MIAMI‐DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS K‐12 Summer Reading Guidelines
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
Perla Tabares Hantman, Chair
Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, Vice Chair
Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall
Carlos L. Curbelo
Renier Diaz de la Portilla
Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway
Dr. Martin Karp
Dr. Marta Pérez
Raquel A. Regalado
Hope Wilcox
Student Advisor
Alberto M. Carvalho
Superintendent of Schools
Milagros R. Fornell
Associate Superintendent
Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Maria P. de Armas
Assistant Superintendent
Curriculum and Instruction, K-12 Core
Karen Spigler
Administrative Director
Division of Language Arts/Reading
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
Independent Reading Activities
The collection of grade-appropriate activities below may be used to enhance the
summer reading experience for students. The activities are reflective of different
learning styles and several of them focus on high-order tasks. Schools may use the
following activities as listed or may modify them to meet specific student learning styles.
The length of the assignment and the amount of time that will be required to complete it
should be considered when making summer reading assignments.
Elementary K-2
 Keep a reading log/journal of the books you have read. Include the title(s), a
one-sentence summary of each, and write two or three new words you have
learned from your reading.
 Draw a picture of your favorite page. If possible explain in writing why this page
is your favorite.
 Draw a map of the book’s setting. Explain the setting in two or three sentences
below the picture.
 Make a picture timeline of all the events in the book.
 Make two posters about the book using one or two of the following media: fingerpaint, water colors, crayons, chalk, real materials.
 Rewrite the story in picture book form.
 Create a puppet or finger puppet about your favorite character.
 Using a shoe box, create a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes
models of people, building, plants, and animals) of an important scene in the
book.
 Make up another beginning and ending for the story. Include pictures/drawings.
 Cut out magazine pictures to make a collage or poster illustrating the idea of the
book.
 Make a mobile showing pictures or symbols of happenings in the book.
 Draw a picture postcard to a friend about what the book is about.
 Draw a portrait of the main character and write a one-sentence summary to
accompany your sketch.
 Draw a comic strip of your favorite scene.
Elementary (Intermediate)
 Keep reading log/journal on the books read and make a list of words you have
learned. Write the new word, copy the sentence in which it is used, write a
definition using your own words, and draw a picture or symbol which reminds you
what the word means.
 Surf the Internet prior to, while, or after reading a book to check out the Web and
its offerings about the book, its author, or its subject.
 Make a poster advertising your book so someone else will want to read it.
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
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Create a dramatic monologue for a character in a specific scene. What are they
thinking/feeling at that moment? Why?
Draw a map of the book’s setting and explain.
Write a one page “pitch” to a producer explaining why the story would or would
not make a great movie.
Draw a multi-colored movie poster for the book. Put usual movie information on
it. (Who would you cast in the movie, etc.)
Create a collage around themes or characters in the book.
Rewrite a scene and change the gender of the characters to show how they
might act differently.
Write a character diary, writing at least five journal entries as if you are the main
character in the story. Write down events that happen during the story and
reflect on how they affected the character and why.
Write a poem about one of the characters.
Pick the most important word/line/image/object/event in the chapter and explain
why you chose it. Be sure to support your choice with examples.
Build a miniature stage setting of a scene in the book. Include a written
explanation of the scene.
Send a postcard from one of the characters. Draw a picture on one side; write
the message on the other.
Choose a character. Tell whether or not you would want him/her for a sibling,
parent, friend, or partner (choose one) and why.
Create a timeline of the major events in your book. Use drawings or magazine
cutouts to show the events along the timeline. Label each event.
Draw a portrait of the main character and write a summary to accompany your
sketch.
Design a T-shirt that promotes your book.
Make up another beginning and ending for the story. Include drawing/sketches
to illustrate the changes.
Design a poster to advertise your book.
Be creative…use
details…elaborate…use color! Try to make it 3-D or movable.
Create a board game about a book you have read and play the game with family
members.
Discuss an effect relationship you found in the book.
As a literary agent, write a letter to the publishing company designed to persuade
them to publish this book.
Create a Top Ten List. On this list ten, write or illustrate things you have learned
from the book.
You are the reporter. Write a front page news story or a report live from the
scene.
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
Middle School
 Keep reading log/journal on the books read and make a list of words you have
learned. Write the new word, copy the sentence in which it is used, write a
definition using your own words, and draw a picture or a symbol which reminds
you what the word means.
 Write a paragraph telling about the title. Is it appropriate? Why not? If you feel it
is not appropriate provide an alternate title and explain why this title is better.
 Look through magazines for words and pictures that describe your book. Use
these to create a collage on a bookmark.
 Write a summary of your book in the most compelling way you can on paper the
size of a business card.
 Using email or other means of corresponding, write to another person (friend or
parent) about the book as you read it, having a written conversation about the
book.
