Howell Township Schools
Summer Reading List
2015
Students entering Kindergarten through Grade 2 in
September 2015
“There are many little ways to enlarge your
child's world. Love of books is the best of
all.” Jacqueline Kennedy
follow us on Instagram for book recommendations at
@howellreads
www.howell.k12.nj.us
New Literature
Darth Vader and Son by Jeffery Brown What if Darth Vader took an active role
in raising his son? In this hilarious and sweet comic, Darth Vader is a dad like any other
– except with all the baggage of being the Dark Lord of the Sith. Perfect for your little
Star Wars lover!
Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon As the youngest in her family, Dory really
wants attention, and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her.
But she’s too much of a baby for them, so she’s left to her own devices – including her
wild imagination and untiring energy.
Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood With a little help from her
fairy godrobot, Cinderella is going to the ball. But when the prince’s ship has mechanical
trouble, someone will have to zoom to the rescue!
The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse by Patricia
MacLachlan If you were a boy named Henri Matisse who lived in a dreary town in
northern France, what would your life be like? Would it be full of color and art? Full of
lines and dancing figures? Find out in this beautiful, unusual picture book about one of
the world’s most famous and influential artists.
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown Are you bored with being so proper? Do
you want to have more fun? Mr. Tiger knows exactly how you feel. So he decides to go
wild. But does he go too far? F&P Guided Reading: I
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty Rosie may seem quiet during the day,
but at night, she’s brilliant inventor of gizmos and gadgets who dreams of becoming a
great engineer.
Sebastian and the Balloon by Philip C. Stead On a boring day, on a dull street,
Sebastian sat high atop his roof – something he was never supposed to do. When he
launched himself into the air in his balloon, his journey took on a life of its own, and his
boring day turned into the adventure of a lifetime.
Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation
with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone
return the favor?
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach A delicious tale of a
bear, lost in the city, who happens upon an unattended sandwich in the park. The bear’s
journey from forest to city and back home again is full of happy accidents, funny
encounters, and sensory delights. F & P Guided Reading Level: L
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak You might think a book with no
pictures seems boring and serious. Except…here’s how books work. Everything written
on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say…
BLORK or BLUURF.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt Poor Duncan just wants to color.
But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing:
His crayons have had enough! They quit!
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale Who says princesses don’t wear black?
When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses
and becomes the Princess in Black! F & P Guided Reading Level: L
What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada This is the story of one
brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child’s confidence
grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens.
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Non-Fiction
Ben Frankin’s Big Splash by Barb Rosenstock Ben Franklin loved to swim
and, at the age of eleven, he was determined to swim like a fish – fins and all! This
fascinating and lively account of young Ben’s earliest invention follows the budding
scientist’s journey as he tests and retests his swim fins.
* Earmuffs for Everyone by Meghan McCarthy As a young boy, Chester
Greenwood went from having cold ears to becoming a great inventor in this nonfiction
picture book.
* Author Meghan McCarthy visited Ramtown School in Howell this year!
Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package by Robin Page Hatching a plan for survival
isn’t always easy in the wild. And how animals lay, protect, and even use each other’s
eggs as a food source help reveal the life cycle of the natural world.
Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins For most animals,
eyes are the most important source of information about the world in a biological sense.
Animals have evolved an amazing variety of eyes, along with often surprising ways to
use them.
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s
Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy A few miles from San Francisco lives a
population of the ocean’s largest and most famous predators. Massive, fast, and perfectly
adapted to hunting after 11 million years of evolution, the great whites are among the
planet’s most fearsome, fascinating, and least understood animals.
Papa is a Poet: A Story About Robert Frost by Natalie S. Bober When
Robert Frost was a child, his family thought he would grow up to be a baseball player.
Instead, he became a poet. This is the story of how a lover of language found his voice.
Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter When she returns to her
childhood home in Kenya and sees that the whole forest around her village is being cut
down, courageous and determined Wangari starts planting trees in her own backyard and
ends up in the midst of a movement that is respected around the world.
