aviation pioneers who never lost sight of their dream to fly.

Chabert, Jack - EERIE ELEMENTARY (Series) Sam discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, with some help from his friends.

Colfer, Eoin - THE LEGEND OF SPUD MURPHY (Series) Will has four brothers and it’s chaos in his house! If he’s not being teased by his big brother Marty, he has to deal with the terrible, three-headed bundle of cuteness that is his three younger brothers. There are many funny adventures in this series.

Cronin, Doreen - CHICKEN SQUAD (Various Titles) Meet the shortest, yellowest, fuzziest detectives in town: The chicken squad. Good Thing the chicken squad is on the case.

Davies, Jacqueline - THE LEMONADE WAR WHITE A clever blend of humor, math, wizardry, and business know how.

DeMauro, Lisa - THEODORE ROOSEVELT - THE ADVENTUROUS PRESIDENT (Time Life Kids) (Various Titles) Each day was an adventure for President Theodore Roosevelt. When he was a kid, he kept turtles in the bathtub and frogs under his cap. As an adult, he was a cowboy, a river explorer, and a big game hunter.

DiCamillo, Kate - LEROY NINKER SADDLES UP: TALES FROM DECKAWOO DR, VOLUME 1 (Various titles) Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso and boots. What he doesn’t have is a horse - until he meets Maybelline, then it’s love at first sight.

Fertig, Dennis - WOMEN IN CONSERVATION: SYLVIA EARLE—OCEAN EXPLORER (Various Titles) The book takes an engaging look at the work of ground-breaking conservationist, Sylvia Earle, and her work to protect oceans and ocean life..

Florian, Doug - DINOTHESAURUS Prehistoric poems and paintings.

George, Kristine O’Connell - FOLD ME A POEM The sun is up. It’s a crisp new day—a day for folding . . and creating ... and imagining. An origami day!

Jenkins, Steve - DOWN, DOWN, DOWN: A JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN Caldecott Honor—winning Steve Jenkins provides a top to bottom look at the ocean, from birds, and waves, to thermal vents, and ooze.

Krulik, Nancy - WHO’S AFRAID OF FOURTH GRADE (Katie Kazoo Series) Katie and her friends can’t wait to enter the fourth grade! But with pressure of new classes, teachers, and friends, Katie isn’t so sure.

McDonald, Megan - THE SISTER’S CLUB THE RULES OF THREE RED/RED The plays the thing when sibling rivalry takes center stage in a funny, spot-on, all new sister’s club story by the inimitable creator of Judy Moody. (Various Titles)

Meltzer, Brad - I AM ALBERT EINSTEIN (Various Titles) Humorous: We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this NY Times bestseller.

Miles, Ellen - GOLDIE (Various Titles) "Welcome to the Puppy Place--where every puppy finds a home! Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They want a puppy of their own more than just about anything. They know dogs are a lot of work. But their mom still doesn't think their family is ready for a puppy. Then, Goldie arrives. She is a sweet golden retriever that needs a home. Goldie is very young. She doesn't know how to be a good puppy yet. Will Charles and Lizzie be able to help her?"

Mitton, Jacqueline - ZOO IN THE SKY RED/RED When the sun sets and darkness falls, the sky turns into a picture puzzle. Sky watchers of long ago imagined a whole zoo of animals.

Newman, Leslea - HACHIKO WAITS WHITE Hachiko Waits shows us the very best in life; loyalty, devotion, our ability to love - all taught by a beloved, intelligent, heroic dog.

Mlynowski, Sarah - UPSIDE-DOWN MAGIC (Series) Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax find their lives forever changed when they attend the Dunwiddle Magic School’s Upside-Down Magic Class

O’Connor, Jane - FANCY NANCY: STAR OF STAGE & SCREEN (Various Titles) Fans of Nancy Clancy will enjoy watching Nancy sparkle in the spotlight in her latest chapter book.

