Elementary Summer Reading Book Suggestions
The following lists represent suggested texts at approximate reading
levels. Please preview texts for content, appropriateness, and interest for
your children.
Wordless Books and Label Books
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Ben’s Dream by Chris Van Allsburg
Carl (series) by Alexandra Day
Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rothman
Here Comes the Cat by Frank Asch
I Read Signs by Tana Hoban
School Bus by Donald Crews
Kindergarten
DRA 1
Anno’s Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
Applebird by Brian Wildsmith
Big and Little by Steve Jenkins
Count and See by Tana Hoban
Dogs by Amy Levin
Do You Want to Be My Friend? By Eric Carle
Flowers Have Colors by Janelle Cherrington
Good Morning, Good Night by Michael Grejniec
Growing Colors by Bruce McMillan
Look What I Can Do by Jose Aruego
Sea Shapes by Suse MacDonald
We Are Painting by Francie Alexander
We Read by Wiley Blevins
DRA 2
Black and White by David MacCauley
Cat on the Mat by Brian Wildsmith
Chicken Soup by Pamela Fitros
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Hats by Deborah Williams
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri
Honk! By Sue Smith
Hoptoad by Jane Yolan
I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon by Tomie dePaola
Mommy, Where Are You? By Harriet Ziefert
My Friends by Taro Gomi
Where’s the Fish? by Taro Gomi
Who Lives in a Tree? By Susan Canizares
DRA 3
All Fall Down by Brian Wildsmith
At Work by Ellen Geist
Baby Says by John Steptoe
Bugs! by Patricia and Frederick McKissack
Fun with Simple Machines by Ellen Tarlow
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
I See Fish by Don Curry
One Hunter by Pat Hutchins
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
Pancakes, Crackers and Pizza by Marjorie Eberts
Please, Thank You by Frances Alexander
We Like Summer! By Wiley Blevins
First Grade
DRA 4
A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin
Flying by Donald Crews
Ice is…Whee! By Carol Greene
Mary Wore Her Red Dress by Merle Peek
Mud by Wendy Lewison
Oops! By Mercer Mayer
Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails by Nancy Tafuri
Too Many Balloons by Catherine Matthias
Where is It? By Dee Lillegard
DRA 6-8
A Funny Man by Patricia Jensen
All By Myself by Mercer Mayer
Big Egg by Molly Coxe
Circus Fun by Margaret Hillert
Five Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
Go, Dog, Go! By P.D. Eastman
Hi, Clouds By Carol Greene
Inside, Outside, Upside Down by Stan and Jan Berenstain
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw
Math on the Playground by William Amato
Ten Cats Have Hats: A Counting Book by Jean Marzollo
DRA 10
Across the Stream by Mirra Ginsburg
Amy Loves the Wind by Julia Hoban
Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris
Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? By Eric Carle
Cars by Anne Rockwell
Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Johnny Lion’s Rubber Boots by Edith Thacher Hurd
Just Like Daddy by Frank Asch
Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
SHHH by Kevin Henkes
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
DRA 12
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Boats by Anne Rockwell
Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell
Gone Fishing by Richard Eric Brown, Erlene Long
I Am Planet Earth by Jean Marzollo
I’m a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
Just Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer
Just for You by Mercer Mayer
Mine’s the Best by Crosby Bonsall
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Westcott
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You See? By Eric Carle
Planes by Anne Rockwell
Rabbit’s Party by Eve Bunting
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Spot’s First Walk by Eric Hill
The Painter by Peter Catalanotto
DRA 14
Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz by Byron Barton
Captain Cat by Syd Hoff
Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
Dragon series by Dav Pilkey
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Great Big Enormous Turnip by Aleksey Tolstoy
Just Me and My Little Brother by Mercer Mayer
Just me and My Puppy by Mercer Mayer
Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
Sammy and the Seal by Syd Hoff
Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
Where Are You Going? By Robert Kraus
You Can’t Smell a Flower with Your Ear by Joanna Cole
DRA 16
Albert the Albatross by Syd Hoff
Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman
Benny Bakes a Cake by Eve Rice
Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood
Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Christmas in the Big Wood by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Deer in the Wood by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Fox series by James Marshall
Franklin series by Paulette Bourgeois
Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Let’s Go Froggy by Jonathan London
Little Bear series by Else Minarik
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood
Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells
Poppleton series by Cynthia Rylant
Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Second Grade
DRA 18
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Bear Shadow by Frank Asch
Bear’s Bargain by Frank Asch
Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola
Commander Toad series by Jane Yolen
Curious George series by H.A. Rey
Frances series by Russell Hoban
Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London
Grandma at Bat by Emily Arnold McCully
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
Little Black, a Pony by Walter Farley
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
M & M series by Pat Ross
Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Too Many Rabbits by Peggy Parish
Planets by Jennifer Dussling
Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
DRA 20
Arthur series by Marc Brown
Case of the Cat’s Meow by Crosby Bonsall
Case of the Dumb Bells by Crosby Bonsall
