LibGuides: Roland Park Country School: Lower School Suggested Summer Reading

SUMMER IS HERE; TIME TO READ!

WELCOME, LOWER SCHOOL READERS!

Happy Summer! It's the perfect time for pleasure reading in a cozy corner at home or a beautiful spot in nature. Listed here are some suggested titles in various categories. You might also take a look at the box below titled "Great Books Lists to Peruse" for other ideas. Please make use of our digital library through SORA! You'll find many of the titles here plus much more. Find the SORA box below or click here for access. If you have any difficulties getting started, feel free to email me at edwardsb@rpcs.org.

RPCS BOOK FAIR at the IVY BOOKSHOP!

From June 1st-13th, if you purchase summer reading titles at the Ivy Bookshop, a percentage of the proceeds will benefit our libraries. Just mention RPCS if you visit the shop and make a purchase. If you'd like to order online at The Ivy’s website, use coupon code RPCSBF21 at checkout. All of the titles below are linked to the books on The Ivy's website! You can support this beautiful independent bookstore and the RPCS libraries at the same time!

HAPPY READING!

Beverly Edwards, Lower School Librarian

RISING THIRD GRADE REQUIRED BOOK - Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes; R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780142415559
Publication Date: 2010-03-04
(Available in print and audio on SORA) Dyamonde Daniel may be new in town, but that doesn't stop her from making a place for herself in a jiffy. With her can-do attitude and awesome brain power she takes the whole neighborhood by storm. The only thing puzzling her is the other new kid in her class. He's grouchy - but Dyamonde's determined to get to the bottom of his attitude and make a friend.
RISING FOURTH GRADE REQUIRED READING BOOK - Rules by Cynthia Lord
ISBN: 9780439443821
Publication Date: 2006-04-01
(Available in print and audio on SORA) Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with an young paraplegic.
RISING FIFTH GRADE REQUIRED BOOK #2 - Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
ISBN: 9780763680862
Publication Date: 2015-12-08
(Available in print and audio on SORA) Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.
RISING FIFTH GRADE REQUIRED BOOK #2 - Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid by Mikaila Ulmer
Call Number: 330 Ulm
ISBN: 9781984815088
Publication Date: 2020-08-18
(Available in print and audio on SORA) Part memoir, part business guide, Mikaila Ulmer shares her personal journey and special brand of mindful entrepreneurship and offers helpful tips and guidance for young readers interested in pursuing their own ventures, instilling in them the bee-lief that they can bee fearless and achieve their dreams too.

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Suggested Picture Book Fiction

