7. 6th Grade NON-FICTION
and BIOGRAPHYSELECTIONS
Author/Editor
Title
Adamson,Joy
Ballard,Robert
Burch,Jennings
D a h l ,R o a l d
Filipovic,
Zlata
Herriot,James
Houston,Jeanne
J o n e s ,R o n
Kahn,Roger
Kaufman,BarryNeil
Killilea,Marie
Lord,Walter
Mowat,Farley
North,Sterling
O'Krent,Daniel
Parks,Rosa
Spinelli,Jerry
White,Ryan
Born Free
Explorinqthe Ilfanlc
Thev Caqethe Animalsat Niqht
Bey
Zlata'sDiarv
All ThinqsGreatand Small
Farewellto Manzanar
The Acorn People
The Bovsof Summer
Son-Rise
Karen
A NiqhtTo Remember
Never Crv Wolf
Rascal
BaseballAnecdotes
My Storv
Knots in Mv Yo-Yo Strinq
The Rvan White Storv
ADDITIONALFICTIONTITLESWORTHATTENTION
Ransom
NancvDrew and HardvBov Mvsteries
Fever1793
Sisterhoodof the TravelinqPants
The Cornerof the Universe
Draqonwinqs
Summerland
Mrs. Frisbvand the Ratsof NIMH
'The Lioh.the Witch,and the Wardrobe
The Vovaqes of Dr. Doolittle
The Faces in the Water
The Indianin the Cupboard
Skelliq
Clockwork
The Wreckers
The Cav
Timothvof the Cav
Weasel
StoneFox
On Mv Honor
ForgottenDoor
The PhantomTollbooth
WatershipDown
Charlotte's
Web
Redwall
Loch
Thief Lord
The Smuqqlers
Dicev'sSonq
DRP: 53
Star in the Stonn
Harlow, Joan Hiatt.
dog,
Sirius,
becattseof a new law
of
her
beloved
Newfoundland
In 1912,fearingfor the safety
to
by keeping him
tries
save
him
in
her
village,
l2-year-old
Maggie
dogs
outlawing non-sheepherding
nominee
in
2003.
Award
book
A
Nuflneg
hidden.
Karwoski, Gail. Seaman:TheDoe Who Explored the West with Lewis and Clark. DRP:55
Lewis and Clark faced many dangersand hardshipswhile they explored the unknown lands west
ofthe Mississippi River. Find out more about their adventures,and Seaman,the brave dog who
them.
accompanied
Bioeraphy and Other True Stories
DRP:63
Shipwreck at the Botton of the World
Armstrong, Jennifer
The amazil-Igstory of Ernest Shackletonand his crew, as they struggle to survive, slripwreckedand
alone,in Antarcticain 1915. Award: BostonGlobe-Horn Book l-lonor
DRP:58
Anne Frank:The Diarv ofa Young Girl
Frank,Anne
A teenagegirl and her family hide liom the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic. There, Anne keepsa
diary that revealsher innermost feelings,
The Life You Imasine: Life iessons for Achievine Your Dreaqrs DRP:56
Jeter,Derek
Derek Jeter talks about his early life, when he and his family worked and plaruredfor his future as
a baseballplayer, and his later successeswith the Yarkees lncludes l0 lessonslor setting goals.
DRP:54
Chinese Cinderella
Mah, Adeline
Becauseher nother died when shewas bom, Adeline is consideredbad luck. Although she gets
honorsat school, Adeline's wishes for the love ofher family--something she does not get from her
stepmother.Award: California Recomnended ReadingList
DRP:56
How Aneel PetersonGot His Name
Pa.ulsel,Gary
your own fun And
making
means
and
1950s
town
in
the
1940s
Minnesota
up
in
a
small
Growing
wacky
stunts.
of
their
j
is.just
one
waterfall
in
a
banel
a
ust
that:
shooting
his
f
iends
do
Gary aud
DRP:61
Autobiosraphv
Snicket,Lemony Lemony Sniclcet:The Unauthorized
What do you know about Lemony Snicket,the authorofthe SeriesofUnfortunateEventsbooks?
This book may give you a glimpseof Snicket'smysteriousand confusinglife
Fantasy
DRP:51
The lron King
Alexander,Lloyd
After Tamar, the young king of Sundari,loseshis kingdorn in a dice game, he setsoffon an
joumey filled with magic, spirits, and talking animals.