 Design a poster to advertise your book.
Be creative…use
details…elaborate…use color! Try to make it 3-D or movable.
 Draw/Paint a multi-colored cover for your book. It must be different from any
other cover for that book. Include important “book jacket” information.
 Create a timeline of the major events in your book. Use drawings or magazine
cutouts to show the events along the timeline. Label each event.
 Plan a party for the characters in the book you read. In order to do this, complete
each of the following tasks: (a) Design an invitation to the party which would
appeal to all of the characters. (b) Imagine that you are the characters in the
book and tell what each would wear at the party. (c) Tell what food you would
serve and why. (d) Tell what games or entertainment you will provide and why
your choices are appropriate. (e) Tell how the characters act at the party. (f)
What kind of a party is this? (birthday, housewarming, anniversary, etc.)
 Write a character diary, writing at least six journal entries as if you are the main
character in the story. Write down events that happen during the story and reflect
on how they affected the character and why.
 Write a poem about one of the characters.
 Instead of traveling into the book, write a scene or story including pictures in
which the character(s) travel out of the book into today.
 Tape an interview with one of the characters in the book you read. Pretend that
this character is being interviewed by a magazine or newspaper reporter. Write a
script before taping in case you might want to ask the assistance of a partner.
 Design a T-shirt that promotes your book.
 Search the Internet for virtual tours based on the book you are reading. Log your
findings in your reading log/journal. Visit the author’s official website and write
your findings.
 Draw a portrait of the main character and write a summary to accompany your
sketch.
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
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Make up another beginning and ending for the story. Include drawing/sketches
to illustrate the changes.
Write a one page “pitch” to a producer explaining why the story would or would
not make a great movie.
Identify the character’s main problem in the story. Write to explain how you
would have responded if you were in the same situation.
Create a board game about a book you have read and play this game with family
members.
Create an advice column (Dear Abby) and give the characters in the story advice
on how to handle their problems/dilemmas.
Discuss a relationship you found in the book.
As a literary agent, write a letter to the publishing company designed to persuade
them to publish this book.
Create a Top Ten List. List ten things you have learned from the book.
You are the reporter. Write a front page news story or a report live from the
scene.
After reading the book(s) create your own test. The test may be a combination of
matching, multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions.
Senior High
 Imagine that you have been given the task of conducting a tour of the town in
which the book you read is set. Make a tape describing the homes of your
characters and the places where important events in the book took place. Be
creative!
 Make a timeline of the major events in the book you read. Be sure the divisions
on the timeline reflect the time period in the plot. Use drawings or magazine
cutouts to illustrate events along the timeline.
 Create a mandala with many levels to connect different aspects of the book, its
historical time, and culture.
 Take a 3x5 card and summarize the events of the story on one side. On the
other, analyze the importance of what happened and the reasons they
happened.
 Imagine that the book you are reading has been challenged by a special interest
group. Write a letter defending the book, using specific evidence from the book
to support your ideas.
 Draw an empty head and inside of it draw any symbols, words, or images that
are bouncing around in the mind of the character of a story.
 Write a biographical sketch of one character. Fill in what you don’t find in the text
using your own imagination.
 Make a passport which belongs to one of the characters. Be sure that the
document contains all of the information found on an authentic passport.
 Make a “wanted” poster for one of the characters or objects in your book.
Include the following: (a) a drawing or cut out picture of the character or object,
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Appendix D
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
District Summer Reading List - Middle
Web Version
Titles have been selected with age appropriate reading level and content in mind; however, parents are encouraged to help
their child make a selection by previewing the titles for difficulty of the text, subject matter, and content of the book.