The Bad Seed by Jory John; Pete Oswald (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062467768
Publication Date: 2017-08-29
(Available on SORA) A funny yet touching tale that reminds us of the remarkably transformative power of will, acceptance, and just being you.
A Bike Like Sergio's by Maribeth Boelts; Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781536202953
Publication Date: 2018-09-04
Ruben, hopeful for a new bike, finds a one-hundred dollar bill, but he's unsure of what to do with the leftover money.
Cece Loves Science by Kimberly Derting; Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062499615
Publication Date: 2020-06-09
(Available in audio on SORA) In this STEM-themed picture book, Cece asks one of life's most pressing questions: Do dogs eat vegetables? Cece and her best friend, Isaac, head to the lab to find out." - from the publisher
The Cool Bean by Jory John; Pete Oswald (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062954527
Publication Date: 2019-12-03
(Available on SORA) Always on the sidelines, one bean unsuccessfully tries everything he can to fit in with the crowd—until one day the cool beans show him how it’s done.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
ISBN: 9780823440559
Publication Date: 2018-09-04
We are resilience. We are hope. We are dreamers. Yuyi Morales brought her hopes, her passion, her strength, and her stories with her, when she came to the United States in 1994 with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.
Escargot by Dashka Slater; Sydney Hanson (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780374302818
Publication Date: 2017-04-11
Escargot is a beautiful French snail who only wants to be your favorite animal and get to the delicious salad at the end of the book, even if he has to try a carrot, which he hates.
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho; Dung Ho (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062915627
Publication Date: 2021-01-05
(Available on SORA) This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate one's unique features, encouraging children to be proud of who they are and how they look.
Fry Bread by Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator); Kevin Noble Maillard
ISBN: 9781626727465
Publication Date: 2019-10-22
(Available on SORA) Told in lively and powerful verse, this is the story of a Native American family as they make fry bread and celebrate their culture.
The Good Egg by Jory John; Pete Oswald (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062866004
Publication Date: 2019-02-12
(Available on SORA) A very good egg learns to relax and not be perfect all the time.
Greta and the Giants by Zoë Tucker; Zoe Persico (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780711253773
Publication Date: 2019-11-19
Retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg—the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world’s climate crisis—using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children.
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781452150147
Publication Date: 2018-03-20
(Available on SORA) In simple text a set of animals, each one linked to the previous one by some trait of shape, color, or pattern, greet and interact with one another.
Home Is in Between by Mitali Perkins; Lavanya Naidu (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780374303679
Publication Date: 2021-02-23
(Available on SORA) Immigrating to America, Shanti learns to navigate multiple cultures and embrace the complex but beautiful home in between.
How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk; Sara Palacios (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780425291986
Publication Date: 2018-05-15
Pearl and her robot friend Pascal use fundamental computer coding concepts like sequences and loops to build the best sandcastle ever.
How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander; Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062307811
Publication Date: 2019-06-18
(Available on SORA) A poetic and beautiful journey about the experience of reading, this book presents a method of reading that begins with planting oneself beneath a tree and leads to a book party one hopes will never end.
I Walk with Vanessa: a Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët; Kerascoët
ISBN: 9781524769550
Publication Date: 2018-04-24
"An elementary school girl witnesses the bullying of another girl, but she is not sure how to help in this wordless picture book"--Provided by publisher.
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt; Adam Rex (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062438898
Publication Date: 2017-04-04
(Available on SORA) Tells a humorous story of how the rock, paper, and scissors found each other and formed a battle game.
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781682630594
Publication Date: 2020-03-01
(Available on SORA) Madeline Finn does NOT like to read. But she DOES want a gold star from her teacher. She meets Bonnie, a library dog, who proves to be a great listener.
My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780142408063
Publication Date: 2007-06-14
Six-year-old Lily has a best friend all picked out for play group day, but unfortunately the differences between first-graders and second-graders are sometimes very large.
My Very Own Room by Maya Christina Gonzalez; Amada Irma Perez
ISBN: 9780892392230
Publication Date: 2013-04-01
With the help of her family, a resourceful Mexican American girl realizes her dream of having a space of her own to read and to think. Presented in English and Spanish.
Not Norman by Kelly Bennett; Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763627638
Publication Date: 2008-03-11
(Available on SORA) Norman the goldfish isn’t what this little boy had in mind. He wanted a different kind of pet — one that could run and catch, or chase string and climb trees, a soft furry pet to sleep on his bed at night. But when he tries to trade Norman for a "good pet," things don’t go as he planned.
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780399231162
Publication Date: 2001-01-15
Two girls, one white and one African-American, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town
Sulwe by Vashti Harrison (Illustrator); Lupita Nyong'o
ISBN: 9781534425361
Publication Date: 2019-10-15
When five-year-old Sulwe's classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade.
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts; Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763642846
Publication Date: 2009-06-09
(Available on SORA) Jeremy, who longs to have the black high tops that everyone at school seems to have but his grandmother cannot afford, is excited when he sees them for sale in a thrift shop and decides to buy them even though they are the wrong size.
Together We Grow by Susan Vaught; Kelly Murphy (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534405868
Publication Date: 2020-05-26
"A poignant picture book that celebrates inclusivity, acceptance, and the importance of rebuilding a community in the wake of disaster." - from the Publisher.
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781423171010
Publication Date: 2013-05-14
(Available in read-along on SORA) After swallowing a watermelon seed, a crocodile imagines a scary outcome.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom; Michaela Goade (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250203557
Publication Date: 2020-03-17
"Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all . . . When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource."--OCLC.

