Anybody want to weigh in on some fictional reading list decisions for a 4th grader?

[Saille]

If you've got time to kill or like this sort of thing, come help me rule some books in/out, would you please?

[Jana]

I have a fourth grader too. I will be interested to see the responses. In the mean time here are some ideas off the top of my head:

 

The Redwall series

 

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

 

The Phantom Tollbooth

 

Rascal

 

 

:lurk5:

 

ETA: Wait! You wanted me to help you decide about books. Duh. I am sorry, but I doubt I'll be of any help. I thought you wanted book suggestions.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Jana

[LibraryLover]

Has he read Half-Magic? That's a great little book. The first chapter always makes me cry. Kids who love the library! Wah!!

 

Frindle is really, really boring. So I would nix that one.

 

Sarah Plain and Tall is about a 10 (ok, maybe 30 minute) read aloud. I am not a fan of Lucy Whipple, either. ;)

 

I would add Babe, The Gallant Pig to that list if you haven't read it. Also, Matilda and other Dahl books.

 

I can think of other wonderful books as well, but I am thinking you have reasons for choosing these? I can see the Lucy Wipple/ Sarah Plan and Tall connection...but how does The Mixed -Up Files fit in there? (Love that book, btw)

 

Children of The Long House is wonderful, btw, and would fit in with an American History theme.

Edited August 7, 2010 by LibraryLover

[Sasharowan]

Well, I just re-read Mixed up Files. It still is as fun as it was then, actually better because I've been to the museum now. My dd10 loved Terabithia after watching the movie but I wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole at that age because I was told she dies. Those are the 2 on your iffy list that I am familiar with.

[AngieW in Texas]

Mrs. Frisby and Rats of NIMH, School Story, and Landry News along with at least one Edward Eager book (like Half Magic) and at least one E. Nesbitt book (like Railway Children or Five Children and It) should also be on your list.

 

Of the books in your also-ran list, here are my thoughts:

*Wolves of Willoughby Chase - my girls all enjoyed this book at about your dd's age

*Stone Fox - dead-dog book, we avoid these

*In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson - I thought this was boring

*Calico Bush - this one was also a slog

*Fairy Tales, by e.e. cummings - haven't read this one

The Indian in the Cupboard - I thought it was pretty decent, but have never been able to entice any of my kids to read it.

Peter Pan - none of us care for Peter Pan

Bridge to Terabithia - good book, but none of mine have read it yet

Maniac Magee - haven't read this one

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - excellent and perfect for your dd's age, would definitely include

The Watsons Go To Birmingham - good book, but I'd probably wait until 6th grade

The House of Sixty Fathers - okay book, but not great

Edited August 7, 2010 by AngieW in Texas

[Starr]

The Chronicles of Narnia

[HRAAB]

There's none that I would rule out. I did have one dd that read Bridge to Terabithia when she was about 4th grade, and I should not have given it to her. She was much too sensitive to handle it, and it continued to bother for several months.

 

We've also loved Edith Nesbitt and Elizabeth Enright at that age.

[Beach Mom]

I can give you some input on your second list from my perspective and that of my rising 4th grade boy. I won't try to talk you out of anything on your first list but my DS would hate Little Women/Little Men.

 

I would add House of Sixty Fathers, Mixed up Files, In the Year of the Boar.. and Peter Pan (just a fun book especially for boys).

 

Maniac Magee - I think is a great read aloud at any age after about 9.

 

House of Sixty Fathers - DS finished it in May and loved it. He laughed out loud at the pig and still talks about this book. After he finished it he researched other books by the author and read 3 or 4 on his own.

 

In the Year of the Boar... - This is on our list for this year.

 

Bridge to Terabithia - I planned this one for next year, only because I found it so sad and thought it would mean more if DS was a year older when he read it.

 

Stone Fox - DS didn't like it, I don't like it, I am not making my other DS read it (I don't care how many lists it is on :001_smile:)

 

From the Mixed Up Files... - I think this is a fun book. My DD really enjoyed it when she read it. We are planning a trip to The Met after DS reads it this year.

 

Indian in the Cupboard - This book was not a huge hit at our house.

 

Happy Reading! It's nice to have boys that enjoy books.

[LibraryLover]

I made the mistake of not finding something for my 4 yr old to do when I read Bridge to Terabithia aloud to an older child. My tot was floored and cried and cried. 'She is a main character!! How could she die?? I didn't know that was going to happen!". It totally affected her.

 

She loved Because of Winn Dixie, however, at about that age. That is a fantastic little story. She has re -read it several times as an older child.