A Few Classic Chapter Books to Read Aloud to Your Child
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Catwings by Ursula K. LeGuin
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Fantastic Mr. Fox or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
For more information on Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) Guided Reading Levels,
please visit:
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/book-selectiontips/parents-guide-to-guided-reading
FAVORITE SERIES
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Biscuit – A. Cappucilli
Froggy – J. London
Chicka, Chicka – B. Martin
Kipper – M. Inkpen
Clifford – N. Bridwell
Little Miss Spider – D. Kirk
Elmer – D. McKee
Mercy Watson – K. DiCamillo
Fancy Nancy – J. O’Connor
Miss Bindergarten – J. Slate
Franklin – P. Bourgeois
Llama, Llama – Ann Dewdney
Olivia – Ian Falconer
Pete the Cat – Eric Litwin
If You Give – Laura Numeroff
Splat the Cat- Rob Scotton
Knuffle Bunny Series – Mo Willems National Geographic Readers Series
FAVORITE AUTHORS
Brett, Jan
Henkes, Kevin
Parr, Todd
Bunting, Eve
Hoban, Tana
Polacco, Patricia
Carle, Eric
Hutchins, Pat
Rylant, Cynthia
Cronin, Doreen
Leonni, Leo
Dr. Seuss
Ehlert, Lois
Lobel, Arnold
Shannon, David
Fleming, Denise
Martin, Bill
Willems, Mo
Fox, Mem
McPhail, David
Wilson, Karma
2015 Award Winners
For Younger Readers
Caldecott Award Medal:
The Adventures of Beekle: the Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Caldecott Honor Books:
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Mary
GrandPre
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
Geisel Award:
You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang
Geisel Honor Books:
Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant
Waiting is Not Easy! By Mo Willems
2015 Children’s Choice Award Titles (K-2)
Andrew Draws by David McPhail
I Am Otter by Sam Garton
Because I Stubbed My Toe by Shawn
Byous
I’m My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein
Buddy and the Buddies in: Don’t Play
With Your Food! by Bob Shea
A Library Book for Bear by Bonny
Becker
But! by Tim Hamilton
My Teacher is Monster! (No, I am Not)
by Peter Brown
Cats are Cats by Valeri Gorbachev
Naughty Kitty! by Adam Stower
Charlie and the New Baby by Ree
Drummond
Ninja Boy Goes to School by N.D.
Wilson
Churchill’s Tale of Tails by Anca Sandu
Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen
Schwartz
Duck, Duck, Moose! by Sudipta BardhanQuallen
Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett J.
Krosoczka
E-I-E-I-O! How Old MacDonald Got His
Farm With a Little Help from a Hen by
Judy Sierra
A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick
McDonnell
Eva and Sadie and the Worst Haircut
EVER! By Jeff Cohen
Pete the Cat and the New Guy by
Kimberly Dean
Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the
Century by Jane O’Conner
A Pet for Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Fix This Mess! By Tedd Arnold
The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo
Willems
Found by Salina Yoon
This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris
Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and
Dance by Birgitta Sif
Frank! by Connah Brecon
Hello, Moon by Francesca Simon
Hot Rod Hamster: Monster Truck Mania!
by Cynthia Lord
How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean
Reagan
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“Every Hero Has a Story”
Monmouth County Library Summer Reading Club
“Read to Me” Registration begins June 1st
Howell Township Public Library
732-938-2300
Summer Hours
Monday/Wednesday
Tuesday/Thursday
Friday
Saturday (July and August)
10-9
9-9
1-5
9-1
Summer Activities
follow us on Instagram for book recommendations at
@howellreads
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Ideas for Sharing Your Reading
Draw a picture or write about your favorite part of the book to share
with your classmates in September!
Make a new cover for your book
Write an advertisement to get kids “just like you” to read the book
Write a letter to the author explaining why you enjoyed the story or
explaining additional story ideas
Brief online passages for rising 1st and 2nd graders:
ReadWorks Summer Reading for Rising 1st and 2nd Graders
For additional information on these books and more, visit:
Amazon: www.amazon.com
Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com
Common Sense Media: www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com