Elementary Summer Reading
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
Picture Books
- Bad Seed or Good Egg (Food Group Series) by Jory John (RL: 1.9)
- Big by Vashti Harrison (RL:1.5)
- Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim (RL:1.6)
- I Lost my Tooth by Mo Willems (RL: 1.4)
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (RL: 2.2)
- The Loud Librarian by Jenna Bearice (RL: 3.2)
- Norman Didn't Do It!: (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins (RL: 1.9)
- This Book is My Best Friend by Robin Kaplan (RL: 1.8)
- Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea (RL: 1.9)
- What About Worms? by Ryan T. Higgins (RL:1.6)
Early Chapter Books
- Baseball Buzz (Sports Illustrated Kids Series) by C.C. Joven (RL: 0.7)
- Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell (RL: 2.9)
- Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate (RL: 2.1)
- Don’t Throw It to Mo by David Adler (RL: 1.5)
- Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai (RL:1.8)
- 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)
- Owl and Penguin by Vikram Madan (RL:1.1)
- Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton (RL: 2.0)
- Squish by Jennifer L. Holm (RL: 2.2)
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)
- What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon by Rachel Ignotofsky (RL: 3.4)
- Yoshi Sea Turtle Genius by Lynne Cox (RL: 2.6)
Series for 1st Graders
- Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish
- Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan
- Beak & Ally by Norman Feuti
- “Branches” books (various)
- 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
- Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings
- 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 Martinez 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
Picture Books
- The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Sanat (RL: 3.3)
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (RL: 1.8)
- Evelyn del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina (RL: 2.2)
- Gustav is Missing! A Tale of Friendship and Bravery by Andrea Zuill (RL: 3.4)
- Jump for Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle
- Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclea (RL:3.2)
- 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)
- Vacation by Ame Dyckman (RL: 1.7)
- When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni (RL: 1.6)
- The Yellow Bus by Loren Long (RL:3.1)
Poetry
- Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Linda Ashman (RL: 6.8)
- Forget-me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart by Mary Ann Hoberman (RL: 2.3)
- National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry
Informational Books
- Blood! Not Just a Vampire Drink by Stacy McAnulty
- The Earth Book by Todd Parr (RL: 2.4)
- I’m Trying to Love Rocks by Bethany Barton
- 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 Novels (Series)
- Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm
- Babysitters Club by Ann Martin
- Bad Guys by Alex Blabey
- Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey
- Cookie & Broccali by Bob McMahon
- Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
- InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
- Lunch Lady by Jared Krosoczka
- Magic Tree House Graphic Novels
- Pea, Bee & Jay by Brian Smith
- Pizza and Taco by Stephen Shaskan
- Shark Princess by Nidhi Chanani
- Squish by Jennifer L. Holm
Series for 2nd Graders
- 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
- Fabled Stables by Jonathan Auxier
- Frankie Pickle by Eric Wight
- Geronimo Stilton by various authors
- Heroes in Training by Joan Holub
- 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
- Ricky Ricotta by Dav Pilkey
- 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
Fiction Favorites
- The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths (RL:5.0)
- Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom by Matthew Swanson (RL: 3.9)
- Crack the Code! (Minecraft StoneSward Saga) by Nick Eliopulos (RL: 4.3)
- Diamond in the Rough by Jen Calonita (RL: 3.9)
- Ellie’s Story by Cameron Bruce (RL: 3.9)
- Fairest of All (Whatever After) by Sarah Mlynowski (RL: 4.5)
- Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome (RL: 3.2)
- Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier (RL: 2.6)
- The Grip by Marcus Stroman (RL:4.2)
- Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson (RL: 3.9)
- How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor (RL: 4.0)
- Loser’s Club by Andrew Clement (3.9)
- Mia Mayhem is a Superhero by Kara West (RL: 3.7)
- Pug Blasts Off by Kyla May (RL: 2.9)
- Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West (RL:3.4)
- The School is Alive! by Jack Shabert (RL: 3.4)
- Too Small Tola by Atinuke (RL:3.7)
- Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom by Joan Halub (RL: 3.2)
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)
- If it Rains Pancakes by Brian Cleary (RL: 3.1)
- Poem Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems by J. Patrick Lewis (RL: 3.4)
- Toasting Marshmallows by Kristine O’Connell George (RL: 2.8)
Informational Books