Suggested Chapter Book Fiction for Grades 1-3

Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants by Andrea Beaty; David Roberts (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781419734229
Publication Date: 2019-04-16
(Available on SORA) Ada must rely on her curious mind, her brave spirit, and her best pals Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck to solve a mystery in her own backyard.
Bob by Wendy Mass; Rebecca Stead; Nicholas Gannon (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250308696
Publication Date: 2019-05-07
(Available on SORA) Visiting her grandmother in Australia, Livy, ten, is reminded of the promise she made five years before to Bob, a strange, green creature who cannot recall who or what he is.
Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami
ISBN: 9781554988099
Publication Date: 2018-08-07
"Every day, Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library on the street corner. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety book-stand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something."
Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro; Marion Lindsay (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781943147090
Publication Date: 2017-03-14
With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure -- the Zoey and Sassafras series has something for everyone!
Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott; Geneva Geneva B (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781524770488
Publication Date: 2019-08-13
When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe.
Jo Jo Makoons by Dawn Quigley; Tara Audibert (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780063015388
Publication Date: 2021-05-11
(Available on SORA) "This beginning chapter book features spunky first-grader Jo Jo, who lives with her mom, grandmother, and cat, Mimi, on a fictional Ojibwe reservation. Her concerns are mostly about making friends and what she should do (or, more important, not do) in order to be more successful." - from Booklist
Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay
ISBN: 9780807548097
Publication Date: 2014-03-01
When Lulu finds a duck egg that has rolled out of its nest, she takes it to class to keep it safe. Lulu isn't allowed to bring pets to school. But she's not really breaking the rules because it's just an egg. Surely nothing bad will happen...
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062970428
Publication Date: 2021-05-04
(Available on SORA) Marisol Rainey's mother was born in the Philippines and her father works on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. And Marisol, who has a big imagination and likes to name inanimate objects, has a tree in her backyard she calls Peppina . . . but she's afraid to climb it. This all makes her the only girl in town with a mom born elsewhere and a dad living elsewhere--the only girl who's fearful of adventure and fun.
Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! by Kara West; Leeza Hernandez (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534432697
Publication Date: 2018-12-18
(Available on SORA) Meet Mia Macarooney, an ordinary eight-year-old who finds out she has an extraordinary super-secret in this first chapter book in the Mia Mayhem series!
My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe; Penguin Young Readers Group Staff (Other Primary Creator)
ISBN: 9780152061975
Publication Date: 2008-05-01
(Available on SORA) After her best friend moves away, fourth-grader Ida May is determined not to make another best friend, despite the efforts of a new girl in her class.
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz; Angela Barrett (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763652951
Publication Date: 2011-09-13
What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still becoming accustomed to her wings is about to find out.
Nikki and Deja by Karen English; Laura Freeman (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780547133621
Publication Date: 2009-01-12
(Available on SORA) When an arrogant new girl comes to school, third-graders and best friends Nikki and Deja decide to form a club that would exclude her but find the results not what they expected.
Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo
ISBN: 9781524766719
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
(Available in SORA) When a storm separates Hedgehog from her lifelong friend, Mutty, she bravely sets out to find him and makes some very good new friends in the process.
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
ISBN: 9780062570710
Publication Date: 2019-09-03
(Available on SORA) Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. As Louie's bond with the animal grows, surprising events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.
Stella díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
ISBN: 9781250294104
Publication Date: 2019-01-22
(Available on SORA) "Shy, artistic third grader Stella Diaz, who emigrated from Mexico to Chicago, is self-conscious about her accent and occasional English blunders. She's also worried about being in a different class than best friend Jenny. Supportive family members and teachers help Stella build self-confidence." from Horn Book Guide
Sydney and Taylor Take on the Whole Wide World by Jacqueline Davies; Deborah Hocking (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780358106319
Publication Date: 2021-02-02
This is the story of two unlikely friends: Sydney and Taylor, a skunk and a hedgehog who strike out to discover the great unknown, despite how afraid they are of it.
Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins
ISBN: 9781580896610
Publication Date: 2017-06-06
(Available on SORA) A tiger cub has escaped from a reserve in the Sunderbans in West Bengal, India, and Neel, a poor boy from the islands, is determined to find her in order to save her from being captured and sold on the black market.
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson; Nina Mata (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781547600564
Publication Date: 2020-04-28
(Available on SORA) The Hart family of Portland, Oregon, faces many setbacks after Ryan's father loses his job, but no matter what, Ryan tries to bring sunshine to her loved ones.
Willa the Wisp (the Fabled Stables Book #1) by Jonathan Auxier; Olga Demidova (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781419742699
Publication Date: 2020-10-20
(Available on SORA) One day eight-year-old Auggie Pound, the caretaker of the rare animals in the Fabled Stables, ventures into the swamp to save a new rare creature, the wisp.
You Can Do It, Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi; Hatem Aly (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781515860914
Publication Date: 2020-02-01
Whether she's braving the goalie net for the first time on the soccer field, trouble-shooting a plant problem in the garden with her family, tackling a tricky writing assignment, or managing a disagreement with her friends, Yasmin is always thinking outside the box to come up with creative solutions.

