Lafayette Elementary School
Summer Reading Guide
2015
Early Childhood-5th grade
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April 24,2015
Dear Lafayette Students and Parents,
The 2015 Lafayette Summer Reading Guide has a few changes. The early childhood and second
grade recommended reading lists were both completely revised two years ago and remain the same, but
there are some changes in the intermediate grades. In fourth grade, students still have a required book to
read, but they can choose between either an on-level or a challenge book to fulfill that requirement. In
grades 3 and 5, in addition to the required books, there are challenge books that are optional and aimed
at readers who want to tackle a demanding book requiring much thought and discussion.
Suggested reading lists are filled with old and new favorites for every
grade. Rising first through fifth grade students are responsible for the
reading and assignments on the grades they will enter in August.
Remember that books can be obtained from public libraries or book stores.
(Both ChildsPlay and Politics and Prose offer discounts for books that fulfill the
summer reading requirements). If you want to check on the reading level of a
book go to this Scholastic site and type in the book’s title:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/homePage.do
We hope you’ll agree that these reading suggestions are topnotch and
that the accompanying assignments are thoughtful and appealing. In the
Lafayette community, our desire to instill children with the love of reading and writing has always been a
willing partnership between home and school. So we know that we have your full support and cooperation in
meeting the summer reading goals that we have set. After all, a summer without school shouldn’t mean a
summer without reading.
The Summer Reading Committee
Early Childhood ........................................................................Alycia Hallock, Carol Hill
First Grade………………………………………………..................Cheryl Phillips
Second Grade ...........................................................................Nancy Nickel
Third Grade ...............................................................................Ashley Powell, Blake Yedwab
Fourth Grade ..............................................................................Jared Catapano, Judy Fratto
Fifth Grade .................................................................................Annie Campbell
Librarian ....................................................................................Judith Perlin
Reading Specialist.......................................................................Kathy Echave (Chair)
Dr. Carrie Broquard,
Principal
Lafayette Elementary
School
5701 Broad Branch Rd., NW
Washington, DC 20015
! hone: (202) 282-0016
P
! ax: (202) 282-1126
F
Early Childhood Book List
(ages six and under)
!
We all know that reading to young children is very important. However, how you read to a child is
just as important. The quality of books that are chosen and the amount of questions asked during
reading makes a huge difference in the quality of a childʼs reading
experience.
Here are some examples of great questions to ask while reading to your child:
1.) What do you think this story will be about? Why do you think so?
2.) What do you think will happen next? Why?
3.) How do you think this character is feeling? Why do you think so?
4.) What would you do if you were that character?
5.) Can you make a prediction on how the story will end?
6.) Why did you or did you not like this story?
7.) Where did the story take place?
8.) What problem did the character(s) have in the story?
Questions are not limited to these but these are just a sample of great questions to ask. Asking
questions while reading will allow you to have a conversation about what you are reading. It allows your
child to participate more, rather than being the passive listener.
Here is a selection of fiction and non-fiction books that we believe are quality books that cover a range of
topics, time, cultures, and genres. These books are a great starting point to your childʼs summer reading.
All of these books should be available online or at your local library :)
Author
Ashman, Linda
Bang, Molly
Banks, Kate
Barrett, Judi
Barretta, Gene
Bean, Jonathan
Beaumont, Karen
Blake, Quentin
Brett, Jan
Browne, Anthony
Bryan, Ashley
Child, Lauren
Curtis, Jamie Lee
Davies, Nicole
Dorros, Arthur
Frazee, Marla
Fleischman, Paul
Gerstein, Mordecai
Ginsburg, Mirra
Title
To the Beach
Rain!
When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry
Max’s Words
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing
Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
Building Our House
I Like Myself!
Loveykins
The Three Snow Bears
One Gorilla
Beautiful Blackbird
I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato
Any books by this author
Surprising Sharks
Abuela
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week
Ever
Time Train
The Man Who Walked Between Towers
1
Mushroom in the Rain
Author
Henkes, Kevin
Hills, Tad
Hoose, Phillip
James, Simon
Jenkins, Steve
Kimmel, Eric
Krebs, Laurie
Long, Melinda
Macaulay, David
Mackay, Elly
McLerren, Alice
McNamara, Margaret
Meek & Messini
Mollel, Tololwa
Nolen, Jerdine
Penn, Audrey
Pinkwater, Daniel
Prelutsky, Jack
Radunsky, Vladimir
Rathman, Peggy
Scieszka, Jon
Slate/Wolfe
Steig, William
Stevens Crummel, Janet
Trivizas, Eugene
Underwood, Deborah
Weisner, David
Willems, Mo
Van Hout, Mies
Viorst, Judith
Zweibel, Alan
Title
Chester’s Way
Rocket Writes a Story
Duck & Goose
Hey, Little Ant
Leon and Bob
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
Actual Size
My First Day
Anansi and the Talking Melon
We All Went on a Safari
How I Became a Pirate
Castle
Jet Plane
If You Hold a Seed
Roxaboxen
The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot
I’m Special, I’m Me!
