Dear Incoming 5th Graders,
Welcome to your last year of elementary school! I hope you are as excited as I am about the
upcoming school year! We are going to have so much fun!
In preparation for 5th grade, we are asking you to please read a minimum of two books over
the summer from the suggested reading list. Challenge yourself! Try and pick books from different
genres so you can get a “taste” of what types of novels you prefer.  (These should also be books you
have not previously read.) Please record all of your reading time on the reading log.
Another fun project we will do involves one of these books during the first few weeks of 5th grade.
The directions for the assignment are included at the end of this document. We will discuss the
instructions for the project in greater detail once the school year gets started. It is going to be great!
As a side note, the top reader from the class
will receive a special reward!
The winner will be
announced the first week of school. Please be sure
you bring your reading log with you on the first day!
I am really looking forward to a wonderful
school year. I can’t wait to hear about all the exciting
things you experience this summer! Read lots and
enjoy yourselves!
Happy reading!
Mrs. Baker
Summer Reading Log
Going Into Fifth Grade
Directions: Once you have completed a novel, please record the title and author of the book on this reading log.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."
— Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Date
Completed
Title and Author of Book
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Child’s Name ___________________________ Parent Signature_________________________
5th Grade Summer Reading List
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl*
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl*
The BFG by Roald Dahl
A View from Saturday E.L. Konigsburg
A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George*
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
The Spiderwick Chronicles Series by Holly Black
The Egypt Game by Zilpha K. Snyder
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The River (sequel to Hatchet) by Gary Paulsen
Brian’s Winter (sequel to Hatchet) by Gary Paulsen
Babe & Me: A Baseball Card Detective Adventure by Dan Gutman
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell
The Swiss Family Robinson by William Kingston
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by
Jeanne Birdsall*
From The Mixed- Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg*
There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Lois Sachar
Skinnybones by Barbara Park*
Almost Starring Skinnybones (sequel to Skinnybones) by Barbara Park
Sounder by William H. Armstrong
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo*
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Lois Sachar
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene
The Hardy Boys Series by Franklin W. Dixon
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Red Rock Mystery Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry
Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Far North by Will Hobbs
Flight of the Eagles by Gilbert Morris
National Velvet by Enid Bagnold
The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park
Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin
Summer Book Report Information
After reading your books, we will do a fun project with one of your choices.
An overview of the instructions are included below. This should give you an idea
of what to expect during the first few weeks of school. Remember to read summer will be over before you know it! 
Character Collage
We will create collages to represent a character from one of the stories you read.
Please start cutting pictures and words from magazines, newspapers, the
Internet, etc. Try and think of creative ways to represent your character's
personality traits throughout your collage with these pictures and words.
You will be going to glue these items to a standard size poster board (22” X 28”).
Please be sure to include the title of the book, the name of the book character,
and your name on the front of the poster. You are going to want to make sure
your poster has a variety of pictures and words from different sources.
*You may begin working on your project this summer. However, don’t worry, I
will review the instructions with you again during the first week of school. 
Have a great summer! I can’t wait to see your creations!