 

The same child who had trouble with Terabithia, had no trouble with Charlotte's Web or any Dahl book. The death of the child comes almost out of nowhere in Terabithia, imo.

[Matryoshka]

I'd nix Out of the Dust - that's an intense book thematically (child accidentally kills mother and burns/cripples her own hands), and written in free verse on top of it. I did have my dds read it when we were studying the Dust Bowl, but they were 6th grade.

 

Also agree that Bridge to Terabithia is sad - I kind of hate the whole story arc. Boy finds new best friend, they have great times, happy happy, oh, wait, she dies randomly with no warning, how sad, book over. This book will never be on my kids' reading list.

 

Many good ones there too. One of my dds says Riding Freedom is one of her favorite books ever.

[Saille]

Has he read Half-Magic? That's a great little book. The first chapter always makes me cry. Kids who love the library! Wah!!

 

Frindle is really, really boring. So I would nix that one.

 

Sarah Plain and Tall is about a 10 (ok, maybe 30 minute) read aloud. I am not a fan of Lucy Whipple, either. ;)

 

I would add Babe, The Gallant Pig to that list if you haven't read it. Also, Matilda and other Dahl books.

 

I can think of other wonderful books as well, but I am thinking you have reasons for choosing these? I can see the Lucy Wipple/ Sarah Plan and Tall connection...but how does The Mixed -Up Files fit in there? (Love that book, btw)

 

Children of The Long House is wonderful, btw, and would fit in with an American History theme.

 

Whoa, now back off Frindle, man. Also, I love Lucy Whipple. I love Karen Cushman, actually. I met her once, and she's lovely. She autographed a copy of Lucy Whipple for me to give to my sister, who was Lucy's age and moving to California against her will. Turns out, Karen Cushman wrote the book because she moved to California at that age, and didn't want to go, either.

 

We have done Half Magic, Babe, and many Dahl books, including Matilda. Mixed Up Files basically fits in there because I want it to, the way Moorchild might fit in to a Medieval rotation, based on setting rather than content. :001_smile: If I forgot to put The Wright Three in there, that's basically why it's in there, too.

 

I just almost approved one of those Asian porn comments on my blog b/c it said, "Quality is better than quantity" and I thought it was a comment about the list. :lol:

[Saille]

We've read Narnia up to The Horse and His Boy, NIMH, and Five Children and It.

 

matroyshka, you're right. I looked back at Out of the Dust and realized I'd forgotten how intense it is. I'm going to try to put another Hesse on there. She's a favorite of mine. Why didn't I think of Stowaway this past year, though? Poo.

[kwg]

Whoa, now back off Frindle, man.

 

 

 

:iagree:shew I am glad someone said that! We love Frindle here!

[hana]

I love, love, love Christopher Paul Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963. You laugh, you cry, you feel like part of the family. Curtis has said that fourth grade is the perfect grade for this book.

 

His Bud, Not Buddy and Elijah of Buxton are great, too. Watsons and Bud were both award winners (Newbery, Coretta Scott King), but I like Elijah as much as Bud.

 

I also love Gary Schmidt's Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. It was a Newbery honor book and Printz award winner.

 

All of these deal with black/white racism and are great historical fiction. They were all read alouds at our house, when my daughter was in third grade, with a kindergarten brother listening, but to read on one's own, definitely fourth grade.

Edited August 7, 2010 by hana

[Laura Corin]

Just have an opinion on one of your questionables: Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Both boys loved this book, but both had an idea of British history before they read it. The book exists in an alternative history, where the Stuarts were not deposed and the channel tunnel proposed at the beginning of the nineteenth century was actually built, causing Britain to be terrorised by incoming wolves from the continent.

 

If you don't mind about any historical confusion or you can explain the background quickly, this is a wonderful book. As an interesting side note, the Wikipedia entry for Joan Aiken suggests that she was home educated until she was twelve.

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[Saille]

I also love Gary Schmidt's Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. It was a Newbery honor book and Printz award winner

 

Ooh, I forgot about that one. I have it.

 

That's a pretty strong endorsement of Watsons. Nice to know the author's POV.

 

Bud, Not Buddy might be a good substitute for Out of the Dust. Hmmm.

 

Laura, the Stuarts do tend to stand out in our minds, though I confess that this may be in part due to my enjoyment of Monty Python's Oliver Cromwell song. The gothic feel of the novel appeals to me. We don't have anything else like that on our list.

[Laura Corin]

Laura, the Stuarts do tend to stand out in our minds, though I confess that this may be in part due to my enjoyment of Monty Python's Oliver Cromwell song. The gothic feel of the novel appeals to me. We don't have anything else like that on our list.

