summer reading assignments and resources for the 2011-2012 school year

Recommended Reading for Emergent, Beginning Readers
Read these books to non-readers beginning in First Grade or have your emergent reader try them. They are fun, comfortable and very easy for Second Graders to read to little brothers, sisters, or friends, too!

• 1 Hunter by Pat Hutchins
• Across the Stream by Mirra Ginsburg
• All Fall Down by Brian Wildsmith
• Amanda Pig and the Wiggly Tooth by Jean Van Leeuwen
• Anansi’s Party Time by Eric Kimmel
• Baseball Hour by Carol Nevius
• Bats at the Ballgame by Brian lies
• Bear Shadow by Frank Asch
• Bear’s Bargain by Frank Asch
• Big Mama and Grandma Ghana by Angela Shelf Medearis
• Blackboard Bear by Martha Alexander
• Boo’s Dinosaur by Betsy Byer
• Boy Who Cried Wolf by Freya Littledale
• Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
• Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
• Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward
• Crocodile Beat by Gail Jorgensen
• Dear Vampa by Ross Collins
• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
• Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin
• Did Dinosaurs Eat Pizza? Mysteries Science Hasn’t Solved by Lenny Hort
• Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller
• Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Fox on the Job by James Marshall
• Freight Train by Donald Crews
• Gone Fishing by Earlene Long
• Greedy Cat by Joy Cowley
• Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri
• Hush Little Baby by Aliki
• I Like Books by Anthony Browne
• If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty
• In a Dark Dark Wood by June Melser and Joy Cowley
• Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
• It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
• Jabuti, the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon by Gerald Mcdermott
• Joshua James Likes Trucks by Catherine Petrie
• Just Like Daddy by Frank Asch
• Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants by Tony Johnston
• Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin
• Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers by Merle Peek
• Missing Math: A Number Mystery by Loreen LeedyMore Spaghetti I Say by Rita Gelman “Mother Goose”
• Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley
• Mud by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
• My Bike by Craig Martin
• My Book by Ron Maris
• My Uncle Martin’s Words for America by Angela Watkins
• Name That Dog! Puppy Poems from A to Z by Peggy Archer
• Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop
• Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells
• Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff
• Orangutans Are Ticklish: Fun facts from an Animal Photographer by Jill Davis
• Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schukman
• “Pardon?” Said the Giraffe by Colin West
• Princess K.I.M. and the Lie that Grew by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
• Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanette Titherington
• Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
• Roberto Clemente: The Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates by Jonah Winter
• Robot Zot by Jon Scieszka
• Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
• Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
• Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang
• The Bus Ride by Anne McLean
• The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus
• The Cat Sat on the Mat by Brian Wildsmith
• The Chick and the Duckling by Mirra Ginsburg
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds
• The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
• The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Ernst
• The Great Big Enormous Turnip by Leo Tolstoy
• The Greatest Story Never Told: The Babe and Jackie by Ray Negron
• The Napping House by Audrey Wood
• The Three Bears by Paul Galdone
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter
• Theodore by Frank Keating
• Things I Like by Anthony Browne
• Tiger Cub Readers by Robert and Marlene McCracken
• Titch by Pat Hutchins
• Twig Books by Rebel Williams
• Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival by Kirby larson
• What a Tale by Brian Wildsmith
• Wheels on the Bus (Raffi Songs to Read) by Raffi
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Who Said Red? by Mary Serfozo
• Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer by Carol Brindler
• You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman

Recommended Reading for Transitional/Self-Extending Readers
Books on this list include titles with strong themes, a variety of genres within the picture book format, interesting literary patterns, and great illustrations. Your Second Grader will enjoy reading many of them independently, especially the "chapter" books by authors like Arnold Lobel, Else Holmelund Minarik, and Peggy Parish. You may read more challenging selections to your Second Grader. Third Graders enjoy the occasional picture book, too.

