Kindergarten Summer Reading List 2020-2021 

 

These are some suggested books to read with your child before starting K:  

ABC books Nursery Rhymes 

Books about numbers, colors, or shapes Books about school 

Books about seasons Rhyming books 

Picture books with few words on a page Fairy Tales  

Books with repetition  

Specific Titles: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! 

The Day You Begin You Matter 

The Night Before Kindergarten  

  

*First Grade Summer Reading*  

 

2020 – 2021 

First grade readers have varied interests and abilities. Feel free to 

explore the library or bookstore to find additional authors and books that 

your child might enjoy. 

 

Suggested Authors 

*Eric Carle 

*Dr. Seuss 

*Kevin Henkes 

*Marc Brown 

*Laura Numeroff 

*Lois Ehlert 

*Gail Gibbons 

*Mo Willems 

*Eric Litwin 

*Arnold Lobel 

*Cynthia Rylant 

Suggested Series/Chapter Books 

*Ready-to-Read Books (such as Henry 

and Mudge or Pete the Cat) 

*I Can Read! (such as the Biscuit books)  

*National Geographic Kids Leveled 

Readers 

*Young Cam Jansen by David Adler 

*Iris and Walter by Elissa Haden Guest 

*Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman 

Sharmat 

*Froggy by Jonathan London 

 

Suggested Titles 

*I am Enough by Grace Byers  *All Are Welcome Here by Alexandra Penfold 

*Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy 

*The Night Before First Grade by Natasha Wing 

*I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet 

 

 

 

 

2nd Grade Reading List 2020 -2021

If your child likes funny books, try:● What is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas● We Are in a Book by Mo Willems (all

Elephant and Piggie books are fantastic!)

● The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow by Andy Griffiths

● Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo● Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors● Rabbit & Bear: Rabbit’s Bad Habits by

Julian Gough & Jim Field

If your child likes series books, try:● Aggie the Brave by Lori Ries –

FRIENDSHIP● Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh –

NONFICTION● Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog by

Cynthia Rylant – FRIENDSHIP● Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes –

REALISTIC● Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben

Clanton – FRIENDSHIP

If your child likes adventure stories, they’ll love:

● Bo’s Magical New Friend (Unicorn Diaries) by Rebecca Elliott

● The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (find more books like Princess in Black)

● Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot #1 by Dav Pilkey

● Notebook of Doom #1 by Troy Cummings● Rise of the Earth Dragon #1 by Tracey

West● Haggis & Tank: All Paws on Deck by

Jessica Young● Dig to Disaster: A Miss Mallard Mystery

by Robert Quackenbush

If your child loves realistic stories, try:● Bink & Gollie Best Friends Forever by

Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee\● Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqui● Pug Blasts Off (Diary of a Pug) by Kyla

May● Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman

Nuurali● Sofia Martinez My Vida Loca by Jacquline

Jules● A New Friend for Sophie Mouse by Poppy

Green● Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott● The Party and Other Stories (Fox and

Chick) by Sergio Ruzzier

Do you want to know if a book is at your child’s reading level? Since these books are on Amazon, search to preview the book. Ask your child to read ONE random full page of text. If he/she misses between 1 – 5 words, the book is JUST RIGHT, meaning it’s at his/her

comprehension level. 0 is too easy, which is fine, but not all the time. Over 5 words means the book is too challenging!

Online Book Lists Links: Multicultural and Social Justice booksBest of Children's Literature 2019NPR Kid's Literature pick of 2019Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)

 

2020-2021 Third Grade Recommended Summer Reading List   

Please make sure that all book choices are JUST RIGHT for you as a reader!  

Suggested Titles:   

Horrible Harry, by Suzy Kline 

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies 

Chocolate Fever, by Robert Kimmel Smith 

Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 

Invisible Lines, by Mary Amato 

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young 

John Lewis, by Jabari Asim 

Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea 

A Week in the Woods, by Andrew Clements 

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace 

Lin  

Pavel and the Tree Army by Heidi Smith Hyde 

 

The Candy Shop War, by Brandon Mull 

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and 

Her Family's Fight for Desegregation by 

Duncan Tonatiuh  

Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope 

Osborne 

A to Z Mysteries series, by Ron Roy 

The Time Warp Trio series, Jon Scieszka 

Ivy & Bean Series by Annie Barrows 

Bad Kitty series by Nick Bruell 

Little Leaders series by Vashti Harrison 

The Biography Book for New Readers series 

 

