5th Grade
Dear Rising 5th Grade Students:
Reading, and specifically reading comprehension, is an acquired skill. This means that practice makes
perfect! That being said, taking three months during the summer to practice your reading and reading
comprehension skills will greatly benefit you when school starts next fall.
The following is a list of summer reading for incoming 5th grade students. There is one book that all
students are required to read and then the students must read at least one book from the choice list. I do have
copies of some of the books listed below. Please complete one assessment (from choice of 4) for each book read.
Rising 5th Graders:
Required Book:
Dear Mr. Henshaw (Beverly Cleary) – Required (copies available from Mrs. Biren, please checkout)
Choose one of the following:
 Frindle by Andrew Clements
When he decides to turn his fifth-grade teacher's love of the dictionary around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a
new word and begins a chain of events that quickly moves beyond his control.

Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda Wormwood started reading books at the age of four, but her crooked father and bingo-playing mother
regard book reading as a waste of time -- and much prefer watching TV. In fact, they take no notice of their genius
daughter at all! Only Miss Honey, Matilda's lovely and gentle teacher, recognizes her special gifts.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Eleven-year-old Marty Preston loves to spend time up in the hills behind his home near Friendly, West Virginia.
Sometimes he takes his .22 rifle to see what he can shoot, like some cans lined up on a rail fence. Other times he
goes up early in the morning just to sit and watch the fox and deer. But one summer Sunday, Marty comes across
something different on the road just past the old Shiloh schoolhouses -- a young beagle -- and the trouble begins.

Chocolate Fever by Robert K. Smith
Henry Green is a boy who loves chocolate. He likes it bitter, sweet, dark, light, and daily; for breakfast, lunch,
dinner, and snacks; in cakes, candy bars, milk, and every other form you can possibly imagine. Henry probably
loves chocolate more than any boy in the history of the world. One day-it starts off like any other day-Henry finds
that strange things are happening to him. First he makes medical history with the only case of Chocolate Fever ever.
Then he finds himself caught up in a wild and hilarious chase, climaxed by a very unusual hijacking!

Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements
A fifth grade class, repelled by the overweight new student who has serious home problems, finally learns to accept
her.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius-and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis
doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't
the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
The story takes place in Florida, where new arrival Roy makes two oddball friends and a bad enemy, and joins an
effort to stop construction of a pancake house which would destroy a colony of burrowing owls who live on the site.

Superfudge by Judy Bloom
Peter describes the highs and lows of life with his younger brother Fudge.
Assessment: For each book you read, please choose one project from the list on the back. Choose a different
project for each book. All projects can either be dropped at school or emailed to me at
[email protected]. All projects are due by August 15, 2016.
Mrs. Biren
5th Grade
Summer Reading Final Project
Using what you have read, select one project to complete as your final project for this book. This
project is meant to convey your overall understanding of this novel.
1. Sequel: Write a sequel to this book. Support your sequel with characters, events and
information from this book. (Minimum of one page, Times New Roman 12 pt. Font, double
spaced)
2. Letter to the Author: In your letter, share your thoughts and reflections on the book. Did
you like it? Why or why not? Use information from the book to support your answer. You can
pose questions to the author if you feel there is additional information that should have been
included in the book. (Minimum of one page, Times New Roman 12 pt. Font, double spaced)
3. News Article: Write a news article about an important event from the book. Remember, you
must write in complete sentences. (Minimum of one page, Times New Roman 12 pt. Font, double
spaced)
4. 100 Years Old: Explain why you think this book will or will not be read 100 years from now.
Support your opinion by stating specific events/facts from the book. (Minimum of one page,
Times New Roman 12 pt. Font, double spaced)