2008 SUMMER READING LIST

Entering Grades Pre-K through 3

P – Picture
B – Beginning Readers
C – Books with Chapters
 S – Series                                             

FICTION

2008 Caldecott Award Winner

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The setting is Paris in 1931.  Hugo is a young orphan secretly living in the walls of a train station where he labors to complete a mysterious invention left by his father. Black & white pencil illustrations evoke the flickering images of the silent films to which the book pays homage

New Series

 “A new series called We Both Read is in an interactive format that ignites interest in reading. The book invites the parent to read the left hand pages. Then, for fun, the children can be encouraged to read the right hand pages. “Some titles include:

Brown, Marcia Just Five More Minutes (S)
It’s Mark’s bedtime but he begs his mom for just five more minutes! When his five minutes are up, he keeps coming up with something new to do that will take him “just five more minutes.”

McKay, Sindy A Pony Named Peanut(S)
This fiction story features lots of information on horses. Jessica’s mother has sent her to spend the summer with her aunt and uncle in the country. Jessica doesn’t think that living on a farm far from a city will be any fun at all.

Ross, Dev. Frank and the Balloon (S)
Frank the frog, is carried off into the sky hanging from a balloon. At first this seems like an exciting adventure, but soon Frank just wants to ago home.

Other  Suggestions

Adler, David A.  Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery (C)
Cam uses her photographic memory to help catch the slippery criminal.
 
Adlerman, Daniel.  Africa Calling Nighttime Falling (P)
A girl imagines herself in Africa with lions, elephants, monkeys, rhinos, zebras and other animals.

Arnold, Tedd. Hi! Fly Guy (P)
A fly amazes a small boy when it says his name, Buzz. (Also a sequel, Super Fly Guy.)

Beaumont, Karen.  Move Over, Rover!
Illustrated by Jane Dyer. The story of creatures from Squirrel to Skunk seeking shelter by squeezing into Rover’s doghouse.

Berenstain, Stan & Jan.  New Pup (B)
You will love the antics of the new cubs.

Byars, Betsy.  Seven Treasure Hunts (C)
Jackson and Goat are tricked by Rachel, Goat’s older sister.

Bryan, Ashley.  Beautiful Blackbird (P)
A Zambian folktale of cooperation and communication.

Capucilli, Alyssa.  Biscuit Goes To School (B)
See what happens when a dog is discovered in school.

Cazet, Denys. Minnie and Moo: The Case of the Missing Jelly Donut (C)
Two silly cows wear chicken disguises in order to track down a donut thief.

Chodos-Irvine, Margaret.  Ella Sarah Gets Dressed (P)
Ella Sarah has definite ideas about what to wear and she puts together some truly outrageous outfits.

Christopher, Matt.  Tough to Tackle (C)
A tackle wants to play QB but the coach won't let him.

Cleary, Beverly .  Ramona's World (C)
Further adventures of Ramona at home and at school.

Clements, Andrew.  The Janitor’s Boy (C)
The adventures of Jack, the janitor’s son, will give you a new way of looking at chewing gum in school.

Cooney, Barbara.  Miss Rumphius (P)
How one girl fulfilled her grandfather's wish-"You must do something to make the world more beautiful."

Cronin, Doreen.  Diary of a Worm (P)
A young worm comments on friendship, family life, school and his place in the universe.

Dadey, Debbie Unicorns Don’t Give Sleigh Rides(S)
Could Mr. Withers at the Bailey stables really be riding a unicorn?

Dahl, Roald.  The Twits (C)
The Twits are gross and disgusting. You will love them!

DiCamillo, Kate.  Tale of Despereaux
This is the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup and a spool of thread.

Duffey, Betsy.  How to Be Cool in the Third Grade (C)
Robbie York, an eight year old, has plans for becoming cool. Rob's story is told with humor and empathy as he discovers that there is more to being cool than having the right name.

Ehlert, Lois. Leaf Man (P)
Animals, trees and other natural objects can be seen in the wind-blown leaves.