Osborne, Mary Pope - A CRAZY DAY FOR COBRAS Jack and Annie must find four things to break the spell that Merlin’s beloved penguin “Penny” has been put under.

Pennypacker, Sara - CLEMENTINE A story about a mischievous third-grader. She is very interested in all the world has to offer. Children will relate to the many situations that Clementine finds herself in and they will enjoy reading about them.

Pennypacker, Sara - CLEMENTINE A story about a mischievous third-grader. She is very interested in all the world has to offer. Children will relate to the many situations that Clementine finds herself in and they will enjoy reading about them.

Pilkey, Dav - THE ADVENTURES OF OOK AND GLUK, JUNG-FU CAVEMEN FROM THE FUTURE Ook and Gluk are always getting into trouble with their village chief until they pass through a portal into the future.

Ritchie, Scot - FOLLOW THAT MAP Maps are about far more than getting from A to B.

Scieszka, Jon - ROBOT ZOT! WHITE On a mission to conquer the earth, tiny but fearless Robot Zot and his mechanical sidekick leave a path of destruction as they battle kitchen appliances.

Spilsbury, Richard - FOSSILS—LET’S ROCK (Various Titles) Fossils looks at how fossils can form, are preserved and sometimes discovered.

Tarshis, Lauren - I SURVIVED THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC 1912 (Various Titles) WHITE The most terrifying events in history are brought vividly to life in this fictional series.

FOURTH GRADE (entering 5th grade)

Appleton, Victor -TOM SWIFT, YOUNG INVENTOR Series –Into the Abyss Tom Swift must rescue his father when the latter’s submarine loses contact with the Swift Enterprises research vessel.

Bacon, Lee– JOSHUA DREAD Bacon's deadpan narrative hums along with outrageous details, humor, and action...A hero with a double life and a colossal set of parental issues, Joshua handles zombies, killer robots, and teenage girls without losing his cool.

Baker, E.D. - THE FROG PRINCESS After reluctantly kissing a frog, an awkward fourteen-year-old. princess suddenly finds herself a frog, too, and sets off with the prince to seek the means-and the self-confidence—to become human again.

Clements, Andrew - Any title

Creech, Sharon - LOVE THAT DOG Written as a series of free-verse poems from Jack’s point of view, this book shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course a dog.

DK Publishing - IT CAN’T BE TRUE - The moon is the same size as Australia. A blue whale’s heart is as large as a car. It sounds weird, but it’s true! It Can't Be True! wows the reader with impressive facts about the world that are all difficult to believe, but true.

Everett, J.H. and Scott-Walters, Marilyn — HAUNTED HISTORIES: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons and Powerful Palaces Guided by tween “ghostorian” Virgil, readers will discover fascinating facts about calamitous events throughout history as they explore castles, palaces, and dungeons and those infamous figures associated with each

Gaiman, Neil — THE GRAVEYARD BOOK An orphaned boy is raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard. (Newberry)

Greenwald, Tommy — CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING Charlie Joe shares the tactics that have gotten him all the way to Middle School without EVER reading a whole book. Reluctant readers ready to learn his secrets will find instead that they have just finished (and enjoyed!) an entire book.

Gutman, Dan - Any of his books, MY WEIRD SCHOOL series, THE GENIUS FILES etc.

Howe, John – LOST WORLDS From the world of Aratta and Mohenjo-Daro to Atlantis and Camelot, this visually stunning book is a window with a view that takes readers on an historical, archaeological, and mythological journey through lost worlds, those abandoned in time, buried and forgotten, and the ones that live in the imagination.

Ignatow, Amy – THE POPULARITY PAPERS (series) Two fifth-grade friends, Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, want to learn how to be popular before entering middle school. The first book of the series is their journal, documenting their misadventures to become more popular, as well as their family and school life.

Kent, Derek — SCARY SCHOOL Describes a year at Scary School, where werewolves, zombies , and humans mingle and learn side by side and the teachers range from dragons to vampires.