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Clifford the Small Red Puppy by Norman Bridwell
Cowgirl Kate books by Erica Silverman
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans
Happy Birthday, Dear Duck by Jan Brett, Eve Bunting
How Do You Know it is Fall? by Allen Fowler
How Do You Know it is Spring? by Allen Fowler
It’s Halloween by Jack Prelutsky
Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet
Mr. Grumpy’s Outing by John Burningham
The Pain and the Great One series by Judy Blume
Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann
DRA 24
Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parrish
Aunt Flossie’s Hats by Elizabeth Howard
Cam Jansen series by David Adler
Chang’s Paper Pony by Eleanor Coerr
The Clue at the Zoo by Patricia Reilly Giff
December Secrets by Patricia Reilly Giff
George and Martha series by James Marshall
Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline
I See Animals Hiding by Jim Arnosky
Is Your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Coerr
Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Burton
Lucky Stars by David Adler
Magic Money by David Adler
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Marvin Redpost series by Louis Sachar
Miss Nelson Has a Field Day by Harry Allard
Miss Nelson is Back by Harry Allard
Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard
Pee Wee Scouts series by Judy Delton
Pinky and Rex series by James Howe
Say “Cheese” by Patricia Reilly Giff
Space Dog series by Vivian French
Sunny- Side Up by Patricia Reilly Giff
What Shall I Grow? By Ray Gibson
DRA 28
Boundless Grace by Mary Hoffman
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Dandelion by Don Freeman
Dirt Bike Runaway by Matt Christopher
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
Fancy Feet by Patricia Reilly Giff
Five True Dog Stories by Margaret Davidson
Five True Horse Stories by Margaret Davidson
Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald
Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish
Let’s Go, Philadelphia by Patricia Reilly Giff
Midnight on the Moon by Mary Pope Osborne
Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne
Onion Sundaes by David Adler
Picture Book of… biography series by David Adler
Ready Freddy books by Abby Klein
Rip Roaring Russell by Johanna Hurwitz
Russell Rides Again by Johanna Hurwitz
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco
Tonight on the Titanic by Mary Pope Osborne
Third Grade
DRA 30
Amber Brown books by Paula Danziger
Andy and Tamika by David Adler
Antarctica by Helen Cowcher
A to Z Mysteries series by Ron Roy
Black Lagoon series by Mike Thaler
Butterflies and Moths by Bobbie Kalman
Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling
Helen Keller’s Teacher by Margaret Davidson
Herbie Jones by Suzy Kline
I Am Rosa Parks by Rosa Parks
Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola
Max Malone series by Charlotte Herman
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
Shadow of the Wolf by Golria Whelan
Song Lee series by Suzy Kline
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Strega Nona books by Tomie dePaola
The Titanic: Lost…and Found by Judy Donnelly
True-Life Treasure Hunts by Judy Donnelly
26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola
DRA 34-38
Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein by Johanna Hurwitz
Adventures of Captain Underpants books by Dav Pilkey
Aldo Ice Cream by Johanna Hurwitz
Aldo Peanut Butter by Johanna Hurwitz
Babysitter’s Club mystery series by Ann Martin
Bats by Gail Gibbons
Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Cat Crazy by Ben Baglio
Catch That Pass! by Matt Christopher
Chick Challenge by Ben Baglio
Class Clown by Johanna Hurwitz
Class President by Johanna Hurwitz
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Germs Make Me Sick! By Melvin Berger
Guinea Pig Gang by Ben Baglio
Henry and Beezus by Beverly Cleary
Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
Henry and the Clubhouse by Beverly Cleary
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Jake Drake by Andrew Clements
Julian series by Ann Cameron
Martin Bridge: In High Gear by Jessica Kerrin
Martin Bridge: Out of Orbit by Jessica Kerrin
My Weird School series by Dan Gutman
One Day in the Desert by Jean Craighead George
One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest by Jean Craighead George
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lindgren
Pony Parade by Ben Bagio
Ramona books by Beverly Cleary
Shark Lady by Ann McGovern
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Skateboard Tough by Matt Christopher
Space Brat series by Bruce Coville
Time Warp Trio series by Jon Scieszka
The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy
Fourth and Fifth Grade
DRA 40-50
Aliens Ate My Homework by Bruce Coville
All About Owls by Jim Arnosky
All About Sam by Lois Lowry
Anastazia books by Lois Lowry
The American Girls books by The American Girls Collection
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Black Stallion books by Walter Farley
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl
Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume
The Great Brain series by John Fitzgerald
Get on Board: The Story of the Underground Railroad by Jim Haskins
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Help! I’m Trapped in the First Day of School by Todd Strasser
Holes by Louis Sachar
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Ice Magic by Matt Christopher
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Matilda by Roald Dahl
My Teacher Glows in the Dark by Bruce Coville
Outside and Inside Sharks by Sandra Markle
Outside and Inside Snakes by Sandra Markle
Pacific Crossing by Gary Soto
Poppy series by Avi
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
Stuart Little by E.B. White
Superfudge by Judy Blume
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
There’s an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George
39 Clues by various authors
Volcanoes and Earthquakes by Patricia Lauber
Who’s That Stepping on Plymouth Rock? By Jean Fritz