| 4th Grade to Middle School Books: good books for ages 9-12 |  | E. L. Konigsburg (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Adventure Books; Book Theme: Family "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg is an adventure story that has delighted children for decades and is considered a modern classic. Two siblings, Claudia and her brother Jamie, run away from their family home and have an adventure at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They uncover the mystery surrounding "Angel", a statue in the museum. Under E.L. Konigsburg's deft pen, the two main characters in the classic chapter book seem very real and likable. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" has won Newbery Medal and ALA Notable Children's Book award, and is often considered one of the best children's books. |
|  | Kate DiCamillo, Timothy Basil Ering (Hardcover) Genre: Fiction - Animal Fantasy; Book Theme: Animals The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo, a 2004 Newbery Medal award winner, is one of our favorite animal fantasy books. This chapter book tells interwoven stories of three main characters. It is a tale of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse who doesn't behave like an ordinary mouse. Despereaux likes to read stories and falls in love with a princess named Pea. The Mouse Council banishes Despereaux to a dark dungeon for breaking the mouse rules of conduct. It is a tale of Chiaroscuro, a rat who lives in the darkness of dungeon but has an unusual interest in light. It is also a tale of Miggery Sow, an abused and slow-witted servant girl who longs to be a princess. After discovering the rat's plot to kidnap the princess, Despereaux bravely comes to the rescue. With a well-paced story and memorable protagonists, The Tale of Despereaux appeals children in 4th grade through 7th grade. It is a good chapter book to read aloud. |
|  | Barbara Robinson (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Humorous Stories; Book Theme: Christmas "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson, one of the ALA notable Children's Books of 1971-75, is a humorous Christmas story. The six Herdman children, Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys, are the worst kids in town. They bully and they steal. The main characters never go to church until they are mistakenly told that the minister gives out treats in Sunday school. They have never heard the Christmas nativity story before. But when these six kids find out about the annual church Christmas pageant, they bully other children out of volunteering for lead roles in the play. The pageant rehearsals do not go smoothly. The pageant director has to explain the whole Christmas story and the Herdmans have a lot of questions. These children are very interested in the Christmas story; they even go to the library to read about King Herod. All the town people come out to see what the Herdmans will do in the Christmas pageant. They are surprised to find that it is the best Christmas pageant they have ever had. Children in third grade through 6th grade will enjoy this funny and engaging chapter book. |
|  | Lois Lenski (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Historical Fiction; Book Themes: Family, Farm Life, Frontier and Pioneer Life "Strawberry Girl" is a classic children's book by Lois Lenski. In this award-winning historic fiction, a little girl named Birdie helps her family raise strawberries on a frontier farm and earns the title of "Strawberry Girl". Along the way, they have to cope with drought, roaming animals, grass fires and unfriendly neighbors. The chapter book depicts vividly what life was like in the lake region of Florida in the early 1900's. "Strawberry Girl" is a Newbery Medal and ALA Notable Children's Books award winner. |
|  | C.S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Books The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, the third story in the Chronicles of Narnia Series, is a great classic children's book with complex and likable characters. The fantasy novel is set in the time when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are kings and queens of Narnia. Shasta, a boy living in the land of Calormen, discovers that his master is selling him to a Tarkaan, a noble from the south. The boy meets Bree, a talking horse of Narnia who was captured when he was a young colt. Together, they decide to flee to Narnia. On their long journey, the boy and his horse have many adventures and are joined by a brave aristocratic girl named Aravis and her talking horse called Hwin. Squabbling among themselves, the two kids and two horses venture through Calormen's capital city Tashbaan, cross a desert, and uncover the Calormen ruler Tisroc and Prince Rabadash's plot to invade Narnia and neighboring Archenland. The Horse and His Boy is a good chapter book for children in 4th grade through 7th grade. |
|  | Robert Lawson (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Animal Fantasy; Book Theme: Animals "Rabbit Hill" by Robert Lawson is one of the Newbery-award-winning classic children's books. In this gentle chapter book, animals on Rabbit Hill are anxiously waiting for the arrival of new folks. Author Robert Lawson creates a few vivid animal characters, such as gentleman-like Father Rabbit, worry-prone Mother Rabbit, grumpy Uncle Rabbit and Little Georgie the rabbit. Children in 4th grade through 7th grade will enjoy this sweet animal fantasy story. |
|  | Judy Blume (Paperback) Genres: Fiction - Humorous Stories, Realistic Fiction; Book Themes: Family, Friendship Superfudge by Judy Blume is a humorous story about families and sibling rivalry and friendship. In this sequel to "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing", life is changing for 12-year-old Peter and 4-year-old Fudge. They are moving from New York City to Princeton, NJ, and the Hatcher family is having a new baby. Peter is upset that he has to leave his best friend Jimmy Fargo behind. Fudge is still full of antics; Peter doesn't want another sibling like Fudge. After moving to Princeton, Peter makes friends with Alex Santo, a boy who lives across the street. Just as life is looking up, Peter enters sixth grade in the same school Fudge starts kindergarten. Smart, lively and mischievous Fudge attends kindergarten a year early. This chapter book in the genre of realistic fiction is fast-paced, very funny, and has characters that kids can easily relate to. "Superfudge" appeals to children in 4th grade through 7th grade. |
|  | Donald J. Sobol (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Mystery Books The Encyclopedia Brown mystery stories, by Donald J. Sobol, are quite popular with young readers. "Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective" is the first mystery book of this series. The main character is a brainy child detective nicknamed Encyclopedia Brown. Encyclopedia, a son of the Chief of Police, solves mystery cases using clues, logic and sharp observations. The solutions to the 10 mystery cases can be found in the back of the chapter book. Children in second grade through sixth grade will enjoy this mystery book and learn some critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. |
| | 33-40 of 49 books < Previous | Next > | |
|
|
