4th Grade Summer Reading List - Atlanta Public Schools

1. Finn McCool and the Great Fish; Eve BuntingIn Ireland, Finn is a generous, kind-hearted giant who helps his friends. He is well-loved by hisfriends, but they don’t think he is very smart. Finn must find a special great fish that will helphim gain wisdom.2. Drizzle; Kathleen Van CleveCan Polly find the power to save the farm—and her family—before it’s too late? This comingof-agenovel will enthrall readers who love magic.3. The Contest: Everest #1; Gordon KormanIn The Contest, the first installment of Gordon Korman's Everest trilogy, 20 young mountaineersvie for four spots on Summit Quest — the world's youngest team to ascend Mt. Everest. Asclimbers are cut from the team, tensions build; personalities clash and the remaining hopefulsstruggle to deal with their own fears and weaknesses. This gripping story will have readersholding their breath — especially since we know from the prologue that one of the climbersdoesn't make it off the mountain.4. The Cricket in Times Square; George SeldenThe Cricket in Times Square has been initiating bookworms since 1960 and shows no sign ofstopping. These days, fantasy-series books rule the bookshelves, yet this quiet tale of friendshipendures. Chester Cricket, Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat meet at a newsstand in a New Yorksubway station when a lonely little boy, Mario Bellini, finds the cricket in a pile of trash. Hedecides to keep Chester as a pet, and a series of adventures follow. Perfect for a quiet read on along trip this summer.5. Crickwing; Janell CannonCrickwing never set out to be a bully--he wanted only to create his art in peace. But the littlecockroach is an easy target for the bigger creatures in the forest. In his frustration he decides toeven the score by bullying the leafcutter ants. They're just so easy to pick on. Big mistake."Nobody "angers the leafcutter queen and gets away with it..6. The Misadventures of Maude March; Audrey CouloumbisEleven-year-old Sallie March is a whip-smart tomboy and voracious reader of Western adventurenovels. When she and her sister, Maude, are orphaned for the "second "time, they decide toescape their new self-serving guardians for the wilds of the frontier and an adventure the likes ofwhich Sallie has only read about. This time, however, the wanted woman isn’ t a villain out of adime novel– it’ s Sallie’ s very own sister!7. Pirateology; Dugald A. SteerThe richly detailed Pirateology (the latest of the popular 'Ology books) is a standout amongpirate merchandise, and a treat for both children and adults. This hefty volume centers on thesearch for treasure left by the "notorious" (i.e., fictional) pirate Arabella Drummond and comeswith a host of pirate gear: a compass, maps and scraps of flags, among others. Another notableSummer 2012

feature is that the pirate pursued here is female, making this book appeal to readers of bothgenders.8. The Quest Begins: Seekers #1; Erin HunterErin Hunter, author of the popular Warriors series, brings us a new series to love. The QuestBegins follows three young bears — a polar bear named Kallik, a black bear named Lusa and agrizzly named Toklo — whose stories begin to connect when they're all separated from theirfamilies. This first Seekers book is a compelling read. Hunter has definitely started enoughthreads to weave a richly detailed, adventurous series.9. Beezus and Ramona; Beverly ClearyRamona Quimby is the youngest of all the famous characters in Mrs. Cleary's wonderful HenryHuggins stories. She is also far and away the most deadly. Readers of the earlier books willremember that Ramona has always been a menace to Beezus, her older sister, to Henry, and tohis dog Ribsy. It is not that Ramona deliberately sets out to make trouble for other people. Shesimply has more imagination than is healthy for any one person.10. The Great Brain; John F. FitzgeraldThe best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silvertonguedgenius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost in SkeletonCave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it's saving the kids at school, or helping out PeglegAndy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on topand line his pockets in the process.11. James and the Giant Peach; Roald DahlFirst published in 1961, James and the Giant Peach remains a favorite for young readers almost40 years later. In it, young James Henry Trotter loses his parents and is forced to live with hisevil aunts. Luckily, he is given magic crystals, which he accidentally spills on his aunts' decrepitpeach tree. One of the peaches begins to grow, and grow, and grow. Finally, James climbs intothe peach and it rolls away from his aunts' yard and his miserably lonely life. With the giantpeach, he begins a new life, making friends along the way with hilarious characters like theGrasshopper and the Earthworm.12. Jumanji; Chris Van AllsburgPeter and Judy have an adventurous afternoon after finding a game lying under a tree in the park.They get much more than they bargained for when they experience a lion on top of the piano,monkeys in the kitchen, and hot lava in the living room. Van Allsburg's artistry is top notch asthe children's predicament gets more and more fantastic. The sculptured drawings and playbetween shadow and light demonstrate how a regular house can transform into a raging jungle.Jumanji was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and winner of the 1982 Caldecott Medal.13. Shiloh; Phyllis Reynolds NaylorNothing is simple in this taut, unforgettable drama. Kids love this edge-of-the-seat story of a boygoing up against a really scary mean man to protect an abused dog. Newbery Medal Winner.14. The Boy Who Painted Dragons; DemiIt's the story of Ping, a talented young boy who secretly fears the dragons whose images heSummer 2012

