2008 SUMMER READING LIST

Entering Grades 4 through 6

POETRY

Adoff, Arnold.  Sports Pages
An exciting book of sports poetry.

Greenberg, Jan, editor. Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century Art
A compilation of poems by Americans writing about American art in the twentieth century, including such writers as Nancy Willard, Jane Yolen, and X.J. Kennedy.

Holbrook, Sara. By Definition: Poems of Feelings
40 brief poems addressing a range of emotions including anger, mistrust, disappointment, jealousy, honesty, and loneliness.

Hovey, Kate. Arachne Speaks
A poetical tale of Athena, who reacts cruelly when angered by the weaver Arachne.

Prelutsky, Jack.  It's Raining Pigs & Noodles
A collection of humorous poems, illustrated by James Stevenson.

Testa, Maria. Becoming Joe DiMaggio
Growing up in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s, Joseph Paul, an Italian boy, finds solace from a difficult life by listening to baseball games with his beloved grandfather. This powerful story, told in 24 poems, describes their relationship and their love of listening to another Italian, Joe DiMaggio, achieve success.

Unobagha, Uzo. Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa and Other Talking Drum Rhymes
The author has created a series of simple rhymes to portray West African culture, weaving people, animals, objects, and customs into her verses.

Untermeyer, Louis.  The Golden Treasury of Poetry
A collection of poems.

Wong, Janet S. Good Luck Gold and Other Poems
These poems explore immigration and a mixed heritage.