Klimo, Kate – LETTERS FROM CAMP Camp Harmony takes quarrelling brothers and sisters and makes them friends. But there’s a catch! Read this funny mystery, told in letters and news articles and see if you can solve it!

Klise, Kate - 43 OLD CEMETERY ROAD (Series) In this story, told mostly through letters, children’s book author I.B. Grumply, gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.

Lambert, Mary E. - FAMILY GAME NIGHT AND OTHER CATASTROPHES Annabelle has a secret...one so big she won’t have her friends over to her house. Their house is overflowing with stuff. It has affected the whole family in various ways as they try to cope with it.

Levy, Debbie - I DISSENT: RUTH BADER GINSBURG MAKES HER MARK Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in the first picture book about her life, as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable!

Lin, Grace– WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bring life to Fruitless Mountain and Freshness to Jade River. (Newbery Honor)

Lupica, Mike– Any children’s book title– Realistic sports fiction

Martin, Ann M. - CLAUDIA AND THE PHANTOM PHONE CALLS (The Baby-Sitters Club Series #2) Claudia decides to investigate when she and the other members of the Baby-Sitters Club receive mysterious phone calls while out on assignments. Also recommended: Baby-Sitters Club: Little Sister Series and the Baby-Sitters Club Series

Mass. Wendy – Any children’s book title

Palacio, R.J.– WONDER August Pullman, now 10, was born with a deformed face. Now his parents have decided that it’s time for Auggie to meet the wider world, enrolling him in school. His father worries that sending his gentle son to school is like leading a lamb to slaughter.

Patron, Susan — THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY Fearing that her legal guardian plans to abandon her to return to France, ten-year-old aspiring scientist Lucky Trimble determines to run away while also continuing to seek the High Power that will bring stability to her life.

Patterson, James - TREASURE HUNTERS Bickford and Rebecca Kidd, 12 year old twins, sail from the Caribbean to NYC with their siblings to finish the dangerous quest of their world famous treasure hunting parents.

Riordan, Rick—Any books, PERCY JACKSON series

Santat, Dan– SIDEKICKS Full of inoffensive broad comedy, and providing a number of characters to relate to, Sidekicks is perfectly enjoyable.

Scieszka, Jon - KNUCKLEHEAD: TALL TALES & MOSTLY TRUE STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP How did Jon Scieszka get so funny? He grew up as one of six brothers with Catholic School, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, and jokes told at family dinner..

Scieszka, Jon-SPHDZ Book #1 It's Michael K.'s first day in a new school, P.S. 868, in a new city, Brooklyn, New York, and though he's only been there for twenty minutes, it's already seriously weird. His new teacher, Mrs. Halley, has put him in the slow group with two strange new kids. How strange? The new girl just ate half of her pencil, and the new boy has just told him that they are Spaceheadz from another planet. They talk in TV jingles like "JUST DO IT" and "I'M LOVING IT!" and try to recruit him to Mission SPHDZ. Aliens don't invade fifth grade classrooms in Brooklyn, New York and expect you to help them save the world, do they?

Silverstein, Shel - RUNNY BABBIT, A BILLY SOOK A silly collection of delightful poetry from Shel Silverstein, this time using spoonerisms!

Tarshis, Lauren - I SURVIVED series

FIFTH GRADE (entering 6th grade)

Anderson, John Davis—MS. BIXBY’S LAST DAY Loving their gifted teacher, who makes them feel like the indignity of school is somehow worthwhile, three boys are dismayed when the teacher falls ill and leaves for the rest of the school year, a situation that compels them to share their stories while cutting class and journeying across town together on a fateful day.

Aronson, Marc - FOR BOYS ONLY Cool stuff is all around you but sometimes you don’t want the boring junk that you need to sit through to find out about it. Learn about codes, puzzles, best lists, brief history and even advice about facing up to a shark (try not to bleed too much).

