Saint John Academy Summer Reading
For Rising 3rd Graders
Greetings Parents and Students
The books, stories and poems have been carefully selected to foster an enjoyable and thoughtful reading experience. Enjoy this special time with your child. These assignments are meant to be enriching and meaningful.
Be sure to balance the assignments with lots of fun, enjoyable time outside with family and friends. Best to you and your family.
Mrs. Karen Tessier
Assistant Head Master
Saint John Academy
Core Elements of Summer Reading for Rising 3rd Graders
- You will need a writing journal (a nice leather journal that you can reuse).
- Required reading includes Mary by Tomie DePaola and your choice of one of the following by Tomie DePaola; Francis; The Poor Man of Assisi, The Clown of God and Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland.
- From the reading list below, choose 2 to read. For each book draw a picture of something interesting and write a 1 paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing the pictures inside of your journal (pictures may be drawn and placed inside journal if you would like).
Under the Lilacs- Louisa May Alcott
The King’s Chessboard- David Birch
Caddie Woodlawn- Carol Ryrie Brink
The Pied Piper of Hamelin- Robert Browning
The Secret Garden- Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Little Lame Prince- Dinah Craik
The Courage of Sarah Noble- Alice Dalgliesh
Black Gold- Marguerite Henry
Born to Trot- Marguerite Henry
Brighty of the Grand Canyon- Marguerite Henry
Justin Morgan Had a Horse- Marguerite Henry
King of the Wind- Marguerite Henry
Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West- Marguerite Henry
The Jungle Book- Rudyard Kipling
Pyramid- David Macaulay
Sarah, Plain and Tall- Patricia MacLachlan
The Borrowers- Mary Norton
Stuart Little- E.B. White
The Trumpet of the Swan- E.B. White
Little House in the Big Woods- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Farmer Boy- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prairie- Laura Ingalls Wilder
On the Banks of Plum Creek- Laura Ingalls Wilder
By the Shores of Silver Lake- Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Long Winter- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Town on the Prairie- Laura Ingalls Wilder
These Happy Golden Years- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Henry and Mudge series, Cynthia Rylant
Boxcar Children series, Gertrude Chandler Warner
Amelia Bedelia stories, Peggy Parish
Ramoni Quimby, Age 8, Beverly Cleary
Mr. Popper's Penguins, Richard Atwater
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, Donald Sobol
Stuart Little, E.B. White
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
- Poems
Read all four recommended poems, copy one into your journal and memorize one and recite at home.
"Be Strong" by M.D. Babcock
"George Washington" by Stephen and Rosemary Benet
"Jim" by Hilaire Belloc
"The Arrow and the Song" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Choose three Aesop's Fables to read, no writing required.
The Fox and the Grapes
The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs
The Mice in Council
The Lion and the Mouse
The North Wind and the Sun
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Boy and the Wolf
The Hare and the Tortoise
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
The Grasshopper and the Ants
- Spiritual: The Rosary, The Annunciation; Read Luke 1: 5-38
Imagine you are at the scene of the Annunciation- a bird, insect, friend quietly observing.
Describe the scene (please write about the scene), what do you hear, see, describe the Angel that appears, What was Mary thinking, what is different about the reactions to the wonderful messages by Zachary and Mary (no writing required for this part).View Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Great Annunciation paintings, view any other Great Annunciation paintings that you find.