My Reading List

Mrs. Guthrie's Reading Recommendations

Newberry award winners Reading List

Mrs. Guthrie’s book recommendations

Books
*) Who Was? series
*) Where is? servies
*) How I survived series
*) Sink or Swim by Steve Watkins (brisk paced action-pack historical novel)
*) Magic Treehouse
*) Geronimo Stilton
*) Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures
*) Box Car Children
*) Secret Series
*) Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol
*) Tales by Magic by Edward Eager
*) Suggested by our Gauri: Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
*) Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows N
*) Nancy Clancy
*) The Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings
Play on words; voca building; each page is illustrated; naughty kid humor.
*) The Playbook by Kwame Alexander ( Kirkus Review makes out as the very next book for Mrs. Guthrie check out. Find and read that review...worth the time)
*) Legend:Best Players, Games, and Teams series by Howard Bryant (Mrs. Guthrie wants to check out)

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

"Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Timesbestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.

Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle." (Source: Amazon) Based on a true story

Regarding the Bathrooms: A Privy to the Past by Kate Klise
A hilarious book using newspaper spreads, letters, and ads to unfold one school's effort to renovate the school's bathrooms. The humor is through endless amount of word play and puns. Will keep many readers laughing up a storm. This book is part of a series.

The Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis
This tale of adventure involving magic and danger at every turn is mixed with humor and suspense. The strong theme of friendship, loyalty and relevance runs throughout the quest of a young boy and girl aided by a bumbling wizard and his mixed talent ship crew members. This book is part of a series.

Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter Brooks
This book centers on how a barnful of animals migrate to Florida to stay warm in the winter; their owners are to poor to provide warm housing. This story is a page turner as one reads through their hilarious adventure. This book is part of a series.

Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks
Stats: Grade Level Equivalent: 5.9 Part 1 of 5 book series Age Interest Level 8-12 years old
Adventure, colorful language, and action pulls readers into the story. This book can definitely capture the attention of reluctant readers. I think it has more to offer than Diary of a Wimpy Kid because it is a vocabulary booster. I like the storyline of Magic Treehouse with all the different exposures to many facets of life but I couldn't get past one book of bland writing style. Be ware of some objective matters such as light profanity of the cowboy ("dawgone heck" and "hell") violence (cowboy and Indian fight), and alcohol (cowboy brings up firewater/whiskey in his conversation) and cultural/gender insensitivity. These points of objections can be helpful starting points of meaningful and healthy discussion between your child and you. An option to consider in the balance of pro and cons.

1)Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
Stats: Reading Level 4.6 grade   Part 1 of 17 book series
Side Notes: Excellent vocabulary; insightful main character who is respectful and kind.
1999 Edgar Award for Best Children’s Mystery
The protagonist is a feisty, fearless, and funny version of mystery-solver, Nancy Drew. I enjoyed reading the well-developed character who is adventure-seeking but definitely bends the truth a little and pushes the limits set by her grandmother. She gets into lots of trouble but has good intensions and morals.

2)The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis
Stats:  Reading Level 5.4 Part 1 of Chronicles of Narnia Series
Side Notes: Excellent vocabulary; Very well written plot with well-developed characters with strong morals.
It is a magical and wonderous story! The adventures may turn reluctant readers into avid ones. I finished the first one of the series; ceremony, tradition, and honor turn this book into a rich story.

3) Warp Trio Series by Jon Scieska
Stats:  Reading Level is 3.6 Has 16 books in the series
Side Notes: Easy funny reading with good vocabulary growth and exposure to cultural icons
The main characters possess a “book” that acts as a time machine traveler. I enjoyed the “It’s All Greek to Me” section which infuses lots of Greek mythology into the story. Just finished "Tut Tut." I found it to be entertaining with humor and educating cultural references. This series reminds one of the respectful Magic Treehouse that serves many purposes. I just find the Time Warp Trio to be funny with the author’s zany comic-stylings and slightly more three-dimensional characters.

