Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name.
Chrysanthemum. When she was old enough to appreciate it, Chrysanthemum loved her name. And then she started school. "I'm named after my grandmother," said Victoria. "You're named after a flower." Chrysanthemum wilted. Life at school didn't improve. In fact, it got worse. Then the students were introduced to their music teacher, Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly, Chrysanthemum blossomed……
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board.
Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro
Each story in the Zoey and Sassafras series features a new magical animal with a problem that must be solved using science. There isn't a set formula for each book; Zoey sometimes needs to run experiments, while other times she needs to investigate a mystery, and yet other times she needs to do research. Zoey models how to keep a science journal through her handwritten entries in each story. Each story is complete with a glossary of the kid-friendly definitions for scientific terms used. The series highlights child-led inquiry science and the topics covered align with both Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
Pedro's Big Goal by Fran Manushrin
The Fenway Foul-Up by David A. Kelly
Now leading off the line-up—book #1 in a brand-new early chapter book mystery series where each book is set in a different American ballpark! Thanks to Kate’s mom, a sports reporter, cousins Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins have tickets to the Red Sox game and All Access passes to Fenway Park. But as they’re watching batting practice before the game, the lucky bat of Red Sox star slugger Big D is stolen…. Right in front of dozens of people. Without the bat, Bog D can’t seem to hit a thing. Can Kate and Mike figure out who pinched the bat before Big D and the Red Sox chalk up a loss?
Lola Levine is Not Mean by Monica Brown
Lola loves writing in her diario and playing soccer with her team, the Orange Smoothies. But when a soccer game during recess gets "too competitive," Lola accidentally hurts her classmate Juan Gomez. Now everyone is calling her Mean Lola Levine! Lola feels horrible, but with the help of her family and her super best friend Josh Blot, she learns how to navigate the second-grade in true Lola fashion--with humor and the power of words. (In the first book of this series, Lola's big heart and creative spirit will ring true to young readers.)
Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli
Fourth graders are tough. They aren't afraid of spiders. They say "no" to their moms. They push first graders off the swings. And they never, ever cry. Suds knows that now that he's in fourth
grade, he's supposed to be a rat. But whenever he tries to act like one, something goes wrong. Can Suds's friend Joey teach him to toughen up...or will Suds remain a fourth grade wimp?
A fast, fun friendship read from the Newbery-award winning author of Maniac Magee.
The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng
In Chinese, peng you means friend. But in any language, all Anna knows for certain is that friendship is complicated.
When Anna needs company, she turns to her books. Whether traveling through A Wrinkle in Time, or peering over My Side of the Mountain, books provide what real life cannot—constant companionship and insight into her changing world. Books, however, can’t tell Anna how to find a true friend. She’ll have to discover that on her own.
Wish by Barbara O'Connor
Eleven-year old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the
Pointed end of a slice of pie And wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems
unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she really needs at all.
The Steam Chasers by Doresa A. Jennings
What seemed an ordinary homework assignment turned into a life changing adventure for Shar, Terrence, Ebony, Akiya, Marcus, and Chase as they take a scavenger hunt through town finding the contributions Black Americans have had to our everyday lives in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Things are moving well until one phone call sends a cascade of things in motion that results in the frightening wail of sirens screaming down the street. How will the STEAM Chasers get out of this mess? Can the group use what they have learned from the inventors and thinkers they have met on their journey to help themselves and other kids that might encounter a similar situation?
Restart by Gordon Korman
