Curriculum Guide for English Language Arts
The Amherst and Pelham school districts have adopted summer reading lists for each grade.
As the school year’s reading closes, summer reading opens! Summer reading can give students hours of pleasure and the opportunity to maintain or improve his or her reading skills. At the same time it can help develop the reading habits of a lifelong reader. Research on summer reading informs us that a child needs to read at least six books at his/her reading level over the summer in order to maintain their current reading level. So let’s SOAR this summer by reading!
Included with this letter is a Summer Reading List with high quality literature that you might find at local libraries, yard sales or book stores. These titles are suggestions; they are not required reading. Personal choice about books or magazines is a key to engagement and pleasure. Children might choose to read fantasy or adventure, historical fiction, sports, or poetry.
Reading books at a comfortable or ‘just right’ level is also a key to reading enjoyment and growth. Readers grow in their reading when they have opportunities to read smoothly, with expression, at a good pace and with few errors. You will notice that each title on the list has a letter preceding it. The letter indicates the level of the book, starting with A for emergent readers with simple ideas, and progressing to Z with mature content. Your child can search for summer books from the letter level indicated by his/her teacher or choose from other books at a similar level if they prefer.
You may want to ask a librarian to help you find books at a similar level.We encourage you and your child to make a plan or set a specific time for his or her daily reading this summer. In fact it may a perfect opportunity for you and your child to enjoy summer reading together! Remember:
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
A
|
Look What I Can Do
|
Jose Aruego
|
F
|
|
A
|
Monkey Trouble (Brand New Reader series)
|
David Martin
|
F
|
|
A
|
My Book
|
Ron Maris
|
F
|
|
A
|
Pancakes for Breakfast
|
Tomie DePaola
|
F
|
|
B
|
Cat on the Mat
|
Brian Wildsmith
|
F
|
|
B
|
Do You Want to Be My Friend?
|
Eric Carle
|
F
|
|
B
|
Have You Seen My Cat?
|
Eric Carle
|
F
|
|
B
|
Have You Seen My Duckling?
|
Nancy Tafuri
|
F
|
|
C
|
Baby Says
|
John Steptoe
|
F
|
|
C
|
Boots
|
Ann Schreiber & A. Doughty
|
F
|
|
C
|
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
|
Bill Martin
|
F
|
|
C
|
The Fox on the Box
|
Barbara Greforich
|
F
|
|
C
|
I Went Walking
|
Sue Williams
|
F
|
|
C
|
I Want a Pet
|
Lauren Child
|
F
|
|
C
|
What’s for Lunch?
|
Eric Carle
|
F
|
|
D
|
Cat Traps
|
Molly Coxe
|
F
|
|
D
|
The Chick and the Duckling
|
Mirra Ginsburg
|
F
|
|
D
|
Fast Draw Freddie
|
Bobbie Hamsa
|
F
|
|
D
|
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
|
Carol Jones
|
F
|
|
D
|
Oops!
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
D
|
Sam’s Ball
|
Barbo Lindgren
|
F
|
|
D
|
School Bus
|
Donald Crews
|
F
|
|
D
|
The Good Bad Cat
|
Nancy Antle
|
F
|
|
D
|
Monster Can’t Sleep
|
Virginia Mueller
|
F
|
|
E
|
All By Myself
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
E
|
Eat Your Peas, Louise
|
Pegeen Snow
|
F
|
|
E
|
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
|
Eileen Christelow
|
F
|
|
E
|
Five Silly Fisherman
|
Roberta Edwards
|
F
|
|
E
|
The Foot Book
|
Dr. Seuss
|
F
|
|
E
|
Go Dog Go
|
Philip Eastman
|
F
|
|
E
|
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
|
Fran Hunia
|
F
|
|
E
|
The Happy Egg
|
Robert Kraus
|
F
|
|
E
|
It Looked Like Spilt Milk
|
Charles Shaw
|
F
|
|
E
|
Oh, Cats
|
Nola Buck
|
F
|
|
E
|
Sunshine Moon
|
Jennifer Armstrong
|
F
|
|
E
|
Sweet Potato Pie
|
Annie Rockwell
|
F
|
|
E
|
Where’s Spot?
|
Eric Hill
|
F
|
|
E
|
Where Can It Be?
|
Ann Jonas
|
F
|
|
E
|
Who Am I?