Suggested Authors: 

● Judy Blume  ● Kate DiCamillo  ● Patricia Polacco 

● Matt Christopher  ● Laura Ingalls Wilder  ● Jon Scieszka 

● Beverly Cleary  ● Suzy Kline  ● Jerry Spinelli 

● Andrew Clements  ● Megan McDonald  ● Janet Tashjian 

● Jean Craigshead 

George 

● James Patterson (for 

kids) 

● Raina Telgemeier 

● Roald Dahl     

 

Do you want to know if a book is at your child’s reading level? Since these books are on 

Amazon, search to preview the book. Ask your child to read ONE random full page of text. 

If he/she misses between 1 – 5 words, the book is JUST RIGHT, meaning it’s at his/her 

comprehension level. 0 is too easy, which is fine, but not all the time. Over 5 words means 

the book is too challenging! 

 

Additional Online Book lists: 

NPR Kid's Literature pick of 2019 

Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education) 

Social Justice books -> Booklists 

4th Grade Summer Reading List 2020-2021 

These are recommended summer reading books for students entering  4th grade. Please make sure that any books that you pick from this list are  

JUST RIGHT for you as a reader.   

(REALISTIC) FICTION - Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo 

- Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo 

- Restart by Gordon Korman 

- Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary 

- Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary 

- Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies 

NON FICTION/HISTORICAL FICTION - The Boy Who Invented TV by Kathleen Krull 

- Can We Save The Tiger? by Martin Jenkins 

- “Who Is/Was…” Series (various authors) 

- “The Story of Exploration” by Anna Claybourne 

- “The Story of Inventions” by Anna Claybourne  

- “I Survived” Series by Lauren Tarshis 

FANTASY/ADVENTURE - Miss Ellicott’s School for the Magically Minded 

by Sage Blackwood 

- Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate 

- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 

- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 

- “Half Upon a Time” Series by James Riley  

- “Magic Tree House” Series by Mary Pope 

Osbourne 

- “Survivor Diaries” Series by Terry Lynn Johnson 

SPORTS - Comeback Kids: Hot Hand by Mike Lupica 

- Two Minute Drill by Mike Lupica 

- Who is Derek Jeter? by Gail Herman & Andrew 

Thomson 

- “Amazing Athletes” Series (various authors) 

- “Ballpark Mysteries” Series by David A. Kelly 

- Any books by Matt Christopher 

HUMOR - Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume 

- Freckle Juice by Judy Blume 

- Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman 

- The Croc Ate My Homework by Stephan Pastis 

(Graphic Novel Series) 

- My Fox Ate My Homework by David Blaze  

- Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis 

Sachar 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading list continues on page 2... 

CULTURAL AWARENESS/RACIAL EQUITY - Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s 

Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, 

Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard 

- Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History 

by Vashti Harrison 

- Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham 

- Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling 

Lyons 

- Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo 

- We March by Shane W. Evans 

- We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from 

Civil Rights Leaders by Harry Belafonte 

- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason 

Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi 

- Hands up by Breanna J. McDaniel 

- Enough! 20 Protestors Who Changed America by 

Emily Easton -Most People by Michael Leanna 

-Woke! A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by 

Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and 

Olivia Gatwood 

-Blended by Sharon M. Draper 

-King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callendar 

-The Lost Tribes series by C. Taylor-Butler 

-You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino 

-Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

-Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis 

-Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by 

Jason Reynolds 

-Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, 

and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham 

-The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay 

Moore 

Do you want to know if a book is at your child’s reading level? Since these books are on Amazon, search to preview the book. Ask your child to read ONE random full page of text. If he/she misses between 1 – 5 words, the book is JUST RIGHT, meaning it’s at his/her comprehension level. 0 is too easy, which is fine, but not all the time. Over 5 words means the book is too challenging! 

