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Reading Up
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.”
Most of the reading levels were determined using Lexile scores and Microsoft Word’s Readability Check and Lexile scores. 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.
3rd/4th Grade Reading Level
- Averill
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j AVERILLA 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.
- DiCamillo
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j DICAMILLOOpal’s life changes for the better when she adopts a big ugly dog outside the grocery store.
- Enright
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j ENRIGHTFour 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.
- Gilson
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j GILSONRichard 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.
- Kelly
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j KELLYEight-year-old Lucy Rose keeps a diary of her first year in Washington, D.C., her home since her parents’ separation.
- Look
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jE Reader 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.
- McCully
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jB-Kn7445m 2006 Beginning FactsMattie 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.
- Rex
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j811.6 R455f 2006The author tells stories in verse about the monster-sized problems of Dracula, Wolfman, Bigfoot and others.
- Rylant
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j RYLANTWhile 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.
- Siebert
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j811.5 S571t 2006From the Washington Monument to Mount St. Helens, Siebert's latest poetry collection celebrates sights and structures unique to the United States.
- Taylor
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j TAYLORThe 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.
- Winter
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j788.92 G478w 2006 Beginning FactsThis is the story of Dizzy Gillespie, a trumpet player, who created a whole new kind of music: bebop.
5th/6th Grade Reading Level
- Armstrong
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j ARMSTRONGWhittington, 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.
- Cleary
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j CLEARYA reckless young mouse makes friends with a boy and discovers the joys of motorcycling.
- Creech
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j CREECHTwelve-year-old Rosie works out problems in her best friendship with some help from her grandmother.
- Eager
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j EAGERFour children enjoy a series of fantastic adventures by double wishing on an ancient coin.
- Kurlansky
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j553.632 K96ss 2006Learn 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.
- Leda
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j792.84 S384b 2006This is the story of how Circus Polka, a dance of 50 elephants and 50 ballerinas, choreographed by George Balanchine, was created.
- Naylor
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j NAYLORRoxie 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.
- McCloskey
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j MCCLOSKEYThese 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.
- Morgenstern
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j MORGENSTEThe 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.
- Pringle
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j917.8 P957a 2006This illustrated biography celebrates the heroic role of Clark's personal slave on the famous expedition out west in 1804.
- Raskin
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j RASKINThe 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.
- Scieszka
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j SCIESZKAAfter 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.
- Thimmesh
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j629.454 T443t 2006From 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.
- Zoehfeld
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j590.73 Z85w 2006Read about the fascinating history of the Bronx Zoo.
7th/8th Grade Reading Level
- Armstrong
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j973 A736a 2006Enjoy the 100 brief stories about real people and occurrences in American history, arranged in chronological order by year from 1565 to 2000.
- Birdsall
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j BIRDSALLFour 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.
- Fleischman
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jB-H836fL 2006Profiling 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.
- Freedman
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j323.1196 F853f 2006Discover the key personalities and events that contributed to the yearlong struggle which resulted in a major victory in the civil rights movement.
- Hopkinson
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j331 H797u 2006Discover the importance of cotton in America's history and learn about the lives of people who picked it and worked with it.
- Juster
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j JUSTERA journey through a land where Milo learns the importance of words and numbers provides a cure for his boredom.
- Levine
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j LEVINEIn this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
- Lipsyte
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j796.357 L767h 2005Meet 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.
- Montgomery
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j MONTGOMER, y MONTGOMERAnne, an adventurous young orphan, goes to live on a farm with an elderly brother and sister and makes an incredible impression on everyone around her.
- Pullman
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j PULLMANA young boy in a coachman’s outfit causes a stir in London when he insists he was a rat.
- Walker
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j973.757 W184s 2005Examines 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.
- Wrede
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j WREDEBored with palace life, Princess Cimorene joins a group of dragons and soon becomes involved in fighting some disreputable wizards.
- Yee
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j YEEThrough 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.