Title
Grades 6-8
Author
Genre
All the Lovely Bad Ones
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
Animals Anonymous
Antes de Ser Libre
Anything But Typical
Barack Obama: the politics of hope
Baseball in April
Béisbol en Abril y Otros Cuentos
Blue Lipstick
Breaking Through
Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About
Fast Food
Children of the River
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
Code Orange
Code Talker
Countdown
Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl
Dizzy In Your Eyes
Double Dutch
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Eat This Not That for Kids
El Rey de Las Octavas
Fearless Fernie: Hanging Out with Fernie and Me
Flight to Freedom
Flipped
Flush
Found
Framed
Gossamer
Gross Universe
Homeless Bird
Honeybee: Poems and Short Prose
Hurt Go Happy
Hush
Jackie's Wild Seattle
Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow
Kidnapped in Key West
Kingdom Keepers
Last Newspaper Boy
Life As We Knew It
Money Hungry
Mysterious Benedict Society
Mary Downing Hahn
Tonya Lee Stone
Rich Michelson
Julia Alvarez
Nora Raleigh Baskins
William Davis
Gary Soto
Gary Soto
John Grandits
Francisco Jimenez
Eric Schlosser
Fiction
Biography
Poetry
Historical Fiction
Fiction
Biography
Multicultural Fiction
Short Stories
Poetry
Multicultural Fiction
Nonfiction
Linda Crew
Phillip Hoose
Caroline Cooney
Joseph Bruchac
Ben Mikaelson
John Feinstein
Pat Mora
Sharon Draper
Jordan Sonnenblick
David Zinczenko
Emma Romeu
Gary Soto
Ana Veciana Suarez
Wendelin Van Draanen
Carl Hiaasen
Margaret Haddix
Rose Malcolm
Lois Lowry
Jeff Szpirglas Gloria Whelan
Naomi Shihab Nye
Ginny Rorby
Jacqueline Woodson
Will Hobbs
James Rollins
Edwina Raffa
Ridley Pearson
Sue Corbett
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Sharon Flake
Trenton Lee Stewart
Multicultural Fiction
Multicultural Biography
Fiction
Multicultural Fiction
Fiction
Sports Fiction
Poetry
Multicultural Fiction
Fiction
Nonfiction
Biography
Poetry
Multicultural Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fantasy
Nonfiction
Multicultural Fiction
Poetry
Fiction
Multicultural Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Science Fiction
Multicultural Fiction
Fantasy
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Appendix D
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
District Summer Reading List - Middle
Web Version
Titles have been selected with age appropriate reading level and content in mind; however, parents are encouraged to help
their child make a selection by previewing the titles for difficulty of the text, subject matter, and content of the book.
Title
Author
Genre
Never Mind! A Twin Novel
Peter and the Starcatchers
Phineas Gage
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party: A Novel
Romiette and Julio
Savvy
Schooled
Silent Bone
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Summer Ball
Tangerine
The Biography of Chocolate
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp
The Mouse Rap
The Wright 3
The Year I Was Grounded
Tunnels
Under the Same Sky
What Are You Afraid Of? Stories About Phobias
Avi
Dave Barry
John Fleishman
Compestine Ying Chang
Sharon Draper
Ingrid Law
Gordan Korman
E.L. Konisburg
Ann Bradshares
Mike Lupica
Edward Bloor
Adrianna Morganelli
Rick Yancey
Walter Dean Myers
Blue Balliett
William H. New
Roderick Gordon
Cynthia de Felice
Donald Gallo
Humorous Fiction
Fantasy
Nonfiction
Multicultural Fiction
Multicultural Fiction
Fantasy
Humorous Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Fiction
Sports Fiction
Fiction
Nonfiction
Adventure
Multicultural Fiction
Adventure Fiction
Poetry
Fiction
Fiction
Nonfiction
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Appendix B
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
District Summer Reading List - Elementary
Web Version
Titles have been selected with age appropriate reading level and content in mind; however, parents are encouraged to help their child
make a selection by previewing the titles for difficulty of the text, subject matter, and content of the book.
Title
Kindergarten
Author
Genre
A Picture for Harold's Room
Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping
Arthur's Thanksgiving
Biscuit Finds a Friend
Curious George Visits the Zoo
Don't let the pigeon drive the bus
Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. McGuire
I Like Me
I Will Surprise My Friend
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
La Oruga Muy Hambrienta
Me Encantan Los Saturdays y los Domingos
Mittens
My Dad
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Swimmy
The Big Snow
The Library Lion
The Little Red Hen
Very Hungry Caterpillar
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Crockett Johnson
Peggy Parish
Marc Brown
Alyssa S. Capucilli
H. A. Rey
Mo Willems
Bill Martin
Nancy Carlson
Mo Willems
Laura J. Numeroff
Eric Carle
Alma Flor Ada
Lola M. Schaefer
Anthony Browne
Dr. Seuss
Leo Lionni
Elmer Hader
Michelle Knudsen
Byron Barton
Eric Carle
Michael Rosen
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
David McPhail
Pat Brisson
Steve Jenkins
Douglas Florian
Doreen Cronin
Judy Hindley
Karen Beaumont
Anne Bowen
Mo Willems
Robert Kraus
Kristine O'Connell
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Jim Aylesworth
Leo Dillon
Nancy Shaw
Michelle Knudsen
Yanitzia Canetti
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Poetry
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Poetry
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Judith Viorst
Peggy Parish
Robert McCloskey
Judi Barrett
Joanne Ryder
Hilda Perera
Ntozake Shange
Sharon Jennings
Cynthia Rylant
Audry Wood
Hector Cuenca
Harry Allard
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Poetry/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Folktale/Multicultural
Mystery
Grade 1
A Bug, A Bear, and A Boy
Benny's Pennies
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest
Bow Wow Meow Meow, It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Do Like a Duck Does
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More
I Know an Old Teacher
Knuffle Bunny
Leo the Late Bloomer
Little Dog Poems
Nate the Great and the Pillowcase
Old Black Fly
Rap A Tap Tap Here's Bojangles
Sheep Blast Off!