• A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
• Adventures of Snail at School by John Stadler
• Albert and the Albatross by Syd Hoff
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
• All Tutus Should Be Pink by Sheri Brownrigg
• Alligators All Around by Maurice Sendak
• Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
• Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower by Peggy Parish
• Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish
• Amelia Bedelia Helps Out by Peggy Parish
• Amelia Bedelia’s Family Album by Peggy Parish
• Amos & Boris by William Steig
• Anansi’s Narrow Waist, Little Celbrations by David Diaz
• And I Mean it Stanley by Crosby Bonsall
• Angus and the Cat by Marjorie Flack
• Annie’s Pet by Barbara Brenner
• Arthur’s Christmas Cookies by Lillian Hoban
• Arthur’s Honey Bear by Lillian Hoban
• Arthur’s Loose Tooth by Lillian Hoban
• Arthur’s Pen Pal by Lillian Hoban
• Arthur’s Prize Reader by Lillian Hoban
• Barney’s Horse by Syd Hoff
• Beans on the Roof by Betsy Byars
• Bear Goes to Town by Anthony Browne
• Best Teacher in the World by Bernice Chardiet and Grace MacCarone
• Big Balloon Race by Eleanor Coerr
• Birthday Bike for Brimhall by Judy Delton
• Birthdays by Sallie Purkis
• Blind Men and the Elephant by Karen Backstein
• Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey House by David Adler
• Cam Jansen and the Mystery of Flight 54 by David Adler
• Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball by David Adler
• Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Carnival Pizza by David Adler
• Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown by David Adler
• Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones by David Adler
• Can Do, Jenny Archer (series) by Ellen Conford
• Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Ruth Heller
• Deputy Dan Gets His Man by Joseph Rosembloom
• Dinosaur Days by Joyce Milton
• Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
• Dog that Pitched a No-Hitter by Matt Christopher
• Dog-Gone Hollywood by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
• Don’t Forget the Bacon by Pat Hutchins
• Every Time I Climb a Tree by David McCord
• Families are Different by Nina Pellegrini
• Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
• Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
• George and Martha by James Marshall
• Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
• Go and Hush the Baby by Betsy Byars
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• Good Work, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
• Grandma Mix-up by Emily Arnold McCully
• Grandma’s at the Lake by Emily Arnold McCully
• Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
• Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
• Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
• Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake by Barbara Park
• Little Bear by Elsa Holmelund Minarik
• Little Red Riding Hood by Trina Schart Hyman
• Monster from the Sea by William Hooks
• Monster Movie by Joanna Cole
• Monster Runs Amuck by Reilly Giff 
• Monsters Don’t Scuba Dive by Debbie Dadey
• Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car by John Burningham
• Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham
• My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles
• Nana’s in the Plum Tree by Jan Cartwright
• Nate the Great (series) by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
• Pancake by Arnold Lobel
• Pee Wee Scouts (series) by Judy Delton
• Pinky and Rex (series) by James Howe
• Rupert and the Griffin by Johanna Hurwitz
• Russell Rides Again by Johanna Hurwitz
• Russell Sprouts by Johanna Hurwitz
• Schoolyard Mystery by Elizabeth Levy
• Secret at the Polk Street School (series) by Reilly Giff
• Sheila Rae, the Brave by Kevin Henkes
• Stacy Says Good-Bye by Reilly Giff
• The Adventures of Spider by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst
• The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
• The Random House Book of Poetry for Children edited by Jack Prelutsky
• Time for a Rhyme, Gardner by Heather Philpott and Jane Tanner
• Wiley and the Hairy Man by Molly Bang

Recommended Reading for Self-Extending to Independent Readers
This list includes several novels that introduce fluent readers to popular authors and series. Third Graders may be interested in traditional tales, legends from around the world and historical fiction, which they may encounter during the school year, too.

