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

Recommended Reading for Early Childhood and Lower School Students

St. Anne's School of Annapolis has compiled a list of recommended books that are appropriate to be read to your child, with your child, or by your child. They have been listed roughly in groups according to difficulty, beginning with the simplest texts. Many of the titles below are available at your local bookstore and the public library.

Emergent, Beginning Readers (First Grade - Second Grade)

Early Readers to Transitional/Self-Extending Readers (Second Grade - Third Grade)

Self-Extending to Independent Readers (Second - Third Grade)

Independent Readers (Third Grade - Fourth Grade)

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!

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Freight Train by Donald Crews
The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
The Great Big Enormous Turnip by Leo Tolstoy
“Mother Goose”
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang
The Three Bears by Paul Galdone
Titch by Pat Hutchins
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Across the Stream by Mirra Ginsburg
All Fall Down by Brian Wildsmith
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
The Bus Ride by Anne McLean
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
Boy Who Cried Wolf by Freya Littledale
The Cat Sat on the Mat by Brian Wildsmith
The Chick and the Duckling by Mirra Ginsburg
Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri
I Like Books by Anthony Browne
Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers by Merle Peek
My Book by Ron Maris
1 Hunter by Pat Hutchins
What a Tale by Brian Wildsmith
Tiger Cub Readers by Robert and Marlene McCracken
Twig Books by Rebel Williams
Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward
Crocodile Beat by Gail Jorgensen
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Gone Fishing by Earlene Long
Greedy Cat by Joy Cowley
Hush Little Baby by Aliki
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
Joshua James Likes Trucks by Catherine Petrie
Just Like Daddy by Frank Asch
More Spaghetti I Say by Rita Gelman
Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley
Mud by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
My Bike by Craig Martin
Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells
Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff
“Pardon?” Said the Giraffe by Colin West
Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanette Titherington
Things I Like by Anthony Browne
Wheels on the Bus (Raffi Songs to Read) by Raffi
Who Said Red? by Mary Serfozo
Who’s in the Shed? by Brenda Parkes

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
Amos & Boris by William Steig
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
Anansi’s Narrow Waist, Little Celbrations by David Diaz
And I Mean it Stanley by Crosby Bonsall
Annie’s Pet by Barbara Brenner
Angus and the Cat by Marjorie Flack
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
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
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 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
The Adventures of Spider by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst

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.

African Legends
Asian 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
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
The Best/Worst Christmas Pageant by Barbara Parker
The Best/Worst School Year by Barbara Parker
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
The Comeback Dog by Jane Resh Thomas
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and Garth Williams
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Do Not Open by Brinton Turkle
Dr. De Soto by William Steig
Earthworms by Keith Pigdon and Marilyn Woolley
The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl
George and Martha by James Marshall
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
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
Honey I Love: and Other Poems by Eloise Greenfield
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
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young
Lucky Stone by Lucille Clifton
Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
Make a Wish Molly by Barbara Cohen
Matilda by Roald Dahl
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
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy
Poem Stew edited by William Cole
Ramona Quim,, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine by Evaline Ness
Stone Fox by John R. Gardiner
The Stories Julian Tells by Anne Cameron
A Toad for Tuesday by Russell E. Erickson
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
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.

Aliens for Breakfast by Jonathan Spinner
Amelia Earhart by John Parlin
Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry
Animal Fact/Animal Fable by Semour Simon
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
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
Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl
Ghost in Tent 19 by Jim O’Connor
Grandpa Putter and Granny Hoe by Kimberly Olson Fakeh
The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh
The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald
Hannah by Gloria Whelan
The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis
I’d Rather Be Eaten by Sharks by Elaine Moore
Itchy Richard by Jamie Gilson
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault
Jesse Owens: Olympic Hero by Francene Sabin
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
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
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: Pony to the Rescue by Jeanne Betancourt
Pony Pals: Give Me Back My Pony by Jeanne Betancourt
Pony Pals: I Want a Pony by Jeanne Betancourt
Pony Pals: Wild Pony by Jeanne Betancourt
The Real Thief by William Steig
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
A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith
Teacher’s Pet by Johanna Hurwitz
Trouble for Lucy by Carla Stevens
The Twits by Roald Dahl
Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishman