SUMMER BOOK LISTS FOR PARENTS ~ GRADE TWO



Summer Book List for Students Entering 3rd Grade

Fall 2009

June, 2009

Dear Parents,

I have prepared a book list for you and included suggestions from Tenafly teachers. There are several book lists: parents’ resource books, books for parents to read aloud to children, and individual books and titles of series for children to read on their own. If any text is too difficult for your child to read independently, please use it as a read-aloud book. The packet includes new titles as well as old favorites.

To find additional books at your child’s independent reading level, your child’s teacher can print you an additional list of books. Please don’t be concerned regarding the actual reading level of your child. Each child is on their own continuum. The purpose of assigning a level is to help students find books that are just-right for them. This ensures they can continue to decode and have high level comprehension as they grow and practice their reading skills. You can also locate books by reading level at:

Have fun reading! (

Suggestions of reading resources for parents:

• Calkins, Lucy and Lydia Bellino. Raising Lifelong Learners, A Parent’s Guide. Reading: Perseus Books, 1998.

• Codell, Esme Raji. How to Get Your Child to Love Reading. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2003.

• Fox, Mem. Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. New York: Harcourt, 2001.

• Haas, Laurie Joy and Monty Haas. Read It Aloud!: A Parent’s Guide to Sharing Books With Young Children. Mansfield: Atlas Books/The Reading Railroad, 2000.

• Silvey, Anita, Editor. The Essential Guide to Children’s Books and Their Creators. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.

• Trelease, Jim. The Read-Aloud Handbook, 6th Edition. New York: Penguin Group, 2006.

• Zimmerman, Susan and Hutchins, Chryse. 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It! New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2003.

• GREAT WEBSITES FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS AND PARENTS’ RESOURCES:



and

Smiles (

Meredith Alvaro - Tenafly Literacy Specialist/Staff Developer

(Students Entering 3rd Grade- 2009 Book List – Continued – Page 2)

READ-ALOUD LIST FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS ENTERING 3rd GRADE

Adler, David. America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle.

Adler, David. Mama Played Baseball.

Arnosky, Jim. All About Sharks.

Asch, Frank. Peral’s Promise.

Berger, Melvin. Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn.

Bogart, Ellen. Jeremiah Learns to Read.

Burleigh, Robert. Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth.

Blume, Judy. Freckle Juice.

Castaneda, Omar S. Abuela’s Weave.

Choi, Sook Nyul. Halmoni and the Picnic.

Cleary, Beverly. Ralph S. Mouse.

Cohen, Barbara. Molly’s Pilgrims.

Collard, Sneed. A Platypus, Probably.

Corey, Shana. Players in Pigtails.

Esbensen, Barbara Juster. Tiger with Wings- The Great Horned Owl.

Farris, Christine King. My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fredericks, Anthony. Around One Cactus: Owls, Bats and Leaping Rats.

Glaser, Linda. Wonderful Worms.

Guiberson, Brenda. Spotted Owl: Bird of the Ancient Forest.

Hodgkins, Fran. Between the Tides.

Hong, Lily Toy. Two of Everything.

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Side by Side: Poems to Read Together.

Hopkinson, Deborah. Girl Wonder – A Baseball Story in Nine Innings.

Horacek, Petr. Silly Suzy Goose.

Hurwitz, Johanna. Class Clown.

Johansson, Philip. The Seashore: A Saltwater Web of Life.

Kline, Suzy. Song Lee in Room 2B.

Kortenkamp, Steve. The First Moon Landing.

Lasky, Kathryn. Monarchs.

Lauber, Patricia. How Dinosaurs Came to Be.

Leaardi, Jeanette. Southern Sea Otters: Fur-tastrophe Avoided.

Lewis, C. S. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Lind, Michael. Bluebonnet Girl.

Lindbergh, Reeve. What is the Sun?

MacLachlan, Patricia. All the Places to Love.

Markle, Sandra. Outside and Inside Birds.

Miles, Miska. Annie and the Old One.

