What Kids Are Reading
The Book-Reading Habits of Students in American Schools
With contributions by:
Riley Carney, Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver, Mike Thaler, and Louis Sachar
Edition
20
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What Kids Are Reading
The Book-Reading Habits of Students in American Schools
Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Reader Best Practices, Advanced Technology for Data-Driven Schools, AR, AR
BookFinder, AR BookGuide, ATOS, NEO 2, Renaissance, Renaissance Learning, the Renaissance Learning logo, and
STAR Reading are trademarks of Renaissance Learning, Inc., and its subsidiaries, registered, common law, or pending
registration in the United States and other countries.
© 2010 by Renaissance Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Introduction © 2010 by Riley Carney.
Reflections on Reading © 2010 by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver.
Reflections on Reading © 2010 by Mike Thaler.
Reflections on Reading © 2010 by Louis Sachar.
This publication is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. It is unlawful to duplicate or reproduce any copyrighted
material without authorization from the copyright holder. For more information, contact:
RENAISSANCE LEARNING
P.O. Box 8036
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8036
(800) 338-4204
www.renlearn.com
[email protected]
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Contents
Introduction by Riley Carney....................................................................................................................... 1
Overview...................................................................................................................................................... 3
Section One: Books Kids Are Reading Most Often.....................................................9
Reflections on Reading by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver............................................................................. 10
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12....................................................................... 11
School Spotlight: What Struggling Readers in Grades 9–12 Are Reading
at R.L. Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX............................................................................................ 30
Section Two: Books Struggling Readers Are Reading Most Often..........................33
Reflections on Reading by Mike Thaler..................................................................................................... 34
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers, Selected Grade Ranges—All Books.................................. 35
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers, Selected Grade Ranges—High/Low Books...................... 39
School Spotlight: What Struggling Readers in Grades 4–7 Are Reading
at Surprise Valley Elementary School, Cedarville, CA............................................................................. 43
Section Three: Books High-Achieving Students Are Reading Most Often.............45
Reflections on Reading by Louis Sachar.................................................................................................. 46
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12....................... 47
School Spotlight: What Kids in Grades 5 and 6 Are Reading
at Reed Intermediate School, Newtown, CT............................................................................................ 57
i
iv
Introduction
“What is your favorite book?”
This is a question that I am often asked, but one that I cannot
answer. There are a great many books that I have loved, that I
have read over and over again until the bindings have become
so worn that the pages have fallen out. I loved each of those
books for a reason; each of them took me someplace I had
never been before, showed me a different perspective, or taught
me something new.
Riley Carney is seventeen
years old and has written eight
novels, a five-book fantasy
adventure series for grades 4–8
and an urban fantasy trilogy for
ages 12 and up. The first book
of the five-book Reign of the
Elements series, The Fire Stone,
was released in January 2010,
and the second book, The
Water Stone, was released
in July 2010. Riley is also
passionate about promoting
global literacy through her
nonprofit corporation, Breaking
the Chain, which she founded
three years ago because she
believes that the key to breaking
the cycle of poverty for children
is through education.
To learn more about Riley, visit
www.rileycarney.com
www.linkbylink.org
Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel taught me the meaning of
perseverance and determination. The Big Friendly Giant showed
me what dreams are made of. Stellaluna taught me the meaning
of love, tolerance, and forgiveness. Ms. Frizzle and her magic
school bus revealed how much fun learning can be. Harry Potter
demonstrated the impact of courage and friendship. The Wheel
on the School proved that we can make our own luck if we put
our minds to it.
From the moment I was born, I was
surrounded by books. My mom read
to me every day, long after I was
old enough to read on my own. I
associated reading with love and
security. Because of that constant
contact with books, and the joy I
associated with it, I always had a
book in my hands. Every time I read
a book, or a book was read to me,
over the past seventeen years, I
learned something. I realize now
that, stitched together, those books
created a tapestry of knowledge that taught me
something much greater than the lesson derived from each book
on its own. I learned who I am through books. I learned what I
believe in, what I aspire to be, what makes my heart soar, what
makes my nose crinkle in dislike, what I am afraid of, and what I
dream about. I learned all of this by losing myself in the smooth
pages, colorful drawings, and spiky black letters of books.
Eventually, my love of reading drew me to writing; I wanted to tell
stories of my own to share that same joy of discovery with other
children. I wrote with my favorite books fresh in my mind, books
like Harry Potter and Redwall. I wrote my first book, The Fire
Stone, when I was fifteen and have written seven more books
during the past two years.
It was also my love of reading that drove me to create my
nonprofit organization, Breaking the Chain, after I learned some
1
startling and heartbreaking statistics: over 130 million children around the world are denied access to a
basic education,1 1 in 2 children lives in poverty,2 and 1.3 million children drop out of school each year
in the United States.3 Because there is a direct correlation between literacy and poverty, I knew that I
had to take action on behalf of children’s literacy worldwide. My nonprofit has now built three schools
in Africa, created a children’s literacy center at a women’s shelter in Colorado, and supplied more than
12,000 books to high-need classrooms across the United States.
I firmly believe that literacy is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and that the most important thing
we can do is to provide all children with a better future by teaching them how to read. True literacy can
only be achieved through constant reading, however, and the only way that children will read constantly
is if they enjoy it. If children are given books that they enjoy, they are more likely to continue reading long
into the future.
One important factor in the quest for books children love is the role of gender.
My fantasy series, The Reign of the Elements, tends to attract nine- to thirteenyear-old boys, although there are girls in that age bracket who also like reading
classic, fantasy adventure stories. I targeted this audience since so many boys
stop reading at that age, and because there are fewer new titles aimed at that
audience segment than at others. Certain genres of books tend to attract one
gender more than the other. Boys tend to gravitate toward humor and sports;
girls gravitate toward romance, poetry, and realistic fiction. Both genders are
attracted to fantasy, action, historical fiction, science fiction, and biographies.
It comes down to one basic fact: Students love books that provide them with
the escape that they crave and, no matter the topic, give them a sense of
wonder, adventure, and connection.
So how do teachers, librarians, and parents find the books that children love to read?
What Kids Are Reading: The Book-Reading Habits of Students in American Schools provides an
important service by reporting the titles that are being read cover to cover by students around the
country. By identifying the most popular books for grades 1–12 and highlighting the stories and
topics that kids love, What Kids Are Reading gives students, and the adults who care about them, the
opportunity to find books they will truly enjoy reading. I fondly remember taking Accelerated Reader
quizzes when I was in elementary school, and I credit them with further developing my love for books.
The AR quizzes, along with this publication, give schools the opportunity to turn their students into avid
readers, and thereby, change their lives forever.
Every book teaches children something about themselves or about the world, and transforms them into
lifelong learners and lifelong achievers.
1
http://www.unicef.org/teachers/environment/needs.htm
2
http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
3
http://www.americaspromise.org/Our-Work/Dropout-Prevention.aspx
2
Overview
For the third year in a row, Renaissance Learning is pleased to provide information about the books
being read most frequently by students nationwide. What Kids Are Reading: The Book-Reading Habits
of Students in American Schools, 2011 Edition, contains lists of the Top 40 books read by more than
6.2 million students in grades 1–12 during the 2009–2010 school year.
How do we know what kids are reading? Our Accelerated Reader (AR) software, first developed by
Judi Paul more than 20 years ago as a way to motivate her own children to read, provides teachers
with daily information about student reading practice. Teachers at tens of thousands of schools
nationwide have students take an AR Reading Practice Quiz after each book they finish reading, so
that Accelerated Reader can help teachers track the key indicators of successful reading practice—
quality (comprehension), quantity (time spent reading), and difficulty (book readability level). With AR,
teachers know how well, how much, and at what level of challenge students are reading.
While library circulation lists can tell you which books students check out to read, and lists of best sellers
or publisher and online book-sale data can tell you which books were purchased for students to read,
only What Kids Are Reading can tell you which books students actually open and read, cover to cover.
Renaissance Learning has unique insight into the books kids are reading because our data is compiled
from comprehension quizzes students have passed on these books.
What kids are reading
Top 40 books read overall and by gender, grades 1–12.
In addition to ranking the books students read most often, each list includes tools to assist you while
helping your children or students select books to read—the ATOS book readability level used in concert
with book interest level helps ensure kids are reading books at appropriate difficulty levels with ageappropriate content. (For an explanation of ATOS book readability levels and interest levels, see p. 8.)
And a billboard-style ranking makes it easy to see where the titles placed in last year’s report.
Top 40 books read by struggling readers, selected grade ranges.
Because helping struggling readers self-select books to read that pique their interests yet are at
appropriate levels of difficulty can be extra challenging, What Kids Are Reading, 2011 Edition, includes
two most-read book lists for these students: 1) The Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers—an
overall listing of what students defined as struggling readers read during the 2009–2010 school year;
and 2) The Top 40 “High/Low” Books Read by Struggling Readers—labeled by publishers, high-interest/
low-readability books contain high interest content to rouse the curiosities of struggling, reluctant, or
resistant readers, but are written at lower readability levels so that they may be read independently.
Top 40 books read by students in the top 10% of reading achievement, grades 1–12.
These lists show the books read most often by kids whose final spring national percentile rank scores
from the STAR Reading assessment were between 90 and 99. Because their test scores were higher
than at least 90 percent of their peers nationally, we refer to these high achievers as the “top 10%.”
To bookend each section of the report are Author Essays from well-known writers that have created the
books kids are reading most, and School Spotlights that visit real classrooms and examine the books
those kids are reading.
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About Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader is a personalized practice and daily progress-monitoring system that helps teachers
accurately and efficiently monitor student progress in quality (comprehension), quantity, and difficulty of
books read. Introduced in 1986, AR has become one of the most popular educational software programs
in the world.
While Accelerated Reader has become increasingly
sophisticated over the years, its basic three-step approach
has not changed: First, a student reads a book they have
self-selected either at school or at home. Then, the student
takes a computerized quiz of 5, 10, or 20 items at school,
depending on the length of the book. Next, the student and
teacher receive immediate feedback via informative reports
that detail the books read, number of words read, book
reading levels, and level of comprehension (percent correct
on quizzes). Currently there are AR quizzes for more than
135,000 books, so students can take a quiz after reading just
about any book available in their school or public libraries.
AR also includes quizzes to assess vocabulary and literacy skills, quizzes on leading reading textbooks
and content-area leveled readers, as well as Spanish language and recorded-voice quizzes.
What Makes Accelerated Reader Special.
While it is true that Accelerated Reader helps teachers efficiently manage all the details of student
reading practice, for students it fosters the vital connection between students and books—that love of
reading so critical for success in school and beyond. Research-based AR Best Practices (more
information below) recommend students not only read books at appropriate levels of challenge4 and
interest but also be given choice in what they read. While students may be assigned books to read as
part of a school’s core curriculum, they should also have opportunities to self-select books about topics,
characters, locations, and so forth, of interest to them. Once students learn to read, having choice over
what they read is motivational, not to mention essential, so that they learn to love to read.
Our online book-searching tool, AR BookFinder
(www.arbookfind.com)—with an interface in either
English or Spanish—facilitates easy book selection for
students (as well as teachers, parents, and librarians)
by providing descriptions about each book for which
an AR quiz is available and specialized search tools so
students can, for example, identify award-wining books
matching particular interests or other criteria. Using
AR Book Guide, teachers may create recommended
reading lists students can access within AR
BookFinder (with specially assigned keycodes),
which support student choice with guided assistance.
AR Best Practices.
Accelerated Reader is used by hundreds of
thousands of teachers throughout the US because it
saves teachers time, motivates students to read more,
and is more reliable and accurate than traditional methods of tracking student book reading. To ensure
that teachers make the most of the wealth of data Accelerated Reader provides and that students benefit
to the greatest extent possible, fidelity of implementation is guided by research-based AR Best Practices,
which educators learn through Renaissance Learning professional development opportunities. The
suggested guidelines include methods to accelerate reading achievement and sometimes require
4
R Best Practices recommend students read books within reading ranges specific to each student’s reading skill level—books that are neither too
A
easy (and likely to cause frustration) nor too difficult (and likely to cause loss of motivation).
4
changes in teacher, classroom, and even school practices, such as allocating more time for in-school
reading, establishing individualized goal setting, and carefully monitoring student reading comprehension.
Renaissance Learning strongly recommends AR Best Practices. Extensive research has shown it is not
only the quantity of reading or time spent reading that helps students read well and become well read,
but also the quality of what is read; in other words, how carefully—with what level of comprehension—
students read. The more carefully students read, the more they comprehend, and the more their reading
practice leads to improved reading achievement.
The research base for Accelerated Reader is large and diverse, one of very few to meet the rigorous
standards of the What Works Clearinghouse, and has been successfully reviewed by groups such as
the National Center on Student Progress Monitoring, Florida Center for Reading Research, and California
Learning Resource Network. To date, more than 164 research studies and independent reviews have
been published on Accelerated Reader, with at least 25 articles appearing in peer-reviewed journals.
Accelerated Reader Real Time (hosted) database.
Seven years ago, a web-based version of Accelerated Reader was introduced with the option for schools
to have Renaissance Learning host their AR program at the Renaissance Data Center in Wisconsin
Rapids, Wisconsin. Real Time is often seen as an attractive alternative to having AR software run on
school servers because of cost savings and the additional security and data protection provided by
Renaissance Learning.
The data
The source of the data for the information presented in Section 1 of this report is the Accelerated Reader
Real Time (hosted) database, consisting of book-reading records for the 2009–2010 school year. The
database includes more than 6.2 million students in grades 1–125 who read more than 192 million
books (see Table 1). The students are from 19,966 schools, covering all 50 U.S. states and the District
of Columbia.
Table 1: Students, Books, and Words Read by Grade
(Accelerated Reader Database, 2009–2010 School Year)
Grade
Books Read
Average
Books Read
Per Student
Average
Words Read
Per Student
1
666,808
24,929,916
37.4
23,670
2
881,825
46,569,251
52.8
76,907
3
950,576
44,550,224
46.9
173,848
4
951,559
31,920,183
33.5
283,940
5
896,837
22,647,722
25.3
375,086
6
638,426
10,409,035
16.3
424,849
7
474,077
5,286,426
11.2
415,756
8
429,772
4,198,203
9.8
417,795
9
110,687
705,955
6.4
315,219
10
83,467
476,451
5.7
312,245
11
65,501
344,226
5.3
310,640
12
50,699
268,229
5.3
321,252
6,200,234
192,305,821
Total
5
Students
Some schools also use AR in kindergarten, but we have limited this report to grades 1–12.
