Elementary
Summer reading is not required of students entering Grades K-5 but we hope students will continue to read and maintain the literacy skills developed during the school year during the summer months.
Expand your child's grade level below to view a full list of suggested titles and to access a link to a printable (PDF) list.
Grades K & 1
View Printable List of Suggested Titles for Grades K & 1 (PDF)
Picture Books
- Bad Seed or Good Egg (Food Group Series) by Jory John (RL: 1.9)
- The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach (RL: 3.0)
- Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho (RL: 2.9)
- Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli (RL: 1.7)
- I Lost my Tooth by Mo Willems (RL: 1.4)
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (RL: 2.2)
- Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins (RL: 2.7)
- Norman Didn't Do It!: (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins
- Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea (RL: 1.9)
- You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown (RL: 2.0)
Early Chapter Books
- Baseball Buzz (Sports Illustrated Kids Series) by C.C. Joven (RL: 0.7)
- Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell
-
Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate (RL: 2.1)
- Don’t Throw It to Mo by David Adler (RL: 1.5)
-
Hi Jack! by Mac Barnett (RL: 0.9)
- Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau (RL: 2.2)
- Snail & Worm Again by Tina Kügler (RL: 0.9)
Graphica
- Flying Beaver Brothers by Maxwell Eaton (RL: 1.9)
- Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick (RL: 1.6)
- Little Robot by Ben Hatke (RL: 0.7)
- Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton (RL: 2.0)
- Squish by Jennifer L. Holm (RL: 2.2)
- Sleepless Knight by James Sturm (RL: 1.5)
- A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse by Frank Viva (RL: 1.0)
Poetry
- Change: A Child’s First Poetry Collection by Charlotte Zolotow (RL: 3.6)
- Change Sings: A Children's Anthem by Amanda Gorman (RL: 2.3)
- Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer (RL: 2.2)
- Hi, Koo! by Jon Muth (RL: 2.3)
- Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia Maclachlan (RL: 1.9)
- When Green Becomes Tomatoes by Julie Fogliano (RL: 2.8)
Informational
- All the World by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon (RL: 1.8)
- Can an Aardvark Bark? by Melissa Stewart (RL: 2.2)
- Giggle and Learn series by Kevin McCloskey (RL:1.9)
- Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray (RL: 1.9)
- This is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe (RL: 3.8)
Series
- Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish
- Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan
- Beak & Ally by Norman Feuti
- Chick & Brain by Cece Bell
- Cork and Fuzz by Dori Chaconas
- Dino Sports by Lisa Wheeler
- Dive Into Reading by various authors
- Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
- Dragon by Dav Pilkey
- Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems
- Fox Tails by Tina Kugler
- Giggle Gang by Jan Thomas
- Heidi Heckelbeck by Wanda Coven
- Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
- Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
- Katie Woo or Pedro by Fran Manushkin
- King and Kayla by Dori Hillestad Butler
- Kondo & Kezumi by David Goodner
- Layla and the Bots by Vicky Fang
- Little Rhino by Ryan Howard
- Mermaid Days by Kyle Lukoff
- My First Fox by Corey R. Tabor
- Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott
- Pete the Cat by James Dean
- Pigeon books by Mo Willems
- Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
- Roscoe Riley by Katherine Applegate
- Sofia Martiez by Jacqueline Jules
- Simon Seahorse by Cora Reef
- Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
- Unicorn and Yeti by Heather Ayris Burnell
- Unicorn Diaries by Rebecca Elliott
- Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi
Grade 2
View Printable List of Suggested Titles for Grade 2 (PDF)
Picture Books
- The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Sanat (RL: 3.3)
- Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman (RL: 4.1)
- A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (RL: 3.5)
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (RL: 1.8)
- Evelyn del Rey is Moving Away by Med Medina (RL: 2.2)
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena (RL: 3.3)
- Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed (RL: 2.8)
- Smart Cookie by Jory Jon (RL: 2.4)
- Strickly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev (RL: 2.6)
- This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis (RL: 2.9)
- Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts (RL: 2.0)
- Watercress by Andera Wang (RL: 2.9)
Poetry
- Forget-me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart by Mary Ann Hoberman (RL 2.3)
- Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho (RL: 2.5)
- National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry (RL: 2.6)
Informational
- The Earth Book by Todd Parr (RL: 2.4)