Suggested Chapter Book Fiction - Grades 3 and up

Amina's Voice by Hena Khan
ISBN: 9781481492072
Publication Date: 2018-05-01
(Available on SORA) Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class. Does Amina need to start changing too?
Any Day with You by Mae Respicio
ISBN: 9780525707578
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
A warm, tender story about a creative girl who hopes that by winning a filmmaking contest, she'll convince her great-grandfather not to move back home to the Philippines.
Aru Shah and the End of Time (a Pandava Novel Book 1) by Roshani Chokshi
ISBN: 9781368023566
Publication Date: 2019-03-19
(Audio version available on SORA) Twelve-year-old Aru stretches the truth to fit in at her private school, but when she is dared to prove an ancient lamp is cursed, she inadvertently frees an ancient demon.
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
ISBN: 9780765385581
Publication Date: 2018-05-01
(Available on SORA) A fourth grader fights back when her favorite book is challenged by a well-meaning parent and taken off the shelves of her school library. Amy Anne is shy and soft-spoken, but don’t mess with her when it comes to her favorite book in the whole world. Amy Anne and her lieutenants wage a battle by starting a secret banned books locker library and taking a stand against censorship.
Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs
ISBN: 9781416987321
Publication Date: 2011-07-05
(Available on SORA) Twelve-year-old Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Fitzroy has murder on his hands and trouble on his tail. He believes that Henry, the hippopotamus at the brand-new FunJungle, has been murdered. The zoo's top brass claim the hippo went belly up the natural way, but Teddy and his feisty friend Summer McCraken have other ideas.
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
ISBN: 9781101994870
Publication Date: 2018-09-18
(Available on SORA) Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the Elizabeth Islands. She has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart.
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
ISBN: 9780425290422
Publication Date: 2018-07-17
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Malú is struggling with the aftermath of her parents' divorce: she misses her laid-back, artsy, white father, and feels pressured by her academic Mexican mother. But when she gets a band started with some fellow misfits, she'll do anything to keep it together.
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
ISBN: 9781338157826
Publication Date: 2019-06-25
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel, even though the owner, Mr. Yao exploits them. Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class.
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly; Isabel Roxas (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062414151
Publication Date: 2017-03-14
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Lives of four misfits are intertwined when a bully's prank lands shy Virgil at the bottom of a well and Valencia, Kaori, and Gen band together in an epic quest to find and rescue him.
The Hidden Oracle (Trials of Apollo, Book One) by Rick Riordan
ISBN: 9781484746417
Publication Date: 2017-10-03
(Available on SORA) "After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. He must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor."--Provided by publisher.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
ISBN: 9780440419396
Publication Date: 2005-12-27
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.
Horse Girl by Carrie Seim
ISBN: 9780593095485
Publication Date: 2021-03-30
(Available on SORA) Seventh-grader Wills is excited to start training at the prestigious Oakwood Riding Academy, but between the #HorseGirls posse icing her out of their club, learning the reins of horse riding, and dealing with her air force pilot mom being stationed abroad, Wills discovers it is not easy to become a part of #HorseGirlWorld.
The Ickabog by J. K. Rowling
ISBN: 9781338732870
Publication Date: 2020-11-10
(Available on SORA) A warm, fast-paced, funny fairy tale of a fearsome monster, thrilling adventure, and hope against all odds.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
ISBN: 9781454932994
Publication Date: 2019-03-05
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. When her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a western theme park in Arizona, Aven knows she'll have to answer the question over and over again.
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
ISBN: 9781442445949
Publication Date: 2013-08-06
(Available on SORA) A telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world before the wrong person finds the answer first.
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold
ISBN: 9780063041073
Publication Date: 2021-02-02
(Available on SORA) "There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that's what April's father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost for six months. But one night, April catches a glimpse of something distinctly bear shaped loping across the horizon."
The Last Fallen Star (a Gifted Clans Novel) by Graci Kim
ISBN: 9781368059633
Publication Date: 2021-05-04
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family.
The Magical Reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef; Catherine R. Daly; Douglas Holgate (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338572285
Publication Date: 2021-02-02
(Available on SORA) Inspired by the author's real life experiences, this rollicking, charming novel follows sixth grade Egyptian immigrant Nadia as she navigates the ups and downs of friendships, racism, and some magic, too!
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
ISBN: 9781536212587
Publication Date: 2020-04-07
(Available on SORA) Eleven-year-old Merci, descendent of Cuban immigrants, attends a Florida private school on scholarship with her whip-smart older brother. She doesn't feel much pressure to be anyone but herself, but her self-assuredness makes her a target the richest, smartest, most popular girl in school.
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
ISBN: 9781524767600
Publication Date: 2019-04-02
(Available on SORA) Lucy Callahan's life was changed forever when she was struck by lightning. She doesn't remember it, but the zap gave her genius-level math skills, and she's been homeschooled ever since. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test--middle school!
Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson
ISBN: 9780062338181
Publication Date: 2017-04-04
