Quincy Public Schools Summer Reading

Suggested Reading List for
Grades 4 and 5

Children are encouraged to read anything at their reading level. The lists are only suggestions and examples. Many of the books may be out being enjoyed by another reader but don't panic--simply place a hold or choose another book.

Many of the books on these lists can be checked out of the library in Quincy and many of them are also owned by other South Shore libraries in the Old Colony Library Network. If the book you want is checked out, you can place a hold on it either at the library or online. Click on the blue underlined titles to check availability in the library catalog.

The following titles and authors are suggestions only. Feel free to substitute any books of your choice.

Historical Fiction/Nonfiction History (900s)

The Wall - Sis, P.
Royal Bee - Park, F.
Circle Unbroken - Raven, M.
Coming on Home Soon - Woodson, J.
George vs. George - Schanzer, R.
The Cats in Krasinski Square - Hesse, K.
Remember: The Journey to School Integration - Morrison, T.
Passage to Freedom - Mochizuki, K.
Gladiator - Watkins, R.
Incredible Story of China's Buried Warriors - Patent, D.
Greatest Skating Race - Borden, L.
Let It Begin Here - Fradin, D.B.
Elijah of Buxton - Curtis, C.

Mystery Fiction/True Crime and Detectives (363s)

The Big House - Coman, C.
The Little Gentleman - Pearce, P.
Merlin and the Making of the King - Hodges
Sebastian Super Sleuth (series) - Christian, Mary Blount
History Mysteries (series) - various
Paint by Magic - Reiss, K.
Mystery of the Loch Ness Monster - Wallace, E.
Strange Mysteries from Around the World - Simon, S.
Hindenburg - O'Brien, P.
Ghosts of the Deep - Cohen, D.
The Last Resort - Lewis, J.P.
The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen - Anderson
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Selznick

Science Fiction/Planets or Space (520s or 620s)

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo II on the Moon - Park, F.
Time Warp Trio (series) - Scieszka, J.
Destination Space - Simon, S.
Living on Mars - Cole, M.
Ultimate Field Trip 5: Blasting Off to Space Academy - Goodman, S.
Life on Mars - Getz, D.
Tarantula Scientist - Montgomery, S.
Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide - DiTerlizzi, T.
Eager - Fox

Poetry

Love that Dog - Creech, S.
Toasting Marshmallows - George, K.
Awful Ogre's Awful Day - Prelutsky, J.
Grass Sandals and the Travels of Basho - Spivak, D.
Outside the Lines: Poetry at Play - Burg, B.
Meet Danitra Brown - Grimes, N.
Splash! Poems of Our Watery World - Levy, C.
Pieces, A Year in Poems & Quilts - Hines, A.
Science Verse - Scieszka, J.
Ellington Was Not a Street - Shange, N.
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems - Sidman, J.
She's All That: Poems About Girls - Hollyer
Good Sports: Rhymes About Running, Jumping, Throwing and More - Prelutsky

Adventure/ Explorers (910s)

Climb or Die - Myers, E.
True Adventure of Daniel Hall - Stanley, D.
Spirit of Endurance - Armstrong, J.
A Week in the Woods - Clements, A.
The Crow Girl - Bredsdorff, B.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman - Grimes

Sports / Sports nonfiction (790s)

Broadway Ball Players (series) - Holohan, M.
Owen Foote Soccer Star - Greene, S.
Brad and Butter Play Ball - Hughes, D.
Whole New Ball Game - Macy, S.
Baseball in the Barrios - Horenstein, H.
Haunting at Home Plate - Patneaude, D.
Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy - Bildner, P.
Swifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics - Macy
Aurora County All-Stars - Wiles

Award Winning Authors

Andrew Clements
Jack Gantos
Patricia and Fredrick McKissack
Linda Sue Park
Christopher Paul Curtis
Brian Selznick
Jim Murphy
Sharon Creech
Jean Fritz
Kate DiCamillo
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Realistic Fiction/General Nonfiction

No Talking - Clements, A.
Everything on a Waffle - Horvath, P.
Leonardo's Horse - Fritz, J.
Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins - Kerley, D.
The Year of Miss Agnes - Hill, K.
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia - O'Connor, B.
Shredderman (series) - Van Draanan, W.
Empire State Building - Mann, E.
Beneath the Streets of Boston - McKendry, J.
Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship - Hatkoff

Biography

Michelangelo - Stanley, D.
Into the Woods - Burleigh, R.
Mighty Jackie: The Strike Out Queen - Moss, M.
26 Fairmont Avenue - DePaola, T.
A Woman for President - Krull, K.
The Journey that Saved Curious George - Borden, L.
Shake, Rattle & Roll, the Founders of Rock & Roll - George-Warren, H.
Su Dongpo: Chinese Genius - Demi
Chief: The Life of Peter J. Ganci, A NYC Firef ighter - Ganci
Heroes of the Revolution - Adler, D.
Through my Eyes - Bridges, R.

Fantasy/Folks and Fairy Tales (398s) and Mythology (290s)

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection - Campoy
Tartan Magic (series) - Yolen, Jane
Wizard's Hall - Yolen, J.
Book of Goddesses - Waldherr, K.
Not One Damsel in Distress - Yolen, J.
Even More Short and Shivery - SanSouci, R.
Children of the Dragon - Garland, S.
Series of Unfortunate Events - Snicket, Lemony
Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!: A Palestinian Folktale - MacDonald