Parish, Peggy. Amelia Bedelia.

Parker, Steve. It’s a Frog’s Life: My Story of Life in a Pond.

Parsons, Alexandra. Amazing Spiders.

Patterson, Francine. Koko’s Kittens.

Peterson, Cris. Clarabelle: Making Milk an So Much More.

Pigdon, Keith and Marilyn Woolley. Earthworms.

(Students Entering 3rd Grade- 2009 Book List – – Continued – Page 3)

Polacco, Patricia. Chicken Sunday.

Polacco, Patricia. Mrs. Katz and Tush.

Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker & all other titles by Patricia Polacco.

Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach.

Ross, Kathy. Step-by-Step Crafts for Gifts.

Rumford, James. Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing.

Ryder, Joanne. Snail’s Spell.

Simon, Seymour. Penguins.

Soto, Gary. The Skirt.

Soto, Gary. Too Many Tamales.

Steig, William. Abel’s Island.

Swanson, Diane. Safari Beneath the Sea: The Wonder World of the North Pacific.

Thomas, Jane. The Comeback Dog.

Van Allsburg, Chris. Jumanji.

Van Allsburg, Chris. The Wretched Stone.

Watts, Jeri. Keepers.

Wexler, Jerome. Everyday Mysteries.

BOOKS FOR STUDENTS TO READ

(If a book is too difficult for your child to read, please begin by using it as a read aloud. Refer to the leveled book list to find more individual titles at your child’s June reading level)

Popular Authors and Series for Students Entering 3rd Grade:

FICTION:

Lillian Hoban – Arthur series (This is the easier Arthur series.)

Norman Bridwell – Clifford series

Crosby Bonsall – mystery series…The Case of the Cat’s Meow, and others

Jane Yolen – Commander Toad series

Marc Brown – Arthur series (This is a hard, longer chapter book Arthur series.)

Judy Delton – Pee Wee Scouts series

M. Weinman Sharmat – Nate the Great series

Peggy Parish – Amelia Bedelia series

David Adler - Cam Jansen series

Barbara Park – Junie B. Jones series

Suzy Kline – Horrible Harry series

James Howe - Pinky and Rex

Shelley Moore Thomas – Good Knight series

(Students Entering 3rd Grade- 2009 Book List – Continued – Page 4)

NONFICTION

Animal Wise series – Capstone Press

Bugbooks series – Creative Education

First Biography Series – Heinemann Raintree

First Start Biographies-Troll

I Can Read Book Series - Wildlife Conservation Society

I Like Reptiles and Amphibians series (Enslow Publishers)

My Own Science series – Lerner Publishing Group

Scholastic Biographies.

Sabrina Crewe - Life Cycles series of animals in the wild

Scholastic Science Readers, interesting topics in science for second-graders – Level Two

Stepping Stone True Stories series (Random House)

David Adler – biography series

Step into Reading series- Random House Books

Let’s Read and Find Out series

Nature’s Secret series – Reader’s Digest

Wonderful Water Biomes series – Enslow Publishers

INDIVIDUAL TITLES OF BOOKS FOR STUDENTS TO READ

*Appelbaum, Diana. Cocoa Ice. New York: Orchard Books, 1998.

This is an inviting book about how two girls, one from Santa Domingo, and one from Maine, explore what their families harvest.

*Arnosky, James. All About Deer. New York: Scholastic, 1996.

A wonderful nonfiction, informational text – excellent author

*Bailer, Darice. Great Women Athletes. New York: Random House, 2001.

Each chapter in this reader-friendly Step into Reading text highlights a different woman athlete. This is part of a series of Step into Reading books.

*Berger, Melvin. Chirping Crickets. New York: HarperCollins, 1998.

Part of a Let’s Read and Find Out series – clear, concise information about crickets

*Berger, Melvin and Gilda Berger. Dogs Bring Newspapers But Cats Bring Mice: and Other Fascinating Facts about Animal Behavior. New York: Scholastic Publishers, 2004.