(Available on SORA) A funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking contemporary story about three boys, one teacher, and a day none of them will ever forget.
Nightbooks by J. A. White
ISBN: 9780062560094
Publication Date: 2019-06-25
(Available on SORA) Alex is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. He’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.
The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier
ISBN: 9780440240068
Publication Date: 2011-06-14
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Twin daughters of interracial parents, eleven-year-olds Keira and Minna have very different skin tones and personalities, but it is not until their African American grandmother enters them in the Miss Black Pearl Pre-Teen competition in North Carolina that red-haired and pale-skinned Minna realizes what life in their small town has been like for her more outgoing, darker-skinned sister.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
ISBN: 9780062747808
Publication Date: 2019-05-28
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Jude never thought she'd be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. Can America be a place where a Middle Eastern girl can be seen as she really is?
Pax by Sara Pennypacker; Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062377029
Publication Date: 2019-04-02
(Available on SORA) After being forced to give up Pax, his pet fox.a young boy named Peter decides to leave home and get his best friend back
President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston
ISBN: 9780316114332
Publication Date: 2012-10-02
(Available in audio on SORA) When Brianna Justice's hero, the famous celebrity chef Miss Delicious, speaks at her school and traces her own success back to being president of her fifth grade class, Brianna determines she must do the same. She just knows that becoming president of her class is the first step toward her own cupcake-baking empire.
Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
ISBN: 9781534442566
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
(Available on SORA) Ellie is a girl who tells it like it is. That surprises some people, who see a kid in a wheelchair and think she’s going to be all sunshine and cuddles. The thing is, Ellie has big dreams: She might be eating Stouffer’s for dinner, but one day she’s going to be a professional baker.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe (a Sal and Gabi Novel, Book 1) by Carlos Hernandez
ISBN: 9781368023627
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
(Available on SORA) A brilliant sci-fi romp with Cuban influence that poses this question: What would you do if you had the power to reach through time and space and retrieve anything you want, including loved ones who have passed?
Savvy by Ingrid Law
ISBN: 9780142414330
Publication Date: 2010-03-23
(Available on SORA) Thirteen is when a Beaumont’s savvy (magical power) hits—and with one brother who causes hurricanes and another who creates electricity, Mibs Beaumont is eager to see what she gets.
The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta
ISBN: 9781338185713
Publication Date: 2019-01-29
(Available in text and audio on SORA) Kiran's 12th birthday is not going well. Her parents have disappeared, there's a demon in the house, and two handsome princes seem to think she's a princess. What follows is a daring adventure through Bengali myths and legends.
The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla; Julie McLaughlin (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062445773
Publication Date: 2018-01-02
(Available on SORA) Charlie’s ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his father was injured in Afghanistan. When his father heads from California to Virginia for medical treatment, Charlie reluctantly travels cross-country with his boy-crazy sister, unruly brothers, and a mysterious new family friend.
Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart
ISBN: 9780545665827
Publication Date: 2016-12-27
(Available on SORA) In 1890 Washington the only family Joseph Johnson has left is his half-wild Indian pony, Sarah, so when she is sold by a man who has no right to do so, he sets out to get her back--and he plans to let nothing stop him in his quest.
Something to Say by Lisa Moore Ramée
ISBN: 9780062836724
Publication Date: 2021-05-04
(Available on SORA) An unforgettable story about finding your voice—and finding your people
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
ISBN: 9781524770266
Publication Date: 2019-12-31
(Available in text and audio on SORA) From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him!
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
ISBN: 9781442421837
Publication Date: 2013-04-02
(Available on SORA) Can an undercover nerd become a superstar agent? Ben Ripley sure hopes so—and his life may depend on it!
Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
ISBN: 9780316306843
Publication Date: 2018-05-08
(Available on SORA) Stef Soto is hoping to break free from her overprotective parents and embarrassing reputation from her family's taco truck business, but she soon learns that family, friendship, and the taco truck are important and wonderful parts of her life
The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes
ISBN: 9781368023603
Publication Date: 2019-08-20
(Available on SORA ) "To prevent the Mayan gods from battling each other and destroying the world, thirteen-year-old Zane must unravel an ancient prophecy, stop an evil god, and discover how the physical disability that makes him reliant on a cane also connects him to his father and his ancestry."
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
ISBN: 9781328499219
Publication Date: 2018-09-04
"Told that they will have to move out of their Harlem brownstone just after Christmas, the five Vanderbeeker children, ages four to twelve, decide to change their reclusive landlord's mind"--Provided by publisher.
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
ISBN: 9780147510488
Publication Date: 2016-05-31
(Available on SORA) Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
ISBN: 9780375850868
Publication Date: 2010-12-28
(Available on SORA) As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1970s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
ISBN: 9781524715700
Publication Date: 2020-01-28
(Available on SORA) Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
ISBN: 9780316382007
Publication Date: 2020-04-07
(Available in audio from SORA) Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there, and her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island's hostile inhabitants.