- I’m Trying to Love Rocks by Bethany Barton
- Mermaid Queen by Shana Corey (RL 2.2)
- We March by Shane Evans (RL: 1.2)
- What Do Scientists Do All Day? by Jane Wisher (RL: 2.4)
Chapter Books
- Ada Lace, Take Me to Your Leader by Emily Calandrell (RL: 3.9)
- Bo’s Magical New Friend (Unicorn Diaries) by Rebecca Elliot (RL: 2.2)
- Friends of a Feather by Lauren Myracle (RL: 2.2)
- Hello, Nebulon by Ray O’Ryan (RL: 2.5)
- Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson (RL: 2.7)
- Little Shaq Takes a Chance by Shaquille O’Neal (RL: 2.0)
- A New Friend by Poppy Green (RL: 3.4)
- Sadiq and the Perfect Play by Siman Nuurali (RL: 2.2)
- Too Much Space by Jonathan Roth (RL: 2.7)
- The Used-to-Be Best-Friend by Dawn Quigley (RL: 2.3)
- The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng (RL:2.3)
Graphic Novel
- Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm
- Babysitters Club by Ann Martin
- Bad Guys by Alex Blabey
- Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey
- Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
- Lunch Lady by Jared Krosoczka
- Magic Tree House Graphic Novels
- Pizza and Taco by Stephen Shaska
- Squish by Jennifer L. Holm
Series
- A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
- Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
- Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
- Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
- Cam Jansen mysteries by David Adler
- Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin
- Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
- Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
- Down Girl and Sit by Lucy A. Nolan
- Dragon Masters by Tracey West
- Frankie Pickle by Eric Wight
- Geronimo Stilton by various
- Heroes in Training by Joan Halub
- Jake Maddox Series by various
- Jasmine Toguchi by Debbi Michiko Florence
- Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
- Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
- Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
- Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
- My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
- Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
- Pig the Pug by Alex Blabey
- Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
- Ready Freddy by Abby Klein
- Roscoe Riley by Katherine Applegate
- Sofia Martinez by Jacquelyn Jules
- Stink by Megan McDonald
- Super Turbo by Lee Kirby
- Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi
Grade 3
View Printable List of Suggested Titles for Grade 3 (PDF)
Fiction Favorites
- Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look (RL: 3.8)
- Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel (RL: 4.3)
- Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCammilo (RL: 3.9)
- Ellie’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron (RL: 3.9)
- Freckle Juice by Judy Blume (RL: 3.0)
- Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina (RL 2.9)
- Karen’s Roller Skates by Katy Farina (RL: 2.4)
- Little Shaq by Shaquille O’Neal (RL: 3.4)
- Never Fear, Meena's Here! by Karla Manternach (RL: 3.5)
- Search for the Mermicorn by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (RL: 3.5)
- Smile by Raina Telgemeier (RL: 3.6)
- Sparkle Magic (Mermicorn) by Sudipta Bardhan Quallen (RL: 2.8)
- The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron (RL: 3.5)
- Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli (RL: 3.9)
- Third Grade Mermaid by Peter Raymundo (RL: 2.7)
- Toy Dance Party by Emily Jenkins (RL: 3.9)
- Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson (RL: 4.5)
Informational
- Black Beach by Shaunna Stith (RL: 2.5)
- Cute as an Axolotl by Jess Keating (RL: 3.2)
- El Deafo by CeCe Bell (RL: 3.3)
- The Eternal Soldier by Allison Crotzer Kimmel (RL: 3.8)
- Fly Guy Presents: Bats by Tedd Arnold (RL: 2.9)
- Giant Squid by Candace Fleming (RL: 3.2)
- Honeybee by Candace Fleming (RL: 3.3)
- Weird but True (various) by National Geographic
Poetry
- Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars by Douglas Florian (RL: 3.1)
- Hip Hop Speaks to Children by J. Patrick Lewis (RL: 3.4)
- Poem Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems by Jack Prelutsky (RL: 2.5)
- Toasting Marshmallows by Kristine O’Connell George (RL: 2.8)
Graphica
- Baby-sitters Club series
- Click series by Kaya Miller
- Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks (RL: 3.3)
- Smile series by Raina Telgemeier
Series
- Amber Brown by Paula Danziger
- Babymouse by Jennifer Holm
- Baseball Card Adventures by Dan Gutman
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
- Critter Club by Callie Barkley
- Doll People by Ann Martin
- Dragonsitter by Josh Lacey
- Ellie McDoodle by Ruth Bradshaw
- Geronimo Stilton (various)
- Heidi Heckelbeck by Wanda Coven
- I Survived by Lauren Tarshish
- Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
- Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
- Katie Kazoo by Nancy Krulik
- Little House by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Lunch Lady by Jarett Krosoczka
- Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
- My Weird School by Dan Gutman
- Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings
- Ordinary People Change the World (biographies) by Brad Meltzer
- Picture book biographies by David Adler
- Riot Brothers by Mary Amato
- Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Space Taxi by Wendy Mass
- Super Turbo by Lee Kirby
- Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka
- Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski
- Zack Files by Dan Greenburg
Grade 4
View Printable List of Suggested Titles for Grade 4 (PDF)
Fiction Favorites
- 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass (RL: 4.1)
- Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (RL: 3.5)
- Because of Winn‐Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (RL: 3.9)
- Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson (RL: 4.6)
- Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn (RL: 4.3)
- Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman (RL: 4.0)
- The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson (RL: 3.9)
- How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor (RL: 4.0)
- Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood (RL: 4.0)
- No Talking by Andrew Clements (RL: 5.0)
- Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai (RL: 5.6)
- Restart by Gordon Korman (RL: 5.5)
- Rules by Cynthia Lord (3.9)
- Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks (RL: 4.8)
- The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis (RL: 5.6)
- Superfudge by Judy Blume (RL: 3.9)
- A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (RL: 4.6)
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume (RL: 3.8)
- The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (RL: 4.1)
- Wish by Barbara O’Conner (RL: 4.5)
Informational Books
- Beavers (Superpower Field Guide) by Rachel Poliquin (RL: 5.4)
- Courageous Creatures (I Survived True Stories) by Lauren Tarshis (RL: 6.6)
- A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu, and You by Mike Barfield (RL: 5.1)
- From an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success by Lowey Bundy Sichol (RL: 6.0)
- Strange Nature: The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss by Gregory Mone (RL: 6.2)
- The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome by Jonathan W. Stokes (RL: 6.8)
- World of Weird Animals (series) by Jess Keating
Poetry
- Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (RL: 4.0)
- Every Thing on It by Shel Silverstein (RL: 3.4)
- Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex (RL: 4.0)
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (RL: 3.9)
Graphica
- 5 Worlds by Mark Seigel (RL 4.3)
- Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd (RL: 4.4)
- Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani (RL: 4.1)
- Best Friends by Shannon Hale (RL: 4.6)
- The Brain: The Ultimate Thinking Machine by Tory Willcott (RL: 4.0)
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (RL: 4.5)
- InvestiGators by John Greene (RL: 4.6)
- Red Panda and Moon Bear by Jared Rosello (RL: 4.6)
- Super Potato by Laperia (RL: 4.0)
Series
- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
- Babysitter’s Club (graphica) by Ann M. Martin
- Baseball Card Adventures by Dan Gutman
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
- Emily Winsnap by Liz Kessler
- FunJungle by Stuart Gibbs
- Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
- Greystone Secrets by Margaret Haddix Peterson
- Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler
- Humprey by Betty G. Birney
- I Survived by Lauren Tarshis
- Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
- Middle School by James Patterson
- My Life as a … by Janet Tashjian
- Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
- Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
- Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
- Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
- Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
- Stick Dog/Cat by Tom Watson
- Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
- Timmy Failure by Stephen Pastis
- Trapped in a Video Game by Jesse Brady
- Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths
- Upside Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski
- Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
- Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland
Grade 5
View Printable List of Suggested Titles for Grade 5 (PDF)
View Printable List for 5th Grade Reading Olympics (PDF)
Fiction Favorites
- Aru Shaw and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (RL: 5.3)
- Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (RL: 4.6)
- Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson (RL: 5.4)
- Booked by Kwame Alexander (RL: 5.0)
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (RL: 5.3)
- Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (RL: 6.2)
- Flush by Carl Hiaasen (RL: 5.0)
- Heat by Mike Lupica (RL: 6.9)
- Holes by Louis Sachar (RL: 6.5)
- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (RL: 5.2)
- Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen (RL: 4.7)
- Ramie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo (RL: 5.8)
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (RL: 4.6)
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (RL: 4.6)
- Pax by Sarah Pennypacker (RL: 5.0)
- Save me a Seat by Sarah Weeks (RL: 4.8)
- Ungifted by Gordon Korman (RL: 5.2)
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (RL: 5.8)
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (RL: 5.0)
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle (RL: 4.7)
Informational Books
- Bad News for Outlaws by Vanda Micheaux Nelson (RL: 5.5)
- A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano (RL: 5.7)
- Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (RL: 5.3)
- The Day-Glow Brothers by Chris Barton (RL: 5.7)
- Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins (RL: 5.7)
- Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart (RL: 5.1)
- Lego Awesome Ideas by Daniel Lipkowitz (RL: 6.7)
- Look Again: Secrets of Animal Camouflage By Steve Jenkins (RL: 5.0)
Poetry
- Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman (RL: 5.2)
- Lend a Hand: Poems about Giving by John Frank (RL: 5.0)
- A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky (RL: 5.5)
- Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors by Joyce Sidman (RL: 6.8)
- Voices of Justice: Poems about People Working for a Better World by George Ella Lyon (RL: 5.1)
Graphica
- Baby-sitters Club (series)
- Bone by Jeff Smith Cleopatra in Space by Mike Maihack
- Cleopatra in Space by Mike Maihack
- Friends (series) by Shannon Hale
- Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson
- Science Comics by various authors
Series
- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
- Aru Shah by Roshani Chokshi
- Babysitter’s Club (graphica) by Ann M. Martin
- Brixton Brothers by Mac Barnett
- Brotherband Chronicles by John Flanagan
- City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
- Emmie & Friends by Terri Libenson
- Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
- Fairy Tale Reform School by Jen Calonita
- FunJungle by Stuart Gibbs
- How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
- I Survived by Lauren Tarshis
- Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
- Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
- Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
- Middle School by James Patterson
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
- Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
- Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
- Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
- Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
- Storm Runners by Roland Smith
- Theodore Boone by John Grisham
- Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
- Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
- Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser
- Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland
5th-Grade Reading Olympics
- All That Trash by Meghan McCarthy
- Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksho
- Attack of the Turtle by Drew Carlson
- Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom (#1) by Matthew Swanson
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
- Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone
- The Collector by K.R. Alexander
- Dazzle Ships by Chris Barton
- Dragons In a Bag by Zetta Elliott
- Drizzle by Kathleen VanCleve
- El Deafo by Cece Bell
- EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken by Sally Warner
- The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
- The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- I Survived the Nazi Invasion 1944 by Lauren Tarshis
- James and the Giant Peach by Ronald Dahl
- John Henry by Julius Lester
- Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
- Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
- Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee
- May B: A Novel in Verse by Caroline Starr Rose
- The Maze of Bones (39 Clues: Graphic Novel) by Rick Riordan
- Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King
- Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman
- No Talking by Andrew Clements
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
- Punished by David Lubar
- Rain Reign by Ann M. Marvin
- A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga
- Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
- Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
- Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- Unplugged by Gordon Korman
- Who was Ben Franklin? by Dennis B. Fradin
- A Whole New Ballgame by Phil Bildnerl
- Wild Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff
- Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown
Looking for the RML Summer Reading Program?
Visit the Delco Libraries website to learn more about and sign up for the 2023 Radnor Memorial Library's Summer Learning Program, "All Together Now".