This intriguing book gives the reader many secrets about how animals’ behavior helps them to survive. Many color photos of animals are included.

*Betancourt, Jeanne. Ten True Animal Rescues. New York: Scholastic, 1998.

Intriguing true stories about how courageous animals saved the lives of people

*Borden, Louise. Goodbye, Charles Lindbergh. New York: McElderry Press, 1998.

Charles Lindburgh gives Gil and his friend a pamphlet on his famous flight – based on a true story. (Flight, by Robert Burleigh is a wonderful follow-up.

(Students Entering 3rd Grade- 2009 Book List – Continued – Page 5)

*Bulla, Clyde Robert. The Chalk Box Kid. New York: Random House, 1987.

This book is an “outstanding characterization plus a poignant story,” according to the School Library Journal.

*Byers, Betsy. Tornado. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.

Tornado is a chapter book that offers an account of how a family helped each other survive a tornado by telling stories while they waited for the storm to pass.

*Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007.

This text is recommended by The Horn Book Guide! “This picture book biography details young Pele’s love of soccer, his team loyalty, and his speed, agility, and remarkable eye.” A beautiful book!

*Covert, Ralph, and G. Riley Mills. Sawdust and Spangles: The Amazing Life of W.C. Coup. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2007.

An award-winning biography of W.C. Coup, the man who built the New York Aquarium, who ran off to join the circus when he was a child, and later became one of the most famous circus leaders of all times!

*Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a Worm. New York: Harper Collins, 2003.

Easily digestible facts about earthworms are tastefully written into journal entries by this award-winning author!

*Davidson, Margaret. The Story of Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor – The Wizard of Menlo Park. New York: Scholastic, 1990.

This biography is composed of short chapters about the life of Thomas Alva Edison. It is part of a series called Scholastic Biographies.

*Dubowski, Mark, & Cathy East Dubowski. Ice Mummy – The Discovery of a 5,000 Year-Old Man. New York: Random House, 1998.

A true story about how hikers discovered a real ice mummy

One of an excellent, reader-friendly series called Step into Reading

*Fisher, Amy. The Story Goes On. Roaring Brook Press, 2005.

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book that describes the cycle of life.

Aileen Fisher describes the ongoing cycle of life of predators and prey, but does it creatively in verse.

*Fowler, Allan. Life in a Pond. New York: Children’s Press, 1996.

Wonderful description of life in and around ponds

*Fowler, Allan. Simple Machines. New York: Children’s Press, 2000.

An interesting comparison of levers, pulleys, wheels, and ramps

*Gibbons, Gail. Penguins! New York: Holiday, 1998.

This is a beautifully written text about penguins that helps readers understand how nonfiction works and learn all about penguins. Gail Gibbons is a superb author!

*Giff, Patricia Reilly. The Secret at the Polk Street School, Dell, 1987.

This is an exciting story about how the Polka Dot Private Eye solves a mystery. It is part of the Polka Dot Private Eye series.

*Giff, Patricia Reilly. Today Was a Terrible Day. Viking, 1985.

Ronald Morgan had a terrible day at school. It is part of the Ronald Morgan series.

(Students Entering 3rd Grade- 2009 Book List – Continued – Page 6)

*Heller, Janet Ruth. How the Moon Regained Her Shape. Mount Pleasant, SC: Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2006.

This book won the Children’s Choices for 2007 award. It is a beautiful story that has been influenced by Native American folk tales. It offers an incredibly creative and entertaining explanation of the phases of the moon!

*Hesse, Karen. Come On, Rain. New York: Scholastic, 1999.

This text is a beautifully written celebration about the relief rain brings. It is written in poetic prose with particular word usage that appeals to the senses.

*Jango-Cohen, Judith. Real-Life Sea Monsters. Lerner Publishing Group, 2007.

Part of My Own Science series and recommended by The Horn Book Guide.

“This book for independent readers introduces three legendary sea monsters – kraken, mermaids, and sea serpents – and compares them to actual sea creatures.

