SilverMoon Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) . Edited September 5, 2023 by SilverMoon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking Squirrels Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Nothing to add but I'm following along because I'm also working on a lit list for 5th next year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) Maybe the Melendy quartet (or others by Elizabeth Enright).. Five Children and It (or others by E. Nesbit) Half Magic (or others by Edward Eager) The Ordinary Princess, by M. M. Kaye Around that age I was able to get some of the humor lurking in poetry better-- A. A. Mile was funny, not just cute. Edited February 14, 2018 by Zoo Keeper 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) Check out this past thread: "Fun sweet literature-rich experience for my 5th grader (girl)" similar to Trumpet of the Swan in humor style- Ginger Pye (Estes) - The Rescuers, Miss Bianca, The Turret, Miss Bianca in the Salt Mines, Miss Bianca in the Orient (Sharp) - By the Great Horn Spoon (Fleischman) - The Whipping Boy (Fleischman) - Half Magic, Magic By the Lake, Knight's Castle, The Time Garden, Seven Day Magic (Eager) humorous -- some of these are more "popcorn"/snack books than others ? : - Wayside School Stories (Sacher) - Fortunately, The Milk (Gaiman)- The 13 Story Treehouse (Griffiths) - The Hobokan Chicken Emergency (Pinkwater) - Whales on Stilts (Anderson) - Calvin and Hobbes comic collections (Watterson) - Series of Unfortunate Events (Snickett)- H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education (Walden) - The Fake Moustache (Angleberger) - Yoda Origami (Angleberger) -- and sequels - Time Warp Trio series (Scieszka) - How to Train Your Dragon (Cowell) - Lemonade War series (Davies) - Humphrey the hamster series (Birney) - Hoot (Hiaasen) - A Year Down Yonder (Peck) - How to Eat Fried Worms (Rockwell) - Middle School series (Patterson) - Frindle (Clements) - Fudge, Super Fudge (Blume)- The Great Brain (Fitzgerald) higher reading level books that have humor in them (though not straight-up comical): - The 13 Clocks (Thurber) - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll) -- Mad Hatter/tea party chapter -- DSs laughed out loud - The Reluctant Dragon (Grahame) - Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery) - some of the Just So stories (Kipling) - Cheaper By the Dozen (Gilbreth)- All Creatures Great and Small (Herriot) "thinking" books - sequels to The Giver: Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son - Tuck Everlasting (Babbit) - The Search for Delicious (Babbit) - Maniac Magee (Spinnelli) - City of Ember, People of Spark, Diamond of Darkhold (du Prau) - Enchantress from the Stars (Engdahl)- Below the Root (Snyder) -- sequel And All Between is also good(3rd book --Until the Celebration -- is not well-written and has a very dark/sudden ending -- you can easily read just books 1 and 2 and not miss out, as #2 feels completed, not like the 2nd of a trilogy and the middle of a story) ideas somewhat along the lines of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Chasing Vermeer, The Calder Game, The Wright Three (Balliet) - Friday Barnes (Spratt) - Lemoncello's Library series (Grabenstein) - 68 Rooms Adventures (Malone) - The Toothpaste Millionaire (Merrill) - The House With a Clock in it's Walls (Bellairs) -- lightly creepy mystery in a fun way books we read in 5th grade and loved: - The Phantom Tollbooth (Juster) - My Side of the Mountain (George) - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Aiken) - In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (Lord)- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Robinson)- The Ordinary Princess (Kaye) Edited October 7, 2018 by Lori D. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) PS -- forgot to add some Modern titles -- some are serious/thinking books, some are lighter; most of the modern titles I can think of are more geared for middle school ages... - Wonder (Palacio) - Mockingbird (Erskine) - Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (Mass) -- and others by Wendy Mass - books by Andrew Clements Edited October 7, 2018 by Lori D. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 What's your current list? I don't want to repeat anything! Before you answer, I will never not recommend Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, so put that on your list now. Also The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted February 14, 2018 Author Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) . Edited August 31, 2023 by SilverMoon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) On 2/14/2018 at 1:39 PM, SilverMoon said: She reads a ton. Easily a book a week during most of the year. Today she "accidentally" read 12 chapters in her reader. LOL! On 2/14/2018 at 1:39 PM, SilverMoon said: ...I asked my college girl if my pencil scratched list looks too girly. She looked it over, smiled, and said the boy protagonists can just wait for 6th grade. Agree. ? A few more titles with girl