8 Books Not To Be Missed For Your Summer Reading List (4-8yrs)

Here are just some of our favorite titles for your Summer Reading List, available on the First Book Marketplace. Contributions are pulled from the fabulous lesson plans compiled by teachers on Share My Lesson.

One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo – Judy Blume

Lately second grader Freddy Dissel has that left-out kind of feeling. Life can be lonely when you’re the middle kid in the family who feels like “the peanut butter part of a sandwich,” squeezed between an older brother and little sister. But now for the first time it’s Freddy’s chance to show everyone how special he is and, most of all, prove it to himself!

Thank you Amelia Bedelia – Peggy Parish and Barbara Siebel Thomas

Great-Aunt Myra is coming for a visit! Amelia Bedelia, in her usual style, takes all of her instructions literally, which yields some hysterical antics as she goes about her chores. Peggy Parish’s lovable character comes back yet again with more silly and delightful mishaps, trying to follow her employer’s orders before Great-Aunt Myra arrives.

Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy – Marc Brown

D.W. is jealous when her big brother Arthur loses a tooth and gets a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Arthur explains that the Tooth Fairy comes only when you lose a tooth and put it under your pillow at night, so D.W. dreams up some hysterical (but unsuccessful) plans to trick her into coming. Finally, Arthur decides to reward D.W.’s efforts by playing Tooth Fairy himself!  By matching picture stickers to words in the story, kids reinforce word recognition. With the extra stickers, they can create stories of their own.

Curious George Goes to a Costume Party – Margret & H.A. Rey

George and the man with the yellow hat arrive at a Halloween party—but they aren’t wearing costumes. No matter—there are plenty in an old trunk upstairs, and soon George is trying on all kinds of outfits. But when he wants to look in the mirror, George finds he has to jump on the bed. Downstairs, the partygoers begin to hear noises. Then the lights go out and they hear a crash! Uh-oh. Did someone say the word ghost?

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse – Leo Lionni

Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander the real mouse is chased away with brooms and mousetraps. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse too. In this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical mouse, Leo Lionni explores the magic of friendship.

Blueberries for Sal – Robert McCloskey

Little Sal and Little Bear both lose their mothers while eating blueberries and almost end up with the other’s mother.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue – Kate DiCamillo

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig – she’s a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons’ bed. BOOM! CRACK! Mercy escapes in a flash – “to alert the fire department,” her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind – like a sudden craving for their neighbors’ sugar cookies?

Mr. Putter & Tabby Clear the Decks – Cynthia Rylant

In the nineteenth book in this beloved series, Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, are itchy. Not because of fleas, but because it is hot, they’re bored, and they’re out of orangesicles. So when their neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, suggests a sightseeing cruise, they’re excited to set sail!