Kids > Book Center > Booklists > Reading Up: Books for Children Reading Above Grade Level
Reading Up: Books for Children Reading Above Grade Level
This list suggest books for children whose reading level is higher than their grade level. For example, if your second grader reads at a fourth grade level, use the section labeled “3th/4th Grade Reading Level.”
*part of a series
3rd/4th Grade Reading Level
Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill- A black cat named Jenny Linsky lives with Captain Tinker in New York City and has adventures with neighborhood cats that have formed the Cat Club.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo- Opal’s life changes for the better when she adopts a big ugly dog outside the grocery store.
The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright - Four New York City siblings decide to pool their resources so that each can do a special thing on the Saturday that is his or her turn to receive the combined allowance.
Gotcha! by Jamie Gilson- Richard loves learning about spiders in Mrs. Zookey’s class, but he isn’t as happy to be paired up with Patrick the Pest on their field trip.
Lucy Rose, Here’s the Thing About Me by Katy Kelly- Eight-year-old Lucy Rose keeps a diary of her first year in Washington, D.C., her home since her parents’ separation.
Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look- "Almost-eight-year-old" Ruby Lu spends time with her baby brother, goes to Chinese school, performs magic tricks and learns to drive, and has adventures with both old and new friends.
Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully
- Mattie Knight loved to make things, from a foot warmer for her mother to toys for her older brothers. Later, Mattie invented a machine that could cut and glue the square-bottomed paper bags we still use today.
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex- The author tells stories in verse about the monster-sized problems of Dracula, Wolfman, Bigfoot and others.
*In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant- While staying with their aunt for a year, three 9-year-old cousins keep busy with a cookie-baking business, presenting a show, and trying to encourage romance between their aunt and one of their cookie customers.
Tour America: A Journey Through Poems and Art by Diane Siebert- From the Washington Monument to Mount St. Helens, Siebert's latest poetry collection celebrates sights and structures unique to the United States.
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor- The Taylor family has little money, but life is rich for the five mischievous sisters growing up in New York on the eve of World War I.
Dizzy by Jonah Winter- This is the story of Dizzy Gillespie, a trumpet player, who created a whole new kind of music: bebop.
5th/6th Grade Reading Level
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Whittington by Alan Armstrong - Whittington, a descendant of Dick Whittington’s famous cat of English lore, appears in a barnyard and makes himself useful as both a ratter and an entertainer as he tells the story of his famous ancestor to the animals and two children.
*The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary- A reckless young mouse makes friends with a boy and discovers the joys of motorcycling.
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech - Twelve-year-old Rosie works out problems in her best friendship with some help from her grandmother.
*Half Magic by Edward Eager - Four children enjoy a series of fantastic adventures by double wishing on an ancient coin.
The Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky- Learn about the only rock we eat, its origins and the other discoveries made because of it, and read tales of salt and the people who have been involved with it through the ages.
Ballet of the Elephants by Leda Schubert- This is the story of how Circus Polka, a dance of 50 elephants and 50 ballerinas, choreographed by George Balanchine, was created.
Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor- Roxie Warbler finally has the opportunity to use her Uncle Dangerfoot’s advice on how to survive any crisis when she finds herself stranded on an island with the school bullies and two bank robbers.
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey - These six episodes in the life of Homer Price include one in which he and his pet skunk capture four bandits and another about a donut machine on the rampage.
The Book of Coupons by Susie Morgenstern- The unconventional Monsieur Noel, the new eighth grade teacher, gives his students coupon books for things like sleeping late and making noise in class, which are bound to get him in trouble with the principal.
American Slave, American Hero: York of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by Laurence Pringle- This illustrated biography celebrates the heroic role of Clark's personal slave on the famous expedition out west in 1804.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin- The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance.
*Oh, Say I Can’t See by Jon Scieszka- After arriving in Pennsylvania during the winter of 1776, time travelers Joe, Fred and Samantha inspire General George Washington, "the man on the one dollar bill," to carry out a surprise attack on Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey, that will change the course of the Revolutionary War.
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh - From direct quotes from the people behind the scenes, NASA transcripts, national archives and NASA photos, the whole story of Apollo 11 and the first moon landing emerges.
Wild Lives: A History of the People & Animals of the Bronx Zoo by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld- Read about the fascinating history of the Bronx Zoo.
The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong- Enjoy the 100 brief stories about real people and occurrences in American history, arranged in chronological order by year from 1565 to 2000.
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall- Four sisters, ages 4 to 12, spend the summer with their father (and very large dog) in a cottage and share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman- Profiling his early years, personal life, and great accomplishments in show business, the story of the famous magician, Harry Houdini, comes to life through a review of his greatest tricks and most amazing feats.
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman- Discover the key personalities and events that contributed to the yearlong struggle which resulted in a major victory in the civil rights movement.
Up Before Daybreak: Cotton and People in America by Deborah Hopkinson- Discover the importance of cotton in America's history and learn about the lives of people who picked it and worked with it.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster- A journey through a land where Milo learns the importance of words and numbers provides a cure for his boredom.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine- In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
Heroes of Baseball: The Men Who Made It America’s Favorite Game by Robert Lipsyte - Meet the men who were and remain the heroes of baseball. These are men who did more than hit home runs or pitch perfect games — they changed the way our society perceives itself, and the goals we set for ourselves and our nation.
*Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - Anne, an adventurous young orphan, goes to live on a farm with an elderly brother and sister and makes an indelible impression on everyone around her.
I Was a Rat! by Philip Pullman- A young boy in a coachman’s outfit causes a stir in London when he insists he was a rat.
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine by Sally M. Walker- Examines the construction and first mission of a Civil War submarine, and then its discovery and the mystery surrounding its disappearance more than 100 years later.
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede- Bored with palace life, Princess Cimorene joins a group of dragons and soon becomes involved in fighting some disreputable wizards.
Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee- Through journal entries, 11-year-old Millicent tells of her struggles with playing volleyball, making friends, tutoring her enemy, and coping with her grandmother’s departure.
7th/8th Grade Reading Level
Most of the reading levels were determined using Lexile scores and Microsoft Word’s Readability Check.
Readability is one consideration when selecting a book. Many factors, such as content, age of the reader, interest, appropriateness of the text and text difficulty affect the suitability of a book for a child reader. While librarians and resource lists provide guidance, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child.