*Jeffrey, Laura S. Cats – How to Choose and Care for a Cat. Berkley Heights: Enslow Publishers, 2004.

This is part of the American Humane Pet Care Library. It includes clear tips for readers, interesting facts, and great photographs.

*Krull, Kathleen. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss. New York: Random House Children’s Books, 2004.

An award-winning book by a noted author about the life of Dr. Seuss…

Kirkus Reviews say, “Some of these original images are absolutely haunting; the magic of his name will make this a huge hit, but it's the lively writing that puts the hat on the cat.”

*Lasky, Kathryn. She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head. New York: Hyperion, 1995.

This is a fascinating picture storybook account of how the Audubon Society began.

*Lauber, Patricia. An Octopus Is Amazing. New York: Crowell, 1990.

This is a wonderfully written, easy-reader nonfiction book about the life cycle of an octopus.

*Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu, Brave and True. New York: Simon and Schuster Children’s, 2004.

An award winner! The American Library Association states, “In this short chapter book, Asian American Ruby Lu, almost eight, is enthusiastic about her younger brother Oscar, about magic, and in the end, about everything.”

*Magloff, Lisa. Watch Me Grow Frog. New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2003.

Clear photographs, creatively written text, and catchy facts show the life cycle of a frog.

*Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Boston: Grandmother Bryan’s Pocket. Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

This is a story about life on a New England farm that offers discussion about how eight-year-old Sarah has to overcome her fears.

(Students Entering 3rd Grade- 2009 Book List – Continued – Page 7)

*Markle, Sandra. Little Lost Bat. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing Company, 2006.

This book won the Children’s Choices for 2007 award. It is brilliantly illustrated by award-winning artist, Alan Marks. It portrays the sad and hopeful story about a week-old Mexican free-tailed bat that has to survive on his own.

*Mayer, Cassie. Tecumseh. Chicago, IL: Heinemann-Raintree, 2007.

Part of the First Biographies Series and recommended by The Horn Book Guide.

“This book provides a useful, accessible, very basic introduction for young readers to Tecumseh’s life, his accomplishments, and legacy.”

*Parks, Rosa. I Am Rosa Parks. New York: Dial Press, 1997.

Rosa Parks tells her own story.

*Pilkey, Dav. The Paperboy. New York: Orchard Books, 1996.

This is a story about a boy who follows through on his responsibilities.

*Polacco, Patricia. My Rotten Red-Headed Older Brother. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994.

Polacco’s writing craft is very visible in this tale of siblings.

*Schoenberg, Jane. My Bodyworks: Songs about Your Bones, Muscles, Heart, and More! Interlink Publishing Group, 2005.

A wonderful collection of songs about how the human body works! Recommended by the National Science Teachers Association.

*Sidman, Joyce. Song of the Waterboatman and Other Pond Poems. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.

A 2006 Caldecott Honor Book that celebrates the animals, insects, and plants of the pond in beautiful poetic verse

*Smith, Janice Lee. Adam Joshua series. New York: Harper Collins.

Students enjoy reading about typical dilemmas in second and third grade classrooms.

*Stanley, George Edward. Wild Horses. New York: Random House, 2007.

This book is recommended by The Horn Book Guide and part of a series called Stepping Stone True Stories. Short chapters offer supportive sentence structure, and feature an assortment of wild horses, such as the Assateague ponies.

*Thomson, Sarah L. Amazing Dolphins! New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2006.

Sarah Thomson received the Children’s Choices Award for 2007 for this book from the International Reading Association. Exciting close-up photos accompanied by fascinating information about dolphins make this book a winner!

*Thomson, Sarah L. Amazing Snakes! New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2006.

Sarah Thomson received the Children’s Choices Award for 2007 for this book from the International Reading Association. Kirkus Review stated, “This easy reader provides an engrossing introduction to a perennially fascinating subject.”

Resources Consulted: Tenafly teachers and lists of award-winning books

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