 

The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge. Enchanting. It's a longer book that the Aiken, but also wonderful.

 

Laura

[Matryoshka]

Bud, Not Buddy might be a good substitute for Out of the Dust. Hmmm.

 

 

If you wanted another good book on the depression, here are some books my kids enjoyed - most are Newbery winner or honor books:

 

Esperanza Rising, By Ryan, Pam Muñoz

Blue Willow, By Gates, Doris

Thimble Summer, By Enright, Elizabeth

Strawberry Girl, By Lenski, Lois

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, By Taylor, Mildred

A Long Way from Chicago, By Peck, Richard

[melissel]

I'm :lurk5: for my 3rd grade girl too!

 

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

 

The Phantom Tollbooth

 

 

I was going to suggest these too :D

 

Just have an opinion on one of your questionables: Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Both boys loved this book, but both had an idea of British history before they read it. The book exists in an alternative history, where the Stuarts were not deposed and the channel tunnel proposed at the beginning of the nineteenth century was actually built, causing Britain to be terrorised by incoming wolves from the continent.

 

If you don't mind about any historical confusion or you can explain the background quickly, this is a wonderful book. As an interesting side note, the Wikipedia entry for Joan Aiken suggests that she was home educated until she was twelve.

 

Thanks for this info! This is on our list for this coming year as a readaloud. I loved this book as a child and didn't have that context at all. I can't wait to read it again.

 

I'm also pleased to read the good review of The Watsons. I debated adding them to our list but decided not to. I think I will now.

 

:lurk5:

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was a favorite of mine at that age. I would definitely keep that one!

[LibraryLover]

:iagree:shew I am glad someone said that! We love Frindle here!

 

 

LOL My kids universally loathe that book. lol We've tried it a couple of times because it's required summer reading in our district (not that i told them that) for 4th graders...but none of my '4th graders' have liked it. My youngest recently said 'I put up with that book for 5 chapters. It's going back to the library". But OK, read Frindle. lol :D One of my dds was a Lucy Whipple fan.

[Saille]

If you wanted another good book on the depression, here are some books my kids enjoyed - most are Newbery winner or honor books:

 

Esperanza Rising, By Ryan, Pam Muñoz

Blue Willow, By Gates, Doris

Thimble Summer, By Enright, Elizabeth

Strawberry Girl, By Lenski, Lois

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, By Taylor, Mildred

A Long Way from Chicago, By Peck, Richard

 

Just found my copy of Blue Willow, but it's falling apart. I have Esperanza Rising, Strawberry Girl, and Thimble Summer, as well. Roll of Thunder is in my attic. Box 6, says LibraryThing.

 

You know, it's so strange. I have collected these books for years, because I knew they were quality literature. Most of them I purchased when I was teaching and wanted them for my students, and of course, public schools don't teach history the way classical homeschoolers do. I read so many of these books without the mindset of slotting them into the larger tapestry of human history, unless they were obviously and overtly designed to be period novels. The four year history rotation has changed how I experience literature.

[ma23peas]

Besides the plethora of book lists available (1000 good books list, Ambleside Online, Sonlight lists, etc.) I pick a book we really enjoyed (A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park) then I look it up on Amazon and see what others who read that are buying, I continue this process and in 30 minutes I've found 30 great books...

 

Some books you may want to add to your list..

George MacDonald "The Princess and the Goblin"

Castle in the Attic, Battle for the Castle

Detectives in Togas

 

 

Just throw in some more fun/fantasy books...

[LibraryLover]

Love Blue Willow. Long Way From Chicago was my oldest dd's fav book for a time when she was 10.

[angela in ohio]

From your second list, I'd choose:

Peter Pan

The Indian in the Cupboard

The House of Sixty Fathers

From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

 

And from PP's suggestions, I second:

Half Magic

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm

[Saille]

But OK, read Frindle. lol :D

 

Why, thank you, I think I will! :D

 

Have I mentioned my deep and abiding loathing for Phantom Tollbooth? :leaving:

[mcconnellboys]

Well, I can't comment on your blog because I'm not a Google member, I guess, so I'll comment here.

 

Not every single one of these is ringing a bell with me, so I'll comment from the ones I know:

 

Wolves of Willoughby Chase - yes, good

 

The Indian in the Cupboard - yes!

 

Bridge to Terabithia - yes, if you MUST do such a tear jerker. I think this book is just too sad for children....

 

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

 

The Watsons Go To Birmingham

 

The House of Sixty Fathers - this one is sad, too, but not in quite so unexpectedly heart-wrenching a way as Bridge....