- Cute as an Axolotl by Jess Keating (RL: 3.2)
- El Deafo by CeCe Bell (RL: 3.3)
- Giant Squid by Candace Fleming (RL: 3.2)
- A Peek at Beaks: Tools Birds Use by Sara Levine (RL: 3.9)
- Weird but True (various) by National Geographic
Graphica
- Animorphs series by Chris Grine
- Aquanaut by Dan Santat
- Baby-sitters Little Sisters series
- Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey
- Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody
- Click series by Kaya Miller
- Dog Man / Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey
- Smile series by Raina Telgemeier
Series for 3rd Graders
- A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
- Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
- Babymouse by Jennifer Holm
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
- Dog’s Purpose/Puppy Place by W. Bruce Cameron
- Doll People by Ann Martin
- Dragon Girls by Maddy Mara
- Dragon Masters by Tracey West
- Eerie Elementary by Jack Shabert
- Galaxy Zack by Ray O'Ryan
- Girl’s Survived by Various Authors
- Geronimo Stilton/Thea Stilton by Various Authors
- Heidi Heckelbeck/Henry Heckelbeck by Wanda Coven
- Heroes in Training by David Campiti
- I Survived by Lauren Tarshish
- Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
- Lunch Lady by Jarett Krosoczka
- Minecraft Saga/StoneSword by Nick Eliopulos
- 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
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Space Taxi by Wendy Mass
- Stick Dog by Tom Watson
- Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski
Grade 4
Fiction Favorites
- Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling (RL: 4.0)
- Amari and the Night Brothers (#1) by B.B. Alston (RL: 4.9)
- Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (RL: 5.3)
- Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord (RL: 4.3)
- Best Worst Summer by Elizabeth Eulbert (RL: 4.1)
- BFG by Roald Dahl (RL: 4.9)
- Booked by Kwame Alexander (RL: 5.0)
- Dare Sisters By Jessica Rinker (RL: 4.6)
- Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm (RL: 5.0)
- Gertie is Not All Dogs by Siski Kalla (RL: 4.8)
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds (RL: 4.6)
- Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park (RL:4.7)
- Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood (RL: 4.0)
- The Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm (RL: 4.0)
- One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (RL:4.0)
- The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (RL: 4.1)
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (RL: 5.1)
- Wish by Barbara O’Connor (RL: 4.5)
Poetry
- Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures by Kwame Alexander (RL: 4.3)
- Can I Touch Your Hair by Irene Lathan (RL: 4.6)
- Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (RL: 4.0)
- Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex (RL: 4.0)
Informational Books
- Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani (RL: 4.1)
- Courageous Creatures (I Survived True Stories) by Lauren Tarshis (RL: 6.6)
- From an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success by Lowey Bundy Sichol (RL: 6.0)
- Pandas & Other Endangered Species by Mary Pope Osborne (RL: 5.0)
- She Persisted biographies (various)
- World of Weird Animals (series) by Jess Keating
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)
- Babysitters Club Series (various)
- Captian America Ghost Army by Alan Gratz (RL: 4.0)
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (RL: 4.5)
- InvestiGators by John Greene (RL: 4.6)
- Science Comics (various)
- Tale as Tall as Jacob by Samantha Edwards (RL: 3.3)
- The 39 Clues by Ethan Young (RL: 4.0)
Series for 4th Graders
- Amazing Athletes biographies (various)
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
- Cookie Chronicles by Matthew Swanson
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell
- Dragon Girls by Maddy Mara
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
- FunJungle by Stuart Gibbs
- Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
- Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
- How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
- Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
- I Survived by Lauren Tarshis
- InvestiGators by John Patrick Greene
- Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
- Last Kids on Earth by Max Brailler
- Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
- Middle School by James Patterson
- Mr. Lemoncello by Chris Grabenstein
- My Life as a … by Janet Tashjian
- Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
- Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
- Stick Dog/Cat by Tom Watson
- Terrible Two Mac Barnett
- Timmy Failure by Stephen Pastis
- Trapped in a Video Game by Jesse Brady
- Treehouse Hunters by James Patterson
- Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths
- Upside Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski
- Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
- Wild Robot by Peter Brown
- Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland
Grade 5
Fiction Favorites
- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (RL: 5.5)
- Aru Shaw and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (RL: 5.3)