protagonists: - The Birchbark House (Erdrich) - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Kelly) -- and sequels - Baby Island (Brink) - Nim's Island (Orr) - Two Are Better Than One (Brink)- the "Shoes" books (Streatfeild) - The Penderwicks series (Birdsall) - Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and me, Elizabeth (Konigsberg) These may be more of middle school level or for "thinking" books:- Moon Over Manifest (Vanderpool) - The War That Saved My Life (Bradley) - A Wrinkle in Time (L'Engle) followed by When You Reach Me (Stead) Edited October 7, 2018 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) Okay, that's valid! Lemme see what I can come up with. I'm going to try to remember to shove more boy protagonists on this list, but who the heck knows. Mostly these are "fun" books - good, but not too serious. I'm so over sad books! The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher How Tia Lola Came to Stay Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer Ambassador and Nomad by William Alexander (gotta do both books) Cosmic Time Traveling With a Hamster Kinda Like Brothers Year of the Dog The First Rule of Punk Hello, Universe Blackbird Fly The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm Mission Mumbai Bud, Not Buddy Mars Evacuees A Single Shard Heart of a Samurai The Jumbies Dragonwings The Way Home Looks Now The Earthsea cycle Zahrah, the Windseeker Akata Witch Hammer of Witches On Two Feet and Wings Birchbark House ETA: The Truth About Twinkie Pie Stef Soto, Taco Queen Doll Bones (spooky!) Breadcrumbs Save Me a Seat (definitely a comparative lightweight, but fast) Ash Mistry (it's a trilogy, sometimes hard to find in the US) Paper Wishes Ghost by Jason Reynolds The Midnight War of Matteo Martinez (another lightweight) Garvey's Choice (haven't read this yet) One Crazy Summer Unidentified Suburban Object Oddity (OMG MUST READ) As Brave As You Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It As always, what I consider appropriate and what you consider appropriate may not be the same thing! You have to do the hard work of pre-reading. Edited February 14, 2018 by Tanaqui 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Edit again: Add Holes to that list, or maybe for next year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) I thought of one more...when I was that age I LOVED the Borrowers series, by Mary Norton. Best read in order... The Borrowers, The Borrowers Afield, The Borrowers Afloat, The Borrowers Aloft, The Borrowers Avenged. And the poetry bit-- I was reading Milne (Pooh books and the poems) to my first grader, and the older kids (all 10 and up) were laughing the loudest. :) Edited February 14, 2018 by Zoo Keeper 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 These thread always send me through the same cycle: Ack! My kids don't read classics! I'm a failure! Well, before I panic maybe i can see what people suggest and put some of those on hold. Oh, they have read that. And that one! Ooh, that one looks good! Yay! Here comes Lori D.! And Tanaqui! All of my suggestions have become redundant, now. But my library hold list is full! Ah, life is good. New I just need to pry some space into our days for more free reading. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 New I just need to pry some space into our days for more free reading. The way I did it as a kid is this: I was ahead of all my classes, so I read under the desk (6 hrs a day) I didn't have any friends, so I read during my free time (the rest of the day) Also, I never did my homework ...voila, space for free reading! Alternatively, you can be happy your kids are being instructed on their level and have friends :D 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trilliumlady Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Oh, I needed (or maybe not..... the list continues to grow!) this right now as I’m thinking to next year. Thanks! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) On 2/14/2018 at 5:02 PM, SusanC said: These thread always send me through the same cycle: Ack! My kids don't read classics! I'm a failure! Well, before I panic maybe i can see what people suggest and put some of those on hold. Oh, they have read that. And that one! Ooh, that one looks good! Yay! Here comes Lori D.! And Tanaqui! All of my suggestions have become redundant, now. But my library hold list is full! Ah, life is good. New I just need to pry some space into our days for more free reading. oh.my.goodness... Wiping away tears, I'm laughing so hard. :smilielol5: Happy reading! ? Edited October 7, 2018 by Lori D. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) New edit: I just read Two Naomis which has been on my kidlit TBR pile for a while now, and it's eminently appropriate for that age group. Bonus points to the author for having one of the Naomis namedrop books that were printed in this century - so often, authors only seem to have their bookish characters read older books! But now we're way heavy on the girl-main-character books again. Try adding Pickle by Kim Baker, Dave at Night, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (haven't read this yet), The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (slightly older focus), How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy, The Boy at the End of the World, The Greenglass House, and Brave Story to mix more boys back in. Edited February 15, 2018 by Tanaqui 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 :lurk5: Posting so I remember to come back and take notes. My current 4th grader is stuck on Nancy Drew, so we need a little variety. She's also intimidated by fat books, lol! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Redeemed Reader reviews current books for middle grades and we have found some fun new reads there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) She's also intimidated by fat books, lol! From the books I already listed, the Tia Lola books are pretty skinny, as is Unusual Chickens and also A Single Shard. And I didn't list these (trying to not go too heavy in the female protagonist direction...!) but I think that Gabby, Lost and Found and Ally, First at Last are both comparatively thin as well. And if you're okay with graphic novels as part of your lineup, well, they're a bit thicker but you might try Roller Girl, Nimona, Zita the Space Girl, and Smile. Oh, and Amelia Rules. Edit: Also, come to think of it, whoever it is who wrote Catherine, Called Birdy wrote a lot of historical fiction and they're all a lot thinner than most kidlit these days is. But I think that they're a little tough for the average fifth grader, both in the language choices and also themes. Edited February 19, 2018 by Tanaqui 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 My 5th grader just demolished Shakespeare Stealer and Tuck Everlasting, both with high praise. For fun/funny, thin-ish and boy, he loves the Alcatraz series by Sanderson, though they're more free read quality than literature list quality, imo. :) There's also always The Series of Unfortunate Events. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 This is such a fun thread! ♥ I had Shakespeare Stealer out but put it back on the shelf for some reason. I think we have the trilogy. Hm. I just ransacked our history shelves and pulled things that she'd probably be "too old" for by the time we get there in our history cycle to refill her 4th grade pile...lol. In case anyone was wondering, I'm taking my college girl's and Lori's advice to let the list be heavily feminine. I'll focus my variety need on the themes and genres. :laugh: About that fat book thing. I'll LOAD that shelf with unintimidating good books, but I want to try chipping away at that flight reaction. She's Officially Stubborn so it will work better if it seems like it was her idea all along. I figure she just hasn't found the right fat book to make her swoon yet. I'mma "accidentally" leave a Selznick open on her bed. :P 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) On 2/20/2018 at 11:08 AM, SilverMoon said: I had Shakespeare Stealer out but put it back on the shelf for some reason. I think we have the trilogy... Even though it's a male protagonist, it's a fun, fast-read trilogy, with a detective/mystery element, as well as the historical setting. ? On 2/20/2018 at 11:08 AM, SilverMoon said: ... I just ransacked our history shelves and pulled things that she'd probably be "too old" for by the time we get there in our history cycle to refill her 4th grade pile...lol. Super idea! While we did read a lot of books that were connected to our history period, I absolutely did not stick to that exclusively, as we would have missed out on a TON of fabulous books when DSs were just the right age for them. ? On 2/20/2018 at 11:08 AM, SilverMoon said: ...In case anyone was wondering, I'm taking my college girl's and Lori's advice to let the list be heavily feminine. I'll focus my variety need on the themes and genres. :hurray: On 2/20/2018 at 11:08 AM, SilverMoon said: About that fat book thing. I'll LOAD that shelf with unintimidating good books, but I want to try chipping away at that flight reaction. She's Officially Stubborn so it will work better if it seems like it was her idea all along. I figure she just hasn't found the right fat book to make her swoon yet. I'mma "accidentally" leave a Selznick open on her bed. ? Awesome! Note to both you and Another Lynn: A lot of the books on my list are not fat books. ? Note to Another Lynn: A number of the books on my list ARE at a 6th-8th grade reading list, but that's because SilverMoon listed books her DD was reading, and it looked like she could handle some more advanced books. Would you like some additional titles that are more at a 4th-6th grade level for your DD? Edited October 7, 2018 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Note to both you and Another Lynn: A lot of the books on my list are not fat books. :) Note to Another Lynn: A number of the books on my list ARE at a 6th-8th grade reading list, but that's because SilverMoon listed books her DD was reading, and it looked like she could handle some more advanced books. Would you like some additional titles that are more at a 4th-6th grade level for your DD? Lori, Thank you so much for the offer! Yes! I'd love to see some titles aimed slightly lower if you have a chance. (I haven't been back to the thread in a while because I was burying my head in the sand regarding next year, lol!) Thank you for thinking of me! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 (edited) On 3/5/2018 at 5:05 AM, Another Lynn said: Lori, Thank you so much for the offer! Yes! I'd love to see some titles aimed slightly lower if you have a chance. (I haven't been back to the thread in a while because I was burying my head in the sand regarding next year, lol!) Thank you for thinking of me! Here are a few shorter books in the grade 4-6 range to get you started. I'll try to get back to this thread when I can to add some more ideas. poetry - Love That Dog (Creech) -- 95 pages animals - Shiloh (Naylor) - 144 pages - The Incredible Journey (Burnford) -- 166 pages - Rascal (North) -- 190 pages talking animals - Cricket in Times Square (Selden) --144 pages - The Rescuers (and sequels) (Sharp) --160 pages humorous - By the Great Horn Spoon (Fleischman) -- 224 pages - Ben and Me (Lawson) -- 144 pages - Mr. Revere and I (Lawson) -- 152 - In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (Lord) -- 176 pages - The Whipping Boy (Fleischman) -- 96 pages adventure - Nim's Island (Orr) -- 125 pages - Baby Island (Brink) -- 160 pages - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Aiken) -- 167 pages realistic - The Toothpaste Millionaire (Merrill) -- 144 pages - The School Story (Clements) -- 196 pages - Frindle (Clements) -- 112 pages - No Talking (Clements) -- 146 pages mystery - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Konigsburg) -- 168 pages historical- The Kite Fighters (Park) -- 144 pages- See-Saw Girl (Park) -- 96 pages - Shakespeare Stealer (Blackwood) -- 216 pages - All of a Kind Family (Taylor) -- 192 pages - Snow Treasure (McSwigan) -- 208 pages - Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (Coerr) -- 80 pages Edited October 7, 2018 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Lori, thank you! That's great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 About that fat book thing. I'll LOAD that shelf with unintimidating good books, but I want to try chipping away at that flight reaction. She's Officially Stubborn so it will work better if it seems like it was her idea all along. I figure she just hasn't found the right fat book to make her swoon yet. I'mma "accidentally" leave a Selznick open on her bed. :P This played out by me laying The Invention of Hugo Cabret open on her bed, about a quarter in, to a page with a lovely illustration and some text on the other side, at the foot where her big sister climbs to get to her bed, and flipped a blanket partially over it. (Hugo Cabret is pretty fat, but half charming illustrations. ;) ) "Was someone reading in here??? ..... It looks KIND of interesting.... Maybe it was College Girl." The other sister: "I wasn't on your bed. What book is it?" ..... "Oh I love that book! But it wasn't me." She questioned a brother too and carried it around, careful not to lose the place. College girl finally came home and was asked if SHE'D been reading in there. "Uh.. Maybe. What is it?..... Oh I love that book! *whispers* You should just go read it." She glared skeptically over the top of her glasses and walked off with the book. Next morning, "Hey Mom, could this be my literature book this week?" It lasted three days. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 This played out by me laying The Invention of Hugo Cabret open on her bed, about a quarter in, to a page with a lovely illustration and some text on the other side, at the foot where her big sister climbs to get to her bed, and flipped a blanket partially over it. (Hugo Cabret is pretty fat, but half charming illustrations. ;) ) "Was someone reading in here??? ..... It looks KIND of interesting.... Maybe it was College Girl." The other sister: "I wasn't on your bed. What book is it?" ..... "Oh I love that book! But it wasn't me." She questioned a brother too and carried it around, careful not to lose the place. College girl finally came home and was asked if SHE'D been reading in there. "Uh.. Maybe. What is it?..... Oh I love that book! *whispers* You should just go read it." She glared skeptically over the top of her glasses and walked off with the book. Next morning, "Hey Mom, could this be my literature book this week?" It lasted three days. Love this! Great stealth tactics, SM! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TABmom Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 I told my 5th grade do that there was a discussion here about 5th grade lit that other kids had liked and he insisted on looking up a LOT of titles! It's a good thing our library day is tomorrow! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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