(REALISTIC) FICTION - Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo 

- Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo 

- Restart by Gordon Korman 

- Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary 

- Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary 

- Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies 

 

FANTASY/ADVENTURE - Miss Ellicott’s School for the Magically 

Minded by Sage Blackwood 

- Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate 

- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 

- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 

- “Half Upon a Time” Series by James Riley  

- “Magic Tree House” Series by Mary Pope 

Osbourne 

- “Survivor Diaries” Series by Terry Lynn 

Johnson 

 

HUMOR - Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy 

Blume 

- Freckle Juice by Judy Blume 

- Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman 

- The Croc Ate My Homework by Stephan Pastis 

(Graphic Novel Series) 

- My Fox Ate My Homework by David Blaze  

- Sideways Stories From Wayside School by 

Louis Sachar 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          *Reading list continues on page 2 

NON FICTION/HISTORICAL FICTION - The Boy Who Invented TV by Kathleen Krull 

- Can We Save The Tiger? by Martin Jenkins 

- “Who Is/Was…” Series (various authors) 

- “The Story of Exploration” by Anna Claybourne 

- “The Story of Inventions” by Anna Claybourne  

- “I Survived” Series by Lauren Tarshis 

 

SPORTS - Comeback Kids: Hot Hand by Mike Lupica 

- Two Minute Drill by Mike Lupica 

- Who is Derek Jeter? by Gail Herman & Andrew 

Thomson 

- “Amazing Athletes” Series (various authors) 

- “Ballpark Mysteries” Series by David A. Kelly 

- Any books by Matt Christopher 

 

 

CULTURAL AWARENESS/RACIAL EQUITY - Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s 

Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne 

Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard 

- Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History 

by Vashti Harrison 

- Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham 

- Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling 

Lyons 

- Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo 

- We March by Shane W. Evans 

- We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration 

from Civil Rights Leaders by Harry Belafonte 

- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by 

Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi 

- Hands up by Breanna J. McDaniel 

- Enough! 20 Protestors Who Changed America 

by Emily Easton -Most People by Michael Leanna 

-Woke! A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by 

Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and 

Olivia Gatwood 

-Blended by Sharon M. Draper 

-King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callendar 

-The Lost Tribes series by C. Taylor-Butler 

-You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino 

-Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

-Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis 

-Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by 

Jason Reynolds 

-Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, 

and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham 

-The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay 

Moore 

 

 

 

Do you want to know if a book is at your child’s reading level? Since these books are on Amazon, search to preview the book. Ask your child to read ONE random full page of text. If he/she misses between 1 – 5 words, the book is JUST RIGHT, meaning it’s at his/her comprehension level. 0 is too easy, which is fine, but not all the time. Over 5 words means the book is too challenging! 

Fifth Grade Recommended Summer Reading List  

FANTASY  ADVENTURE 

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee The Endling by Katherine Applegate Five Kingdoms series by Brandon Mull In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz Nightmares! (series) by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 

Masterminds by Gordon Korman Stranded by Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts Spy School by Stuart Gibbs The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein  

ANIMAL ADVENTURES  MYSTERY 

The Last Dogs by Christopher Holt Warriors by Erin Hunter Mouseheart by Lisa Fiedler The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein 

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter by Beth Fantaskey Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania Del Rio Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson  

REALISTIC FICTION  HUMOR 

All Four Stars by Tara Dairman See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng George by Alex Gino El Deafo by Cece Bell (graphic novel) The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard 

Origami Yoda (series) by Tom Angleberger Unicorn on a Roll by Dana Simpson (graphic novel) Anyone But Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp Vordak the Incomprehensible by Vordak T. Incomprehensible Plants vs. Zombies by Paul Tobin and Ron Chan The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry 

Kristy’s Great Idea Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (graphic novel) Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada Smile, Drama, & Sisters by Raina Telgemeier (graphic novels) Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldeko 

NONFICTION  GRAPHIC NOVELS 

Two Truths and a Lie by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson National Geographic Kids Almanac 2018 The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome by Jonathan Stokes Who is? or Who Was? series for children by various authors Hidden Figures Young Readers Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle: And Other Surprising Stories About Inventions by Don L. Wulffson Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison 

Smile by Raina Telgemeier The Amulet Series by Kibuishi, Kazu Best Friends by Shannon Hale Click by Kayla Miller New Kid by Jerry Craft White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio   

HISTORICAL FICTION   

Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan I Survived Series by Lauren Tarshis One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia 

 

**These are the recommended books for summer reading for students entering fifth grade. Please make sure the books you choose are at a JUST RIGHT level. You can check that you are reading just-right books by using the five finger test. Choose a random full page to read from a book you’re interested in. Begin reading and put one finger up each time you come to a word you do not know. 1-5 Fingers up means it’s just right. Zero means it is too easy, which is fine, but not all the time. More than five missed words is too challenging. The books listed here are just suggestions; choose books that make you happy. Enjoy your summer and see you in September! 