DRP:54
Amons the Hidden
Haddix, Margaret.
to
stay
hidden inside his
forced
He
is
Luke is a shadow child, a third child forbidden by law.
in the housenext
a
shadow
day
he
sees
Then
one
attic
vent.
hou\e; his only pastime is gazing out ofan
Award
2002'
Nutmeg
Connecticut
there?
Award:
like
him
living
door. Is there another child
DRP:58
A WizardofEarthsea
Leguin,Ursula
Studentwizard Ged misuseshis newiy acquiredpowers. He unleashesa teribie shadow-monster
who threatensboth hira and the islands ofEarlhsea Award: Boston Globe-Horn Book Award'
DRP:49
E I I aE n c h a n t e d
L e v i n eC
, ailCarson
In this novel basedon the slory ofCinderella,Ella strugglesagainslthe childhoodcursethat forces
her to obey an order given to her. Award: NewberyHonor
d2-
8. Some Favorite Books of Sixth Grade Readers
v
Adventure and SusDensc
discoversthat she is the only passengerand she is alone with 12 rough seamen. Suddenly, sh€ finds that
her life is in danger. Award: Newbery Medal.
DRP:51
Curtis, ChristopherPaul Bud. Not Buddy
Dwing the Great Depression,ten-year-oldBud, runs away ftom a bad foster home in searchofhis
father, a man he believes is H.E. Calloway, a renownedbandleader.Award: Newbery Medal
DRP:50
George,JeanCraighead My Side ofthe Mountain
Young Sam Gribley tells about the year he lived alone in a treehousein New York's Catskill
Mountains.Award: Newbery Honor Award.
DRP:50
Stormbreaker
Horowitz, Anthony
When his uncle is killed, fouleen-year-old Alex Rider must replace him on a top secretmission
for Britishintelligence.The )ife of everychild in Englandis at stake!
DRP:55
The Contest
Four kids are competingto beconrethe youngestpersonto reachthe top of Mount
the dangers,and eventhe possibilityofdeath?(Everest:
Everest.Are they preparedfor the challenges,
Book One)
Koman, Gordon
Lawrence,lain
The Wreckers
DRP:50
Shipwrecked after a storm, fourteen-year-oldJobn Spencerattemptsto savehis father
and himself while also dealing with an evil secretabout the town where they are stranded. Award:
MassachusettsChildren's Honor Books
DRP:52
Number the Stan
Annemarie is a schoolgirl in wartime Denmark. Her best friend Ellen is Jewish. Ellen is in danger
from the Nazis and only Annemarie can saveher. Award: Newbery Medal
Lowry,Lois
DRP:55
Snicket,Lemony All the books in A SeriesofUnfortunate Events
children
as
they
battle
Count Olaf and his
imocent
Baudelaire
Follow the lives ofthe sweet and
of
Willoughby
Chase(DRP: 58).
Aiken's
Wolves
Ifyou
love
this
series,
tly
Joan
bandofevil doeru.
Thg
This story is about a wicked govemesswho tries to steal an inheritance.Thrown into an orphanage,brave
Bonnieand her cousin,Sylvia, escapeand are helpedby Simon,a gooseboy.
DM:55
Call lt Courase
Sperry,Armstrong.
Mafatu fearsthe sea,everyoneon the Polynesianislandcalls him a cowatd.
Because1O-year-old
To prove them wrong, he setsout to sea in a canoe. Awald: Newbery Medal
DRP:53
Loch
Zildel, Paul.
lake.
Loch
Perkins,
15, and his friend
in
a
Vennont
Giant prehistoric crealureshave been sighted
Nevada
for
the
creatures.
Award:
searching
father
on
a
high{ech
expedition
accompany
Loch's
Sarah
Young Readers'Award.
Animal Stories
DRP:52
Frishtlhl'sMountain
George,JeanCraighead.
"On the Far Side ofthe
"My
and
Side ofthe Mountain"
The conclusion to the trilogy, including
Mountain," finds Frightful, a peregrhe falcon, naking her way in the world after Sam, her handler, is
forced to set her ftee.
Jl.