Geisert, Arthur. Lights Out (P)
An ingenious piglet invents a “lights out” invention worthy of Rube Goldberg.

Giff, Patricia Reilly.  Garbage Juice for Breakfast (C)
Detectives Dawn and Lizzie overcome their fears to solve the mystery.

Grey, Mini. Traction Man is Here! (P)
A young boy guides his new action figure through a series of adventures.

Hayashi, Nancy.  Cosmic Cousin (C)
Follow the clues in book reports, handwriting, and Halloween costumes to solve the mystery.

Hest, Amy. Mr. George Baker (P)
A young boy develops a close relationship with an elderly neighbor.

Hill , Susan .  Stuart Little (B)
The library turns out to be anything but peaceful after Stuart meets Bookworm.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of A Wimpy Kid(C)
A quick humorous read.

Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie. Nora’s Ark (P)
Wren and her Grandmother welcome 23 neighbors and many animals in their high-ground home during the Vermont Flood of 1927.

MacDonald, Margaret Read.  Mabela the Clever (P)
An African folk tale about a mouse who pays close attention to her.

McCarty, Peter.  Hondo & Fabian (P)
The story of a beach outing for a dog and a full day at home for a cat - a quiet tale of friendship.

McDermott, Gerald.  Anansi the Spider (P)
The six sons of Anansi, the spider hero of many African tales, combine their special talents to save their father's life.

 McFarland, Lyn Rossiter.  Widget (P)
Widget’s strategy for fitting in without losing sight of who you are, is seen in this warm, enchanting book of acceptance and individuality.

McGee Kvasnosky, Laura. Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways
The popular fox sisters return in this book with three adventures precipitated by their need to avoid the dreaded cucumber sandwiches dad is preparing.

Moss, Marissa.  Oh Boy, Amelia (C)
Ten year old Amelia is studying her older sister, who has a crush on Oliver.

Myers, Laurie.  Earthquake in the Third Grade(C)
Using an ant farm earthquake as an example in this warm and entertaining story, the author draws a parallel as to how both ants and people must challenge themselves to make the best of unexpected circumstances.  Illustrated by Karen Ritz.

Nolan, Lucy. Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels (C)
Did you ever wonder what your dog thinks about the human world?

Osborn, Mary Pope Buffalo for Breakfast (S)
Part of the Magic Tree House series.

O’Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude (P)
A boy and a girl offer wildly contrasting versions of a fairy tale.

Parish, Peggy. Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping (B)
Amelia Bedelia always has fun camping.

Peterson, John.  The Littles (C)
Tales of a tiny family, only six inches tall, who often end up in giant dilemmas.

Portis, Antoinette.  Not a Box
A personified bunny plays with, in and on a cardboard box.

Rohmann, Eric.  My Friend Rabbit (P)
Mouse shares his brand-new toy airplane with his friend Rabbit. When the airplane lands in a tree, the chaos only builds as Rabbit drags, pushes and carries the whole neighborhood, including Elephant, Hippo, and Crocodile, to the rescue.

Rylant, Cynthia.  Poppleton (B)
Meet Poppleton, the new pig in town.  He’s your new “best friend.”

Seuss, Dr.  Hop on Pop (B)
“The simplest Seuss for youngest use.”

Sobol, Donald.  Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (C)
Ten-year-old Leroy Brown opens his own detective agency and solves ten crimes.

Standiford, Natalie.  The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto (B)
Balto, the lead dog of his sled team, must find his way to deliver medicine to sick children in Nome , Alaska during the worst storm ever.  (Step Into Reading Series)

Watt, Melanie.   Leon the Chameleon (P)
Leon never turns the same color as everyone else.  When lost in the desert with other baby chameleons, he learns the benefits of being different.  Children will benefit from this lesson of acceptance and self-respect.

Warner, Gertrude.  Box Car Children ( S)
An adventure series about children who live in a boxcar and solve mysteries.

Wolf, Ferida.  Watch Out for Bears: the Adventures of Henry and Bruno (S)                          
Henry comes face to face with a real live bear. Find out what he does! (Step Into Reading Series).