Fourth Grade Reading List
The Pinballs
by Betsy Byars – J BYARS
Carlie has always felt like a pinball being
bounced around with no control over her life.
When she finds herself in a foster home with two
other kids, both boys, she knows that nothing is
going to change. But against her will and her
better judgment, Carlie and the boys become
friends and maybe this time things will be
different.
Henry and Beezus
by Beverly Cleary – J CLEARY
All Henry Huggins wants is his very own bicycle,
a shiny red one to ride up and down Klickitat
Street. But no matter how Henry tries to raise
money for the bike of his dreams -- from selling
bubble gum to delivering newspapers -- he always
ends up with too much trouble and not enough
money. But Henry's old friend Beezus has an idea
that may turn Henry's worst trouble yet into a
real business success!
26 Fairmont Avenue
by Tomie De Paola – J 813.54 DE PAOL
Children’s author/illustrator Tomie De Paola
describes experiences growing up starting with
when Tomie's family builds their new house at 26
Fairmount Avenue in 1938, just as a hurricane
hits town. Included are many adventures all his
own, such as eating chocolate with his Nana
Upstairs, only to find out-the hard way-that
they have eaten chocolate laxative,
disappointment with "Mr. Walt Disney's Snow
White," and trying to skip kindergarten when he
finds out he won't learn to read until first
grade. "I'll be back next year," he says.
Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery
by Deborah and James Howe – J HOWE
When the Monroe family brings home a bunny they
find in a movie theater while watching Dracula,
Chester the cat and Harold the dog are
suspicious and believe him to be a vegetarian
vampire when all the vegetables suddenly turn
white….
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky:
A Message from Chief Seattle
by Chief Seattle – J 811.3 SEATTLE
"How can you buy the sky? How can you own the
rain and the wind?" So begin the words
attributed Chief Seattle from the 1850's, when
the US wanted to buy his people's Pacific
Northwest land. Chief Seattle delivered this
message to a Commissioner of Indian Affairs and
since then, it has been adapted several times.
This is a plea to revere and preserve the web of
creation: ``Whatever we do to the web, we do to
ourselves.''
The Whipping Boy
by Sid Fleischman – J FLEISCH
A bratty prince and his whipping boy have many
adventures and inadvertently change places after
becoming involved with dangerous outlaws. This
one is full of adventure, suspense, humor and
lively characters.
The Year Mom Won the Pennant
by Matt Christopher – J CHRISTO
The boys are all hesitant when one boy's mother
is the only parent who volunteers to coach their
Little League team, but there is quite a
surprise in store for them.
A Single Shard
by Linda Sue Park – J PARK
Set in twelfth-century Korea, this is the story
of Tree-ear, who lives under a bridge with
Crane-man, but dreams of becoming a Master
Potter. At age twelve, Tree-ear becomes an
assistant to the potter Min, the maker of the
finest celadon ware in Ch'ul'po, a village known
for its pottery. When Min entrusts two precious
pots to Tree-ear to deliver to Songdo, a single
shard from a celadon vase changes both their
lives. (Newbery Medal Book, 2002)
The BFG
by Roald Dahl – J DAHL
Kidsnatched from her orphanage by a BFG (Big
Friendly Giant), who spends his life blowing
happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts with
him a plan to save the world from nine other
man-gobbling cannybull giants.
Poppy
by Avi – J AVI
This story of bravery, persistence, and an
overthrown tyrant features the heroine Poppy, a
small deer mouse with beautiful orange-brown
fur, dark round eyes, and pink toes who lives
under the protection of Mr. Oc