Birdsall, Jeanne - THE PENDERWICKS; A SUMMER TALE OF FOUR SISTERS, TWO RABBITS AND A VERY INTERESTING BOY While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.

Burt, Jake - GREETINGS FROM THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM Nicky Demere is the choice of the U.S. Marshals to enter a program to learn to keep a family alive. Of course it helps that she is an orphan and a pickpocket.

Chasse PhD, Jill D - THE BABYSITTER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE This handbook is the ultimate babysitter’s helper, a go-to guide with smart advice on everything from finding clients and snagging the job to entertaining, feeding, bathing, and lulling children to sleep.

Crisp, Marty - PRIVATE CAPTAIN, A STORY OF GETTYSBURG In 1863 Pennsylvania, twelve year old Ben and his dog Captain set off in search of Ben’s brother, who is missing from the union Army.

Davies, Katie - THE CURSE OF ADDY MCMAHON After her father’s death, aspiring sixth-grade writer Addy McMahon feels like she is cursed with bad luck, and when she temporarily loses her best friend, and is forced to admit that her mother is dating again, she vows she will never write another word.

Eagar, Lindsay - HOUR OF THE BEES At first, twelve-year-old Carol is not happy to be spending the summer helping her parents move her grandfather to an assisted living home, but as the summer wears on, she finds herself drawn to him, fascinated by his amazing stories.

Grabenstein, Chris—ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY (Series) Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight in the new town library, designed by his hero (the famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello), with other students but finds that come morning he must work with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape.

Holm, Jennifer L. - FULL OF BEANS Ten-year-old Beans Curry, a member of the Keepsies, the best marble playing gang in Depression-era Key West, Florida, engages in various schemes to earn money while "New Dealers" from Washington, D.C., arrive to turn run down Key West into a tourist resort.

Hunt, Linda - FISH IN A TREE Ally struggles to hide her dyslexia by continually getting in trouble, until a substitute teacher discovers what she is really hiding.

Hunter, Erin - MIDNIGHT Called by StarClan to fulfill a new prophecy, a group of young cats sets out on a long and dangerous journey, knowing only that trouble threatens the forest, as the adventures of the warrior clans continue.

Kelly, Jacqueline –THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE In central Texas in 1899. eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather, the latter of which leads to an important discovery. (Newbery Honor)

Kidd, Chip — GO: A KIDD’S GUIDE TO GRAPHIC DESIGN Kids love to express themselves, and are designers by nature whether making posters for school, deciding what to hang in their rooms, or creating personalized notebook covers. Go, is an introduction to the ways in which a designer communicates his or her ideas to the world. It's written and designed just for those curious kids, not to mention their savvy parents, who want to learn the secret of how to make things dynamic and interesting.

Kramer, Stephen - HIDDEN WORLDS Close-ups views of insects and other organisms can often look beautiful, but sometimes look gross!

Lean, Sarah - A DOG CALLED HOMELESS (2013 winner Schneider Family Book Award) When Cally Fisher says she sees her dead mother, no one believes her. The only other living soul who sees Cally's mom is a mysterious wolfhound who always seems to be there when her mom appears. A Dog Called Homeless is the gentle and touching story of how one girl's friendship with a homeless dog can mend a family's heart.

Mull, Brandon - BEYONDERS - A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES (Book #1 of series) Fourteen-year-old Jason Walker is transported to a strange world called Lyrian, where he joins Rachel and a few rebels to piece together the Word that can destroy the malicious wizard emperor Surroth.

Mull, Brandon - FABLEHAVEN (Series)- Kendra and Seth go to stay at their grandparents’ estate. They quickly discover that it is a sanctuary for magical creatures and a battle is looming between the good and the evil.

Patterson, James– MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE It's Rafe Khatchadorian's first day at Hills Village Middle School, and it's shaping up to be the worst year ever. He has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix, but luckily he's got an ace plan for the best year ever--if only he can pull it off.