Great Book Lists to Peruse!

Suggested Graphic Novels for Grades 1-3

Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli
ISBN: 9780759554696
Publication Date: 2021-04-06
Meet Baloney! He's the star of this book, along with his best buddies: empathetic Peanut the horse, sensible Bizz the bumblebee, and grumpy Krabbit—he'd rather not be here, but what can you do?
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song
ISBN: 9781984895837
Publication Date: 2020-09-29
"Belly and Norma are the best of squirrels...or so they think! After discovering donuts for the first time, they are determined to get some for themselves, even if they have to outsmart the food truck driver to do it!"--Provided by publisher.
InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
ISBN: 9781250219954
Publication Date: 2020-02-25
(Available on SORA) Mango and Brash are a super spy alligator duo who travel through the sewers and fight the forces of evil!
Pea, Bee, and Jay #1: Stuck Together by Brian "Smitty" Smith (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062981165
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
"A pea, a strawberry, and a cherry roll into the garden... and dare the pea to see what lies beyond the farm’s fence. On his quest, Pea befriends the studious Bee and shy bird Jay. What an unlikely trio!"
Scaredy Squirrel in a Nutshell by Mélanie Watt
ISBN: 9780593307557
Publication Date: 2021-06-15
"The time is now for this anxious little guy: Meet Scaredy Squirrel in his brand-new graphic novel series. He's funnier (and scared-ier) than ever!"
Super Detectives (Simon and Chester Book #1) by Cale Atkinson
ISBN: 9780735267428
Publication Date: 2021-02-09
A ghost and a kid team up to solve mysteries. Join Simon and Chester in their first adventure, and fall in love with this hilarious odd couple!
The Way Home (Owly #1) by Andy Runton (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338300659
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
(Available on SORA) Owly is a good-natured little owl who is always helping those around him. But he seems to frighten would-be friends away before they even give him a chance. That all changes, though, once Owly meets Wormy.