My Rows and Piles of Coins
In Momma’s Kitchen
The Kissing Hand
The Big Orange Splot
Ride a Purple Pelican
The Mighty Asparagus
The Day the Babies Crawled Away
Baloney (Henry P.)
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready Series
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
The Great Fuzz Frenzy
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
A Balloon for Isabel
Flotsam
Tuesday
Any books by this author
Friends
Happy
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Our Tree Named Steve
Read Aloud Chapter Books
1.) Dodsworth Series by Tim Egan
2.) Bad Kitty in School Daze by Nick Bruel
3.) Puppy Place Series by Ellen Miles
2
First Grade Reading List and Assignment
Assignment: Summer Remembrance
Incoming first graders should bring in one item that reminds them of something
they did during the summer along with a prepared written sentence about the item/
vacation. It can be a souvenir, a postcard, or a picture, but no whole photo albums,
please. Students will be writing more about and sharing their vacation activities
during the first weeks of school.
Summer Reading Suggestions
Incoming first graders should select books from the book list printed below. Parents should read to or with
your children for 15-20 minutes at least three times a week. Discuss with your children, the characters,
plots, settings, problems/resolutions in the books you read together. Studies show (and we know:) that this
builds better reading comprehension.
Fiction
Author
Title
Author
Title
Allard
Miss Nelson is Missing
Lauber
Be a Friend to Trees
Brown
Arthur (series)
Lawrence
Harriet and the Promised Land
Brett, Jan
The Mitten
LeSieg
The Tooth Book
Buck
Sid and Sam
Marshall
Little Red Riding Hood
Fox and His Friends
Capucilli
Biscuit Wants to Play
Martin
The Rough-Faced Girl
McKissack
Flossie and the Fox
Cherry
Carle
Cosby
The Great Kapok Tree
Pancakes, Pancakes
The Meanest Thing to Say
Cronin
Click, Clack Moo Cows That Type
dePaola
Strega Nona
Meddaugh Martha Blah Blah
Minarick
A Kiss For Little Bear
Mosel
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Continued on next page
3
First Grade Fiction, Contʼd
Author
Title
DiCamillo
Henkes, K.
Herron
Hoffman
Mercy Watson To The Rescue
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Nappy Hair
Amazing Grace
Hutchins
Parish
Pinkney
Polacco
Rappaport
Rylant
The Doorbell Rang
Amelia Bedelia (series)
Duke Ellington
Mrs. Katz and Tush
Martin’s Big Words
Henry and Mudge (series)
Author
Numeroff
Osborne
Scieszka
Seuss
Stevens
Weinman
Willems
Title
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Kate and the Beanstalk
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Green Eggs and Ham
The Great Fuzz Frenzy
Nate the Great (series)
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Elephant and Piggie (series)
Non-Fiction
Adler
Bean
Macaulay
Page
Millions, Billions and Trillions
Building Our House
Castle
Jet Plane
My First Day
Today
a
Reader,
Tomorrow
a
Leader!
Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home,
but more importantly, it finds homes for us everywhere.
--Jen Rhys, West Indian Novelist (b. 1894-d. 1979)
4
Second Grade Reading Reading List and Assignment
The Summer Project
Choose EITHER the animal or the plant projects:
1.
At your home, observe some animals. Find out about
your favorite backyard animal: what is its habitat; what does it
eat; how does it build its nest or make its home; what is its
life cycle; how does it protect itself; and does it adapt to its
environment?
•
Draw pictures or take photos of this backyard
animal. (Label its parts.)
•
Research this animal at the library and online.
•
Write a description of this animal.
2. At your home, observe some plants in your yard. Find out about your favorite flower, vegetable, or tree:
What’s its life cycle? What are its parts? How does it look in different seasons? What is it used for? Is it
a native plant or an import, and where did it come from originally?