• A Toad for Tuesday by Russell E. Erickson
• A Wizard from the Start by Don Brown
• African Legends
• Amazing Spiders by Alexandra Parsons
• Amber Brown Goes Forth by Paula Danziger
• Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
• Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit by Paula Danziger
• Amelia Earhart: The Broad Ocean by Sarah Taylor
• Asian Legends
• Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
• Celebritrees: Historic and Famous trees of the World by Margi Preus
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault
• Crust and Spray: Gross Stuff in Your Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat by C.S. Larsen
• Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
• Do Not Open by Brinton Turkle
• Dr. De Soto by William Steig
• Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
• Earthworms by Keith Pigdon and Marilyn Woolley
• Everything On It: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein
• George and Martha by James Marshall
• Henry Aaron’s Dream by Matt Tavares
• Henry and Beezus by Beverly Cleary
• Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
• Henry and the Clubhouse by Beverly Cleary
• Henry and the Paper Route by Beverly Cleary
• Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
• Hidden in the Grass by Barbara Taylor
• Honey I Love: and Other Poems by Eloise Greenfield
• Horrible Harry and the Art Invasion by Suzy Kline
• Horrible Harry and the Green Slime by Suzy Kline
• Horrible Harry and the Kickball Wedding by Suzy Kline
• Horrible Harry in Room 2b by Suzy Kline
• How Much Is a Million? by M. Schwartz
• I Want a Dog by Dayal Kaur Khalsa
• I’ll Meet You at the Cucumbers by Lilian Moore
• Koko’s Kitten by Francine Patterson
• Lemonade & Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka
• Leo the Snow Leopard; The True Story of an Amazing Rescue by Juliana Hatkoff
• Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young
• Look to the Stars by Buzz Aldrin
• Lucky Stone by Lucille Clifton
• Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
• Make a Wish Molly by Barbara Cohen
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story by Thomas Yezerski
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen
• Most Wonderful Doll in the World by Phyllis McGinley
• Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
• Mystery of Pony Hollow by Lynn Hall
• Mystery of the Phantom Pony by Lynn Hall
• Nic Bishop Lizards by Nic Bishop
• No Room for Dessert by Hallie Durand
• North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration by Nick Dowson
• Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss
• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
• Piper Reed Rodeo Star by Kimberly Holt
• Poem Stew edited by William Cole
• Queen of the Falls by Chris VanAllsburg
• Ramona Quim, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
• Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine by Evaline Ness
• Spaceheadz 2 by Jon Scieszka
• Stone Fox by John R. Gardiner
• The Ball Hogs by Rich Wallace
• The Best/Worst Christmas Pageant by Barbara Parker
• The Best/Worst School Year by Barbara Parker
• The Comeback Dog by Jane Resh Thomas
• The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
• The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and Garth Williams
• The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl
• The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy
• The Stories Julian Tells by Anne Cameron
• The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin
• Till Death Do Us Bark by Kate Klise
• Toad Food and Measle Soup by Christine McDonnell
• What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
• Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker
• Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World’s Smartest Horse by Emily McCully
• Wump World by Bill Peet
• You Can’t Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown by Paula Danziger

Recommended Reading for Independent Readers
This list introduces pictures books, outstanding collections of short stories, classic novels and historical fiction that students in Fourth Grade are sure to enjoy. A few titles may also be suitably challenging to some fluent readers in Third Grade.

• Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith
• Aliens for Breakfast by Jonathan Spinner
• Amelia Earhart by John Parlin
• Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry
• Animal Fact/Animal Fable by Semour Simon
• Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
• Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle
• Baseball’s Greatest Pitchers by Stephen Kramer
• Beauty and the Beast by Michel Hague
• BFG by Roald Dahl
• Blubber by Judy Blume
• Brave Maddie Egg by Natalie Stanford
• Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
• Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling
• Creature in Crestwood Park by Barbara Ford
• Crunch by Leslie Connor
• Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Original Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger
• Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
• Every Living Thing by Cynthia Rylant
• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• Five Brave Explorers by Wade Hudson
• George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
• Ghost in Tent 19 by Jim O’Connor
• Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl
• Grandpa Putter and Granny Hoe by Kimberly Olson Fakeh
• Hannah by Gloria Whelan
• I’d Rather Be Eaten by Sharks by Elaine Moore
• Itchy Richard by Jamie Gilson
• Jesse Owens: Olympic Hero by Francene Sabin
• Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault
• Little Princess by Diane Molleson
• Llama’s Pajamas by Susan Clymer
• Me and My Great Brain by John Fitzgerald
• One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest by Jean Craighead
• One Day in the Woods by Jean Craighead
• Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
• Peter and the Star Catchers by Ridley Pearson
• Pie by Sarah Weeks
• Pioneer Cat by William Hooks
• Pony Pals: A Pony for Keeps by Jeanne Betancourt
• Pony Pals: A Pony for Trouble by Jeanne Betancourt
• Pony Pals: Give Me Back My Pony by Jeanne Betancourt
• Pony Pals: I Want a Pony by Jeanne Betancourt
• Pony Pals: Pony to the Rescue by Jeanne Betancourt
• Pony Pals: Wild Pony by Jeanne Betancourt
• Red Wall Series by Brian Jacques
• Riddle Streak by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
• School’s Out by Johanna Hurwitz
• Secret Land of the Past by Miriam Schlein
• Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
• Stinky Sneakers Contest by Julie Anne Peters
• Story of Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad by Kate McMullan
• Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball by Margaret Davidson
• Story of Walt Disney: Maker of Magical Worlds by Bernice Selden
• Sunken Treasure by Gail Gibbons
• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
• Teacher’s Pet by Johanna Hurwitz
• The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins
• The Flint Heart: A Fairy Story by Katherine Paterson
• The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald
• The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh
• The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
• The Real Thief by William Steig
• The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone
• The Twits by Roald Dahl
• The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishman
• Tracing Stars by Erin Moulton
• Trouble for Lucy by Carla Stevens
• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
• Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
• Westing Game by Ellen Raskin