Suggested Graphic Novels - Grades 3 and up

Act (graphic Novel) by Kayla Miller
ISBN: 9780358206354
Publication Date: 2020-07-21
Olive is excited to go on a 6th grade field trip to the big city with her best buds, but when she finds out that a school policy is keeping some kids from going on the trip, she decides to act!
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd; Michelle Mee Nutter (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338568905
Publication Date: 2021-03-02
(Available on SORA). A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!
Anne of Green Gables by Brenna Thummler (Illustrator); Mariah Marsden; Kendra Phipps (Editor); Erika Kuster (Editor)
ISBN: 9781449479602
Publication Date: 2017-10-24
Schoolyard rivalries. Baking disasters. Puffed sleeves. Explore the violet vales and glorious green of Avonlea in this spirited adaptation.
The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
ISBN: 9781524719388
Publication Date: 2018-06-05
(Available on SORA) This graphic novel follows a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary cardboard into fantastical homemade costumes as they explore conflicts with friends, family, and their own identity.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
ISBN: 9781419712173
Publication Date: 2014-09-02
(Available on SORA) A graphic novel memoir of author/illustrator Cece Bell who grew up hearing impaired.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World by Elena Favilli
ISBN: 9781733329293
Publication Date: 2020-10-13
The latest installment in the New York Times bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series, featuring 100 immigrant women who have shaped, and will continue to shape, our world.
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived Graphic Novel #1): a Graphix Book by Lauren Tarshis; Georgia Ball (Adapted by); Lauren Haus Studio (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338120912
Ten-year-old George Calder can't wait to explore every inch of the Titanic, even if his little sister has to tag along. But when he sneaks away without her, things become very tricky.
Kodi (Book 1) by Jared Cullum
ISBN: 9781603094672
Publication Date: 2020-08-25
(Available on SORA) The gorgeous story of two friends separated by everything in the world -- except love.
Lightfall: the Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062990464
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
(Available on SORA) Bea and Cad, two unlikely friends, get swept up in an epic quest to save their world from falling into eternal darkness.
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte; Ann Xu (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062973863
Publication Date: 2020-10-27
(Available on SORA) "Having just moved to Seattle from Taiwan, twelve-year-old Cici enters a cooking competition to win the chance to see her grandmother again, but she only knows how to cook Taiwanese food"--OCLC.
Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338538199
Publication Date: 2020-04-07
(Available on SORA) Natalie has never felt that she's enough -- athletic enough, stylish enough, or talented enough. And on the first day of middle school, Natalie discovers that things are worse than she thought -- now she's not even cool enough for her best friend!
The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534431454
Publication Date: 2019-09-03
(Available on SORA) When thirteen-year-old Moth Hush learns she comes from a long line of witches, she unlocks a hidden witch world, where secrets from generations past unravel and the heart of her town and her family are threatened."--OCLC.
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
Call Number: 741.5 Ley
ISBN: 9781250171115
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
(Available on SORA) "Snap's town had a witch. At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a crocks-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online—after doing a little ritual to put their spirits to rest. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it’s kind of cool, too. The two make an interesting deal."
Stargazing by Jen Wang (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250183880
Publication Date: 2019-09-10
(Available on SORA) "Growing up in the same Chinese-American suburb, perfectionist Christine and artistic, confident, impulsive Moon become unlikely best friends, whose friendship is tested by jealousy, social expectations, and illness"--OCLC.
Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley
Call Number: 741.5 Kni
ISBN: 9781984896841
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
(Available on SORA) Jen is used to not getting what she wants. So suddenly moving across the country and getting new stepsisters shouldn't be too much of a surprise.
The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780439846813
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
(Available on SORA). First in the popular Amulet series! After moving to their ancestral home, Emily and Navin's mother is kidnapped by a tentacled creature in the basement that leads the children on a deadly chase into the magical world below their home.
Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
ISBN: 9781984894151
Publication Date: 2020-09-15
(Available on SORA) Lora wants to stay a kid forever, and she'll do anything to make that happen. After watching her circle of friends seemingly fade away, Lora is determined to still have fun on her own. A tea party with a twist leaves Lora to re-discovering Alexa, the ghost that haunts her house -- and Lora's old imaginary friend!
Twins (Twins #1) by Varian Johnson; Shannon Wright (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338236132
Publication Date: 2020-10-06
(Available on SORA) Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran -- a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. The twins are growing apart and there's nothing Maureen can do to stop it.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson (Illustrator); Omar Mohamed; Iman Geddy (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780525553908
Publication Date: 2020-04-14
Heartbreak and hope exist together in this remarkable graphic novel about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl.
The Witches by Roald Dahl; Pénélope Bagieu (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338677430
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
(Available on SORA) A graphic novel adaptation of Roald Dahl's story about a young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, an expert on witches, who together foil a plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice.