•
Draw pictures or take photographs of this plant. (Label its parts.)
•
Research this plant at the library or online.
•
Write a description of this plant.
The Book Log
Write down the title of each book that you read over the summer. Be sure to include the author’s
names on your list. On the second day of school, be prepared to tell about your favorite book on the
list--and be able to tell why it’s your favorite.
Suggested Book Series
Amber Brown (as a seconder grader)
Anna Hibiscus
A to Z Mysteries
Buggy Riddles
Capital Mysteries
Clementine
Ellray Jakes is NOT a Chicken
Encyclopedia Brown
Horrible Harry
Iris and Walter
Ivy and Bean
Just Grace
Keena Ford
Little Rat
Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye
Danziger
Atinuke
Roy
Eisenberg
Roy
Pennypacker
Warner
Sobol
Zion
Guest
Barrows
Harper
Thompson
Bang
Stilton
Continued on next page
5
Second Grade Suggested Book Series, Contʼd
Lulu and the Dog from the Sea
Magic Tree House
Nate the Great
Nathaniel Fludd Beastiologist
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Roland Wright
Sugar Plum Fairies
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
The Dragon of Doom
The Cobble Street Cousins
The Kids of the Polk Street School
The Littles
The No. 1 Car Spotter
The Stories Julian Tells
The Worst Witch at School
Today Was a Terrible Day/Ronald Morgan Wishworks, Inc.
(Not a Series)
Young Cam Jensen
Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off
Graphic Novels
"
"
"
"
"
Amulet: The Stonekeeper
Baby Mouse
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself
Calamity Jack/Repunzel’s Revenge
Chi’s Sweet Home
Lunch Lady
Sidekicks
Toon Books (Level 3)
Zita the Space Girl
Poetry
McKay
Osborne
Sharmat
LaFevers
Riddell
Davis
Goldberg
Pastis
Coville
Rylant
Giff
Peterson
Atinuke
Cameron
Murphy
Giff
Collins
Adler
Jacqueline
Kibuishi
Holme
Peirce
Hale
Konami
Krosoczka
Santat
Various authors
Hatke
Cooling
Hoberman
Yolen
Lewis (Children’’s
Poet Laureate)
Singer
Lewis
A is Amazing: Poems About Feelings
Forget Me Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart
Grumbles From the Forest
Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs
Mirror, Mirror a Book of Reversible Verse
National Geographic Book of Poetry:
200 Poems to Make You Squeak, Soar, and Roar
Pug and Other Animal Poems
Shiver Me Timbers: Pirate Poems and Paintings
Worth
Florian
6
Picture Books To Love
Fern
Landau
Markel
Barasch
Coy
Fleming
Smith
Cate
Deedy
Adler
Pinborough
Mahy
Jenkins
Mariconda
Bryant
Watson
Rosenstock
Snicket
Hamilton
Breen
Broach
Mays
Barnum’s Bones
Big Cats: Hunters of the Night
Brave Girl
Hiromi’s Hands
Hoop Genius
Imogen’s Last Stand
John, Paul, George, and Ben
Look Up
Martina The Beautiful Cockroach
Millions, Billions, and Trillions
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise
Mister Whistler
My First Day
Sort it Out
Splash of Red
Stick Dog
The Camping Trip That changed America
The Dark
The Monstrous Book of Monsters
Violet the Pilot
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything
You Never Heard of Willie Mays
Read-Alouds
Be the Perfect Person in Just Three Days
Half Magic Series
My Name is Yoon
Pele and Poli’ahu: A Story of Fire and Ice
Toad Rage
White Fur Flying
Manes
Eager
Recorvits
Collins
Gleitzman
MacLachan
Read
Anywhere,
Just Read!
7
Third Grade Reading List and Assignment
Rising third graders are expected to read and complete the activity for the
Required Book, as well as read at least two other books from the lists below. One
of those two may be the Challenge Book. You must read a total of 3 books.
Required Book: 26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie De Paola
Challenge Book: Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Activity for Required Book:
Create a new book cover for 26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie de Paolo. Take a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 in.
paper and fold it in half. On the “front cover,” draw your own illustration for the story. Include the title,
author, and your name. On the back, answer the question below using complete sentences. Your
answer should be in paragraph form and 4 to 6 sentences in length.
!What did you like about the book and why? Use examples from the reading to support your answer.