5
It should be noted that because schools may optionally record demographic information about
students in AR, such as gender, free-lunch status, and other attributes, gender data is unavailable for
approximately 40% of students. Thus, in applicable sections, the overall category compiles student
records for boys, girls, and students for which gender was not recorded, whereas when information is
reported for boy and girl categories individually, records for students of unknown gender are excluded.
In Sections 2 and 3, the books read by students who are struggling readers and students in the top
10% of reading achievement were determined using a combination of data from Accelerated Reader
and Renaissance Learning’s computer-adaptive STAR Reading assessment6 (see Tables 2 and 3,
respectively), a standardized test of general reading achievement. This database is smaller partly
because not every single Accelerated Reader user also uses STAR Reading, and partly because criteria
used to define these students (see Table notes) reduced the number of students with book-reading data.
When comparing the data in Tables 1–3, you may notice that, in some cases, the struggling readers
(in Table 2) seem to have kept pace with or even exceeded the average books read per student as
compared to all students (in Table 1) or the high-achieving students (in Table 3). However, a closer look
shows the struggling readers read far fewer average words per student. And as you browse the book
lists within the report, you will also note the average ATOS book levels for the books these students read
were lower than those for the other students. This indicates the struggling readers were likely reading
shorter, less difficult books in comparison to the other readers.
Table 2: Struggling Readers: Students, Books, and Words Read by Grade
(Accelerated Reader Database, 2009–2010 School Year)
ALL BOOKS
Grade
Students
Books
Read
HIGH/LOW BOOKS
Average
Books
Read Per
Student
Average
Words
Read Per
Student
Students
Books
Read
Average
Books
Read Per
Student
4
49,673
1,836,430
37.0
64,918
10,037
20,153
2.0
5
84,205
2,781,340
33.0
118,220
20,441
51,145
2.5
6
67,408
1,467,084
21.8
155,993
20,942
58,341
2.8
7
55,736
743,383
13.3
179,924
19,224
55,210
2.9
8
60,105
673,078
11.2
223,360
19,499
51,879
2.7
9
17,308
129,038
7.5
197,513
5,332
15,720
2.9
10
11,949
87,327
7.3
215,810
3,238
9,411
2.9
11
8,782
57,218
6.5
243,188
2,149
6,163
2.9
12
5,790
39,196
6.8
250,043
1,524
4,237
2.8
360,956
7,814,094
102,386
272,259
Total
Note: Struggling readers were defined as students with STAR Reading pretest scores that were two or more grade levels below their grade placement (e.g., a
sixth-grade student with a grade equivalent (GE) score of 4.0 or lower). Data for high/low books includes information for struggling readers that read at least one
high/low book.
6
ationally normed STAR Reading is the most widely used reading assessment in U.S. schools. It can be administered as often as weekly for progress
N
monitoring and reports a wide variety of scores, including national percentile rank and grade equivalent. For more information, see The Foundation of
the STAR Assessments, available online from http://research.renlearn.com/research/pdfs/254.pdf
6
Table 3: T op 10% of Reading Achievement: Students, Books, and Words Read by Grade
(Accelerated Reader Database, 2009–2010 School Year)
Grade
Students
Books Read
Average
Books Read
Per Student
Average
Words Read
Per Student
1
41,316
2,973,067
72.0
89,272
2
33,589
2,599,843
77.4
314,820
3
29,587
1,708,998
57.8
713,878
4
33,271
1,281,758
38.5
1,013,979
5
22,808
708,137
31.0
1,286,513
6
9,606
240,421
25.0
1,449,198
7
5,466
109,264
20.0
1,367,992
8
3,118
54,571
17.5
1,283,981
9
676
8,222
12.2
988,280
10
546
5,259
9.6
850,946
11
631
5,829
9.2
817,731
12
337
2,727
8.1
739,130
180,951
9,698,096
Total
Note: Students in the top 10% of reading achievement have STAR Reading national percentile rank posttest scores between 90 and 99.
Please note: Renaissance Learning recognizes that not all book reading that happens in or outside of
the classroom is captured through the Accelerated Reader software. However, it is reasonable to assume
that for users of Accelerated Reader much book reading is captured in this way. AR quizzes currently
number more than 135,000—with additional quizzes created each week—which allows students a
wide range of book selection; nearly every book found in a school, classroom, or local library has a
quiz available.
Also, the sample of data from the AR database, upon which this report is written, is a sample of
convenience rather than truly representative of U.S. schools, so care should be taken when interpreting
the results. However, it cannot be disputed that with records for more than 6.2 million students at nearly
20,000 American schools, this sample is significant. What’s more, the AR database is one of a kind. We
are unaware of any other database that has captured student reading behavior on this scale.
Matching books to students
Student self-selection of books is the essence of Accelerated Reader. And Renaissance Learning
recommends three factors be considered by students, along with teacher guidance, when selecting a
book to read: 1) students’ individual interests, 2) ATOS book readability level, and 3) book interest level.
Students’ individual interests.
Key in helping motivate students to read is allowing them choice in what they read. If students are
interested in a particular topic, hobby, or activity, it only makes sense their reading choices will be driven
by these interests. For example, students may seek out books to find more information about an activity,
or to simply be carried away in a story that features someone experiencing something they would love
to do. Using AR BookFinder (http://www.arbookfind.com/), students can search within extensive lists
of topics and subtopics to hone in on topics of particular interest to them. Lists of award winners, statespecific choices, and librarian picks also serve as a way to help guide students to subjects they are
interested in.
7
ATOS book readability level.
Accelerated Reader uses the ATOS readability formula7 to measure the text difficulty of each book for
which an AR quiz is available. The ATOS readability level, available in an easy-to-understand gradeequivalent score, helps students, teachers, and parents with the book selection process. Using ATOS,
students can find books to read within their reading achievement range that are neither too easy (and
likely to cause frustration) nor too difficult (and likely to cause loss of motivation).
ATOS has proven to be a reliable and valid measure of book difficulty. The formula uses four factors to
measure a book’s readability level: average sentence length, average word length in number of letters,
word difficulty level, and total number of words in the book. To calculate a book’s ATOS score, the entire
book is scanned into a computer. The readability level is based on the full book rather than a 100-word
sample sometimes used to measure readability by makers of other formulas.
To provide a frame of reference, we applied the ATOS formula to the full text of a selection of 136 articles
from five popular newspapers and one human-interest magazine. The resulting ATOS readability levels
were what one might expect for each of these publications: the New York Times: 7.8, Washington Post:
7.8, the Wall Street Journal: 7.6, Los Angeles Times: 7.3, USA Today: 6.6, and People: 5.4.
It should be noted, however, that a readability formula can quantify some of the characteristics of text
but not the appropriateness of content. A text readability level matched to a student’s independent
reading range does not necessarily indicate that the content of a book is suitable in any other way for
the student. This is why interest level must also be considered in book selection.
Book interest level.
In Accelerated Reader, each book is assigned an interest level code. Interest level refers to the
sophistication and maturity level of a book’s content, ideas, and themes, and is based on publisher
recommendations. Interest levels are divided into four categories: LG for lower grades (K–3), MG for
middle grades (4–8), MG+ for middle grades plus (6 and up, for more mature middle-grade readers),
and UG for upper grades (9–12). Interest level and ATOS readability level are intended to work together
to inform the book-selection process. For example, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and John Steinbeck’s
The Grapes of Wrath have ATOS readability scores of 4.0 and 4.9, respectively, indicating that averageperforming students in fourth grade or higher would likely be able to decode the text. However, because
of the books’ mature themes, both are coded with an interest level of UG, or upper grade.
Tracking student reading practice is essential
Guided independent reading practice is crucial for students, and being able to quickly and easily track
students’ understanding of what has been read, the amount of book reading students are doing, and the
level at which students are practicing their reading is essential for teachers. In this age of data-driven
schools, having daily information on student reading practice to attach to assessment and other
classroom information adds a robust dimension to each student’s data profile.
We hope the third edition of What Kids Are Reading: The Book-Reading Habits of Students in American
Schools continues to promote high-quality book reading in schools. Reading is a skill like any other. In
order to see improvements in reading achievement, it is critical that students practice. From emergent
readers through about third grade students must read early and often to ensure they learn to read, while
in fourth grade and beyond extensive reading practice helps students hone this skill and read to learn.
It is only through reading lots and lots of books that students can truly develop this essential skill while
increasing their vocabulary and knowledge of the world around them. All of this is time well spent
as each moment spent reading makes the next that much more enjoyable.
7
For more information, see The Development of ATOS: The Renaissance Readability Formula (by Michael Milone, Ph.D.), available online from
http://research.renlearn.com/research/pdfs/334.pdf
8
Section One:
Books Kids Are Reading Most Often
Reflections on Reading by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver........................................................... 10
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12.................................................... 11
School Spotlight: What Struggling Readers in Grades 9–12 Are Reading
at R.L. Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX...................................................................................30
Reflections on Reading
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
When Henry Winkler and I first met over lunch in the year 2002, he told
me why he wanted to write a children’s book. He had spent his entire
childhood arguing with his strict parents because of his poor grades in
school. He said he was grounded so much and so long, he didn’t see the
moon until he was eighteen. Yet he knew inside himself that he was not lazy
or stupid, as his parents accused him of being. He had tried to do well in
school, to read the books assigned, but something was wrong, something
he didn’t find out about until almost thirty years later. He was dyslexic. And
despite the fame he had earned as an actor, the childhood feeling of failure
and underachievement left him forever questioning his own abilities.
I was moved by his story for many reasons. First because it mirrored the story
of so many children I had met over the years—perfectly bright kids who were
just not super achievers in school. And second, because it also reflected many
of the feelings shared by my first born, Theo, who had been constantly frustrated
by the strictures and rules of his very traditional and academic schooling. Theo
is right-brained: creative, intuitive, poetic, musical, artistic. And kids like that are
often overlooked in schools that aren’t prepared to individualize instruction for all
the varied kinds of intelligence children exhibit.
And so it was that we were motivated to create Hank Zipzer, a smart, funny,
resourceful, resilient, lovable kid, who also happened to be dyslexic. In him, we saw a
heroic figure, a kid who had a challenge certainly, but who refused to be undone by it, a kid who suffers
the indignities and embarrassment of being different, but who overcomes them to create his own path
to success. Hank comes from our belief that if you have a dream, there are many ways to accomplish it.
Some people take the straight-ahead path. Others forge their own way. The important thing is to have a
dream and reach for it, and know that being different does not mean being unable.
After the Hank Zipzer books were published, the letters flowed in. Thousands of letters from children who
asked us, “How did you know me so well?” The thrill of writing this series is that we have given children
with learning differences the chance to see themselves on the page, to know they are not alone, and to
know they can experience success and joy, just as Hank does. We believe that no matter how you learn,
it has nothing to do with how brilliant you are.
Reading can take children anywhere on this or any other planet, without ever having to leave their
bedroom walls. But the most important place a book can take children is into their own hearts, to know
that their deepest feelings are shared by others, to know that they are not alone. That is why we read.
And that is why we write.
Henry Winkler’s ten years as “The Fonz” have made him one of the most recognized actors of our time. While Winkler still works as an
actor, producer, and director on varied projects, he has also co-authored a best-selling series of children’s novels, entitled Hank Zipzer: The
World’s Greatest Underachiever, with Lin Oliver. Each of the seventeen books was inspired by Winkler’s struggle with learning challenges while
growing up. The series is just one of many ways that Winkler tries to give back and help others—especially kids. Winkler lives in Los Angeles
with his wife, Stacey. They have three children.
Lin Oliver is a children’s book author, and a writer-producer of family-friendly movies and television shows. She has created four movies, over
100 shows, and more than 20 books, including the books in the Hank Zipzer series with Henry Winkler. Additionally, Oliver is the cofounder
and executive director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators—a group that now has almost 25,000 members worldwide. Her
newest book series, Who Shrunk Daniel Funk?, introduces the comic misadventures of a shrinking boy and his shrunken twin brother. Oliver
lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan. They have three sons.
10
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
The Accelerated Reader database contains data for more than 6.2 million students that read more than
192 million books during the 2009–2010 school year. On the following pages are lists of the Top 40 books
most widely read in each grade, 1–12.
Watch for a H symbol in the book lists within this section, which indicates books among the high-quality,
authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program. To learn
more about Successful Reader, see pp. 35 and 43.
Following the lists is a school spotlight featuring ninth- through twelfth-grade struggling readers at R.L.
Paschal High School in Fort Worth, TX, and their teachers Lee Ann White and Michelle Guerra. To learn
more about what these kids were reading during the 2009–2010 school year, see p. 30.
