Recommended Reading Grade 5 and 6
Grade 5
Fiction: Easy Readers
Bunting, Eve. The In-Between Days
George’s heart cannot live without Caroline
Byars, Betsy. The Pinballs.
After a few bad situations, Carlie realizes that it is time to take control of her life.
Levy, Elizabeth. My Life as a Fifth Grade Comedian
Bobby, the class clown, uses his sense of humor to help him get through some bad times.
Myers, Walter Dean. Mop, Moondance, and the Nagasaki Knights
A group of children try hard to win a trip to Japan.
Sacher, Louis. There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom
A young counselor helps Bradley, the most unpopular fifth grader.
Walton, Darwin. Dance, Kayla!
After leaving her small hometown, Kayla pursues her dreams of dancing in Chicago.
Fiction: Average Readers
Brink, Carol Ryrie. Caddie Woodlawn
Explains the adventures of Caddie, a tomboy, growing up in the 1860s.
Bryars, Betsy. The TV Kid
After a life threatening experiences, Lennie realizes that TV is not that important.
Cleary, Beverly. Dear Mr. Henshaw
A boy feeling very lonely, writes a diary to his favorite author.
King-Smith, Dick. Babe the Gallant Pig
A delightful book that teaches tolerance.
Sewell, Anna. Black Beauty
When Squire Gordon falls ill Black Beauty experiences some hardships.
Fiction: Challenging Readers
Burnett, Frances Hodgsen. The Secret Garden
A spoiled mean child find a secret garden that helps her change her ways.
Christian, Mary Blount. Sebastian (Series)
Sebastian, a dog, solves crimes.
Kipling, Rudyard. Just So Stories
12 imaginative tales that explain wonders of the world.
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Series)
Four children discover the entrance to a magical world.
Sobol, Donald J. Still More Two-Minute Mysteries
Short mysteries that need to be solved.
Nonfiction: Easy Readers
England, Linda. Flutter by, Butterfly (Series)
Outlines interesting facts about the butterfly.
Paulsen, Gary. My Life in Dog Years
The effects of having nine dogs.
Phillips, Louis. School Daze: Jokes Your Teacher Will Hate
Tells jokes about school.
Nonfiction: Average Readers
Bentley, Nancy, & Guthrie, Donna. Putting on a Play
Provides information about writing and putting on a play.
Ford, Harry, & Barnham, Kay. Outer Space.
Discusses key concepts related to space.
Kent, Peter. Quest for the West: In Search of Gold
Tomas Hornik and his family search for gold in 1849.
Pederson Ted, & Moss, Francis. Internet for Kids
Provides an informational look at the internet and a variety of
internet sites for children to explore.
Stoops, Diane. Buffalo Sunrise: The Story of a North American Giant
Explains the relationship between the Native Americans and the first settlers.
Nonfiction: Challenging Readers
Bay, Ann Phillips. A Kid’s Guide to the Smithsonian
Overview of the three most popular museums.
Markle, Sandra. Discovering Graph Secrets
A math concept book explaining what graphs are and how to construct them.
Simon, Seymour. They Swim in the Seas: The Mystery of Animal Migration
Explains the migration patternsof many sea animals.
Williams, Brian. Ancient China
Describes ancient China and China today.
Fiction: Easy Readers
Bunting, Eve. The In-Between Days
George’s heart cannot live without Caroline
Byars, Betsy. The Pinballs.
After a few bad situations, Carlie realizes that it is time to take control of her life.
Levy, Elizabeth. My Life as a Fifth Grade Comedian
Bobby, the class clown, uses his sense of humor to help him get through some bad times.
Myers, Walter Dean. Mop, Moondance, and the Nagasaki Knights
A group of children try hard to win a trip to Japan.
Sacher, Louis. There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom
A young counselor helps Bradley, the most unpopular fifth grader.
Walton, Darwin. Dance, Kayla!
After leaving her small hometown, Kayla pursues her dreams of dancing in Chicago.
Fiction: Average Readers
Brink, Carol Ryrie. Caddie Woodlawn
Explains the adventures of Caddie, a tomboy, growing up in the 1860s.
Bryars, Betsy. The TV Kid
After a life threatening experiences, Lennie realizes that TV is not that important.
Cleary, Beverly. Dear Mr. Henshaw
A boy feeling very lonely, writes a diary to his favorite author.
King-Smith, Dick. Babe the Gallant Pig
A delightful book that teaches tolerance.
Sewell, Anna. Black Beauty
When Squire Gordon falls ill Black Beauty experiences some hardships.
Fiction: Challenging Readers
Burnett, Frances Hodgsen. The Secret Garden
A spoiled mean child find a secret garden that helps her change her ways.
Christian, Mary Blount. Sebastian (Series)
Sebastian, a dog, solves crimes.
Kipling, Rudyard. Just So Stories
12 imaginative tales that explain wonders of the world.
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Series)
Four children discover the entrance to a magical world.
Sobol, Donald J. Still More Two-Minute Mysteries
Short mysteries that need to be solved.
Nonfiction: Easy Readers
England, Linda. Flutter by, Butterfly (Series)
Outlines interesting facts about the butterfly.
Paulsen, Gary. My Life in Dog Years
The effects of having nine dogs.
Phillips, Louis. School Daze: Jokes Your Teacher Will Hate
Tells jokes about school.
Nonfiction: Average Readers
Bentley, Nancy, & Guthrie, Donna. Putting on a Play
Provides information about writing and putting on a play.
Ford, Harry, & Barnham, Kay. Outer Space.
Discusses key concepts related to space.
Kent, Peter. Quest for the West: In Search of Gold
Tomas Hornik and his family search for gold in 1849.