Dear Future 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, June 14, 2020

I would like to offer you some reading choices for your independent reading this summer.

Our goal here at Garrison is to help develop our students to be avid readers. We strive to

teach our students to be culturally inclusive, responsive and anti-racist. Each week during

the school year I read the first chapter of a new book to help students engage in literature

and find a love for reading. Many of the books that I chose include characters trying to

empower themselves with social justice. Some books include a discussion of cultural

awareness and racial equity as well.

This summer I have ordered two books to read which will help me to be a lifelong learner

and to be a leader when discussing issues of racism, bias and oppression. I would love for

some of my students to join me on this journey of learning through literature.

I invite you to read:

Dear Martin by Nic Stone. This is a novel

which is loosely based on a series of true

events involving the shooting deaths of

unarmed African Americans. “A powerful,

wrenching and compulsively readable story

that lays bare the history, and the present, of

racism in America.”

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by

Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. A

timely, crucial, and empowering exploration

of racism--and antiracism--in America. This

is NOT a history book.This is a book about

the here and now. A book to help us better

understand why we are where we are. “A

timely, crucial, and empowering exploration

of racism--and antiracism--in America”.

Please feel free to check out this additional website to find more book choices.

https://www.epicreads.com/blog/ya-books-poc-writers/amp/

Remember that we are all lifelong learners and books help us to continue on this journey

of learning and growing. Happy reading!

~Jennifer Kirschenheiter

Dear Incoming Sixth Graders, June 2020

I am super excited that you will be entering middle school next

year. In preparation for an amazing year of reading, writing,

learning and growing, I am requiring every student to read two

books this summer.

Essayist Joseph Addison wrote, ‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body’.

In today’s world, young people exercise their bodies to keep in shape. Any break in the

exercise routine will cause a loss of muscle tone. The same is true for reading. Any

break in reading, the exercising of the mind, will diminish reading comprehension skills.

Research has shown that time spent reading correlates with academic success,

vocabulary development, standardized-test performance, and the development of world

knowledge (Moore, Bean, Birdsyshaw & Rycik, 1999).

Every student will read a minimum of two books:

Holes by Louis Sachar and a book of choice.

There are so many high interest, engaging and exciting books to choose

from. This summer you get to choose a book that stimulates your

curiosity or a book that friends or family members have read or a book

that is newly published or a book that is by your favorite author or a book

with the genre you would like to learn more about.

You can use these links to find recommendations.

We are teachers - best middle school books

Read brightly - books for middle schoolers

Family reading -summer reading

In September, we will discuss both books in our reading and writing classes.

1. During the first few weeks of school you will complete an assignment based on

the book, Holes by Louis Sachar. This will be our first in-school writing

assignment.

2. In addition, you will each present to the class about your free choice book. We

are using the TC Units of Study for our curriculum and we are trying to build a

community of readers. You will be given instruction on this presentation when

school starts.

Therefore, you may want to take notes while reading both of your books to help

remember important details. This work will aid in completing the assignments in the

fall. Your notes can be in the form of jots or summaries or graphic organizers or post-it

flags in the book. Whatever works best for you!

Two helpful graphic organizers are included, if interested.

Story Elements Graphic Organizer

Character Traits Graphic Organizer

May you each have a delightful summer full of fun and relaxation. I

am excited for each of you to have a summer where reading is

enjoyable and rewarding. I will be reading my books under an

umbrella at the ocean or on my back deck listening to my children

play in the yard. Wherever you are this summer, may you connect

to your reading and let it bring you excitement and joy.

I am looking forward to working with each of you and beginning our journey of reading

and writing, while learning and growing, here in the middle school at Garrison.

Discovering that special book is a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to share our

collective summer reading together.

Happy reading,

Jennifer Kirschenheiter

6, 7, 8 English Teacher at Garrison School 

 

 

Dear Future 7th graders, June 2020

I am super excited that I have the opportunity to be your English

teacher again next year. In preparation for an amazing year of

reading, writing, learning and growing, I am requiring every

student to read two books this summer.

Essayist Joseph Addison wrote, ‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body’.

In today’s world, young people exercise their bodies to keep in shape. Any break in the

exercise routine will cause a loss of muscle tone. The same is true for reading. Any

break in reading, the exercising of the mind, will diminish reading comprehension skills.