11
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 1
In total, 666,808 first graders read 24,929,916 books and 15,783,345,360 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Approximately 22% of the books were read to students, 11% were read with students, and 67% were read independently.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
1
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
2
2
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
3
3
Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.4, LG)
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.4, LG)
4
4
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
5
5
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.4, LG)
Biscuit Finds a Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.8, LG)
6
6
Biscuit Finds a Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.8, LG)
Biscuit Finds a Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.8, LG)
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
7
7
Biscuit Goes to School, Alyssa Satin
Capucilli (0.9, LG)
Biscuit Goes to School, Alyssa Satin
Capucilli (0.9, LG)
Biscuit Goes to School, Alyssa Satin
Capucilli (0.9, LG)
8
8
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,
Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,
Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
Bathtime for Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(1.1, LG)
9
9
Bathtime for Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(1.1, LG)
Go, Dog. Go!, P.D. Eastman (1.2, LG)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,
Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
10
10
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
11
12
Biscuit's New Trick, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(1.0, LG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
Biscuit's New Trick, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(1.0, LG)
12
11
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
13
14
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
Bathtime for Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(1.1, LG)
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
14
13
Go, Dog. Go!, P.D. Eastman (1.2, LG)
David Goes to School, David Shannon
(0.9, LG)
Biscuit Wins a Prize, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
15
16
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
Biscuit's New Trick, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(1.0, LG)
Biscuit Wants to Play, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
16
19
Biscuit's Big Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.8, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
Biscuit and the Baby, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
17
25
Biscuit Wins a Prize, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
Biscuit's Big Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.8, LG)
Biscuit's Big Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.8, LG)
18
23
Biscuit Wants to Play, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bridwell
(1.2, LG)
Go, Dog. Go!, P.D. Eastman (1.2, LG)
19
18
David Goes to School, David Shannon
(0.9, LG)
All by Myself, Mercer Mayer (1.3, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
20
15
Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bridwell
(1.2, LG)
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bridwell
(1.2, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
12
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 1 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
26
Biscuit and the Baby, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
Biscuit Wins a Prize, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
Sleepy Dog, Harriet Ziefert (0.8, LG)
22
21
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Biscuit Wants to Play, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
23
20
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
(1.8, LG)
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
(1.8, LG)
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
(1.8, LG)
24
17
All by Myself, Mercer Mayer (1.3, LG)
Hi, Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.5, LG)
All by Myself, Mercer Mayer (1.3, LG)
25
24
Sleepy Dog, Harriet Ziefert (0.8, LG)
Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox, Grace Maccarone
(0.7, LG)
Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox, Grace Maccarone
(0.7, LG)
26
22
Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox, Grace Maccarone
(0.7, LG)
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss
(1.8, LG)
David Goes to School, David Shannon
(0.9, LG)
27
27
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss
(1.8, LG)
Super Fly Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.7, LG)
Biscuit Visits the Big City, Alyssa Satin
Capucilli (1.0, LG)
28
32
Biscuit Visits the Big City, Alyssa Satin
Capucilli (1.0, LG)
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly
Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.6, LG)
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss
(1.8, LG)
29
31
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Clifford Makes a Friend, Norman Bridwell
(0.4, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
30
30
Clifford Makes a Friend, Norman Bridwell
(0.4, LG)
Biscuit and the Baby, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
(0.9, LG)
Clifford Makes a Friend, Norman Bridwell
(0.4, LG)
31
33
I Was So Mad, Mercer Mayer (1.6, LG)
Sleepy Dog, Harriet Ziefert (0.8, LG)
More Spaghetti, I Say!, Rita Golden Gelman
(1.2, LG)
32
29
Just Me and My Dad, Mercer Mayer (1.4, LG)
Fly High, Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.4, LG)
I Was So Mad, Mercer Mayer (1.6, LG)
33
28
More Spaghetti, I Say!, Rita Golden Gelman
(1.2, LG)
Just Me and My Dad, Mercer Mayer (1.4, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura
Numeroff (2.1, LG)
34
39
Hi, Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.5, LG)
I Was So Mad, Mercer Mayer (1.6, LG)
Just Me and My Puppy, Mercer Mayer
(1.6, LG)
35
46
Super Fly Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.7, LG)
Hooray for Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.6, LG)
Just Me and My Dad, Mercer Mayer (1.4, LG)
36
45
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly
Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.6, LG)
Biscuit Visits the Big City, Alyssa Satin
Capucilli (1.0, LG)
Clifford's Puppy Days, Norman Bridwell
(1.9, LG)
37
38
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura
Numeroff (2.1, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Me Too!, Mercer Mayer (1.5, LG)
38
35
Me Too!, Mercer Mayer (1.5, LG)
The Three Little Pigs, Margaret Hillert
(0.6, LG)
Cinderella at the Ball, Margaret Hillert
(0.7, LG)
39
34
Just Me and My Puppy, Mercer Mayer
(1.6, LG)
Shoo, Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.7, LG)
The Three Little Pigs, Margaret Hillert
(0.6, LG)
40
146
Fly High, Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.4, LG)
Me Too!, Mercer Mayer (1.5, LG)
I Went Walking, Sue Williams (0.7, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by first graders was 1.4 overall, 1.4 for boys, and 1.4 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 21,877 for boys and 23,655 for girls.
13
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 2
In total, 881,825 second graders read 46,569,251 books and 67,818,515,275 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Approximately 13% of the books were read to students, 6% were read with students, and 81% were read independently.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
1
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
2
2
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
3
3
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
4
6
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen
Cronin (2.3, LG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura Numeroff
(2.5, LG)
5
5
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
6
4
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen
Cronin (2.3, LG)
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen
Cronin (2.3, LG)
7
22
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
(3.4, LG)
8
8
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
(3.4, LG)
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
(3.4, LG)
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
9
7
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
10
9
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
11
10
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
12
11
Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night,
Cynthia Rylant (2.2, LG)
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon,
Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura
Numeroff (2.1, LG)
13
13
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard
(2.7, LG)
14
14
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night,
Cynthia Rylant (2.2, LG)
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
15
19
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura
Numeroff (2.1, LG)
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night,
Cynthia Rylant (2.2, LG)
16
15
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard
(2.7, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
17
21
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura
Numeroff (2.1, LG)
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
18
12
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash, Trinka
Hakes Noble (2.2, LG)
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash, Trinka
Hakes Noble (2.2, LG)
19
18
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash, Trinka
Hakes Noble (2.2, LG)
Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish (2.5, LG)
20
17
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon,
Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, Dr. Seuss
(2.2, LG)
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
14
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 2 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
20
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,
Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
22
16
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne
(2.6, LG)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,
Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
23
26
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,
Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, Dr. Seuss
(2.2, LG)
24
23
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, Dr. Seuss
(2.2, LG)
Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their
Adventures, Cynthia Rylant (2.7, LG)
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
25
25
Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their
Adventures, Cynthia Rylant (2.7, LG)
Danny and the Dinosaur, Syd Hoff (2.3, LG)
If You Give a Pig a Party, Laura Numeroff
(2.2, LG)
26
24
The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their
Adventures, Cynthia Rylant (2.7, LG)
27
27
Danny and the Dinosaur, Syd Hoff (2.3, LG)
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard
(2.7, LG)
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon,
Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
28
28
Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish (2.5, LG)
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
I Just Forgot, Mercer Mayer (2.0, LG)
29
29
I Just Forgot, Mercer Mayer (2.0, LG)
I Just Forgot, Mercer Mayer (2.0, LG)
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats (2.5, LG)
30
30
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne
(2.6, LG)
Super Fly Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.7, LG)
The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
31
32
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Doreen Cronin
(2.3, LG)
32
31
Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps,
Cynthia Rylant (2.6, LG)
Hi, Fly Guy!, Tedd Arnold (1.5, LG)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
33
36
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats (2.5, LG)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
34
33
When I Get Bigger, Mercer Mayer (2.2, LG)
When I Get Bigger, Mercer Mayer (2.2, LG)
Danny and the Dinosaur, Syd Hoff (2.3, LG)
35
34
Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Doreen Cronin
(2.3, LG)
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss
(1.8, LG)
Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy
Valentime, Barbara Park (2.9, LG)
36
67
If You Give a Pig a Party, Laura Numeroff
(2.2, LG)
The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (3.2, LG)
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus,
Barbara Park (2.9, LG)
37
37
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss
(1.8, LG)
There's a Wocket in My Pocket!, Dr. Seuss
(2.1, LG)
When I Get Bigger, Mercer Mayer (2.2, LG)
38
39
Frog and Toad Are Friends, Arnold Lobel
(2.9, LG)
Go, Dog. Go!, P.D. Eastman (1.2, LG)
Arthur's Birthday, Marc Brown (2.3, LG)
39
38
Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble,
Cynthia Rylant (2.5, LG)
Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime
Thumps, Cynthia Rylant (2.6, LG)
Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime
Thumps, Cynthia Rylant (2.6, LG)
40
47
There's a Wocket in My Pocket!, Dr. Seuss
(2.1, LG)
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Dr. Seuss
(2.1, LG)
Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey
Business, Barbara Park (2.9, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by second graders was 2.4 overall, 2.3 for boys, and 2.4 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 71,710 for boys and 75,974 for girls.
15
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 3
In total, 950,576 third graders read 44,550,224 books and 165,255,736,448 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
2
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
3
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
4
6
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
5
14
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
6
9
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last
Sunday, Judith Viorst (3.4, LG)
7
7
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last
Sunday, Judith Viorst (3.4, LG)
Dogzilla, Dav Pilkey (4.2, LG)
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
8
3
Dogzilla, Dav Pilkey (4.2, LG)
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last
Sunday, Judith Viorst (3.4, LG)
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
(3.4, LG)
9
5
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
(3.4, LG)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
10
4
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from
China, Ed Young (3.5, LG)
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
(3.4, LG)
Dogzilla, Dav Pilkey (4.2, LG)
11
8
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from
China, Ed Young (3.5, LG)
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from
China, Ed Young (3.5, LG)
12
10
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
13
12
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
14
11
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard
(2.7, LG)
15
13
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard
(2.7, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
16
29
Boom Town, Sonia Levitin (3.7, LG)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
Boom Town, Sonia Levitin (3.7, LG)
17
17
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst (3.7, LG)
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
18
18
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon,
Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst (3.7, LG)
19
15
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
Boom Town, Sonia Levitin (3.7, LG)
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
20
21
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
16
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 3 (continued)
Overall
09–10
08–09
21
26
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
22
19
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
(4.0, MG)
23
20
24
Boys
Girls
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne
(2.6, LG)
Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth,
Barbara Park (3.0, LG)
The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (3.2, LG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon,
Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
23
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot
of Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey
(4.7, MG)
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
25
27
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard
(2.7, LG)
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
26
25
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
(2.9, LG)
Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook, Barbara Park
(3.0, LG)
27
22
Two Bad Ants, Chris Van Allsburg (4.7, LG)
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura
Numeroff (2.4, LG)
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
28
16
The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (3.2, LG)
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
29
30
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
(3.8, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the
Wicked Wedgie Woman, Dav Pilkey
(4.4, MG)
Two Bad Ants, Chris Van Allsburg (4.7, LG)
30
28
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne
(2.6, LG)
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst (3.7, LG)
The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (3.2, LG)
31
33
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish (2.5, LG)
32
24
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
Two Bad Ants, Chris Van Allsburg (4.7, LG)
Freckle Juice, Judy Blume (3.1, MG)
33
34
If You Made a Million, David M. Schwartz
(4.1, LG)
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
(4.0, MG)
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
(3.8, LG)
34
37
Freckle Juice, Judy Blume (3.1, MG)
Tonight on the Titanic, Mary Pope Osborne
(3.1, LG)
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
(4.0, MG)
35
36
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura
Numeroff (2.5, LG)
A Bad Case of Stripes, David Shannon
(3.8, LG)
36
49
Tops & Bottoms, Janet Stevens (3.2, LG)
The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey
Business, Barbara Park (2.9, LG)
37
40
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
Sunset of the Sabertooth, Mary Pope
Osborne (3.0, LG)
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus,
Barbara Park (2.9, LG)
38
32
The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Mike
Thaler (2.4, LG)
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
(3.8, LG)
Pepita Talks Twice, Ofelia Dumas Lachtman
(3.0, LG)
39
31
Tonight on the Titanic, Mary Pope Osborne
(3.1, LG)
Ricky Ricotta's Giant (Mighty) Robot vs.
the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury, Dav
Pilkey (3.5, LG)
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon,
Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
40
42
Pepita Talks Twice, Ofelia Dumas Lachtman
(3.0, LG)
If You Made a Million, David M. Schwartz
(4.1, LG)
If You Made a Million, David M. Schwartz
(4.1, LG)
H
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by third graders was 3.7 overall, 3.8 for boys, and 3.5 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 162,592 for boys and 170,150 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
17
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 4
In total, 951,559 fourth graders read 31,920,183 books and 270,185,662,460 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
2
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
3
3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
4
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
5
4
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,
Judy Blume (3.3, MG)
H
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume
(3.3, MG)
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume
(3.3, MG)
6
5
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
H
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
7
6
Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan
(3.4, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan
(3.4, MG)
8
177
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
The Stranger, Chris Van Allsburg (3.7, LG)
9
7
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
(4.0, MG)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara
Robinson (5.1, MG)
10
13
The Stranger, Chris Van Allsburg (3.7, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
(4.0, MG)
11
16
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara
Robinson (5.1, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of
Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
12
9
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
The Stranger, Chris Van Allsburg (3.7, LG)
Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say (3.6, LG)
13
10
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the
Wicked Wedgie Woman, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
14
11
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
(4.0, MG)
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
15
41
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan
(3.4, MG)
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
16
36
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
17
12
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (4.4, MG)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
18
17
Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say (3.6, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle
of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part I:The Night
of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets, Dav Pilkey
(5.2, MG)
19
14
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of
Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara
Robinson (5.1, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
20
8
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
Heat Wave!, Helen Ketteman (4.2, LG)
18
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 4 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
15
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the
Wicked Wedgie Woman, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say (3.6, LG)
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
22
18
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
(4.4, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad
Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The
Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers,
Dav Pilkey (4.9, MG)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
23
19
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Preposterous
Plight of the Purple Potty People, Dav
Pilkey (4.7, MG)
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
(3.8, LG)
24
23
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald
Dahl (4.8, MG)
25
21
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of
the Bionic Booger Boy, Part I:The Night of the
Nasty Nostril Nuggets, Dav Pilkey (5.2, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
26
20
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon
Scieszka (3.0, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
27
24
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth,
Barbara Park (3.0, LG)
28
8
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (4.4, MG)
A Bad Case of Stripes, David Shannon (3.8, LG)
29
27
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald
Dahl (4.8, MG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
(4.8, MG)
30
22
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
H
Heat Wave!, Helen Ketteman (4.2, LG)
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
31
25
Island of the Blue Dolphins,
Scott O'Dell (5.4, MG)
H
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
Superfudge, Judy Blume (3.4, MG)
32
32
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
(3.8, LG)
Akiak: A Tale from the Iditarod, Robert J.
Blake (3.3, LG)
Akiak: A Tale from the Iditarod, Robert J.
