Third and Fourth Grade
Suggested Reading

Beany Goes to Camp ~ Susan Wojiechowski

      Beany doesn’t want to go to camp--- she can’t even dive! ---but when her parents drop her off for summer crafts and activities, she has more fun than she expected.  2002

Birdbrain Amos ~ Michael Delaney

      Amos is a nice hippopotamus, too nice, in fact, as he’s hired a new tick bird to keep the bugs away, but when the bird overstays her welcome, Amos must find a clever way to let her go.  2002

Bow Bow Meow Meow:  It’s Raining Cats and Dogs ~ Douglas Florian

      A quirky, clever collection of poems about kids’ favorite pets.  If you love this book, also try Insectlopedia and Mammalabilia 2003

Dracula Doesn’t Play Kickball ~ Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

      Another unbelievable adventure in The Bailey School Kids’ series featuring a pretty weird grown-up who looks and acts like the king of the vampires and comes to their school as the new playground monitor.  2004

The Field Guide ~ Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

      A group of siblings move to their Great Aunt’s dilapidated Victorian mansion, discover a field guide to fairies and encounter strange new creatures inhabiting the house and surrounding area. First book in The Spiderwick Chronicles.  2003

Field Trips:  Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-Watching, and Shore   Walking  ~ Jim Arnosky

      Take this book on your next field trip if you enjoy watching and tracking animals safely. 2002

Guy Wire ~ Sarah Weeks

      Buzz has been Guy’s best friend since the second grade, but when an accident threatens their friendship, it’s up to Guy’s wacky memories and hilarious predicaments to pull them through.  Also, try Regular Guy, Guy Time and My Guy.  2002

Honeysuckle House ~ Andrea Cheng

      Ten-year-old Tina comes from China and Sarah is Chinese-American. Both girls try to adjust to new circumstances by learning a new language, each other’s culture and helping their friends understand that there is more to a person than just what she looks like.  2004

Ida B…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World  ~ Katherine Hannigan

      Fourth-grader Ida B is happy being home-schooled and playing in her apple orchard until circumstances force her to devise plans that turn her into “Superhero Deluxe,” friend of all things good and foe of everything mean and mindless.  2004

Judy Moody Predicts the Future ~ Megan McDonald

      Judy is convinced that her new mood ring can predict the future and tries to convince her third-grade classmates that she truly is psychic.  2003

The Little Gentleman ~ Philippa Pearce

      A bewitched mole befriends a young girl whose dull life is transformed after discovering his fondness for being read to and talking about his legendary past.  2004

Me Oh Maya~ Jon Scieszka

      With a little magic and a trip back in time to an ancient Mayan civilization, three best friends dribble themselves into an impossible basketball game.  Read the rest of the Time Warp Trio series for more laughable good times with Joe, Sam and Fred.   2003

Mermaid Mary Margaret ~ Lynn E. Hazen

     Eleven-year-old Mary Margaret is on her way to the Greek Isles with her recently widowed grandmother, a journal and dreams of becoming a mermaid.  2004

My Curious Uncle Dudley ~ Barry Yourgrau

      Duncan Peckle’s curious Uncle Dudley comes for a surprise visit and magically turns the guest room into a pot of secrets brewing with trouble.  2004

Scooby-Doo and the Virtual Villain ~ James Gelsey

      The gang is once again hot on the trail to unmask an evil computer opponent who is trying to outwit the champion, Ron Ripsnishes, at the International Checkers Federation tournament.  2004

Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life:  The Riot Brothers Tell  All ~ Mary Amato

      Join brothers, Orville and Wilbur, in their adventures to capture a crook, find a hidden treasure, and overthrow a king along with full details on their games, rules, sayings and a top ten list of important things to be able to do with your face.  A sure pleaser for Captain Underpants fans!  2004

The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her to Fly ~ Luis Sepűlveda

      Before a seagull dies from the devastating effects of an oil spill, she asks Zorba, “a good cat, a noble cat,” for three wishes, but he will need his friends’ help to make one of them truly possible.  Translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden.  2003

Summer of the Sea Serpent ~ Mary Pope Osborne

      Incredibly strange things happen when Jack and Annie travel to a mythical land guided by Merlin the magician.  Be sure to read Christmas in Camelot and Haunted Castle on Hallow’s Eve, two more titles in this special group of Magic Tree House books.  2004

Winchell Mink:  The Misadventure Begins ~ Steve Young

      Being bullied is no fun, but when eleven-year-old Winchell is transformed into his pet turtle, he experiences one hilarious romp after another even if the bully. 2004

Researched and compiled by M. Sulikowski
(Updated on November 11, 2004)