|
Nancy Christensen
|
F
|
|
F
|
Across the Stream
|
Mirra Ginsburg
|
F
|
|
F
|
Are You There, Bear
|
Ron Maris
|
F
|
|
F
|
Bread, Bread, Bread
|
Ann Morris
|
NF
|
|
F
|
Have You Seen the Crocodile?
|
Colin West
|
F
|
|
F
|
The Teeny, Tiny Woman
|
Jane O’Connor
|
F
|
|
F
|
William, Where Are You?
|
Mordicai Gerstein
|
F
|
|
G
|
Boats
|
Anne Rockwell
|
NF
|
|
G
|
My Dog
|
Judy Taylor
|
F
|
|
G
|
Nicky Upstairs and Down
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
G
|
Teddy Bear for Sale
|
Gail Herman
|
F
|
|
H
|
The Awful Mess
|
Anne Rockwell
|
F
|
|
H
|
The Cake that Mack Ate
|
Rose Robart & Maryann Kovalski
|
F
|
|
H
|
Come Out and Play, Little Mouse
|
Robert Kraus
|
F
|
|
H
|
Goodnight Moon
|
Margaret Wise Brown
|
F
|
|
H
|
Seven Little Monsters
|
Maurice Sendak
|
F
|
|
I
|
Airport
|
Byron Barton
|
NF
|
|
I
|
Little Bear
|
Else H. Minarik
|
F
|
|
I
|
Just a Mess
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
I
|
Small Pig
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
I
|
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
|
Michael Rosen
|
F
|
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
F
|
A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy
|
David McPhail
|
F
|
|
F
|
Cat Goes Fiddle-i-ee
|
Paul Galdone
|
F
|
|
F
|
Cookie’s Week
|
Cindy Ward
|
F
|
|
F
|
A Dark, Dark Tale
|
Ruth Brown
|
F
|
|
F
|
A Dozen Dogs
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
F
|
Have You Seen the Crocodile?
|
Colin West
|
F
|
|
F
|
Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox
|
Ruth Krauss
|
F
|
|
F
|
Just Like Daddy
|
Frank Asch
|
F
|
|
F
|
Roll Over
|
Mordicai Gerstein
|
F
|
|
F
|
Oranges to Orange Juice
|
Inez Snyder
|
NF
|
|
F
|
The Teeny Tiny Woman
|
Paul Galdone
|
F
|
|
F
|
SHHH
|
Kevin Henkes
|
F
|
|
F
|
Frog’s Lunch
|
Lillgard & Zimmerman
|
F
|
|
F
|
Are You There Bear?
|
Ron Maris
|
F
|
|
F
|
Ten Black Dots
|
Don Crews
|
NF
|
|
F
|
Here Comes the Bus
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
F
|
Across the Stream
|
Mirra Ginsburg
|
F
|
|
G
|
Harry Takes a Bath
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
G
|
Biscuit Finds a Friend
|
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
|
F
|
|
G
|
Boats
|
Anne Rockwell
|
NF
|
|
G
|
Buzz Said the Bee
|
Wendy Lewison
|
F
|
|
G
|
Jason’s Bike Ride
|
David McPhail
|
F
|
|
G
|
More Spaghetti I Say
|
Rita Gelman
|
F
|
|
G
|
Sheep in a Jeep
|
Nancy Shaw
|
F
|
|
G
|
Titch
|
Pat Hutchins
|
F
|
|
G
|
One Monday Morning
|
Uri Shulevitz
|
S
|
|
G
|
Why Can’t I Fly?