Blake (3.3, LG)
33
28
Heat Wave!, Helen Ketteman (4.2, LG)
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg (3.8, LG)
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
34
35
The Great Kapok Tree, Lynne Cherry
(3.8, LG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella, Robert
D. San Souci (3.7, LG)
35
31
James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
(4.8, MG)
The Great Kapok Tree, Lynne Cherry
(3.8, LG)
The Great Kapok Tree, Lynne Cherry
(3.8, LG)
36
26
Captain Underpants and the Preposterous
Plight of the Purple Potty People, Dav
Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
(4.7, MG)
37
30
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the
Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The Revenge of the
Ridiculous Robo-Boogers, Dav Pilkey (4.9, MG)
Ricky Ricotta's Giant (Mighty) Robot vs.
the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury, Dav
Pilkey (3.5, LG)
Marven of the Great North Woods, Kathryn
Lasky (4.5, LG)
38
37
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell (5.4, MG)
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary (4.9, MG)
39
43
Akiak: A Tale from the Iditarod, Robert J.
Blake (3.3, LG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook, Barbara Park
(3.0, LG)
40
29
Superfudge, Judy Blume (3.4, MG)
Marven of the Great North Woods, Kathryn
Lasky (4.5, LG)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura
Numeroff (2.7, LG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by fourth graders was 4.5 overall, 4.5 for boys, and 4.3 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 265,226 for boys and 282,739 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
19
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 5
In total, 896,837 fifth graders read 22,647,722 books and 336,391,002,982 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
2
3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
3
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
4
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
5
39
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
6
4
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
7
5
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
8
6
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
9
59
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
The Sign of the Beaver, Elizabeth George
Speare (4.9, MG)
10
7
The Sign of the Beaver, Elizabeth George
H
Speare (4.9, MG)
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
11
79
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
The Sign of the Beaver, Elizabeth George
Speare (4.9, MG)
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
12
8
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
(4.6, MG)
13
97
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket (6.3,
MG)
14
9
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
15
11
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
(4.6, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
16
13
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
17
8
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot
of Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey
(4.7, MG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
18
15
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants,
Dav Pilkey (4.3, MG)
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
19
14
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
20
38
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara
Robinson (5.1, MG)
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara
Robinson (5.1, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
H
H
H
20
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 5 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
17
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the
Wicked Wedgie Woman, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
22
23
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
23
20
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson (4.6, MG)
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary (4.9, MG)
24
18
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of
the Bionic Booger Boy, Part I:The Night of the
Nasty Nostril Nuggets, Dav Pilkey (5.2, MG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
25
19
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
No Talking, Andrew Clements (5.0, MG)
26
21
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
27
22
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary (4.9, MG)
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in
Words and Pictures, Brian Selznick (5.1, MG)
28
34
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
29
31
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (4.4, MG) H Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
30
25
No Talking, Andrew Clements (5.0, MG)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara
Robinson (5.1, MG)
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket
(6.2, MG)
31
27
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad
Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The
Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers,
Dav Pilkey (4.9, MG)
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (4.4, MG)
32
16
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in
Words and Pictures, Brian Selznick (5.1, MG)
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (4.4, MG)
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
33
24
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Preposterous
Plight of the Purple Potty People, Dav
Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
34
29
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of
Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary (4.9, MG)
The Austere Academy, Lemony Snicket
(6.7, MG)
35
32
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi
Barrett (4.3, LG)
36
33
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the
Wicked Wedgie Woman, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket (6.3, MG)
The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
(4.7, MG)
37
30
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket
(6.2, MG)
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
38
36
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of
the Bionic Booger Boy, Part I:The Night of the
Nasty Nostril Nuggets, Dav Pilkey (5.2, MG)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in
Words and Pictures, Brian Selznick
(5.1, MG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
39
41
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
(3.4, LG)
Matilda, Roald Dahl (5.0, MG)
40
35
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler, E.L. Konigsburg (4.7, MG)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(Unabridged), C.S. Lewis (5.7, MG)
Love That Dog, Sharon Creech (4.5, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
H
Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan (5.3, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by fifth graders was 5.1 overall, 5.1 for boys, and 5.1 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 343,372 for boys and 380,799 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
21
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 6
In total, 638,426 sixth graders read 10,409,035 books and 271,234,647,674 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
2
4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
3
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
4
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
5
16
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
6
5
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
H
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
7
7
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
H
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
8
23
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
9
9
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
10
33
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
11
37
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
12
3
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
13
8
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
14
6
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (5.3, MG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
15
11
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (5.3, MG)
16
15
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (5.3, MG)
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
17
14
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
18
13
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
19
12
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
20
8
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
22
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 6 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
17
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
22
18
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
23
10
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
24
21
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
(4.6, MG)
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
25
19
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
(4.6, MG)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
(4.6, MG)
26
25
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
27
20
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Swindle, Gordon Korman (4.9, MG)
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.8, MG)
28
27
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the
Talking Toilets, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
29
26
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
30
39
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.8, MG)
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket
(6.2, MG)
31
30
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K.
Rowling (6.8, MG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
32
22
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket
(6.2, MG)
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.8, MG)
The Austere Academy, Lemony Snicket
(6.7, MG)
33
38
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz (5.1, MG+)
Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan
(5.3, MG)
34
24
The Austere Academy, Lemony Snicket
(6.7, MG)
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket
(6.2, MG)
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
35
35
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
H
(5.4, MG)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
36
47
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K.
Rowling (6.8, MG)
The Austere Academy, Lemony Snicket
(6.7, MG)
The Ersatz Elevator, Lemony Snicket
(6.6, MG)
37
28
The Ersatz Elevator, Lemony Snicket
(6.6, MG)
The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
38
40
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
The Clique, Lisi Harrison (4.9, MG+)
39
46
Hoot, Carl Hiaasen (5.2, MG)
Old Yeller, Fred Gipson (5.0, MG)
Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost
Story, Mary Downing Hahn (4.0, MG)
40
43
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
(3.9, MG)
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot
of Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey
(4.7, MG)
Hoot, Carl Hiaasen (5.2, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
H
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by sixth graders was 5.2 overall, 5.2 for boys, and 5.1 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 369,439 for boys and 443,822 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
23
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 7
In total, 474,077 seventh graders read 5,286,426 books and 197,100,357,212 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
2
5
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
3
13
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
4
10
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
5
7
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
6
6
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
7
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
8
2
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
9
1
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
10
3
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
11
22
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
12
4
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
13
8
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
14
31
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
15
26
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
16
9
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
17
15
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Jerry Pinkney (4.4, LG)
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Jerry Pinkney (4.4, LG)
18
8
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
The Clique, Lisi Harrison (4.9, MG+)
19
16
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
20
11
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D.
Taylor (5.7, MG)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D.
Taylor (5.7, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
H
H
24
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 7 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
19
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Jerry Pinkney (4.4, LG)
Cirque Du Freak, Darren Shan (4.8, MG+)
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
22
17
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
23
12
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
24
14
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D.
Taylor (5.7, MG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
25
18
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz (5.1, MG+)
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
26
23
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (5.3, MG)
Uglies, Scott Westerfeld (5.2, MG+)
27
30
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (5.3, MG)
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
28
27
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
Touching Spirit Bear, Ben Mikaelsen
(5.3, MG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
29
28
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
30
24
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
31
8
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
(4.9, MG)
32
20
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Point Blank, Anthony Horowitz (4.8, MG+)
Best Friends for Never, Lisi Harrison
(4.9, MG+)
33
36
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.8, MG)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.8, MG)
34
8
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff
(4.5, MG+)
35
39
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
36
69
Cirque Du Freak, Darren Shan (4.8, MG+)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K.
Rowling (6.8, MG)
Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli (4.2, UG)
37
136
Eighth Grade Bites, Heather Brewer
(5.4, MG+)
A Christmas Carol (Unabridged), Charles
Dickens (6.7, MG)
Invasion of the Boy Snatchers, Lisi Harrison
(4.4, MG+)
38
44
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K.
Rowling (6.8, MG)
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.8, MG)
Revenge of the Wannabes, Lisi Harrison
(4.6, MG+)
39
52
Touching Spirit Bear, Ben Mikaelsen
(5.3, MG)
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Pretties, Scott Westerfeld (5.7, MG+)
40
29
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket
(6.3, MG)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K.
Rowling (7.2, MG+)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by seventh graders was 5.1 overall, 5.2 for boys, and 5.0 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 341,571 for boys and 451,246 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
25
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 8
In total, 429,772 eighth graders read 4,198,203 books and 179,556,592,740 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
09–10
08–09
1
5
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
2
6
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
3
1
4
Boys
Girls
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
2
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
5
3
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
6
12
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
7
4
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
8
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
9
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
10
168
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
The Diary of Anne Frank, Frances Goodrich
(3.1, MG)
11
7
The Diary of Anne Frank, Frances Goodrich
(3.1, MG)
The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe
(7.3, UG)
The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe
(7.3, UG)
12
48
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
13
10
The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe
(7.3, UG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
14
26
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
The Diary of Anne Frank, Frances Goodrich
(3.1, MG)
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
15
8
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
16
11
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
17
8
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Uglies, Scott Westerfeld (5.2, MG+)
18
41
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
19
27
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
20
8
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff
Kinney (5.4, MG)
H
26
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADE 8 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
14
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
Betrayed: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
22
9
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
My Brother Sam Is Dead, James Lincoln
Collier (4.9, MG)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
23
8
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
The Call of the Wild, Jack London (8.0, MG)
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson (4.5, UG)
24
16
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
25
18
My Brother Sam Is Dead, James Lincoln
Collier (4.9, MG)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D.
Taylor (5.7, MG)
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff
(4.5, MG+)
26
15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Cirque Du Freak, Darren Shan (4.8, MG+)
Chosen: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.1, UG)
27
21
The Call of the Wild, Jack London
(8.0, MG)
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
The Clique, Lisi Harrison (4.9, MG+)
28
23
Nothing But the Truth, Avi (3.6, UG)
Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz (5.1, MG+)
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (6.0, UG)
29
22
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D.
Taylor (5.7, MG)
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
30
20
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
That Was Then, This Is Now, S.E. Hinton
(4.6, UG)
Eighth Grade Bites, Heather Brewer
(5.4, MG+)
31
106
Eighth Grade Bites, Heather Brewer
(5.4, MG+)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
Evermore, Alyson Noël (5.8, UG)
32
32
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
My Brother Sam Is Dead, James Lincoln
Collier (4.9, MG)
33
36
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
Nothing But the Truth, Avi (3.6, UG)
Pretties, Scott Westerfeld (5.7, MG+)
34
19
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
Freak the Mighty/The Mighty, Rodman
Philbrick (5.5, UG)
A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks
(5.8, UG)
35
29
The Pigman, Paul Zindel (5.5, UG)
Touching Spirit Bear, Ben Mikaelsen
(5.3, MG)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
36
17
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
(6.4, MG)
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (7.8, UG)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D.
Taylor (5.7, MG)
37
92
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
The Pigman, Paul Zindel (5.5, UG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
38
45
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James
Patterson (4.6, MG+)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
39
78
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, John
Boyne (5.8, UG)
Point Blank, Anthony Horowitz (4.8, MG+)
Tears of a Tiger, Sharon M. Draper
(4.3, UG)
40
30
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963,
Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG)
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
H
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by eighth graders was 5.1 overall, 5.1 for boys, and 5.1 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 334,536 for boys and 469,183 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
27
H
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADES 9–12
In total, 310,354 ninth–twelfth graders read 1,794,861 books and 97,587,184,656 words= during the 2009–2010 school year.
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
1
1
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
2
2
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
3
4
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
4
3
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
5
8
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG)
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
6
5
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG)
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
7
63
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG)
8
6
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
9
8
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
10
9
Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG)
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
11
7
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
(8.6, UG)
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
12
61
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
Crank, Ellen Hopkins (4.3, UG)
13
11
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
(8.6, UG)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (6.0, UG)
14
20
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson (4.5, UG)
15
179
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
16
16
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson (4.5, UG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult (5.3, UG)
17
43
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
Lord of the Flies, William Golding (5.0, UG)
Betrayed: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
18
15
Crank, Ellen Hopkins (4.3, UG)
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG)
19
13
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (7.8, UG)
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
(8.6, UG)
20
12
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.
Rowling (6.9, MG+)
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher
(3.9, MG+)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
28
Top 40 Books Read Overall and by Gender, Grades 1–12
GRADES 9–12 (continued)
Overall
Boys
Girls
09–10
08–09
21
14
Lord of the Flies, William Golding (5.0, UG)
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare
(10.8, UG)
Chosen: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.1, UG)
22
75
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (6.0, UG)
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks
(5.8, UG)
23
17
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell
(5.3, UG)
Glass, Ellen Hopkins (3.7, UG)
24
19
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare
(10.8, UG)
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
Burned, Ellen Hopkins (4.2, UG)
25
18
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
(7.3, UG)
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
(7.3, UG)
Just Listen, Sarah Dessen (4.9, UG)
26
94
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
27
62
Betrayed: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.4, UG)
Cirque Du Freak, Darren Shan (4.8, MG+)
Lock and Key, Sarah Dessen (5.3, UG)
28
69
My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult (5.3, UG)
Gym Candy, Carl Deuker (4.6, UG)
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
29
8
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
Hunted: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.3, UG)
30
23
The Crucible, Arthur Miller (4.9, UG)
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson (4.5, UG)
Someone Like You, Sarah Dessen (5.1, UG)
31
28
A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks
(5.8, UG)
The Crucible, Arthur Miller (4.9, UG)
Untamed: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.2, UG)
32
51
Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher
(3.9, MG+)
Eldest, Christopher Paolini (7.0, UG)
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
(7.3, UG)
33
8
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
Along for the Ride, Sarah Dessen (4.7, UG)
34
38
Glass, Ellen Hopkins (3.7, UG)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K.
Rowling (7.2, MG+)
The Truth About Forever, Sarah Dessen
(5.2, UG)
35
83
Chosen: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast
(5.1, UG)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K.
Rowling (5.5, MG)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
36
21
The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell
(5.3, UG)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
37
127
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K.
Rowling (6.8, MG)
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare
(10.8, UG)
38
30
Tears of a Tiger, Sharon M. Draper
(4.3, UG)
The Bully, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
The Crucible, Arthur Miller (4.9, UG)
39
108
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
(4.1, MG)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,
J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
Evermore, Alyson Noël (5.8, UG)
40
45
Burned, Ellen Hopkins (4.2, UG)
A Separate Peace, John Knowles (6.9, UG)
Go Ask Alice, Anonymous (5.6, UG)
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
rank
overall
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by ninth–twelfth graders was 5.3 overall, 5.5 for boys, and 5.2 for girls. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
=
The average number of words read was 251,378 for boys and 357,661 for girls.