Suggested Book List
Babe: The Gallant Pig
Hannah of Fairfield (Pioneer Daughters)
Iron Giant
Judy Moody
Love That Dog
The Moffats
Owen Foote Soccer Star
Pa Lia’s 1st Day
The Stories Julian Tells
Winnie Dancing on Her Own
Little Wolf
Peter Pan in Scarlet
Owen and Mzee
Dick King-Smith
Jean Van Leeuwen
Ted Hughes
Megan McDonald
Sharon Creech
Eleanor Estes
Stephanie Greene
Michelle Edwards
Ann Cameron
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Ian Whybrow
Geraldine McCaughrean
Isabella Hatkoff
Other Suggested Reading & Series
All About Reading nonfiction books, levels 2, 3 or 4
American Girl Doll Series
An I Can Read Book nonfiction books, levels 2, 3, or 4
Anything by Beverly Cleary
Anything Historical Fiction
Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Dorling- Kindersley (DK) nonfiction books, levels 2, 3, or 4
Into Reading nonfiction books, levels 2, 3 or 4
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys
Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott Step
If you read a lot of
books youʼre
considered well
read, but if you
watch a lot of TV,
you are not well
viewed.
--Lily Tomlin (B. 1939-??) .
8
Fourth Grade Reading List and Assignment
Students are expected to read ONE of the required books and to complete the assignment. For
additional reading, refer to the suggested list of books.
Required Book: Choose One--or enjoying reading both if you like. The first book is on grade level
and the second one is more challenging.)
The Enormous Egg
Oliver Butterworth
The Cricket in Times Square
George Selden
Assignment: Write a friendly letter to your teacher about a main character’s problem in the book
that you read. Describe the problem and include how you would solve it. Make sure your letter
has a date, greeting, body, closing and your signature. Write it neatly on lined paper.
Suggested Book List
Nonfiction
I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat: History’s Strangest Cures
You Wouldn’t Want to be Sick in the 16th Century
You Wouldn’t Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party
Beccia
Senior
Cook
Fiction
Ramona the Brave, or other books from the series
The Janitor’s Boy, The Landry News
The BFG, The Twits, Esio Trot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda
Because of Winn Dixie
Every Cloud has a Silver Lining or a book from The Amazing
Days of Abby Hayes series
Wayside School is Falling Down
Toys Go Out
The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary
of Abigail Jane Stewart
Poetry
Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist
Cleary
Clements
Dahl
DiCamillo
Mazer
Sachar
Jenkins
Gregory
Yolen, Dotlich
Math
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
Neuschwander
Some Even More Challenging Books
A House Called Awful End: the Eddie Dickens Trilogy
The Frog Princess (or another book in the series)
The Alchemyst (or another book in the series)
Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent How Daring Slaves and Free
Blacks Spied for the Union During the Civil War
9
Ardagh
Baker
Scott
Allen
Fifth Grade Reading List and Assignment
All incoming fifth graders are expected to read five books that they have not read before. You must
read the required book and complete the activity, plus read at least four others from the titles listed below.
We have already heard what great readers you are, so we are offering a choice of four challenge books.
These books are a little more difficult, but they are GREAT stories! Try one--or maybe two--but be sure to
choose a couple from the list that are just for fun. You must read a total of five (5) books. Have a terrific
time reading and come to school ready to talk about all of the books that you enjoyed.
Required Book: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Activity: Create four different picture postcards from four different characters. Write a
message on the back of each one representing that particular character’s feelings or
point of view about an event in the story. Bring them the first day or even mail them to
your 5th grade teacher at Lafayette 5701 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20015.
Challenge Books
Artemis Fowl
Hoot
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Woods Runner!
Suggested Fiction
A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears
Feiffer
The City of Embers
Duprau
The House with a Clock in its Wall
Bellairs
Journey to the River Sea
Ibbotson
Lionboy
Corder
The Shakespeare Stealer
Blackwood
The Thief Lord (and others by this author)
Funke
A Year Down Yonder
Peck
Chronicles of Narnia (any selection from series)
Lewis
Suggested Nonfiction
Guys Write For Guys Read
Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson
Changed America
The Boys’ War: Confederate and Union
Soldiers Talk about the Civil War
Scieszka
Robinson
Murphy
A home without books is like a body without a soul.
--Cicero (b. 106 B.C.--d. 43 B.C.
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
--Joseph Addison (b. 1672 A.D.-d. 1719 A.D.)
10
Colfer
Hiaasen
Avi
Paulsen