Research has shown that time spent reading correlates with academic success,

vocabulary development, standardized-test performance, and the development of world

knowledge (Moore, Bean, Birdsyshaw & Rycik, 1999).

Every student will read a minimum of two books:

Ghost by Jason Reynolds and a book of choice.

There are so many high interest, engaging and exciting books

to choose from. This summer you get to choose a book that

stimulates your curiosity or a book that friends or family

members recommend or a book that is newly published or a

book that is by your favorite author or a book with the genre

you would like to learn more about.

You can use these links to find recommendations.

We are teachers - best middle school books

Read brightly - books for middle schoolers

Family reading -summer reading

In September, we will discuss both books in our English class.

1. During the first few weeks of school you will complete an assignment based on

the book, Ghost by Jason Reynolds. This will be our first in-school writing

assignment.

2. In addition, you will each present to the class about your free choice book. We

are using the TC Units of Study for our curriculum and we are trying to build a

community of readers. You will be given instruction on this presentation when

school starts.

Therefore, you may want to take notes while reading both of your books to help

remember important details. This work will aid in completing the assignments in the

fall. Your notes can be in the form of jots or summaries or graphic organizers or post-it

flags in the book. Whatever works best for you!

Two helpful graphic organizers are included, if interested.

Story Elements Graphic Organizer

Character Traits Graphic Organizer

May you each have a delightful summer full of fun and relaxation.

I am excited for each of you to have a summer where reading is

enjoyable and rewarding. I will be reading my books under an

umbrella at the ocean or on my back deck listening to my children

play in the yard. Wherever you are this summer, may you connect

to your reading and let it bring you excitement and joy.

I am looking forward to working with each of you again and continuing our journey of

reading and writing, while learning and growing, here in the middle school at Garrison.

Discovering that special book is a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to share our

collective summer reading together.

Happy reading,

Jennifer Kirschenheiter

6, 7, 8 English Teacher at Garrison School 

 

 

Dear Future 8th graders, June 2020

I am super excited that I have the opportunity to be your English

teacher again next year. In preparation for an amazing year of

reading, writing, learning and growing, I am requiring every

student to read two books this summer.

Essayist Joseph Addison wrote, ‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body’.

In today’s world, young people exercise their bodies to keep in shape. Any break in the

exercise routine will cause a loss of muscle tone. The same is true for reading. Any

break in reading, the exercising of the mind, will diminish reading comprehension skills.

Research has shown that time spent reading correlates with academic success,

vocabulary development, standardized-test performance, and the development of world

knowledge (Moore, Bean, Birdsyshaw & Rycik, 1999).

Every student will read a minimum of two books:

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and a book of choice.

There are so many high interest, engaging and exciting books

to choose from. This summer you get to choose a book that

stimulates your curiosity or a book that friends or family

members recommend or a book that is newly published or a

book that is by your favorite author or a book with the genre

you would like to learn more about.

You can use these links to find recommendations.

We are teachers - best middle school books

Read brightly - books for middle schoolers

Family reading -summer reading

In September, we will discuss both books in our English class.

1. During the first few weeks of school you will complete an assignment based on

the book, The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. This will be our first in-school writing

assignment.

2. In addition, you will each present to the class about your free choice book. We

are using the TC Units of Study for our curriculum and we are trying to build a

community of readers. You will be given instruction on this presentation when

school starts.

Therefore, you may want to take notes while reading both of your books to help

remember important details. This work will aid in completing the assignments in the

fall. Your notes can be in the form of jots or summaries or graphic organizers or post-it

flags in the book. Whatever works best for you!

Two helpful graphic organizers are included, if interested.

Story Elements Graphic Organizer

Character Traits Graphic Organizer

May you each have a delightful summer full of fun and relaxation.

I am excited for each of you to have a summer where reading is

enjoyable and rewarding. I will be reading my books under an

umbrella at the ocean or on my back deck listening to my children

play in the yard. Wherever you are this summer, may you connect

to your reading and let it bring you excitement and joy.

I am looking forward to working with each of you again and continuing our journey of

reading and writing, while learning and growing, here in the middle school at Garrison.

Discovering that special book is a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to share our

collective summer reading together.

Happy reading,

Jennifer Kirschenheiter

6, 7, 8 English Teacher at Garrison School