*The summer is a great time to read for pleasure. Sometimes it is hard to decide what to read next. When this happens, talk to friends to see what they are reading, go to a bookstore and look at the books on display to see if any are interesting and, of course, visit the library for ideas—their books are free. Also, try some of the books on this list. So find a spot under a tree, on a blanket at the beach, or a quiet spot in your house and let the adventures begin!
*Don’t forget to register for Lane Library’s Summer Reading Program "Treasure Reading" and Barnes and Noble’s Summer Reading Program where you have a chance to earn 2 free books.
Authors who written so many good books, it’s hard to mention just one. Try more than one story by these authors:
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Andrew Clements |
Frindle, A Week in the Woods, The Janitor’s Boy… |
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Gary Paulsen |
Hatchet (Series), The Haymeadow… |
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Judy Blume |
Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself… |
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Jerry Spinelli |
Crash, Maniac Magee, Loser… |
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Louis Sachar |
Small Steps (sequel to "Holes"), There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom… |
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Sharon Creech |
Ruby Holler, Redbird, Walk Two Moons, Replay… |
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Lois Lowry |
Number the Stars, The Giver… |
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Gordon Korman |
Island Series, On the Run Series, Kidnapped Series… |
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Avi |
Poppy Series, Don’t You Know There’s a War On… |
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Dan Gutman |
Babe & Me, Honus & Me, Jackie & Me… |
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Garth Nix |
Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday… |
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Eva Ibbotson |
Dial-a-Ghost, The Secret of Platform 13… |
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Shel Silverstein |
Runny Babbit, A Light In the Attic… |
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Dick King-Smith |
Lady Lollipop, Funny Frank, Magnus Powermouse |
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Harry Mazer |
A Boy At War (trilogy) |
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Roald Dahl |
Matilida, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches… |
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Bill Wallace |
Goosed, Coyote Autumn, No Dogs Allowed |
Other Books to Try:
| The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Kate DiCamillo |
| Indian in the Cubboard (series) | Lynn Reid Banks |
| Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH | Robert C. O’Brien |
| Ida B…and her plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster and (Possibly) Save the World | Katherine Hannigan |
| The Spiderwick Chronicles | Tony DiTerlizzi |
| From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | E.L. Konigsburg |
| The Great Brain | John D. Fitzgerald |
| The Trouble with Tuck | Theodore Taylor |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George |
| Small Steps (sequel to Holes) | Louis Sachar |
| The Land of Elyon Series | Patrick Carman |
| Cricket in Times Square | George Selden |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson |
| Flush (sequel to "Hoot") | Carl Hiasson |
| The Golden Compass Trilogy | Philip Pullman |
| Chet Gecko Mysteries | Bruce Hale |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliet |
| Inkheart (#1), Inkspell (#2) | Cornelia Funke |
| Eragon (#1), Eldest (#2) | Christopher Paolini |
| Hank the Cowdog (series) | John R. Erickson |
| Pictures of Hollis Woods | Patricia Reilly Giff |
| The Edge Chronicles (Series) | Paul Steward and Chris Riddell |
| Charlie Bone Series | Jenny Nimmo |
| Varjak Paw | S.F. Said |
| Warriors Series | Erin Hunter |
| Guys Write For Guys Read | Jon Scieszka |
| Bunnicula (series) | James Howe |
| Lost on a Mountain in Maine | Joseph Egan |
| Defiance | Valerie Hobbs |
| Earthquake Terror | Peg Kehret |
| Zulu Dog | Anton Ferreria |
| Al Capone Does My Shirts | Gennifer Choldenko |
| Chocolate Fever | Robert Kimmel Smith |
In addition to these suggestions, some students had the opportunity in computer to search for books according to their individual lexile scores and topic preferences. To do this from home, log on to www.lexile.com and click on "Families." Click on "Lexile Book Database," scroll down and type in the lexile range. This will give books appropriate for each child’s reading level.