8 Title did not appear on list of 200 books most frequently read during the 2008–2009 school year.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
29
School Spotlight
What Struggling Readers in Grades 9–12 Are Reading
at R.L. Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX
Educator
Background
Lee Ann White
has taught at
R.L. Paschal
High School,
the school she
graduated from, for the past nine
years. She has a bachelor’s
degree in English from Baylor
University and a master’s degree
in theology from Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary.
White is certified to teach English,
English as a second language,
and reading.
Michelle Guerra has been a
teacher at R.L. Paschal High
School for the past five years but
employed by the school for 11
years. She graduated from Texas
Wesleyan University with a degree
in English. Currently, Guerra
teaches freshman reading and
AVID, a college preparatory class.
School Profile
R.L. Paschal High School
Fort Worth, Texas
Students: 2,312 Grades: 9–12
Race/Ethnicity
Black or African Asian or
American: 7%
Pacific Islander: 3%
Lee Ann White and Michelle Guerra teach students struggling
with reading at R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth,
Texas, a big, largely Hispanic campus with an equally big
reputation for academic success—but also a sizable
population of struggling readers who are unlikely to
continue their education without some support.
Using Accelerated Reader, a few incentives, a little peer
pressure, and a variety of appealing books, the two coax
some of the schools’ most challenging students into reading
for at least 20 minutes each day and enjoying it.
“One way I know they are enjoying reading is they begin
to check out books from the library,” said Guerra, whose
students, like White’s, are primarily English language learners,
students with learning disabilities, and those who just have not
learned to read well.
Several other other signs show their efforts are paying off. All
students in their classes settle down and read each day—and
enthusiastically
take AR quizzes
“My students have never had the
to check their
freedom to choose books they find
interesting or have been given the
comprehension.
time or encouragement to read. Every
And by the end
year I have several students who will
of the year, huge
tell me they finished their first book in
gains can be seen
my class. These kids learn to enjoy
in their students’
reading for the first time in their lives.”
reading abilities.
– Michelle Guerra, teacher
“Most of my
students come into my class reading on a third-, fourth-, or
fifth-grade level,” White said. “Once they move up to a fifth- or
sixth-grade level, they are usually able to pass the statewide
assessment. The extra reading practice helps to bump them
up to passing.”
What White and Guerra say about the Top 20 books
White: 35%
Hispanic: 55%
Demographics
Large City
Free or reduced lunch: 36%
The list of her students’ favorite books does not surprise
White. The Bluford High series (by Anne Schraff, Paul Langan,
and others) is popular with her students because it is focused
on issues similar to those her students face. They enjoy
reading books about gangs or students from other cultures,
and other topics that are relevant to them.
“My students have never had the freedom to choose
books they find interesting or have been given the time or
30
encouragement to read.
Every year I have several
students who will tell me
they finished their first
book in my class. These
kids learn to enjoy
reading for the first time in
their lives,” Guerra said.
In both teachers’ classes,
the students are asked to
read for 20 minutes at the
beginning of the class and
then again at home.
“I hate it when I have to
ask them to stop,” White
said. “I hear them say,
‘Can’t we just read all
period,’ ‘Just three more
pages,’ ‘Let me finish
this chapter please.’
Sometimes they hide their
books under their desk
and continue to read.”
The two employ many
ways to motivate their
readers, but they find the
biggest motivating factor
is positive peer pressure.
“Even these really tough
guys find something they
like. They look around
and see what others are
reading and it becomes
sort of competitive and
cooperative,” White said.
“They know they are all in
the same boat—and
they work together. That
includes sharing the
names of books they like.”
Top 20 Books Read 2009–10 School Year
Lee Ann White’s classes
Michelle Guerra’s classes
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level*)
1
Secrets in the Shadows, Anne Schraff
(4.7, MG+)
1
The Red Cap, Matt Sims (1.9, MG)
2
Search for Safety, John Langan
(4.2, MG+)
2
North Meets South, Matt Sims
(2.0, MG)
3
Street Pharm, Allison van Diepen
(3.4, UG)
3
The Tug, Matt Sims (2.1, MG)
4
Blood Is Thicker, Paul Langan
(4.8, MG+)
4
Star Bus, Matt Sims (2.3, MG)
5
No Way Out, Peggy Kern (4.1, MG+)
5
The Best, Matt Sims (2.3, MG)
6
The Fallen, Paul Langan (4.2, MG+)
6
The Car Trip, Matt Sims (2.2, MG)
7
The Gun/Payback, Paul Langan
(4.7, MG+)
7
The Red Gem Mine, Matt Sims
(2.1, MG)
8
Brothers in Arms, Paul Langan
(4.1, MG+)
8
William's Doll, Charlotte Zolotow
(3.6, LG)
9
Lost and Found, Anne Schraff
(4.7, MG+)
9
Secrets in the Shadows, Anne Schraff
(4.7, MG+)
10
Skeleton Man, Joseph Bruchac
(4.8, MG)
10
Hungry, Hungry Sharks, Joanna Cole
(2.8, LG)
11
Please Don't Ask Me to Love You,
Anne Schraff (3.3, MG)
11
Horrible Harry's Secret, Suzy Kline
(2.8, LG)
12
Schooled, Paul Langan (4.9, MG+)
12
Brothers in Arms, Paul Langan (4.1, MG+)
13
Don't Look Now or Ever, Anne Schraff
(3.9, UG)
13
The Junk Car Mystery, Bob Wright
(2.7, MG)
14
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff
(4.5, MG+)
14
Christmas in the Big Woods, Laura
Ingalls Wilder (3.8, LG)
15
The Bully, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
15
The Video Game Spy, Bob Wright
(2.4, MG)
16
Snitch, Allison van Diepen (3.7, UG)
16
The Fallen, Paul Langan (4.2, MG+)
17
The Gold Cadillac, Mildred D. Taylor
(4.1, MG)
17
Don't Look Now or Ever, Anne Schraff
(3.9, UG)
18
The Crossing, Gary Paulsen (5.8, UG)
18
Tonight on the Titanic, Mary Pope
Osborne (3.1, LG)
19
Geraldine's Blanket, Holly Keller
(1.7, LG)
19
The Silver Buckle Mystery, Bob
Wright (2.4, MG)
20
Shattered, Paul Langan (4.4, MG+)
20
The Gun/Payback, Paul Langan
(4.7, MG+)
* Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3), MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up),
Students can take the AR
UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
quizzes using the school’s
NEO 2 laptops. When they
finish reading, a wall chart tallies their accomplishments with a star for each AR point the book is worth.
When they get 10 points their picture goes on the wall. And the walls of both classrooms are covered
with pictures—current successful students and those from the past.
“You’d be surprised how often students will run their fingers along the stars next to their name or just
check on their status,” White said. “It becomes very important for them to have success.”
31
32
Section Two:
Books Struggling Readers
Are Reading Most Often
Reflections on Reading by Mike Thaler.................................................................................. 34
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers, Selected Grade Ranges—All Books................ 35
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers, Selected Grade Ranges—High/Low Books..... 39
School Spotlight: What Struggling Readers in Grades 4–7 Are Reading
at Surprise Valley Elementary School, Cedarville, CA............................................................ 43
Reflections on Reading
by Mike Thaler
What’s in a Book?
Paper?
Pictures?
Words?
The Present?
The Future?
The Past?
Books are the footprints of life.
Every book is a time machine,
a flying carpet,
a free passport to the most powerful nation in the world...
your imagi-nation.
Books are great—check ‘em out!
When I was younger, I was a reluctant reader. I loved picture books. I thought a picture was worth a
thousand words. Then I grew up and discovered that words can create a thousand pictures. Words
become the invisible keys to unlocking my imagination. They were not limited by the boundaries of
the visual.
Now I love words. I love to paint with them, read them, and play with them. They are my faithful friends,
who are always ready to guide me through the picture galleries of the galaxy.
Mike Thaler is known nationally as “America’s Riddle King” and has been called “The Court Jester of Children’s Literature.” Since his
first book, Magic Boy, published in 1961 there has been a happy parade of more than 250 children’s books delighting readers of all ages,
including the Black Lagoon series. He has won numerous Children’s Choice Awards with classic fairy tales rewritten in his distinctive style,
such as Cinderella Bigfoot and The Princess and the Piano. Using his original method for creating riddles, Thaler continues to teach new
generations of children the joy of language through the gift of laughter. To learn more, visit www.mikethaler.com
Photo by Kanae Miyazu
34
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers,
Selected Grade Ranges—All Books
Of the students from grades 4–12 in the Accelerated Reader database for whom reading achievement
test data were available, approximately 6% appear to be struggling with reading based on their reading
achievement scores.8 Finding suitable reading material for struggling readers is especially challenging,
and yet these are the students that need the most reading practice. Struggling readers may not realize
that everyone needs to practice reading; instead they often assume there are two categories of
readers—those who can read well and their category, those who cannot. Consequently, these students
are sometimes reluctant or resistant to the very act of reading, so care must be taken to find books with
content of high enough interest to pique their curiosities while written at readability levels low enough so
they can be understood and enjoyed when read independently.
An excellent way to inspire a love of reading in struggling readers is to help them find the key to “unlock”
great literature—reading intervention programs, such as Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader,
provide supports including reading books to students, reading books with students, encouraging
discussion about books, and providing instruction about critical reading skills, to help make a wide range
of literature accessible to the struggling reader.
The more than 360,000 struggling readers in the Accelerated Reader database read more than 7.8
million books during the 2009–2010 school year. On the following pages are lists of the Top 40 books
most widely read by struggling readers in grades 4 and 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. Watch for a H symbol
in the book lists within this section, which indicates books among the high-quality, authentic literature
choices in the Successful Reader intervention program.
Another option for struggling readers is to read books publishers have labeled as “high/low,” to indicate
high interest, low readability. To see the Top 40 high/low books struggling readers read, see p. 39.
At the very end of this section is a school spotlight featuring the fourth–seventh graders at Surprise
Valley Elementary School in Cedarville, CA, and their teacher Patricia Smith, who took part in the
Successful Reader intervention program pilot during the 2009–2010 school year. To learn more about
what these kids were reading, see p. 43.
8
truggling readers were defined as students with STAR Reading (a nationally normed, computer-adaptive, standardized test of
S
general reading achievement) pretest scores that were two or more grade levels below their grade placement (e.g., a sixth-grade
student with a grade equivalent (GE) score of 4.0 or lower).
35
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers in Selected Grade Ranges—All Books
GRADES 4 and 5
In total, 133,878 fourth- and fifth-grade struggling readers read 4,617,770 books and 13,179,386,914 words during the
2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
21
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon Scieszka (3.0, LG)
2
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
22
The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Mike Thaler (2.4, LG)
3
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff (2.7, LG)
23
When I Get Bigger, Mercer Mayer (2.2, LG)
4
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura Numeroff (2.4, LG)
24
If You Give a Pig a Party, Laura Numeroff (2.2, LG)
5
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura Numeroff (2.5, LG)
25
Just for You, Mercer Mayer (2.0, LG)
6
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
26
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
7
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura Numeroff (2.1, LG)
27
Super Fly Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.7, LG)
8
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike Thaler (2.2, LG)
28
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss (1.8, LG)
9
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
29
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
10
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Mike Thaler (2.4, LG)
30
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown (1.8, LG)
11
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura Numeroff (2.4, LG)
31
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats (2.5, LG)
12
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, Dr. Seuss (2.2, LG)
32
There's a Nightmare in My Closet, Mercer Mayer (2.3, LG)
13
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen Cronin (2.3, LG)
33
Sammy the Seal, Syd Hoff (2.0, LG)
14
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
34
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne (2.6, LG)
15
Danny and the Dinosaur, Syd Hoff (2.3, LG)
35
I Am Not Going to Get Up Today!, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
16
I Just Forgot, Mercer Mayer (2.0, LG)
36
Just Me and My Little Brother, Mercer Mayer (2.5, LG)
17
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard (2.7, LG)
37
The Carrot Seed, Ruth Krauss (1.9, LG)
18
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
38
Just Going to the Dentist, Mercer Mayer (2.4, LG)
19
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle (2.9, LG)
39
Just Go to Bed, Mercer Mayer (2.0, LG)
20
Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish (2.5, LG)
40
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume (3.3, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by fourth- and fifth-grade struggling readers was 2.2. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3), MG = middle
grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
36
H
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers in Selected Grade Ranges—All Books
GRADES 6–8
In total, 183,249 sixth- through eighth-grade struggling readers read 2,883,545 books and 33,968,473,008 words during
the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
21
Brothers in Arms, Paul Langan (4.1, MG+)
2
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
22
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav Pilkey (4.3, MG)
3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
23
The Gun/Payback, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
24
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
5
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
25
Blood Is Thicker, Paul Langan (4.8, MG+)
6
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
26
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
7
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
27
A Matter of Trust, Anne Schraff (4.6, MG+)
8
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
28
Lost and Found, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
9
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
29
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (2.6, LG)
30
Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, Barbara Park (3.0, LG)
H
H
10
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
11
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
31
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls (4.9, MG)
12
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak (3.4, LG)
32
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Jerry Pinkney (4.4, LG)
13
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
33
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
14
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, Christopher Paul Curtis
(5.0, MG)
34
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets, Dav
Pilkey (4.7, MG)
15
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff (4.5, MG+)
35
Until We Meet Again, Anne Schraff (4.8, MG+)
16
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon Scieszka (3.0, LG)
36
Forged by Fire, Sharon M. Draper (4.7, MG)
17
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
37
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty
Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
18
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo (3.9, MG)
38
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie
Woman, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
19
Secrets in the Shadows, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
39
Search for Safety, John Langan (4.2, MG+)
20
The Bully, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
40
Tears of a Tiger, Sharon M. Draper (4.3, UG)
H
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by sixth- through eighth-grade struggling readers was 4.7. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
37
H
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers in Selected Grade Ranges—All Books
GRADES 9–12
In total, 43,829 ninth- through twelfth-grade struggling readers read 312,779 books and 9,580,694,680 words during the
2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
21
Crank, Ellen Hopkins (4.3, UG)
2
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG)
22
The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell (5.3, UG)
3
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
23
The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family,
Dave Pelzer (5.1, UG)
4
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
24
Brothers in Arms, Paul Langan (4.1, MG+)
5
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
25
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast (5.4, UG)
6
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
26
Lost and Found, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
7
A Child Called "It", Dave Pelzer (5.8, UG)
27
A Matter of Trust, Anne Schraff (4.6, MG+)
8
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
28
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
9
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
29
The Fallen, Paul Langan (4.2, MG+)
10
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson (4.5, UG)
30
Until We Meet Again, Anne Schraff (4.8, MG+)
11
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
31
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
12
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
32
Summer of Secrets, Paul Langan (4.6, MG+)
13
Tears of a Tiger, Sharon M. Draper (4.3, UG)
33
The Crucible, Arthur Miller (4.9, UG)
14
Secrets in the Shadows, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
34
Search for Safety, John Langan (4.2, MG+)
15
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
35
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
16
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff (4.5, MG+)
36
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
17
Blood Is Thicker, Paul Langan (4.8, MG+)
37
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (6.0, UG)
18
The Bully, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
38
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
19
Forged by Fire, Sharon M. Draper (4.7, MG)
39
Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG)
20
The Gun/Payback, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
40
Shattered, Paul Langan (4.4, MG+)
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by ninth- through twelfth-grade struggling readers was 4.9. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
38
H
H
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers,
Selected Grade Ranges—High/Low Books
As noted earlier in this section, finding suitable reading material for struggling readers is especially
challenging, and yet these are the students that need the most reading practice. Struggling readers may
not realize that everyone needs to practice reading; instead they often assume there are two categories
of readers—those who can read well and their category, those who cannot. Consequently, these students
are sometimes reluctant or resistant to the very act of reading, so care must be taken to find books with
content of high enough interest to pique their curiosities while written at readability levels low enough so
they can be understood and enjoyed when read independently. One option for struggling readers is to
read books publishers have labeled as “high/low,” to indicate high interest, low readability.
