Kids > Book Center > Booklists > Shorter Books for Taller Readers Grades 4–5
Shorter Books for Taller Readers Grades 4–5
Use this booklist to find fun, quick books to read. Each book's reading level is included at the end of the description.
The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet by Tony Abbott- Eric, Julie and Neal have just found something amazing in Eric's basement — a staircase to another world! Secrets of Droon #1.
- Reading level: 3
A Bear for Miguel by Elaine Marie Alphin- In war-torn El Salvador, Maria and her family must barter their possessions for food. Left in charge at the market, Maria is brave, even trading a precious item of her own.
- Reading level: 2.5
Snoopy: Flying Ace to the Rescue by Darice Bailer- Snoopy imagines himself chasing the German World War I pilot, the Red Baron.
- Reading level: 2
Little Rat Sets Sail by Monika Bang-Campbell- With a little courage and a lot of practice, Little Rat overcomes her fear of sailing.
- Reading level: 3.5
Pish and Posh by Barbara Bottner- When Pish and Posh discover fairy magic, they face a series of wacky surprises.
- Reading level: 3
Stanley, Flat Again! by Jeff Brown- After Stanley Lambchop goes flat once again, he uses his flatness to help win a sailboat race and to rescue a classmate from a collapsed building.
- Reading level: 3.5
Snowboarding on Monster Mountain by Eve Bunting- Callie tries to hide her extreme fear of heights on a snowboarding trip to Mammoth Mountain with best friend Jen.
- Reading level: 3.5
Animal Trunk: Silly Poems to Read Aloud by Charles Ghigna- "It's easy to laugh, at the tall giraffe." This collection of short poems captures the personalities of different animals, from crocodiles to monkeys to goats.
- Reading level: 2
One Smooth Move by Matt Christopher- When his family moves into his grandmother's old house, Charlie meets another boy who likes to skateboard, but then finds that his own special skateboard is missing.
- Reading level: 3.5
Emma's Strange Pet by Jean Little- Emma is allergic to animals with fur, but because she and her adopted brother Max really want a pet, they decide to try a lizard.
- Reading level: 2
The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little- Tells how the Greeks used a wooden horse to win the Trojan War.
- Reading level: 3.5
The Bookstore Burglar by Barbara Maitland- Mr. Brown has a bookstore. But this is not just any old bookstore: This one is haunted by ghosts.
- Reading level: 2
The New Kid at School by Kate McMullan-
Wiglaf is off to Dragon Slayers' Academy, little knowing they will ask him to slay a dragon on his first day of school! Can you slay a dragon with bad jokes?
- Reading level: 3.5
See Pip Point by David Milgrim- When Pip the mouse floats off with Otto the robot's balloon, Otto and Zee the Bee go to the rescue.
- Reading level: 1.5
The Drinking Gourd by F. N. Monjo- Sent home alone for misbehaving in church, Tommy discovers that his house is a station for the underground railroad.
- Reading level: 3
Stuart's Cape by Sara Pennypacker - Stuart is totally bored — until he makes a cape out of 100 old neckties and begins having weird adventures, like flying (but he can't land!) and growing toast.
- Reading level: 3
Mush, a Dog from Space by Daniel Pinkwater- Kelly, who has wanted a pet dog for a long time, runs into a highly educated, mushamute dog from the planet Growf-Woof-Woof.
- Reading level: 3
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell- Billy bet he could eat 15 worms in 15 days! The worms are readily supplied by his opponent, whose motto seems to be the bigger and juicier the better!
- Reading level: 3.5
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar- Read funny episodes from the classroom on the 30th floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.
- Reading level: 3.5
When Everybody Wore a Hat by William Steig- The author tells about what life was like when he was a boy, almost 100 years ago.
- Reading level: 2.5
The Viper by Lisa Thiesing- Peggy receives a mysterious call from the Viper, who warns that he is coming her way!
- Reading level: 1.5
Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace by Shelley Moore Thomas- Shows people all over the world helping to bring about peace by doing things to help and care for one another and our world.
- Reading level: 2.5
The Emperor's Birthday Suit by Cindy Wheeler- The Emperor loves new clothes and for his birthday two clever tailors make him a new suit. Find out what the Emperor ends up wearing.
- Reading level: 3
First Day on a Strange New Planet by Dan Yaccarino- Johnny Smith, a student from Earth, and Blorp Glorp, a student from the newly discovered planet Meep, change places.
- Reading level: 3.5
Commander Toad and the Big Black Hole by Jane Yolen- The space ship Star Warts encounters a black hole that threatens the ship with doom.
- Reading level: 3