Pennypacker, Sara— PAX When his father enlists in the military and makes him return his beloved pet fox to the wild, Peter, who has been sent to live with his grandfather hundreds of miles away, embarks on a journey filled with astonishing discoveries in order to be reunited with his fox.

Peck, Richard—A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO A boy recounts his annual summer trips to rural Illinois with his sister during the Great Depression to visit their larger-than-life grandmother.

Riley, James - STORY THIEVES (Series) Owen thinks his life is boring, except for reading his favorite adventure books about Kiel Gnomenfoot. All that changes as he sees his classmate Bethany climb out of a book and learns she is half fictional.

Silas House, Neela Vaswani - SAME SUN HERE A twelve-year-old Indian immigrant in New York City and a Kentucky coal miner's son become pen pals, and eventually best friends, through a series of revealing letters exploring such topics as environmental activism, immigration, and racism.

Sloan, Holly - COUNTING BY 7’S In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.

Woodrow, Allan - CLASS DISMISSED Class 507 is terrible, and one day, after a particularly disastrous science experiment, Ms. Bryce quits and walks out in the middle of class, and the school office never finds out--at first all the fifth graders enjoy goofing off, but after a few days that starts getting boring, and the students begin to realize that school without a teacher is not easy, cooperating is difficult, and keeping a secret is harder than they thought.

SIXTH GRADE (entering 7th grade)

Alexander, Kwame - BOOKED Nick Hall lives and breathes soccer. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, his word-loving father takes the opportunity to try to instill a love of reading into his reluctant son. Nick’s mother leaves for a job out of state, he and his best friend hit the skids, he’s dealing with a bully, and on top of all of that, he has to navigate the highs and lows of a first crush.

Barnhill, Kelly - THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON Luna, having been turned into a witch as a young girl, discovers the magic within her while facing an evil force.

Boune, John - THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS Bored and lonely after his family moves from Berlin to a place called "Out-With" in 1942, Bruno, the son of a Nazi officer, befriends a boy in striped pajamas who lives behind a wire fence.

Cass, Kiera - THE BETROTHED A would-be queen. A handsome king. A perfect match... or is it? When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is thrilled. After all, she's grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king's attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true. But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and becoming queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine. From the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the Selection series comes The Betrothed, a glittering royal romance.

Chambliss, Bertman, Jennifer -THE BOOK SCAVENGER Just after twelve-year-old Emily and her family move to San Francisco, she teams up with new friend James to follow clues in an odd book they find, hoping to figure out its secrets before the men who attacked Emily's hero, publisher Garrison Griswold, solve the mystery or come after the friends.

Dowell, Frances O’Roark – CHICKEN BOY Since the death of his mother, Tobin's family life and school life have been in disarray, but after he starts raising chickens with his seventh-grade classmate, Henry, everything starts to fall into place.

Dumas, Firoozeh - IT AIN’T SO AWFUL FALAFEL Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block . . . for the fourth time. California's Newport Beach is her family's latest perch, and she's determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name--Cindy. It's the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even mood rings and puka shell necklaces can't distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. A poignant yet lighthearted middle grade debut from the author of the best-selling Funny in Farsi.

Gemeinhart, Dan — SOME KIND OF COURAGE In 1890 Washington, the only family Joseph Johnson has left is his half-wild Indian pony, Sarah, so when she is sold by a man who has no right to do so, he sets out to get her back--and he plans to let nothing stop him in his quest.