Of the more than 360,000 students in the Accelerated Reader 2009–2010 database whom we defined as
struggling readers,9 a group of 102,386 students read a total of 272,259 books that publishers labeled
as “high/low.” High/low, or high-interest/low readability, books are intentionally written with high-interest
content yet at low enough readability levels so that students who struggle with reading may be able to
comprehend them when read independently. On the following pages are lists of the Top 40 high/low
books most widely read by struggling readers in grades 4 and 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. (To see the Top 40
books all struggling readers read overall, see p. 35.)
An excellent way to inspire a love of reading in struggling readers is to help them find the key to “unlock”
great literature—reading intervention programs, such as Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader,
provide supports including reading books to students, reading books with students, encouraging
discussion about books, and providing instruction about critical reading skills, to help make a wide
range of literature accessible to the struggling reader. Following the high/low lists is a school spotlight
featuring the fourth–seventh graders at Surprise Valley Elementary School in Cedarville, CA, and their
teacher Patricia Smith, who took part in the Successful Reader intervention program pilot during the
2009–2010 school year. To learn more about what these kids were reading, see p. 43.
9
truggling readers were defined as students with STAR Reading (a nationally normed, computer-adaptive, standardized test of
S
general reading achievement) pretest scores that were two or more grade levels below their grade placement (e.g., a sixth-grade
student with a grade equivalent (GE) score of 4.0 or lower).
39
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers in Selected Grade Ranges—High/Low Books
GRADES 4 and 5
In total, 30,478 fourth- and fifth-grade struggling readers read 71,298 high/low books during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Monster Trucks (Horsepower), Matt Doeden (2.5, MG)
21
The U.S. Army (U.S. Armed Forces), Matt Doeden (3.0, MG)
2
Sports Cars, Matt Doeden (2.6, MG)
22
Red Riding Hood: The Graphic Novel, Martin Powell (2.2, MG)
3
Dirt Bikes, Matt Doeden (2.5, MG)
23
Disgusting Jobs, Connie Colwell Miller (3.1, MG)
4
Superbikes, Mandy Marx (2.8, MG)
24
Stock Cars (Horsepower), Matt Doeden (2.7, MG)
5
Poison Pages, Michael Dahl (2.7, MG)
25
Cave of the Bookworms, Michael Dahl (3.0, MG)
6
Lowriders (Capstone), Matt Doeden (2.6, MG)
26
ATVs, Mandy R. Marx (3.0, MG)
7
Disgusting Foods, Connie Colwell Miller (2.9, MG)
27
Demolition Derby Cars, Mandy R. Marx (2.9, MG)
8
Dragsters, Matt Doeden (2.2, MG)
28
Fear in the Dark, Peter Lancett (2.1, MG)
9
Skateboarding, Matt Doeden (2.4, MG)
29
Snowboarding, Matt Doeden (2.4, MG)
10
Indy Cars, Carrie A. Braulick (2.5, MG)
30
Rumpelstiltskin: The Graphic Novel, Martin Powell (2.6, MG)
11
Funny Cars, Angie Peterson Kaelberer (2.1, MG)
31
BMX Racing, Angie Peterson Kaelberer (2.4, MG)
12
BMX Freestyle, Matt Doeden (2.2, MG)
32
The Book That Dripped Blood, Michael Dahl (3.2, MG)
13
Shifter Karts: High-Speed Go-Karts, Matt Doeden (2.4, MG)
33
The Eye in the Graveyard, Michael Dahl (3.1, MG)
14
Tuner Cars, Sarah L. Schuette (2.8, MG)
34
Jets, Carrie A. Braulick (3.0, MG)
15
Disgusting Animals, Connie Colwell Miller (3.1, MG)
35
Sprint Cars, Sarah L. Schuette (3.1, MG)
16
Choppers, Mandy Marx (2.7, MG)
36
Beauty and the Beast: The Graphic Novel, Michael Dahl
(2.6, MG)
17
Pickup Trucks, Sarah L. Schuette (2.8, MG)
37
The Creeping Bookends, Michael Dahl (3.1, MG)
18
Motocross Freestyle, Matt Doeden (2.4, MG)
38
Formula One Cars, Sarah L. Schuette (2.7, MG)
19
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel, Blake A. Hoena
(2.3, MG)
39
Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Sarah L. Schuette (3.1, MG)
20
Snowmobiles, Matt Doeden (2.4, MG)
40
Up the Hill, Matt Sims (2.0, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by fourth- and fifth-grade struggling readers was 2.6. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3), MG = middle
grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
40
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers in Selected Grade Ranges—High/Low Books
GRADES 6–8
In total, 59,665 sixth- through eighth-grade struggling readers read 165,430 high/low books during the 2009–2010
school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff (4.5, MG+)
21
Cave of the Bookworms, Michael Dahl (3.0, MG)
2
Secrets in the Shadows, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
22
The Creeping Bookends, Michael Dahl (3.1, MG)
3
The Bully, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
23
Poison Pages, Michael Dahl (2.7, MG)
4
Brothers in Arms, Paul Langan (4.1, MG+)
24
Escape from the Pop-Up Prison, Michael Dahl (3.3, MG)
5
The Gun/Payback, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
25
The Smashing Scroll, Michael Dahl (3.3, MG)
6
Blood Is Thicker, Paul Langan (4.8, MG+)
26
Disgusting Animals, Connie Colwell Miller (3.1, MG)
7
A Matter of Trust, Anne Schraff (4.6, MG+)
27
The Twister Trap, Michael Dahl (3.2, MG)
8
Lost and Found, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
28
The Word Eater, Michael Dahl (3.3, MG)
9
Until We Meet Again, Anne Schraff (4.8, MG+)
29
Disgusting Jobs, Connie Colwell Miller (3.1, MG)
10
Search for Safety, John Langan (4.2, MG+)
30
Disgusting Places, Connie Colwell Miller (3.5, MG)
11
The Fallen, Paul Langan (4.2, MG+)
31
Sports Cars, Matt Doeden (2.6, MG)
12
Summer of Secrets, Paul Langan (4.6, MG+)
32
Disgusting Foods, Connie Colwell Miller (2.9, MG)
13
Shattered, Paul Langan (4.4, MG+)
33
Something Evil, David Orme (3.2, MG)
14
No Way Out, Peggy Kern (4.1, MG+)
34
Superbikes, Mandy Marx (2.8, MG)
15
Schooled, Paul Langan (4.9, MG+)
35
Basketball War, Jonny Zucker (3.8, MG)
16
The Book That Dripped Blood, Michael Dahl (3.2, MG)
36
Skateboard Power, Jonny Zucker (3.0, MG)
17
The Beast Beneath the Stairs, Michael Dahl (3.4, MG)
37
Ferrari, Lisa Bullard (3.4, MG)
18
The Eye in the Graveyard, Michael Dahl (3.1, MG)
38
Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Sarah L. Schuette (3.1, MG)
19
Attack of the Paper Bats, Michael Dahl (3.5, MG)
39
Disgusting Plants, Connie Colwell Miller (3.3, MG)
20
The Golden Book of Death, Michael Dahl (3.5, MG)
40
Lamborghini, Randal C. Hill (3.4, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by sixth- through eighth-grade struggling readers was 4.1. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
41
Top 40 Books Read by Struggling Readers in Selected Grade Ranges—High/Low Books
GRADES 9–12
In total, 12,243 ninth- through twelfth-grade struggling readers read 35,531 high/low books during the 2009–2010
school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Secrets in the Shadows, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
21
The Eye in the Graveyard, Michael Dahl (3.1, MG)
2
Someone to Love Me, Anne Schraff (4.5, MG+)
22
Back-up Quarterback, Eleanor Robins (2.7, UG)
3
Blood Is Thicker, Paul Langan (4.8, MG+)
23
Tupac Shakur, Nathan Olson (4.5, MG)
4
The Bully, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
24
Tell, Norah McClintock (4.0, UG)
5
The Gun/Payback, Paul Langan (4.7, MG+)
25
The Easy Way, Eleanor Robins (2.5, UG)
6
Brothers in Arms, Paul Langan (4.1, MG+)
26
Juice, Eric Walters (3.9, UG)
7
Lost and Found, Anne Schraff (4.7, MG+)
27
One Date Too Many, Eleanor Robins (2.3, UG)
8
A Matter of Trust, Anne Schraff (4.6, MG+)
28
The Book That Dripped Blood, Michael Dahl (3.2, MG)
9
The Fallen, Paul Langan (4.2, MG+)
29
Fear in the Dark, Peter Lancett (2.1, MG)
10
Until We Meet Again, Anne Schraff (4.8, MG+)
30
It Is Not a Date, Eleanor Robins (2.3, UG)
11
Summer of Secrets, Paul Langan (4.6, MG+)
31
The Golden Book of Death, Michael Dahl (3.5, MG)
12
Search for Safety, John Langan (4.2, MG+)
32
Escape from the Pop-Up Prison, Michael Dahl (3.3, MG)
13
Shattered, Paul Langan (4.4, MG+)
33
Saving Grace, Darlene Ryan (3.7, MG+)
14
Schooled, Paul Langan (4.9, MG+)
34
Bang, Norah McClintock (3.9, UG)
15
No Way Out, Peggy Kern (4.1, MG+)
35
Poison Pages, Michael Dahl (2.7, MG)
16
Romeo and Juliet, Tom Gorman (3.6, UG)
36
Something Girl, Beth Goobie (3.6, UG)
17
Romeo and Juliet (Fitzgerald Books), William Shakespeare
(3.2, MG)
37
The Right Kind of Win, Eleanor Robins (2.5, UG)
18
Boy of Their Dreams, Eleanor Robins (2.3, UG)
38
House Party, Eric Walters (3.9, UG)
19
Too Late, Eleanor Robins (2.5, UG)
39
Deer Hunting, Randy Frahm (4.9, MG)
20
Attack of the Paper Bats, Michael Dahl (3.5, MG)
40
The Creeping Bookends, Michael Dahl (3.1, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by ninth- through twelfth-grade struggling readers was 4.3. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
42
School Spotlight
What Struggling Readers in Grades 4–7 Are Reading
at Surprise Valley Elementary School, Cedarville, CA
Educator
Background
Patricia Smith
was first
hired by
Surprise Valley
Elementary to
teach fourth- to eighth-grade
science. As a nearby gold
mine closed and the economy
declined, residents were forced
to leave the area and Smith’s
role changed. She now teaches
all subjects to a combined class
of sixth and seventh graders.
Smith’s teacher credentialing
is through the University of San
Francisco. She has earned
Renaissance Learning Reading
Model and Master Teacher
Certification many times.
School Profile
Surprise Valley Elementary School
Cedarville, California
Students: 87; Grades: K–8
Intervention: 10 students, Gr. 4–7
School Race/Ethnicity
Black or
African
Other: 1% American: 1%
Hispanic
or Latino:
28%
American
Indian or
Alaska
Native:
15%
White: 55%
School Demographics
Rural
Title I Schoolwide
Limited English Proficiency: 5%
Free or reduced lunch: 66%
The students at Surprise Valley Elementary School in
Cedarville, CA, face unique challenges. The 87 students
who attend Surprise Valley come to the school from an area
of 1,200 square miles, reaching beyond the state line into
Nevada. They live in one of the largest counties in the state in
acreage with a population of only 10,000 residents.
In this rural valley, there are no stoplights and extracurricular
activities outside of school are hard to come by as the county
has no bowling alley, skating rink, or arcade; the nearest
shopping mall is more than three hours away; and the local
theater has one
showing per week.
“They really enjoy the books being
read to them by a professional reader
[during Instructional Book Club].
They no longer have to struggle with
pronunciations and can keep up at a
speed that allows them to construct
the ‘pictures in their heads.’”
The distance
from Cedarville
to any larger
metropolitan areas
also limits the
ability of the town’s
– Patricia Smith, teacher
teachers and
parents to expose
their children to cultural opportunities, which creates a larger
dependence on literature and technology in the classroom.
A few years ago, as educators at Surprise Valley recognized
that many of their students had some need for intervention,
the school began to implement varied programs that met
Tier 2 requirements for Response to Intervention. One such
intervention was Successful Reader, which was implemented
to address reading comprehension issues for students
scoring below
“Every time I read a book I learn
grade level on
something new. It does make me a
the state test.
better student.”