paints. As he attempts to hide his fear, he covers every possible surface with brilliant goldendragons. When asked why he paints them, Ping lies and says, "Because I love dragons!" Thebook reads like an ancient folktale, carrying timeless messages about inner strength and facingone's fears.15. Magyk: Septimus Heap Book One; Angie SageThe seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born bya midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comesacross a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take thishelpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is thismysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?16. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane; Kate DiCamilloA timeless tale honors the enduring power of love. "Someone will come for you, but first youmust open your heart. . . ." Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit namedEdward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was ownedby a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. Andthen, one day, he was lost17. Walter, the Story of a Rat; Barbara WersbaWalter is a lonely but literate rat. He lives in the home of Miss Pomeroy, an elderly, reclusivechildren's book author. A quiet friendship develops between the writer and this furry reader asthey pen notes back and forth.18. Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue; Julius LesterEmma cares for Mr. Butlers' daughters and has been promised that she will never be sold as aslave. When he breaks his promise and sells her on auction day, Emma runs away, gets marriedand eventually gains her freedom in Canada.19. Homesick; Jean FritzCelebrated children's author Jean Fritz turns her eye on her own childhood. Born in China ofAmerican parents, young Jean feels torn between her homesickness for the America of hergrandmother's letters and the devout love she feels for the Chinese people and their culture.20. Circle of Doom; Tim KennemoreThis book is a wonderful combination - ludicrously funny and touching. The Sharp children livein Cleve Cottage at the end of Cleve Road. Lizzie, the eldest, is 13, Dan is 10, and Max is 7.When their only neighbors, the ancient Potwards, complain and ruin her birthday party, Lizziedecides to become a witch and cast a spell on them.21. The Not-Just-Anybody Family; Betsy ByarsThe Blossoms are not an ordinary family. With a mother who is a rodeo trick rider, a grandfatherwho innocently manages to scare the local citizenry and get himself arrested, and a dog whowears a red bandana - not to mention a boy who thinks he can fly - it is not surprising that theBlossoms attract misadventures..22. Sideways Stories from Wayside School; Louis SacharOn the 30th floor of the wacky Wayside School is Mrs. Jewl's class. Sharie falls asleep and rollsSummer 2012

out the window. Joe counts all wrong and gets the right answer. Calvin is sent to the 19th floor todeliver a note, but there is no 19th floor - the builder forgot it. This nutty world is built on thesort of playful twists of logic that kids love.23. The Boy of a Thousand Faces; Brian SelznickTen-year-old Alonzo King is an expert about monster movies. He spends hours with Scotch tapeand makeup trying to master his beloved monster faces in the mirror. When a mysterious beast isrumored to be stomping on flower beds and scratching up cars, Alonzo is called on for hismonster expertise.24. Edgar & Ellen Under Town; Chris OgdenThe cover art on this book immediately draws children's attention. The concept of twins and themystery of a prankster draw students into the story plot.25. The Missing ‘Gator of Gumbo Limbo: An Eco Mystery; Jean Craighead GeorgeLiza and her mother are seeking refuge in Gumbo Limbo, a lush hammock of trees in the FloridaEverglades. Also in residence is Dajun the alligator, caretaker of this precious ecosystem. WhenDajun is seen as a threat to the nearby condos in development, he is ordered killed and Lizabecomes determined to keep him safe at any cost.26. Murder, My Tweet: A Chet Gecko Mystery; Bruce HaleChet Gecko plunges into another troublesome case when his mockingbird sidekick, Natalie, issuspended for a crime she didn't commit. Bullying, blackmail, and tongue-in-cheek humor runrampant at Emerson Hickey Elementary in this 10th installment of these private-eye mysteries.27. Do the Funky Pickle; Jerry SpinelliEddie Mott has been in love with his friend Sunny from the first time he met her. The schooldance is coming up and he has asked his friends Pickles and Salem for help. This hilarious storydescribes Eddie's varied and unsuccessful attempts to get Sunny to notice him, while avoidingAngelpuss and her boyfriend Weasel, a tough and nasty eighth-grader, whose attention Eddie'santics has attracted.28. Love that Dog; Sharon CreechA young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what differentfamous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem.29. Lunch Money; Andrew ClementsWhen sixth-grader Greg Kenton decides to make money by selling his homemade comics, hisprincipal has something to say about it. During his appeal to the School Committee, Gregdiscovers that business can be tough!30. Sahara Special; Esme CodellThere are two files on Sahara Jones. The one the school counselor keeps is evidence that she's afifth-grader who needs special education. The other is the book Sahara is secretly writing, herHeart-Wrenching Life Story and Amazing Adventures. The latest chapter in her book unfoldswhen her mother insists that she be taken out of special ed. Miss Pointy, the new fifth-gradeteacher with strange subjects such as "Puzzling" and "Time Travel," is like no other teacherSummer 2012

Sahara has ever known. Through Miss Pointy's unusual teaching, storytelling, and quiet support,Sahara finds the courage to overcome her fears and prove which file shows her true self.31. The School Story; Andrew ClementsIn this enjoyable and original novel by the author of Frindle, a 12-year-old girl writes a book,and then she and her friend pretend to be adults in order to get it published.32. There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom; Louis SacharBradley Chalkers, a fifth grader at the Red Hill School, has trouble getting along with hisclassmates until he meets Carla, a new school counselor. She not only listens to his wackystories, but encourages him to use his powerful imagination. But just when Bradley's socialworld begins to broaden, the school board decides to let Carla go. What will happen to Bradleynow?For additional age appropriate reading, please see thefollowing websites…• Association for Library Service to Children, 2012 Notable Children’s Bookshttp://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=1944&gps=106_9_1024_743&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/index.cfm• Especially for Boys Book Reviewshttp://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=51&gps=323_7_1024_743&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.stcharleslibrary.org/ygtrt/default.asp%3FCategory%3D6%26grs%3D0%26gre%3D9%26Page%3D1• Great Books for Boyshttp://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=138&gps=88_11_1024_743&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//classic.slcpl.org/good_reads.jsp%3Fparent_id%3D291%26page_id%3D306• Horn Book Summer Reading Lists for Kidshttp://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=21&gps=180_9_1024_743&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//archive.hbook.com/resources/books/summer.aspSummer 2012