Gino, Alex - RICK Privately struggling with his best friend’s bullying personality and his father’s jokes about hot girls, a middle school student joins his new school’s Rainbow Spectrum club, where other kids of diverse gender identities help him find understanding and a sense of himself.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson - CHILDREN OF EXILE Rosi, 12, has lived all her life in sheltered Fredtown, a community of adults who took in refugee children to raise them in a safe environment. Her adoptive parents have lovingly raised Rosi and her little brother, Bobo, but always made it clear that one day they—and all the children in Fredtown—would be returned to their real parents. When the day comes, initial excitement soon turns to disappointment and fear as the children of Fredtown meet their real parents, who are physically and emotionally scarred and have no idea how to relate to the children they have not seen since birth. In Fredtown, appearances were unimportant, but here eye color seems to provoke prejudice. What happened back home while the Freds were raising other people’s children? Why isn’t it safe to go out after dark? With her trademark clarity, sympathetic and dimensional characters, and effective chapter hooks, Haddix’s latest series starter once again raises questions with real content and impact. Are there other worlds? And if so, would they care enough about ours to save us?

Horvath, Polly - EVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE Eleven year old Primrose, who lives in a small fishing village in British Columbia, recounts her experiences and all that she learns about human nature and the unpredictability of life in the months after her parents are lost at sea.

Jamieson, Victoria and Mohamed, Omar - WHEN STARS ARE SHATTERED When Stars Are Scattered is a graphic novel about a boy's experience growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. Omar arrived at the refugee camp with his younger brother when Omar was 4, and lived there until after he graduated from high school.

Jones, Diana Wynne - CONRAD’S FATE: A CHRESTOMANCI BOOK When his uncle sends him to work at the mysterious Stallery mansion, twelve year old Conrad Tesdinic overcomes his bad karma an discovers in the mansions’ wine cellar the source of the magic that threatens to pull his world into one of the eleven other parallel universes.

Kehret, Peg — STOLEN CHILDREN Amy learned a lot in her babysitting course, but not what to do if two thugs show up, intent on kidnapping. Armed with misinformation and a weapon, the men take Amy and little Kendra to a remote cabin in the woods. There they make videos of the girls and mail them to Kendra's wealthy parents in an effort to get ransom money. After several of her escape attempts fail, Amy is forced to make one last, desperate move.

Law, Ingrid - SAVVY Savvy recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her “savvy” - a magical power unique to each member of her family - just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.

Levine, Gail Carson — ELLA ENCHANTED In this novel based on the story of Cinderella,Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

Lord, Cynthia - RULES Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with an young paraplegic.

Lupica, Mike—LAST MAN OUT Twelve-year-old Tommy Gallagher, the bravest and toughest football player on the field, faces his biggest battle ever when his father, a Boston firefighter, is fatally injured while rescuing a child.

Mass, Wendy - A MANGO SHAPED SPACE Mia is an unusual child. When she hears sounds, reads or speaks, she sees colors. Feeling like a freak, she begins a journey of self discovery that leads to a deeper understanding of life.

Palacio, R. J. - AUGIE & ME THREE WONDER STORIES In Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, R.J. Palacio is revisiting Auggie’s world through three new perspectives. In the introduction, Palacio explains that she was very strict with herself about whose points of view she included in Wonder; if the character’s story didn’t directly propel Auggie’s journey forward, it wasn’t included. But the three stories told here expand Auggie’s world, even though he himself is no longer the central character. Don’t go into this one expecting the story of what happens to Auggie next; Palacio wants to leave that to the readers’ imagination. Do go into it expecting engaging stories of very real fifth-grade kids coping with their own problems, stories in which the presence of Auggie is a catalyst for their own growth as decent people.

Park, Barbara - THE GRADUATION OF JAKE MOON Jake Moon’s grandfather, Skelly, is descending from Jake’s beloved confidante and unwavering champion into an embarrassing nightmare. The reason? Alzheimer’s disease. But in a situation like this, it isn’t just the grandfather who changes, it is those who love him, as well. An honest, amusing, and touching account of an all-too-real situation.

Paulson, Gary - LAWN BOY A boy (not named) gets an old, used , riding lawn mower for his birthday from his eccentric grandmother. His next-door neighbor asks him to mow his lawn. He needs money to buy an inner tube for his bike, so he agrees. Soon he gets more customers. Soon he has more than he can handle. One of his customers, an aging hippie day trader named Arnold, gives the boy advice on running his business, and invests his money for him. Soon the boy as more than a dozen employees, a wad of money, an interest in a prize fighter, and a problem with a protection racket. And all he wanted was an inner tube.

Reeder, Carolyn - SHADES OF GRAY At the end of the Civil War, twelve-year-old Will, having lost all his immediate family, reluctantly leaves his city home to live in the Virginia countryside with his aunt and the uncle he considers a "traitor" because he refused to take part in the war.

Riordan, Rick – THE LOST HERO Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she's his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they're all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for "bad kids." What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea-except that everything seems very wrong.

Spinelli, Jerry — STARGIRL In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.

Vawter, Vince - PAPERBOY An 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest fastball in town, but talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering, not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend's paper route for the month of July, he knows he'll be forced to communicate with the different customers, including a housewife who drinks too much and a retired merchant marine who seems to know just about everything.

SEVENTH GRADE (entering 8th grade)

Creech, Sharon - ABSOLUTELY NORMAL CHAOS Thirteen year old Mary Lou grows up quickly during the summer while learning about romance, homesickness, death, and her cousin’s search for his biological father.

Fox, Janet S— THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE In 1940, during the Blitz, Katherine, Robbie and Amelie Bateson are sent north to a private school in Rookskill Castle in Scotland, a brooding place, haunted by dark magic from the past--but when some of their classmates disappear Katherine has to find out if the cause is hidden in the past or very much in the present.

Griffin, Paul—WHEN FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWS YOU HOME A boy’s chance encounter with a scruffy dog leads to an unforgettable friendship in this deeply moving story about life, loss, and the meaning of Fox, Janet S family

Haddix, Margaret Peterson—UNDER THEIR SKIN From the New York Times best-selling author comes the first book in a brand-new thrilling series about twins who are on a quest to discover the secrets being kept by their new family—specifically, WHY their new step-siblings are being kept hidden away.

Horvath, Polly - THE CANNING SEASON Thirteen year old Ratchet spends a summer in Maine with her eccentric great aunts Tilly and Penpen, hearing strange stories from the past and encountering a variety of unusual and colorful characters.

Li Shotz, Jennifer — MAX Max is a highly trained military canine who has always protected his fellow soldiers. But when he loses his handler and best friend, Kyle, Max is traumatized and unable to remain in the service

Lowry, Lois - SON - conclusion to THE GIVER They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child.

Lupica, Mike - HERO Fourteen-year-old Zach learns he has the same special abilities as his father, who was the President's globe-trotting troubleshooter until "the Bads" killed him, and now Zach must decide whether to use his powers in the same way at the risk of his own life.

Lynch, Chris - I, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, Enlisting as a group when one of them is drafted into the Vietnam War, best friends Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck pledge their loyalty to one another before reporting to different branches of service.

Mazer, Harry - A BOY AT WAR: A Novel of Pearl Harbor, While fishing with his friends off Honolulu on December 7, 1941, teenaged Adam is caught in the midst of the Japanese attack and through the chaos of the subsequent days tries to find his father, a navel officer who was serving on the U.S.S. Arizona when the bombs fell.

Murdock, Catherine - DAIRY QUEEN After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school’s rival football team, sixteen-year-old D. J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.

Pfeffer, Susan Beth - LIFE AS WE KNEW IT When a meteor crashes into the Moon, it knocks the Moon’s orbit a bit closer to the Earth, causing tidal waves, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions which in turn wipe out coastal cities, disrupt infrastructure and weather patterns, and cause crop failure. Teenaged Miranda, who lives with her mother and brothers in Pennsylvania, doesn’t directly witness most of this, but she feels the effects: Her family must try to survive on hoarded canned food and a wood stove when power and communications fail, there is no food in stores, temperatures plummet, the sun is blocked by volcanic ash, and disease ravages the surviving population.