“I took part in
the first pilot of
the program in the summer of 2008,” said Smith. “The
summer school class thoroughly enjoyed the program,
and I was hooked.”
– Sixth grader, Surprise Valley Elementary School
Each day, 30 minutes is set aside for intervention, and for
students that qualify for Successful Reader, this time is spent
in Instructional Book Club, where students work on prereading activities, learn comprehension strategies, listen to a
professionally narrated audiobook, and discuss the book as
a group. This approach helps students access higher-level
literature they may not have been able to experience when
reading independently.
43
“The format of the lessons focuses on the aspects of
comprehension these students were either missing, or weak
in, through everyday practice,” said Smith. “Successful
Reader facilitates the practice of skills that are necessary
for making meaning.”
Her students also see the benefit of the intervention. “My
reading skills have helped me in a lot of things, like reading
my History questions,” said a fifth grader. “I also know that
my reading skills will help me in the future, like with bills.“
During Instructional Book Club,
Smith’s Successful Reader class
listened to the following titles as
professionally narrated audiobooks:
H All About Sam
H Archer’s Quest
H Barbaro: America’s Horse
H Henry Ford: Young Man with Ideas
H Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker
H Kickoff!
H The Pinballs
H Top Secret
Students spend
an additional 30
minutes reading
independently
within the regular
classroom.
They take
Accelerated
Reader
comprehension
and vocabulary
quizzes both on
books listened
to and read
independently.
Smith employs AR Best Practices to ensure students are
successful, including testing students periodically with
STAR Reading to set and adjust reading goals and monitor
progress. In addition, she monitors student reading daily
using reading logs and checks with students to ensure they
are reading within their ZPD—the reading range assigned
based on their individual STAR test results. Smith also
requires that students have her sign their TOPS Reports,
which print after each quiz taken in Accelerated Reader.
The immediate feedback these reports supply motivates
students and allows Smith to conference with them as
needed to discuss their results.
What Smith says about the Top 20 books
Smith’s students are struggling with reading, so she was happy
to see they are finding enjoyment in reading, perhaps for the
first time. As part of the Successful Reader program, Smith
has worked hard to help these students use comprehension
strategies and understand the importance of selecting a book
to read from within their ZPD ranges. With these new skills at
their fingertips, she sees quite clearly what drove their choices:
easy to read and relate to, enjoyable topics.
“Reading can’t be enjoyable if it is a chore. Students look
forward to Successful Reader. They are able to sit still and
maintain their focus.”
44
Top 20 Books Read
2009–10 School Year
Title, Author
(ATOS Book Level, Interest Level*)
1
Dexter the Tough, Margaret Peterson
Haddix (4.2, LG)
2
Lunch Walks Among Us, Jim Benton (5.0, LG)
3
Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech (4.9, MG) 3
4
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav
Pilkey (4.3, MG)
5
Call It Courage, Armstrong Sperry
(6.2, MG)
6
How to Steal a Dog, Barbara O'Connor
(4.0, MG)
7
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney
(5.2, MG)
8
Attack of the 50-Ft. Cupid, Jim Benton
(4.6, LG)
9
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
10
Irwin the Sock, David Klein (4.3, LG)
11
Shampoozel: Seriously Silly Stories,
Laurence Anholt (5.0, MG)
12
Captain Underpants and the Preposterous
Plight of the Purple Potty People, Dav Pilkey
(4.7, MG)
13
Return to the Clans, Erin Hunter (2.7, MG)
14
Boys Are Dogs, Leslie Margolis (4.2, MG)
15
The Invisible Fran, Jim Benton (5.2, LG)
16
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of
Professor Poopypants, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
17
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
(5.4, MG)
18
Three Billy Goats Gruff, Glen Rounds
(3.8, LG)
19
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the
Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from
Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
20
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of
the Bionic Booger Boy, Part I:The Night of the
Nasty Nostril Nuggets, Dav Pilkey (5.2, MG)
3
3H
* Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3), MG = middle
grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up),
UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and
interest level inform book selection.
3 Book was read as part of the language arts class
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature
choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader
intervention program.
3
H
Section Three:
Books High-Achieving Students
Are Reading Most Often
Reflections on Reading by Louis Sachar..................................................................................46
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12......47
School Spotlight: What Kids in Grades 5 and 6 Are Reading
at Reed Intermediate School, Newtown, CT...................................................................................57
Reflections on Reading
by Louis Sachar
When I was in elementary school I would order two or three books from the
Scholastic Book Club each month, but I wouldn’t call myself an avid reader. I
mostly ordered sports stories, where the main character—whom nobody believed
in—would hit a game-winning homerun in the ninth inning, or come off the bench
to score the winning touchdown. It was mostly baseball and football, sometimes
basketball. Soccer wasn’t on anyone’s radar. I remember reading one tennis story
which I think was titled, Set Point, but I can’t remember anything else about it.
I also read animal stories. These usually involved wild animals learning to make
it on their own. I remember I once made a list of my favorite books and Yellow
Eyes was number one. I think it was about a cougar, but I can’t tell you who the
author was, or anything else about it. Sea Pup was another one on my list. I can
only guess it was about a sea lion.
Don’t assume from my list-making that I was a lover of books. I wasn’t. I liked making lists.
This changed when I reached high school. We were assigned books by authors whose names I
had heard before; Hemingway, Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald. I was thrilled that I’d actually have the
opportunity to read their books. Presumably others thought of it as a long boring homework assignment,
but to me it seemed like I was getting the chance to visit the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Majal. These authors
were famous!
I soon found out why. While I still struggled with James Joyce and Henry James, I was blown away by
Steinbeck and Dostoyevsky. There is a big difference between Yellow Eyes and Grapes of Wrath.
I went to high school from 1968–1972. People remember the 60’s as a time of drugs and protest
movements, but what is often forgotten is that it was a time of intellectual curiosity. Besides reading for
class, my friends and I also read books by Kurt Vonnegut, J.D. Salinger, Ken Kesey and others. These
authors were superstars of our generation, right up there with the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob
Dylan. My favorite authors became my heroes.
They still are. To me, a novel isn’t about plot or characters, but about the author. It still seems incredible
that I can open a book and share thoughts with the tortured and brilliant mind of Dostoyevsky, who spoke
a different language, lived in a very different world, and died long before I was born.
I wonder if there are teenagers who still feel this way about authors and reading. I’m afraid that
computers, iPhones, etc., have led to people having shorter attention spans. How can someone take
the time to read War and Peace when “World of Warcraft” is just a click away? Even television shows and
movies rely on short scenes with quick cuts. The old formats are too slow. People have gotten used to
instant gratification.
But the gratification isn’t as deep. Books have enriched my life more than a computer ever will. Cat’s
Cradle, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Anna Karenina, Catch Twenty-Two, The Brothers Karamazov,
Franny and Zooey, and East of Eden, are more than just a list of some of my favorite books. They are a
part of who I am.
Louis Sachar is the author of the award-winning Small Steps and Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake. His novel Holes
won the prestigious National Book Award and the Newbery Medal and was a New York Times bestseller. His books for younger readers include
There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, The Boy Who Lost His Face, Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes, and the Marvin Redpost series, among many others.
The Cardturner, his latest novel, was published in May 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers .
Photo by Perry Hagopian
46
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10%
of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
Of the students in the Accelerated Reader database for whom reading achievement test data were
available, approximately 6% placed in the 90th percentile or above on the nationally normed STAR
Reading assessment. Specifically, their final spring national percentile rank scores from STAR Reading
were between 90 and 99. Because their test scores were higher than at least 90 percent of their peers
nationally, we refer to these high achievers as the “top 10%.” In 2009–2010 these students read more
than 9.6 million books.
On the following pages are lists of the Top 40 books most widely read by students in the top 10% of
reading achievement in each grade, 1–12.
Watch for a H symbol in the book lists within this section, which indicates books among the high-quality,
authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program. To learn
more about Successful Reader, see pp. 35 and 43.
Following the lists is a school spotlight featuring the fifth and sixth graders at Reed Intermediate School
in Newtown, CT, and their librarian Ginny Snowden. To learn more about what these kids were reading
during the 2009–2010 school year, see p. 57.
47
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 1
In total, 41,316 first graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 2,973,067 books and 3,688,361,952 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
21
There's a Wocket in My Pocket!, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
2
If You Give a Pig a Pancake, Laura Numeroff (2.5, LG)
22
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, Dr. Seuss (1.8, LG)
3
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff (2.7, LG)
23
Frog and Toad Together, Arnold Lobel (2.9, LG)
4
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle (2.9, LG)
24
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown (1.8, LG)
5
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura Numeroff (2.4, LG)
25
Mummies in the Morning, Mary Pope Osborne (2.7, LG)
6
The Foot Book, Dr. Seuss (0.6, LG)
26
Frog and Toad Are Friends, Arnold Lobel (2.9, LG)
7
Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss (1.5, LG)
27
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats (2.5, LG)
8
The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (2.1, LG)
28
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard (2.7, LG)
9
Are You My Mother?, P.D. Eastman (1.6, LG)
29
Go, Dog. Go!, P.D. Eastman (1.2, LG)
10
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura Numeroff (2.4, LG)
30
The Knight at Dawn, Mary Pope Osborne (2.9, LG)
11
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak (3.4, LG)
31
Biscuit Goes to School, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (0.9, LG)
12
Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.4, LG)
32
Afternoon on the Amazon, Mary Pope Osborne (2.6, LG)
13
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Dr. Seuss (1.7, LG)
33
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
14
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Laura Numeroff (2.1, LG)
34
Bathtime for Biscuit, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.1, LG)
15
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne (2.6, LG)
35
Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventures, Cynthia
Rylant (2.7, LG)
16
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen Cronin (2.3, LG)
36
Super Fly Guy, Tedd Arnold (1.7, LG)
17
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, Dr. Seuss (2.2, LG)
37
Night of the Ninjas, Mary Pope Osborne (2.7, LG)
18
Biscuit Finds a Friend, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (0.8, LG)
38
Biscuit's New Trick, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.0, LG)
19
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
39
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, Barbara Park (2.9, LG)
20
Danny and the Dinosaur, Syd Hoff (2.3, LG)
40
Junie B., First Grader (at Last!), Barbara Park (2.6, LG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by first graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 2.2. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
48
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 2
In total, 33,589 second graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 2,599,843 books and 10,574,488,980 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
21
Afternoon on the Amazon, Mary Pope Osborne (2.6, LG)
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
22
Civil War on Sunday, Mary Pope Osborne (3.4, LG)
3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
23
High Tide in Hawaii, Mary Pope Osborne (3.4, LG)
4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
24
Dragon of the Red Dawn, Mary Pope Osborne (3.9, LG)
5
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann (3.4, LG)
25
The Knight at Dawn, Mary Pope Osborne (2.9, LG)
6
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak (3.4, LG)
26
Vacation Under the Volcano, Mary Pope Osborne (3.3, LG)
7
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi Barrett (4.3, LG)
27
Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin (2.8, LG)
8
Dinosaurs Before Dark, Mary Pope Osborne (2.6, LG)
28
Earthquake in the Early Morning, Mary Pope Osborne (3.3, LG)
9
Corduroy, Don Freeman (3.5, LG)
29
Polar Bears Past Bedtime, Mary Pope Osborne (3.3, LG)
10
Tonight on the Titanic, Mary Pope Osborne (3.1, LG)
30
Revolutionary War on Wednesday, Mary Pope Osborne
(3.5, LG)
11
Dolphins at Daybreak, Mary Pope Osborne (3.1, LG)
31
Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night, Cynthia Rylant (2.2, LG)
12
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,
Judith Viorst (3.7, LG)
32
Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Harry Allard (2.7, LG)
13
Mummies in the Morning, Mary Pope Osborne (2.7, LG)
33
Lions at Lunchtime, Mary Pope Osborne (3.0, LG)
14
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen Cronin (2.3, LG)
34
Stellaluna, Janell Cannon (3.5, LG)
15
Hour of the Olympics, Mary Pope Osborne (3.3, LG)
35
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff (2.7, LG)
16
The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, Mike Thaler (3.2, LG)
36
Pirates Past Noon, Mary Pope Osborne (2.8, LG)
17
Twister on Tuesday, Mary Pope Osborne (3.2, LG)
37
Midnight on the Moon, Mary Pope Osborne (2.8, LG)
18
Ghost Town at Sundown, Mary Pope Osborne (3.0, LG)
38
Dingoes at Dinnertime, Mary Pope Osborne (3.2, LG)
19
Sunset of the Sabertooth, Mary Pope Osborne (3.0, LG)
39
Night of the Ninjas, Mary Pope Osborne (2.7, LG)
20
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon Scieszka (3.0, LG)
40
Tigers at Twilight, Mary Pope Osborne (3.0, LG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by second graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 3.5. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
49
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 3
In total, 29,587 third graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 1,708,998 books and 21,121,508,386 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
21
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor
Poopypants, Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
22
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie
Woman, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
23
Dogzilla, Dav Pilkey (4.2, LG)
4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
24
Boom Town, Sonia Levitin (3.7, LG)
5
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
25
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
6
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG)
26
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume (3.3, MG)
7
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
27
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, Judith Viorst
(3.4, LG)
8
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
28
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China, Ed Young
(3.5, LG)
9
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judi Barrett (4.3, LG)
29
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Beverly Cleary (5.6, MG)
10
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
30
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl (4.8, MG)
11
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
31
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket (6.4, MG)
12
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
32
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic
Booger Boy, Part I:The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets,
Dav Pilkey (5.2, MG)
13
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (4.1, MG)
33
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
14
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner (4.0, MG)
34
The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Beverly Cleary (5.1, MG)
15
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo (3.9, MG)
35
Two Bad Ants, Chris Van Allsburg (4.7, LG)
16
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
36
If You Made a Million, David M. Schwartz (4.1, LG)
17
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets,
Dav Pilkey (4.7, MG)
37
The BFG, Roald Dahl (4.8, MG)
18
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
38
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Robinson (5.1, MG)
19
The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Dav Pilkey (4.3, MG)
39
Dragon of the Red Dawn, Mary Pope Osborne (3.9, LG)
20
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty
Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space, Dav Pilkey (4.4, MG)
40
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic
Booger Boy, Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous
Robo-Boogers, Dav Pilkey (4.9, MG)
H
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by third graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 4.9. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection..