- Bhai for Now by Maleeha Siddiqui (RL: 6.0)
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (RL: 4.6)
- Chester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon (RL: 5.6)
- City Spies by James Ponti (RL: 5.3)
- Flush by Carl Hiaasen (RL: 5.0)
- Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm (RL: 5.0)
- Greenglass House by Kate Milford (RL: 5.4)
- Heat by Mike Lupica (RL: 6.9)
- Holes by Louis Sachar (RL: 6.5)
- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (RL: 5.2)
- Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd (RL: 4.7)
- Invisible Spy by Lisa McMann (RL5.9)
- Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani (RL: 4.5)
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (RL: 4.6)
- Pax by Sarah Pennypacker (RL: 5.0)
- Secret Library by Kekla Magoon (RL: 1)
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (RL: 5.8)
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)
Informational Books
- A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano (RL: 5.7)
- Curse of the Mummy by Candace Fleming (RL: 6.8)
- 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)
- Rebel Girls by Abby Sher (RL: 4.0-5.9)
Graphica
- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
- Art Club by Rashad Doucet
- Baby-sitters Club
- Emmie and Friends by Terri Libenson
- Friends by Shannon Hale
- Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale
- Sunny by Jennifer Holm Sweet
- Sweet Valley Twins by Nicole Andelfinger
Series for 5th Graders
- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
- Aru Shah by Roshani Chokshi
- City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
- City Spies by James Ponti
- Dead City by James Ponti
- Emmie & Friends by Terri Libenson
- Fairy Tale Reform School by Jen Calonita
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
- FunJungle by Stuart Gibbs
- Grimm Sisters by Michael Buckley
- Harry Potter by JK Rowling
- 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
- Mr. Lemoncello by Chris Grabenstein
- 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
- The Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser
- Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland
Grade 5 Reading Olympics
Reading Olympics 2025-26
- All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue by Christina Soontornvat (RL: 5.9)
- Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan (RL: 4.6)
- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (RL: 6.7)
- Back in Time with Thomas Edison (Qwerty Stevens) by Dan Gutman (RL: 5.2)
- Dogs on Duty by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (RL: 7.1)
- Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson (RL: 5.3)
- The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
- Francie by Karen English (RL: 4.2)
- George Washington’s Spy by Elvira Woodruff (RL: 5.8)
- The Gold-Threaded Dress by Carolyn Marsden (RL: 4.7)
- Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (RL: 2.6)
- The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson (RL: 3.9)
- Hoops by Matt Tavares (RL: 2.7)
- How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor (RL: 4.0)
- The Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived) by Lauren Tarshis (RL: 4.3)
- Kickoff! by Tiki Barber (RL: 4.3)
- Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola (RL: 5.0)
- Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood (RL: 4.0)
- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (RL: 4.7)
- Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm (RL: 4.0)
- Loot: How to Steal a Fortune by Jude Watson (RL:4.7)
- Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (RL: 5.4)
- Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson (RL: 5.2)
- Odder by Katherine Applegate (RL: 6.3)
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (RL: 4.0)
- Pie by Sarah Weeks (RL: 5.6)
- Ragweed by Avi (RL: 4.8)
- The Report Card by Andrew Clement (RL: 4.5)
- Saving H’Non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyen (RL: 5.1)
- Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh (RL: 3.2)
- Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty (RL: 5.9)
- Shoot-Out by Mike Lupica (RL: 5.5)
- Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant (RL: 2.5)
- Stargazing by Jen Wang (RL: 2.8)
- Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm (RL: 2.8)
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (RL: 4.1)
- Those Rebels, Tom and John by Barbara Kerley (RL: 4.8)
- Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (RL: 3.9)
- The Underground Abductor (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale (RL: 3.1)
- The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chin (RL: 5.6)
- The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsberg (RL: 4.8)
- Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky (RL: 6.3)
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis (RL: 5.0)
- When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller (RL: 5.0)
- Winners Take All by Fred Bowen (RL: 4.3)
Looking for the RML Summer Program?
Visit the Delco Libraries website to learn more about and sign up for the Radnor Memorial Library's 2025 Summer Learning Program, "Color Our World".