Julie's Journal : 3rd - 5th Grade Book Recommendations

I was recently asked to recommend some books for a 4th grade boy and it got me thinking about all the good books we have in the Juvenile section.  This section is for kids ages 8-12 and contains quite a large range of books.  My nephew just finished 4th grade and is almost 10, so he is squarely in this section of the library.  I've been watching his reading for the last year and noting what he has loved and what hasn't kept his attention.  This age is really fun in books because the kids are transitioning from "learning to read" to "reading to learn".  This stage is also the first time a child is a proficient enough reader to get lost in a good book.  If your kid needs some reading material for these long, hot summer days, let me make a few recommendations.

The Amulet books are a series of graphic novels.  They follow Emily and her brother Navin on a fantastical adventure to save their mother and the world.  They are helped along the way by a mysterious, mechanical, pink rabbit.  I read the first book and thought it was strange, but my nephew LOVED these books and read them as fast as he could one right after the other.  

Hank the Cowdog:  The first Hank the Cowdog book was published in 1983 and they are still being published.  I believe there are 72 installments at this time.  If you are not familiar with them, the books are told from the perspective of Hank - Head of Ranch Security.  Hank books are wonderful for struggling readers because they have all been made into audio books, so the reader can listen to the story while following along in the book.  Many of our patrons have listened to Hank books on road-trips, as well, because all members of a family can enjoy them.  The library has almost all of the print books and several of the audios available for checkout.  I am currently reading one of the Hank books out loud with a group of 5th grade boys.

Another popular series is the I Survived books.  Each story is about a true historical event.  The fictionalized stories are told through the eyes of a child experiencing the event.  The series spans history and includes tales from the American Revolution, Pearl Harbor, September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, and many more.  The books are a great way to introduce historical events in an approachable way and the kids love them.  Boys in particular seem to enjoy books that are about a true story.  During the summer we have a hard time keeping them on the shelves.  

In the same vein, the Hazardous Tales books tell the story of true events in American history.  They are graphic novels, and a new addition to FCL's collection.  I discovered these books on a teacher's blog, where he summarizes what his students are reading and apparently his class can't get enough of the Hazardous Tales.  Amazon's description of the books is as follows: "Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are graphic novels that tell the thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and TRUE stories of American history. Read them all—if you dare!"

Like Hank the Cowdog, the Magic Tree House books have been popular for a long time.  The first book was published in 1992 and the series is still going strong.  The kids call these the "Jack and Annie" books after the main characters.  Jack and Annie are siblings who have discovered a magic tree house that takes them to different periods in time or exotic locations where they have many adventures.  Although entirely fictional, the books give the kids glimpses of many historical events and times.  

Other popular book series in this section include:  

• Princess in Black 
• Happily Ever After 
• Kylie Jean
• Goosebumps
• Junie B. Jones
• Zeke Meke
• Bad Kitty
• Dragonbreath
• Jake Maddox

And of course, we also have lots of stand alone books for your kiddos to discover and enjoy.  Let me encourage you to schedule a quiet half-hour (or longer) in your day this summer for your kids to read and fall in love with a good book!