McKinley, Robin
Beautv
DRp:56
Despite her nickname, Beauty has grown into a plain young woman with a nind ofher own. To
save her father, she offers to go live with the Beast.
Napoli, DonnaJo
CrazyJack
DRP: 44
Jackciimbs a giant beanstalkwhile searchingfor his missingfather.He finds richesbeyondhis
wildestdreams,but soon learnsthat thereare sone treasures
that moneycan'tbuy.
Sachar,Louis
Holes
DM:49
As further evidence ofhis family's bad fortune which they attdbute to a cune on a distant relative,
StanleyYelnats is sentto a hellish corectional camp in the Texas desertwhere he finds his first real friend
and treasure. Award: Newbery Medal
Friendshinand Family Stories
Danziger,
Paula
SnailMail No More
DRP:47
Thirteen-year-oldbest friends, Tara and Elizabeth, stay in touch via e-mail now that they live in
different cities. But can their friendship survive the separation?
DiCamillo, Kate
Becauseof Winn-Dixie
DRP: 48
Ten-year-oldIndia OpaJBuloni describesher first summerin the town ofNaomi, Florida.and all
the good things that happento her becauseof her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie. Award: ConnecticutNurme.
Award 2003.
Gutman,Dan
Million Dollar Shot
DM:47
Eleven-year-old
EddieBall and his mom could sureusea n.rilliondollars.Now he hasa chanceto
win it. All be hasto do is sink a foul shotat the NBA finals.
Award: ConnecticutNutncg Award 2000
.
Hesse,Karen
Out ofthe Dust
A story told in a seriesof,poems. Billie Jo is 14 when her mother dies and her father Ioseshean as
he watcheshis Oklahoma farm tum to dust. Award: Newbery Medal
Konigsburg, E. L.
The View From Saturdav
DM:53
Mrs. Olinski returns to teaching after a tenible accidentthat lefl her partially paralyzed.She
coachesa team of lbur sixth-graders--Noah,Ethan, Nadia, and Julian (who eaoh have their own story)--for
the AcademicBowl. Award: NewberyMedal
Lowry, Lois
AnastasiaKrupqi&
DRP:56
Anastasia'stcntll year has some good things (like lalling in love and really getting to know her
grandmother)and some bad things (like hnding out about an impending baby brother) Award; California
R e c o r n r n e n cR
l eeda d i n gL i s t
Park,Barbara
Micli Hartewas Here
DRP:51
'
Thifteen-year-old
PhoebeIlarle tells abouther youngerbrother,Mick, who died in a bicycle
accidcnt.Sincehe was also her bestfriend,Phoebemust dealwith a doubledose oferiel Award:
ConnecticutNutmeg Award 1999
Paterson,Katherine
Bridge to Terabithia
DRP:50
Unexpectedly, l0-year-old Jessfinds a special friend in Leslie Burke, a new girl who has rroved
to Jess'srural Virginia comrnunity. Together they createa secrethideaway in the woods. Then Tragedy
sfikes. Award: Newbery Medal
Spinelli,Jeny
ManiacMasee
DRP:52
Wlren his parentsdied, Jeffrey Magee leamed to live on his own. He became known a Maniac
Magee. And kids still talk aboutwhat he did. Award: NewberyMedal
a3.
I{umorousStories
Blume,Judy
Double Fudge
DRP:46
Twelve-year-old Peter has a lot to deal with - seventhgrade, an aruoying younger brother named
Fudge,and twin cousinsnamed Flora and Fauna.
Cooper,Susan
TheBoseart
DRP:55
The Boggart is a mischievous spirit who lives in a remote Scottish castle.He causesno end of
trouble when he is trapped in a desk and accidentallyshippedto l2-year-old Emily's home in Toronto.
Listed in the California RecommendedReadins List.
Gantos,Jack
Joey Pisza Swallowed the Kev
DRP:50
BecauseJoey is wildly hyperactive (or "wired" as he says), he has a hard time getting along in his
elementaryschool classroom.He bouncesftom one disasterto the next until a caring teacherhelps him get
the right medication.Awards:Children'sNotables
Gutman,Dan
TheKid WhoRanfor President
DRp:52
Twelve-year-oidJudsonMoondecides
to run for President
ofthe UnitedStates.