Pearsall, Shelley– THE SEVENTH MOST IMPORTANT THING Traumatized by his father's recent death, a boy throws a brick at an old man who collects junk in his neighborhood and winds up on probation working for him. Pearsall bases the book on a famed real work of folk art, the Throne of the Third Heaven, by James Hampton, a janitor who built his work in a garage in Washington, D.C .

Pullman, Philip—-THE GOLDEN COMPASS Accompanied by her shape-shifting daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.

Riggs, Ransom—MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN As the story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

Riordan, Rick - THE HIDDEN ORACLE Punished by his father, Zeus, sun god Apollo falls from grace—literally—first landing painfully in a dumpster and then, humiliatingly, into the service of a streetwise, 12-year-old, presumably white demigod named Meg McCaffrey. The now-mortal Apollo seeks help from Camp Half-Blood and its resident heroes only to find that there's been a plague of disappearances among the demigods, the camp has been cut off from the Oracle of Delphi and its quest-granting prophecies, and a sinister conspiracy is working tirelessly to destroy everything the former sun god holds dear. In his narration, Apollo alternately waxes poetic about his godly virtues (including his open bisexuality) and gripes about his current awkwardness and servitude to the enigmatic Meg. Egocentric to the point of rollicking self-deprecation as he tries to reconcile millennia of personal history as an immortal with his sudden fragile finitude, his voice overpowers any sense of his new 16-year-old white, acned form, and he continuously disrupts the narrative to remind readers of his dissatisfying appearance. Nonetheless, the wearying negotiation of inner and outer self will ring true for (im)mortals of any age as Apollo desperately works to save himself and everyone else.

Roth, Veronica — DIVERGENT In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Ruby, Laura - LILY’S GHOSTS 8th-grader Lily and her mother have just relocated to Cape May, NJ after her mother’s break-up with her most recent boyfriend. Lily is immediately confronted with ghostly antics that have her researching the house’s history and helping the ghosts get their long-awaited revenge against the real villains. A quick-paced, witty novel.

Shusterman, Neal - UNWIND In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives “unwound” and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs and perhaps, save their own lives.

Stiefvater, Maggie - THE SCORPIO RACES As November nears, the fierce water horses surge out of the sea onto the beach at Thisby. Tourists flock to the island as the locals try to capture and train the dangerous capaill uisce (water horses) for the Scorpio Races. Four-time champion Sean Kendrick lives to ride his stallion and knows well how deadly the races are, but this year he has even more than his life at stake. Puck Connolly lost her parents to the capaill uisce a year earlier. Afraid of losing her older brother to the mainland and her family home to the lender, she signs up to race on her own mare. As the first woman ever to enter, she’s met with hostility—until she forges an unlikely friendship wither her rival, Sean.

Tingle, Rebecca - FAR TRAVELER After the death of her mother, Aetheflaed of Mercia, seventeen-year-old Aelfwyn flees imprisonment by her uncle King Edward and in the guise of a youthful bard, plays her part in the resolution of the tangled political enmities of tenth century Britain.

Tolkien, J.R.R. - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING When Bilbo Baggins (adventurer from The Hobbit) decides to retire away from the Shire, he leaves everything to this nephew Frodo, from his lovely hobbit-hole down to the magical ring he found on his travels. The ring that is now Frodo’s treasure turns into a horrible burden when the wizard Gandalf discovers its origins: forged by the dark lord Saruman and possessing some of his evil power. The dark lord is rising once again and sends out nine cursed “black riders” on horseback to find it with the words “Baggins” and “Shire” on their kips. Frodo must leave the Shire and everything he knows behind, save three hobbit companions, to find out who to get rid of his ring of power. And after Gandalf goes missing they must set out alone, facing the world of mortals and elves for the first time in search of those that might help them and all of Middle Earth.