[LibraryLover]

Why, thank you, I think I will! :D

 

Have I mentioned my deep and abiding loathing for Phantom Tollbooth? :leaving:

 

 

lol I am not a huge fan, either. Yet what makes me more of a heretic is that I am not a huge fan of Swallows and Amazons. Shocking, I tell you.

 

There is another I detest...The Wheel on the School. It has to be better in Dutch.

[Matryoshka]

You know, it's so strange. I have collected these books for years, because I knew they were quality literature. Most of them I purchased when I was teaching and wanted them for my students, and of course, public schools don't teach history the way classical homeschoolers do. I read so many of these books without the mindset of slotting them into the larger tapestry of human history, unless they were obviously and overtly designed to be period novels. The four year history rotation has changed how I experience literature.

 

Four year cycle... hmmm... I found so many cool books to tie in to US History that it took us four and half years just to get through American history... :blushing::001_rolleyes::leaving:

 

My only hope to get through Ancient History in some kind of reasonable time frame is that I don't think there are quite so many books... (though still a robustly healthy number...)

[Saille]

mcconnellboys, you should be able to comment without being a google member. I do, however, have moderated comments. The spammers found me a while ago, and submit very inappropriate links.

 

Ancients next, LibraryLover? Well then, allow me: Black Ships Before Troy.

 

:lol::lol::lol:

 

See, there are other books to be a heretic about besides Swallows and Amazons!

 

I don't *have* to have Terabithia. If I really want some Paterson, I could do one of her novels set in Japan...

 

ETA that it is ds*9*'s BIRTHDAY today. We are headed for the Victorian Leisure Fair at Erie Canal Village, and then I am responsible for producing an enormous number of carbs, as he wants cake, but also wants blueberry pancakes for dinner...the only reason I've gotten to post this much so far is b/c my mother sent him a huge Atlantis Lego set, so he's completely immersed in that.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Saille

[Laura Corin]

There is another I detest...The Wheel on the School. It has to be better in Dutch.

 

I hated Wheel on the School too though. We tried to use it as a read aloud and gave up, bored beyond belief.

 

Laura

[helena]

Animal Family is wonderful! If you enjoy that one, try Bat Poet too.

[LibraryLover]

BSBT. I am a Sutcliffe fan! I enjoyed The Bronze Bow as well.

[LibraryLover]

Isn't it amazing? ;) We slogged through..

 

My youngest said hopefully, 'Something has to happen!". At the end she was totally bewildered, "Even when something happened, nothing happened!"

 

Which is totally how I felt about Pillars of the Earth.

 

I hated Wheel on the School too though. We tried to use it as a read aloud and gave up, bored beyond belief.

 

Laura

[Cindy in FL.]

My boys like the Freddy the Pig series.

 

Cindy

[kokotg]

Have I mentioned my deep and abiding loathing for Phantom Tollbooth? :leaving:

 

Phantom Tollbooth bores me to tears, but my kids and DH all love it.

[Saille]

Animal Family is wonderful! If you enjoy that one, try Bat Poet too.

 

We are back. It was fun, but we ran out of stuff to do. We have a Flat Mattie here right now though, and we took her with us. I'm about to go start the cake. Devil's Food with black cherries and whipped cream...mmmm.

 

We have both of those, The Golden Key, and The Light Princess, too. I think those are all of the McDonald/Sendak collaborations. I love those books.

[Matryoshka]

I don't *have* to have Terabithia. If I really want some Paterson, I could do one of her novels set in Japan....

 

While I think Terabithia is an emotionally manipulative waste of paper, we've loved Paterson's Lyddie and Bread and Roses, Too. I also have many of her Asian-set novels on our list for World History.

 

Have you thought of some Kate DiCamillo?

[helena]

We have both of those, The Golden Key, and The Light Princess, too. I think those are all of the McDonald/Sendak collaborations. I love those books.

Thank you for turning me onto these books! Bat Poet and Animal Family have a special place in my heart, I can't wait to read these other titles.

[silliness7]

I personally have strong feelings on 2 books from your alternate list.

 

The House of Sixty Fathers: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!!

Peter Pan: I HATE, HATE, HATE this book!!

 

Does that help? :001_smile:

[Saille]

I personally have strong feelings on 2 books from your alternate list.

 

The House of Sixty Fathers: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!!

Peter Pan: I HATE, HATE, HATE this book!!

 

Does that help? :001_smile:

 

LOL...well, I haven't heard any strong negatives on Sixty Fathers yet, so that's good.

 

helena, I'm so excited for you! I love surprises like that.

[Saille]

 

Updated the list on my blog...with an additional question for those MCT fans out there.