And hejustmight
wrrl
Hiassen,Carl
Hoot
DRP:57
Roy misseshis old life in Montanaandhateshis new life in Florida- until he spotsa strangeboy
when Roy decidesto searchfor the boy, he meetsmanyunusualpeopleandanimalsl Award:Newbery
Honor
Horvath,Polly
Eventhing on a Waffle
DRP:54
After her parentsare lost at sea,Primrose Squarp'sfuture is in the hands ofthe residentsofCoal
Harbour. Her uncle is found, and Prirnrosebeginsto adjust to a new life. FIer favorite place to go is a
nearby restaurantwhere everlthing -- and anything.- is servedon a waffle. Award: Newbery Honor
Peck,Richard
A Lons Wav From Chicaso
DRP:52
A story of summer visits to GrandmotherDowdel's home every summer. Grandma Dowdel was
"tough
as an old boot" and taught her grandchildrento poach catfish, outwit the sheriff, and feed drifters in
her small Illinois town. Award: Newbery Honor
Sachar,Louis
SidewaysStoriesFrom WaysideSchool
DRP:45
WaysideSchoolwas accidentallybuilt sideways,with one classroom
on eacbfloor. Thisseriesof
funny storiestakes place in the classroom on the 30'hfloor.
Award: IndianaReadinsList
Mystery
Bloor, Edwald
Tangerine
DRP:49
Twelve-year-old Paul, plays soccerdespitethe thick glasseshe needs to see.He can't remember
the reasonfor his poor eyesight. Could it be somethingthat has to do with his football hero brother, Erik?
Bruchac,Joseph
SkeletonMan
DRP:48
When Molly's parents disappear,the sixth-gmder is taken in by a mysterious ,,relative."She is
allowed to go to school, but at night is locked up. While asleep,she dreamsabout the skcleton man, a
characterin an old Mohawk tale. Will her Native American traditions give her the courage- and the
insights -- to save herself? Award: Children's Notables (Middle Readers)
Bunting,Eve
Blackwater
DRP:46
A prankgoeswrongresultingin tragedy.BrodieandhiscousinAlex try to coverup whatrealiy
happened.
But someone
outthereknowsthetruth. Listedin: CaliforniaRecornmended
Reading
List
Jrl .
L rurslopner.
Jonn
WhentheTripodsCame
Cordray,an Englishs.hoolboyoiihikiig .fr.dition, is rhefrrst to seethe alienTripod asii sets
downon themoor.He watchesin honor asit crushesa farmhouse,
(Prequelto theTripodsTrilogy)
Etchemendy.
Nancy
ThePowerofun
DRp:50
giveshim an "unner",a timemachine,
Afiera srranger
Cib mustdecidewhereto retumto in the
paslto undoa teffibletragedyconceminghis sister,Wasa Codnecticut
NutmegAward nomineefor 2004.
Farmer,Nancy
The Ear. the Eye and the Arm
DRP:53
ln a futureAfiica (theyearis 2194),threechildrenarekidnapped.The childrenareput to work in
a one-timetoxic wastedumpmining plasticbut thee mutart detectives
areaftemptingto rescuethem.
Award:NewberyHonor
Key,Alexander
Retufnfrom Witch Mountain
DRP:56
Tony andTia look like normalkids,but theyarereallyalienswith specialpowers.Tony is
kidnappedby an evil doctorwho wantsto useTony'sESP.
Lowry, Lois
The Giver
DRP:56
Jonaslivesin a future"perfect"societywherethereis no poverlyard no conflict.But whenhe is
chosento becomea "receiverof memories,',
he beginsto discoverthefiuth abouthis world. Award:
NewberyMedal
a5.
'S LITERATURE
OF CHILDREN'S
WEB SITES
AmencanLlDraryAssocta on
www.ala.org/g
YY rY YY iqrqtLrr
r;Gtt-t
trrJ
!,, V rreatsites
Thisis ALAIsweb site,calledGreatWeb Sitesfor Kids,for pa
comeswitha selectionof reviewedand recommended
sites. .,
GuysRead
http ://www.quvsread.co m/
YoungadultauthorJon Scieszkahasestablished
thisweb siteto connectboyswith
bookstheywillwantto read,Partof the program'slargermissionis to l'helpboys
becomebefterreaders,betterstudents,and betterguys'!.