Suggested Non-Fiction

Bethany Hamilton by Jenni L. Walsh
ISBN: 9781338149029
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
(Available on SORA) A brief overview of the life of surfer Bethany Hamilton that focuses on how she returned to surfing after losing her arm in a shark attack.
The Crayon Man by Natascha Biebow; Steven Salerno (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781328866844
Publication Date: 2019-03-19
(Available on SORA) Celebrating the inventor of the Crayola crayon! This gloriously illustrated picture book biography tells the inspiring story of Edwin Binney, the inventor of one of the world's most beloved toys.
Earth! My First 4. 54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty; David Litchfield (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250108081
Publication Date: 2017-10-24
(Available on SORA) Filled to the brim with eye-opening, kid-friendly facts about our planet, all brought to life with vibrant art, this delightful book is also an adorable imagining of Earth's engaging personality.
Funny Girl by Betsy Bird
ISBN: 9780147517838
Publication Date: 2018-05-08
(Available on SORA) A collection of uproarious stories, rollicking comics, rib-tickling wit, and more, from 25 of today’s funniest female writers for kids.
Kid Activists by Robin Stevenson; Allison Steinfeld (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781683691419
Publication Date: 2019-09-24
(Available on SORA) Every activist started out as a kid—and in some cases they were kids when their activism began! But even the world’s greatest champions of civil liberties had relatable interests and problems--often in the middle of extraordinary circumstances. Moving, relatable, and totally true childhood biographies of inspiring activists.
Kids Who Are Changing the World by Sheila Sweeny Higginson; Alyssa Petersen (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534432147
Publication Date: 2019-02-12
(Available on SORA) Meet the inventive kids who are coming up with ways to save the world
Marley Dias Gets It Done by Marley Dias
ISBN: 9781338136890
Publication Date: 2018-01-30
(Available on SORA) "Marley Dias, founder of the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to promote titles with 'black women and girls as protagonists'” has created a lifestyle guide to inspire her generation to get woke, do great things, and read."
Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty; Stevie Lewis (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250199348
Publication Date: 2019-06-11
(Available in audio by SORA) Enjoy this light-hearted picture book about the formation and history of the moon—told from the perspective of the moon itself.
Pop! by Meghan McCarthy (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781416979708
Publication Date: 2010-05-04
Gum. It’s been around for centuries—from the ancient Greeks to the American Indians, everyone’s chewed it. But the best kind of gum—bubble gum!—wasn’t invented until 1928, when an enterprising young accountant at Fleer Gum and Candy used his spare time to experiment with different recipes.
Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson
ISBN: 9781534440845
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
(Available in print and audio on SORA) The author shares her life excelling in math as a young girl and her eventual career as a NASA mathematician. Explores her work on the Apollo 11 mission.
Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
ISBN: 9781419710544
Publication Date: 2014-05-06
(Available on SORA) "Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California" -Provided by publisher.
Superheroes Are Everywhere by Kamala Harris; Mechal Renee Roe (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781984837493
Publication Date: 2019-01-08
(Available on SORA) A picture book memoir in which Senator Kamala Harris shares her life story and discusses heroic figures from her youth.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell; Frané Lessac (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781580897723
Publication Date: 2018-09-04
(Available on SORA) The Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices by Wade Hudson (Editor); Cheryl Willis Hudson (Editor)
ISBN: 9780525580454
Publication Date: 2019-12-31
(Available in audio on SORA) What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art and prose, fifty diverse creators share answers to the question, "In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?"
What Color Is My World? by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Raymond Obstfeld; Ben Boos (Illustrator); A. G. Ford (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763664428
Publication Date: 2013-12-10
(Available on SORA) A lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Offering profiles with fast facts and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a tribute to black inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.
Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky
ISBN: 9781607749769
Publication Date: 2016-07-26
Highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world.
Women Who Dared by Linda Skeers; Livi Gosling (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781492653271
Publication Date: 2017-09-05
(Available on SORA) The perfect introduction for learning about women throughout history who dared to do the extraordinary.
Young Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson; Andrea Pippins (Illustrator)
Call Number: 920 Wil
ISBN: 9781786031587
Publication Date: 2018-02-01
(Available on SORA) Meet 52 icons of color from the past and present in this celebration of inspirational achievement—a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire, and empower the next generation of changemakers.