4) The Fire Within by Chris d’Lacey
Stats: Reading level is 4.1 Has at least 7 books within the series. Read below.
Side Notes:  From the first chapter, readers are presented with a mystery. It has good vocabulary growth. If you like dragons, (and who doesn't) this may be for you.
This series starts with a cute story with a squirrel plot and mysterious clay dragons. There is no violence or bad language, at least in the first of the series. I enjoyed the first book but haven’t read the other books yet. The following books was reported to have had a more dark side, so it may be for older readers.

Below books are not part of a series
5) The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
Stats:  Reading Level 3.8 Not part of a series
Side Notes: Has good vocabulary growth potential. It gives personal and global insight. Its well written with developed characters, description, and personification.
A girl who is a Jackie Robinson fan has lots of inner strength and determination. The book gives you a different perspective and life appreciation from a girl who moved with her family to Brooklyn from China. Its a 'feel good' story.

6) The Lottie Project by Jacqueline Wilson
Stats: Reading Level 4.5 Not part of a series
Side Notes: Text has complexity due to a subplot within a plot; elements of two different time periods (contemporary and Victorian time frame) which gives richness of history, vocabulary and personal insight through life comparison of two 11-year-old girl protagonists. I found a couple of words such as "moron” and “stupid” that are used by the protangonist.
Ms. Wilson is 2005 UK Children Laureate. The main protagonist is an 11-year-old girl named Charlotte or Charlie for short; she is a daughter of a teen-mom who is struggling to provide a good home for both of them. Charlie decides to write a journal for her classroom project. The journal is from the perspective of an 11-year-old girl named Lottie who is a nurserymaid in the Victorian time period. I like how Charlotte is positive-minded while being brave as she helps her mom face challenges together.

7) The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
Stats: Reading Level n/a ; Not part of a series
Side Notes: Has good vocabulary growth. Lesson of overcoming one’s weakness/disabilities: well written with developed characters, description, and personification. This easy-to-read book is a story of love, friendship, and integrity. This story has many similar components of adventure while showcasing appreciation of nature especially birds as found in Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. This book is insightful to the human spirit along with lessons of being self-determined to overcome one’s challenges. Some readers may not enjoy the pace of the story, it is slow compared to modern fast-paced plots.
My idea of "children classics"
Charlotte’s Web
Henry and Ribsy
Holes
The Hobbit
Little House on the Prairie
Little House in the Woods
Magic Treehouse
Percy Jackson
Harry Potter series
Ramona
Ralph the Mouse

Books geared more for struggling readers:**
) Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
) Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant
Books geared for struggling readers- Funny books
) Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are and other very funny books by Theodore Seuss
) Arthur by Marc Brown
) If Give a Moose a Muffin by Lauren Numberoff
) How I Became a Pirate, Bad Case of Stripes and other very funny books By David Shannon
Click Clack Moo Series other very funny books by Doreen Cronin
) Fly Guy Series by Tedd Arnold (Couple of Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book)
) Russell the Sheep or Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
) Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems
*)There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed by many authors listed below
Pam Adams, Tedd Arnold, Lucille Colandro, Alison Jackson, Taback Simms, Teri Sloat, Nadine Westcott, and Caryn Yacowitz
8) Is Your Mama a Llama by Deborah Guarino

For Mrs. Guthrie Only
=) means "purpose" 2nd week of school books
Isabella Star of the Story..Just How Much Can a Little Girl Dream? =) TALK whimsical joy of reading /Play on 3 Bears; Peter Pan...
In the Tall,Tall Grass by Denise Fleming =) Art project painting after color draw while focus on 4 verbs of favorite animal (noun) The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle =) Persistence and not giving up will serve you well
2nd month of school books =)Summary skill Book report and Plot line for IWT
3rd month of school books Because a Little Bug went Ka-Choo! by Rosetta Stone=) Create own "Cause and Effect" book IWT
**4th month of school books Pop up Aesop by John Harris and Calef Brown (Getty) Create their own Pop Up book IWT

Newberry award winners Reading List

Best Children's Books

Reading Rainbow List