Internet
PublicLibrary
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace
Thissiteis organizedlikea reallibrarywith"divisions"
for "youtht'and "teen"Internet
USCTS.
KidsWebrary
http://www.webrary.org/kids/jbibmenu.html
Thissiteis usefulfor anyonelookingfor children'sstoriesaboutspecifictopics.The
authorof eachbookis included,andshortplotsynopsesgivereadersan ideaof what
eachbookis about.
"1,1-
A SAMPLEOF NON.FICTION
TITLES
Recominendedby John HopkinsCenterfor TalentedYouth
AnimalStudies
GreatandSmall
Herriot,
James:All Creatures
Monigomery,
Sy:Walkinowiththe GreatApes
Laurence:
Pringle,
@
Reed, Don C.: IbqQq!sb!!s3!!l!!9
Anthropologyand Archaeology
Attenborough,David: The First Eden: The MeditenaneanWorld and Man
Bisel, Sara C.: Ihg:9celqlsgllbsgyils
Peters, David: From lhe Beolnnino:The Slorv of Human Evolution
ThomDson.Peoov:Auks. Rocks.and ihe Odd Dinosaur:InsideStoriesfrom the SmithsonianMuseum
Art
Adams, Steven: The lmDressionists
Beardsley,John: PabloPicasso
Ernsl,Bruno:The MaoicMirrorof M.C. Escher
Janson. H.W.: HistorvAlAilqLYgU-EgLe-gQplC
Meryman, Richard:AE[gILWyqth
[/eyer, Susan E.: Marv Cassatt
Historyand Geography
Chaikin,Miriam:A Niqhtmarein Historv:The Holocaust
Devaney, John: 4!!9liee_.lQggs-!q\rya!-1919
Epler,Doris;The BerlinWall: How lt Rose and Whv lt Fell
Fritz,Jean: China's Lono March:6.000 Milesof Danoer
Hackwell,W. John: Desert of lce: Life and Work in Antarctica
Ray, Delia: A Nation Torn.lebin!!llh BlqCll!-lolay
Solberg,S.E.:The Land and Peopleof Korea
Uitz,Erika:The Leoendof GoodWomen: MedievalWomen in Towns and Cities
21.
Mathematics
Abbott,Edwin:Flatland:
A Romanceof ManvDimensions
Blackwell,
William:Geometrvin Architeclure
Ecker,Michael:GettinoStarledin ProblemSolvinqand MathContests
Kaplan,Andrew:Careersfor NumberLovers
Ore,Oystein:Invitation
to NumberTheorv
Peitgen,H.O.and P.H.Richter:The Beautvof Fractals
Thomas,David:MathProiectsfor YounoScientists
MathGamesand Puzzles
Mathematical
BrainBenders
Barr,Stephen:
Ounn,Angela:Mathematical
Bafflers
Pallas,Norvin:CalculatorPuzzles.Tricksand Games
Smullyan,Raymond:A[CgjgEgz4qgld
Summers,George:NewPuzzlesin LooicalDeduction
Poetry
Atwood, Ann: Haiku: The Mood of the Earth
Fleischman,Paul: Jovful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
Larrrick,Nancy: Crazv to be Alive in Such a Stranoe World
Rainis, Kenneth G.: Explorinowith a MaoniJvinoGlass
Scienceand Engineering
Anderson,MargaretJ.: Food Chains:The UnendinoCv6le
Barr, George: Sports Science for Younq People
Bates, Robert: lndustrialMinerals: How Thev Are Found
Berger,Melvin:Liohts.Lensesand Lasers
Booth, Nicholas: SpagCtIbg_NCXUlqIgAls
Dolan, Edward F. and Margaret Scariano: \Ugleg!@tg
Hawkes,Nigel:GeneticEnoineerinq
Macauley,David:The Wav ThinosWork
Neal,Philip:The GreenhouseEffect
Patent, Dorothy:The Quest for Ariificial Intelliqence
ag.
Great Reads!
Judgedthe Rest of the Best!
Lewis,C. S.
DRP:57
Hoot
Hiassen,Cari
Roy misseshis old life in Montana and hateshis new life in Florida - until he
spots a shangeboy. When Roy decidesto searchfor the boy, he rneetsmany unusual
peopleandanimrlsI Award:NewberyHonor