Pederson Ted, & Moss, Francis. Internet for Kids
Provides an informational look at the internet and a variety of
internet sites for children to explore.
Stoops, Diane. Buffalo Sunrise: The Story of a North American Giant
Explains the relationship between the Native Americans and the first settlers.
Nonfiction: Challenging Readers
Bay, Ann Phillips. A Kid’s Guide to the Smithsonian
Overview of the three most popular museums.
Markle, Sandra. Discovering Graph Secrets
A math concept book explaining what graphs are and how to construct them.
Simon, Seymour. They Swim in the Seas: The Mystery of Animal Migration
Explains the migration patternsof many sea animals.
Williams, Brian. Ancient China
Describes ancient China and China today.
Grade 6
Fiction: Easy Readers
Balgassi, Haemi. Tae’s Sonata
A Korean girl is struggles by an assignment from her teacher and her new partner, Mr. Popularity.
Coville, Bruce. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. (Series)
Jeremy hatches a baby dragon that changes his life in many ways.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Running Out of Time
Jesse must decide whether to stay in her guarded community or escape to find the medicine her friends need to survive.
Nixon, Joan Lowery. Orphan Train Adventures: The Circle of Love
Orphans take a journey on a train across the country.
Sachar, Louis. Holes
While in jail Stanley must find faith within himself to mentally survive.
Fiction: Average Readers
Fox, Paula. One-Eyed Cat
Feeling guilty Ned begins to care for the sick humans and animals around him.
L’Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time
Children take journeys into strange worlds to find their missing father.
Paterson, Katherine. The Great Gilly Hopkins
Gilly learns to love and give love after living a troubled life.
Regan, Dian Curti. Monsters in Cyberspace (Series)
Rilla finds a monster a month to help her through times in her life.
Fiction: Challenging Readers
Blos, Joan W. A Gathering of Days
A thirteen year old keeps a diary of the most horrible year of her life.
Lowry, Lois. The Giver
Jason waits for his 12th birthday where his secure programmed world will change.
Sperry, Armstrong. Call It Courage
Mafatu conquers his fear of the sea by setting sail from a deserted island.
Wiggin, Kate Douglas. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
After her father dies Rebecca is sent to live with her two Aunts.
Nonfiction: Easy Readers
Kehert, Peg. Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio.
Peg Kehert tells her life story.
Paulsen, Gary. Woodsong.
Learn about sled dogs through the eyes of Gary Paulsen.
Nonfiction: Average Readers
Beres, Samantha. 101 Things Every Kid Should Know About Science
Discusses the key concept in a variety of science related subjects.
Morley, Jacqueline, & Antram, David. Exploring North America
Explorers are discussed starting with Columbus.
Stein, R. Conrad. The Underground Railroad
Provides the history of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Nonfiction: Challenging Readers
Aaseng, Nathan. Meat-Eating Plants (Series)
Details plants that house ingenious mechanisms for trapping and ingesting creatures.
Christian, Spencer, & Felix, Antonia. Can It Really Rain Frogs?
Explores the world’s strangest weather events.
Freedman, Russell. Lincoln: A Photobiography
Chronicles the life of Abe Lincoln.
Taylor, Barbara. Incredible Plant (Series)
Outlines the structure of plants and how they grow.
Balgassi, Haemi. Tae’s Sonata
A Korean girl is struggles by an assignment from her teacher and her new partner, Mr. Popularity.
Coville, Bruce. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. (Series)
Jeremy hatches a baby dragon that changes his life in many ways.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Running Out of Time
Jesse must decide whether to stay in her guarded community or escape to find the medicine her friends need to survive.
Nixon, Joan Lowery. Orphan Train Adventures: The Circle of Love
Orphans take a journey on a train across the country.
Sachar, Louis. Holes
While in jail Stanley must find faith within himself to mentally survive.
Fiction: Average Readers
Fox, Paula. One-Eyed Cat
Feeling guilty Ned begins to care for the sick humans and animals around him.
L’Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time
Children take journeys into strange worlds to find their missing father.
Paterson, Katherine. The Great Gilly Hopkins
Gilly learns to love and give love after living a troubled life.
Regan, Dian Curti. Monsters in Cyberspace (Series)
Rilla finds a monster a month to help her through times in her life.
Fiction: Challenging Readers
Blos, Joan W. A Gathering of Days
A thirteen year old keeps a diary of the most horrible year of her life.
Lowry, Lois. The Giver
Jason waits for his 12th birthday where his secure programmed world will change.
Sperry, Armstrong. Call It Courage
Mafatu conquers his fear of the sea by setting sail from a deserted island.
Wiggin, Kate Douglas. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
After her father dies Rebecca is sent to live with her two Aunts.
Nonfiction: Easy Readers
Kehert, Peg. Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio.
Peg Kehert tells her life story.
Paulsen, Gary. Woodsong.
Learn about sled dogs through the eyes of Gary Paulsen.
Nonfiction: Average Readers
Beres, Samantha. 101 Things Every Kid Should Know About Science
Discusses the key concept in a variety of science related subjects.
Morley, Jacqueline, & Antram, David. Exploring North America
Explorers are discussed starting with Columbus.
Stein, R. Conrad. The Underground Railroad
Provides the history of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Nonfiction: Challenging Readers
Aaseng, Nathan. Meat-Eating Plants (Series)
Details plants that house ingenious mechanisms for trapping and ingesting creatures.
Christian, Spencer, & Felix, Antonia. Can It Really Rain Frogs?
Explores the world’s strangest weather events.
Freedman, Russell. Lincoln: A Photobiography
Chronicles the life of Abe Lincoln.
Taylor, Barbara. Incredible Plant (Series)
Outlines the structure of plants and how they grow.