Un Leon en la Biblioteca
Un Poquito Más
Grade 2
Alexander and the Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day
Amelia Bedelia 4 Mayor
Blueberries for Sal
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Earthdance
El Lorito Pelon
Ellington Was Not a Street
Franklin Goes to the Hospital
Henry and Mudge and the Big Sleepover
La Casa Adormecida
La Cucarachita Martina
Miss Nelson is Missing
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Appendix B
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
District Summer Reading List - Elementary
Web Version
Titles have been selected with age appropriate reading level and content in mind; however, parents are encouraged to help their child
make a selection by previewing the titles for difficulty of the text, subject matter, and content of the book.
Title
Author
Genre
Mouse Soup
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Polar Bear Night
Poppleton Forever
Rosa' Room
Stink and the World's Worst Super-stinky Sneakers
Where the Wild Things Are
Arnold Lobel
Peggy Rathmann
Lauren Thompson
Cynthia Rylant
Barbara Bottner
Megan McDonald
Maurice Sedak
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Lee Wardlaw
Ron Roy
Paul Danziger
Beverly Cleary
Johanna Hurwitz
David A. Adler
Roald Dahl
Irene Smalls Hector
R.L. Stine
Suzy Kline
Karen English
Megan McDonald
Fabin Negrin
Laurie Friedman
James Warhola
Hilda Perera
Bill Wallace
Judy Blume
Dave Pilkey
Davies, Jacqueline
Kate McMullan
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Mystery
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Mystery
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fantasy Fiction
Kate DiCamillo
Virginia Hamilton
Sandra T. Frazier
James & Deborah Howe
E.B. White
Beverly Cleary
Sharon Draper
Jenny Lombard
Georgina Lazaro
Kate DiCamillo
Sharon Creech
Henry Winkler
Graham Salisbury
Gordon Korman
Linda Sue Park
Wendelin Van Draamen
Judy Blume
Carolyn Marsden
Rick Riordan
Dan Gutman
Dan Greenburg
Tony DiTerlizzi
Sara Pennypacker
Betty G. Barney
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction/Multicultural
Biography
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Mystery
Fiction/Multicultural
Mystery
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Sports Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Grade 3
101 Ways to Bug Your Parents
A to Z Mysteries
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon
Beezus and Ramona
Busybody Nora
Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Don't Say Ain't
Freaks and Shrieks (Mostly Ghostly Series)
Horrible Harry and The Ant Invasion
Hot Day on Abbott Avenue
Judy Moody Saves the World
Las Huellas Secretas
Mallory on the Move
Mi Tio Andy
Mumú
No Dogs Allowed
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
The Lemonade War
The New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers' Academy Series)
Grade 4
Because of Winn Dixie
Bluish
Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It
Bunnicula
Charlotte's Web
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Double Dutch
Drita, My Homegirl
Federico Garcia Lorca
Gracias a Winn-Dixie
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
Hank Zipzer
Night of the Howling Dogs
No More Dead Dogs
Project Mulberry
Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
The Gold Thread Dress
The Lightning Thief
The Million Dollar Kick
The Onts (Dripping Fang series)
The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles)
The Talented Clementine
The World Acording to Humphrey
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Appendix B
K-12 Summer Reading Guidelines
District Summer Reading List - Elementary
Web Version
Titles have been selected with age appropriate reading level and content in mind; however, parents are encouraged to help their child
make a selection by previewing the titles for difficulty of the text, subject matter, and content of the book.
Title
Author
Genre
Shel Silverstein
Michael Winerip
Eoin Colfer
Ivar Da Coll
Sharon Creech
Gordon Korman
Pam Munoz Ryan
Pam Munoz Ryan
Sheeri Smith
Julia Alvarez
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Brian Meehl
F. O. Dowell
Avi
Carl Hiaasen
Anthony Horowitz
Jeanne DuPrau
Peg Kehert
Ridley Pearson
Natalie Babbitt
Pam Munoz Ryan
Poetry
Fiction
Fantasy
Biography/Multicultural
Fiction
Mystery
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction
Fiction/Multicultural
Fiction/Historical
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction/Enviroment
Adventure
Fantasy
Mystery
Fantasy
Fiction
Fiction
Grade 5
A Light in the Attic
Adam Canfield of the Slash
Artemis Fowl
Azúcar
Bloomability
Chasing the Falconer
Esperanza Rising
Experanza Renace
Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet
How Tia Lola Came to Visit/Stay
Little House on the Prairie
Out of Patience
Phineas L. MacGuire-Erupts
Poppy
Scat
Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series)
The City of Ember
The Ghost Grave
The Kingdon Keepers
Tuck Everlasting
Yo, Naomi Leon
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