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
50
H
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 4
In total, 33,271 fourth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 1,281,758 books and 33,736,095,309 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
21
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo (3.9, MG)
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
22
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket (6.3, MG)
3
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
23
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Robinson (5.1, MG)
4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
24
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
5
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
25
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
6
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
26
Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan (3.4, MG)
7
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
27
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell (5.4, MG)
8
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (4.1, MG)
28
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket (6.2, MG)
9
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
29
The Austere Academy, Lemony Snicket (6.7, MG)
10
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
30
Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner (4.0, MG)
11
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
31
The Ersatz Elevator, Lemony Snicket (6.6, MG)
12
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
32
No Talking, Andrew Clements (5.0, MG)
13
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume (3.3, MG)
H
33
The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
14
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
34
The Hostile Hospital, Lemony Snicket (6.9, MG)
15
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket (6.4, MG)
35
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (4.4, MG)
16
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
36
The BFG, Roald Dahl (4.8, MG)
17
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling (6.9, MG+)
37
The Vile Village, Lemony Snicket (6.7, MG)
18
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
38
The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo (4.7, MG)
19
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG+)
39
The Carnivorous Carnival, Lemony Snicket (6.6, MG)
20
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket (6.3, MG)
40
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl (4.8, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by fourth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 5.3. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
51
H
H
H
H
H
H
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 5
In total, 22,808 fifth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 708,137 books and 29,342,788,504 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
21
Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG)
2
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
22
The Sign of the Beaver, Elizabeth George Speare (4.9, MG)
3
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
23
The Wide Window, Lemony Snicket (6.3, MG)
4
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
24
The Austere Academy, Lemony Snicket (6.7, MG)
5
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
25
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell (5.4, MG)
6
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (4.1, MG)
26
The Miserable Mill, Lemony Snicket (6.2, MG)
7
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
27
The Ersatz Elevator, Lemony Snicket (6.6, MG)
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
28
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
9
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
29
Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG)
30
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
H
10
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
11
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling (6.9, MG+)
31
The Hostile Hospital, Lemony Snicket (6.9, MG)
12
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
32
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
13
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
33
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
14
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
34
The Vile Village, Lemony Snicket (6.7, MG)
15
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
35
The Carnivorous Carnival, Lemony Snicket (6.6, MG)
16
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
(7.2, MG)
36
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls (4.9, MG)
17
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
H
37
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
18
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG+)
38
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson (4.6, MG)
19
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket (6.4, MG)
39
The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
20
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket (6.3, MG)
40
Found, Margaret Peterson Haddix (5.0, MG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by fifth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 5.4. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection..
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
52
H
H
H
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 6
In total, 9,606 sixth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 240,421 books and 13,920,995,988 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
H
1
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
21
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
2
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
22
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
3
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
23
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
24
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
5
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (4.1, MG)
25
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
6
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
26
Eldest, Christopher Paolini (7.0, UG)
7
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen (5.7, MG)
27
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (7.8, UG)
8
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling (6.9, MG+)
28
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG)
9
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
29
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
10
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
30
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (5.3, MG)
11
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG)
31
Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz (5.1, MG+)
12
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
32
The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket (6.4, MG)
13
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
33
Found, Margaret Peterson Haddix (5.0, MG)
14
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
34
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli (4.7, MG)
15
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
35
Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer (5.0, MG)
16
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
36
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James Patterson (4.6, MG+)
17
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
37
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls (4.9, MG)
18
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG+)
38
The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
19
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
39
Inkheart, Cornelia Funke (5.4, MG)
20
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
40
The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket (6.3, MG)
H
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by sixth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 5.3. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
53
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 7
In total, 5,466 seventh graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 109,264 books and 7,477,444,272 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
21
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
2
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
22
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
3
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
23
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James Patterson
(4.6, MG+)
4
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
24
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
5
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
25
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
6
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
26
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports,
James Patterson (4.8, MG+)
7
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
27
Maximum Ride: School's Out—Forever, James Patterson
(4.4, MG+)
8
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (4.1, MG)
28
Uglies, Scott Westerfeld (5.2, MG+)
9
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
29
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
H
10
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling (6.9, MG+)
30
Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz (5.1, MG+)
11
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
31
A Christmas Carol (Unabridged), Charles Dickens (6.7, MG)
12
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
32
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
13
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
33
Maximum Ride: Max, James Patterson (5.2, MG+)
14
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
34
The Ruins of Gorlan, John Flanagan (7.0, MG)
15
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (7.8, UG)
35
Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer (5.0, MG)
16
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
36
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor (5.7, MG)
17
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
37
Pretties, Scott Westerfeld (5.7, MG+)
18
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG+)
38
Ark Angel, Anthony Horowitz (5.0, MG+)
19
Eldest, Christopher Paolini (7.0, UG)
39
The Burning Bridge, John Flanagan (6.3, MG)
20
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
40
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning, James Patterson (5.0, MG+)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by seventh graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 5.4. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
54
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADE 8
In total, 3,118 eighth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 54,571 books and 4,003,452,758 words during
the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
21
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
2
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
22
Eldest, Christopher Paolini (7.0, UG)
3
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
23
Maximum Ride: School’s Out—Forever, James Patterson
(4.4, MG+)
4
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
24
Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG)
5
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG)
25
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
6
The Giver, Lois Lowry (5.7, MG)
26
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
7
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (4.1, MG)
27
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
8
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
28
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports,
James Patterson (4.8, MG+)
9
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
29
The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe (7.3, UG)
10
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
30
City of Bones, Cassandra Clare (5.0, UG)
11
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling (6.9, MG+)
31
Maximum Ride: Max, James Patterson (5.2, MG+)
12
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (7.8, UG)
32
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
13
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
33
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (6.6, UG)
14
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
34
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (5.2, UG)
15
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
35
The Call of the Wild, Jack London (8.0, MG)
16
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
36
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning, James Patterson (5.0, MG+)
17
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James Patterson
(4.6, MG+)
37
Uglies, Scott Westerfeld (5.2, MG+)
18
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG+)
38
The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien (6.1, UG)
19
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
39
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
20
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
40
The Pearl, John Steinbeck (7.1, UG)
H
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by eighth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 5.5. Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
H Book is among the high-quality, authentic literature choices in Renaissance Learning’s Successful Reader intervention program.
55
H
Top 40 Books Read by Students in the Top 10% of Reading Achievement, Grades 1–12
GRADES 9–12
In total, 2,190 ninth–twelfth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement read 22,037 books and 1,897,768,867 words
during the 2009–2010 school year.
Title, Author (ATOS Book Level, Interest Level)*
1
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
21
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (5.2, UG)
2
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG)
22
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks (5.1, UG)
3
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (4.9, UG)
23
1984, George Orwell (8.9, UG)
4
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (5.3, MG+)
24
City of Bones, Cassandra Clare (5.0, UG)
5
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald (7.3, UG)
25
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG+)
6
Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG)
26
Dear John, Nicholas Sparks (5.5, UG)
7
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (4.7, MG)
27
Eragon, Christopher Paolini (5.6, UG)
8
New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (4.7, UG)
28
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (7.2, MG)
9
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (7.8, UG)
29
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (6.8, MG)
10
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling (6.9, MG+)
30
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
11
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG)
31
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (6.7, MG)
12
Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (4.5, UG)
32
Marked: A House of Night Novel, P.C. Cast (5.4, UG)
13
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (4.8, UG)
33
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
14
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (5.2, UG)
34
Eldest, Christopher Paolini (7.0, UG)
15
Lord of the Flies, William Golding (5.0, UG)
35
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Unabridged), Mark Twain
(6.6, MG)
16
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (4.6, MG)
36
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan (4.2, MG)
17
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (4.3, MG)
37
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (6.0, UG)
18
The Scarlet Letter (Unabridged), Nathaniel Hawthorne (11.7, UG)
38
The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger (4.7, UG)
19
The Crucible, Arthur Miller (4.9, UG)
39
City of Glass, Cassandra Clare (5.3, UG)
20
Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG)
40
City of Ashes, Cassandra Clare (5.0, UG)
* The average ATOS book readability level of the top 40 books read by ninth–twelfth graders in the top 10% of reading achievement was 5.8. Interest levels: LG = lower grades
(K–3), MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades (9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest level inform book selection.
56
School Spotlight
What Kids in Grades 5 and 6 Are Reading
at Reed Intermediate School, Newtown, CT
Eductor
Background
An educator for
nearly 30 years,
Ginny Snowden
has been a
library media
specialist for the past 11 years,
and is in her seventh year in that
position at Reed Intermediate
School. She has also taught
middle school social studies
and language arts. Snowden is
a graduate of William Paterson
State College in New Jersey, and
has completed graduate work at
Villanova University, University of
Connecticut, and the University
of New Hampshire. Snowden
holds Reading Master Library
and Reading Master Coordinator
Certifications.
School Profile
Reed Intermediate School
Newtown, Connecticut
Students: 856; Grades: 5 and 6
Race/Ethnicity
Black or
African
Asian or
Pacific Islander: 3% American: 1%
Hispanic
or Latino: 3%
White: 93%
Demographics
Small Town
Free or reduced lunch: 4%
After Reed Intermediate School in Newtown, CT, opened
its doors to about a thousand mostly affluent fifth and sixth
graders, Ginny Snowden began as the library media specialist
with a library that was half-empty and underutilized. She
methodically filled the modern media center with 17,000
books and soon lots of readers followed.
When first introduced to the Accelerated Reader program by
her new principal, Snowden admits she was skeptical about any
reading strategies other than good teaching. But her principal
encouraged her to try AR, and during her second year she
did—and found it worked better than she expected.
At first she developed an incentive program based on points,
and promoted the program during each class’s weekly visit
to the library. She
presented book chats
“I read more now than I used to—and it
and encouraged
has helped me in my other classes.”
students to talk about
– Fifth grader, Reed Intermediate School
books they liked.
“It was working, but I was missing some of the kids. There were
a thousand students, and it was hard to keep track of them all—
especially those who were not experiencing success,” she said.
The following summer, Snowden was able to use AR
Enterprise Edition with individualized goal setting for each
of the 200 students with which she worked and found
tremendous success.
To keep up this momentum during the next school year,
Snowden enlisted some teachers to use the program with
AR Best Practices, like goal setting, in their classrooms. The
result? It was “contagious,” and classroom use of AR grew
steadily to the point where the language arts committee
agreed to include independent reading as part of the reading
curriculum. This meant that each classroom teacher would give
students 30 minutes daily to read independently and take AR
quizzes. In addition, students were encouraged to read for 30
minutes at home.
Snowden continues to champion AR in her school, and now
guides about 35 teachers on how to successfully use the
program according to AR Best Practices. She feels her role
as librarian is to reinforce class-based work with talks about
popular books and to promote AR in the library and halls. In
class and during lunch, teachers liberally give out passes to
the library.
57
“There are still a few holdouts—the ones who say ‘Don’t give me
one more thing to do’. But overall, teachers love it, and so do the
kids. And we’ve proven that it works” she said.
That proof is in the
“I like reading because it exercises
annual 10 percent
my brain.”
increase in the number
of students who are
– Sixth grader, Reed Intermediate School
meeting state proficiency
reading scores on the
Connecticut Mastery Tests over the last two years. It is also
seen through the doubling of the number of books students
have read, based on reports from AR, since the school first
implemented the program.
Top 20 Books Read
2009–10 School Year
Title, Author
(ATOS Book Level, Interest Level*)
1
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff
Kinney (5.2, MG)
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last
Straw, Jeff Kinney (5.4, MG)
3
The Lemonade War, Jacqueline
Davies (4.1, MG)
4
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
(4.7, MG)
Snowden reports this data played a large role in school officials—
faced with a budget crisis—halting nearly-final plans to eliminate
two library assistant positions at the school.
5
Swindle, Gordon Korman (4.9, MG)
6
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,
Jeff Kinney (5.2, MG)
“We had teachers at faculty meetings praising Accelerated
Reader, and we had more and more kids asking ‘Can we read?’”
7
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
(5.2, MG)
8
No Talking, Andrew Clements
(5.0, MG)
What Snowden says about the Top 20 books
9
The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan
(4.3, MG)
Looking at the list of her school’s Top 20 most-read books,
Snowden says her students’ top choices are just about what she
would expect. “They read good books, and they read what they
like,” she says.
A top pick is The Hunger Games— the author is Suzanne Collins,
a Reed parent who has spoken at the school.
10
The Thing About Georgie: A Novel,
Lisa Graff (4.3, MG)
11
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
(4.6, MG)
12
The Year of the Dog, Grace Lin
(4.2, MG)
13
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan
(4.2, MG)
14
The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick
Riordan (4.1, MG)
15
Unwind, Neal Shusterman (5.0, UG)
16
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
(5.3, MG+)
17
One-Handed Catch, MJ Auch
(4.2, MG)
18
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie,
Jordan Sonnenblick (5.9, MG+)
19
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone, J.K. Rowling (5.5, MG)
20
All of the Above, Shelley Pearsall
(5.3, MG)
And many of the books
on the list are winners
of the Nutmeg Award,
a contest by state
librarians that asks
fourth- through eighth– Sixth grader, Reed Intermediate School
grade students to vote
for their favorite books.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, The Lightning Thief by
Rick Riordan, No Talking by Andrew Clements, and Unwind by
Neal Shusterman have all been Nutmeg Award Winners.
“I like to read because I make a connection
to the characters in a book and it helps
me better understand textbooks in
other classes.”
“The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is very popular,” Snowden said.
“Kids like the humor in it....Our kids do very well with this book
and on the quiz.”
“There is a lot for us to do to keep up,” she continues. “But I’m
glad so many kids are reading.”
58
* Interest levels: LG = lower grades (K–3),
MG = middle grades (4–8), MG+ = middle
grades plus (6 and up), UG = upper grades
(9–12). Both ATOS book level and interest
level inform book selection.
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