Science Fiction

Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlen

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert Heinlen

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty

Commander Toad and the Dis-asteroid by Jane Yolen

Tuesday by David Wiesner

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Biographies

Papa Married a Mormon by John D. Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald by Kevin A. Boon

My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud by Kevin Clash

The Importance of Walt Disney by Don Nardo

Brett Farve by Jill C. Weaver

Abraham Lincoln

Wilbur & Orville Wright by Theodore Rowland-Entwistle

Orville & Wilbur Wright by Ann Gaines

Prairie Girl: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder by William Anderson

The True Tale of Johnny Appleseed by Margaret Hodges

Shattered Dreams: My Life As A Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer

Mother Teresa by Kathryn Spink

Summer Reading Program

This summer I implemented a new reading program with my kids. We are focusing on one type of genre at a time. I wanted my kids to expand their choices a bit. So for the next few posts I'm going to list what genre we picked and what books my kids read.

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman

This is a great, fast read. It is about a boy who will not lie. And when his English teacher asks for an essay on the book they just read, he tells the truth about how much he hates it. Because he refuses to change how he feels about it he gets detention and ends up helping with the play based on the book. It's not only a fun read, but it can lead to an interesting discussion on friends and truth.

Reading Level: grade 3 & up

Freight Train by Donald Crews

"Freight Train" by Donald Crews is a great, simple first book.  Besides being about trains, which my 2 year old boy loves, it goes through primary colors also, using simple words and phrases he can understand.  He likes to sit and "read" this one to himself.  The English/Spanish version is actually enjoyable as well. The pictures are simple and bright.  We love it! It's one of those Caldecott books that truly deserves the award.

Donald Crews also has several other books similar in style that are really enjoyable.  They all have simple illustrations and language.  We've enjoyed "Truck", "School Bus", "Harbor", "Parade", and "Bicycle Race" as well.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

Our book club read this book last month for our juvenile fiction book. I fell in love with it and knew instantly my 8 year old son would love it. It is a historical fiction inspired by turn of the century film maker, Georges Melies. I would say that it is a great book for grades 3 and up to read on their own, but we read it aloud together with my 6 year old and he loved it as well. The artwork is beautiful and keeps the younger reader engaged. As with any good book a Hollywood producer has bought the rights and has made it into a movie. I suggest you read this book before Hollywood ruins it for you. You can visit here for everything about the book, author, characters and the future movie.

Silly Sally

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood is another one of our favorite books by one of our favorite authors. Some of Audrey Wood's books are a little too long for the really young ones, but this one is perfect. The rhymes are simple and after reading it a couple of times, the kids can read along with it and the parents have it memorized. (Silly Sally went to town, walking backwards upsidedown...)