|
Rita Gelman
|
F
|
|
G
|
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs
|
Bryan Barton
|
NF
|
|
G
|
Just for You
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
G
|
Dog and Cat
|
E. H. Minarik
|
F
|
|
G
|
Just Me and My Babysitter
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
G
|
Alligator Shoes
|
Arthur Dorros
|
F
|
|
G
|
I Wish I Was Sick Too
|
F. Brandenberg
|
F
|
|
G
|
Rabbit’s Party
|
Eve Bunting
|
F
|
|
G
|
Ten Black Dots
|
Donald Crew
|
NF
|
|
G
|
Mike and Tony
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
G
|
The Carrot Seed
|
Ruth Krass
|
F
|
|
H
|
Building a House
|
Byron Barton
|
NF
|
|
H
|
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz
|
Byron Barton
|
NF
|
|
H
|
The Cake That Mack Ate
|
Robert Koralski
|
F
|
|
H
|
Cats and Mice
|
Rita Gelman
|
F
|
|
H
|
A Clean House for Mole and Mouse
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
H
|
Come Out and Play Little Mouse
|
Robert Kraus
|
F
|
|
H
|
George Shrinks
|
William Joyce
|
F
|
|
H
|
Goodnight Moon
|
Margaret Wise Brown
|
F
|
|
H
|
The Great Big Enormous Turnip
|
Aleksei Tolstoi
|
F
|
|
H
|
I Was Walking Down the Road
|
Sarah Barchas
|
F
|
|
H
|
Just Me and My Babysitter
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
H
|
Just Me and My Dad
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
H
|
Just Me and My Puppy
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
H
|
A Kiss for Little Bear
|
Tana Hoban
|
F
|
|
H
|
My Brown Bear Barney
|
Dorothy Butler
|
F
|
|
H
|
My Cat
|
Judy Taylor
|
F
|
|
H
|
No Ball Games Here
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
H
|
Old Hat, New Hat
|
Jan and Stan Berenstain
|
F
|
|
I
|
Airport
|
Byron Barton
|
NF
|
|
I
|
Albert the Albatross
|
Syd Hoff
|
F
|
|
I
|
Are You My Mother
|
Philip Eastman
|
F
|
|
I
|
The Bear’s Bicycle
|
Emilie McLeod
|
F
|
|
I
|
Digby
|
Hazen
|
F
|
|
I
|
Father Bear Comes Home
|
Else Minarik
|
F
|
|
I
|
Fix It
|
David McPhail
|
F
|
|
I
|
The Gingerbread Man
|
Rita Rose
|
F
|
|
I
|
Goodnight Owl
|
Pat Hutchins
|
F
|
|
I
|
Hattie and the Fox
|
Mem Fox
|
F
|
|
I
|
Henny Penny
|
Paul Galdone
|
F
|
|
I
|
Just a Mess
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
I
|
Leo the Late Bloomer
|
Robert Kraus
|
F
|
|
I
|
Nana’s Place
|
Akimi Gibson and K. Mercer
|
F
|
|
I
|
Snow Day
|
Corinne Bliss
|
F
|
|
I
|
Spooky Riddles
|
Marc Brown
|
F
|
|
I
|
Stanley
|
Syd Hoff
|
F
|
|
I
|
Story of Chicken Licken
|
Jan Ormerod
|
F
|
|
I
|
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
|
Marcia Brown
|
F
|
|
I
|
The Very Busy Spider
|
Eric Carle
|
F
|
|
J
|
Addie’s Bad Day
|
Joan Robbins
|
F
|
|
J
|
Ask Mr. Bear
|
Marjorie Flack
|
F
|
|
J
|
Bear Shadow (series)
|
Frank Asch
|
F
|
|
J
|
The Cat in the Hat
|
Dr. Seuss
|
F
|
|
J
|
Danny and the Dinosaur
|
Syd Hoff
|
F
|
|
J
|
Days with Frog and Toad
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
J
|
The Doorbell Rang
|
Pat Hutchins
|
F
|
|
J
|
Fox and His Friends (series)
|
Edward Marshall
|
F
|
|
J
|
Ghosts!
|
Alvin Schwartz
|
F
|
|
J
|
A Hippopotamus Ate My Teacher
|
Mike Thayler
|
F
|
|
J
|
The Horse in Harry’s Room
|
Syd Hoff
|
F
|
|
J
|
In a Dark, Dark Room
|
Alvin Schwartz
|
F
|
|
J
|
Little Bear
|
Else Minarik
|
F
|
|
J
|
Little Blue and Little Yellow
|
Leo Lionni
|
F
|
|
J
|
Little Gorilla
|
Ruth Bornstein
|
F
|
|
J
|
The Little Red Hen
|
Paul Galdone
|
F
|
|
J
|
The Man Who Didn’t Do His Dishes
|
Phyllis Krasilovsky
|
F
|
|
J
|
One of Three
|
Angela Johnson
|
F
|
|
J
|
More Tales of Oliver Pig
|
Jean VanLeeuwen
|
F
|
|
J
|
Mouse Soup
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
J
|
Mouse Tales
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
J
|
Sam Who Never Forgets
|
Eve Rice
|
F
|
|
J
|
Stone Soup
|
Ann McGovern
|
F
|
|
J
|
There’s an Alligator Under My Bed
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
J
|
There’s Something in My Attic
|
Mercer Mayer
|
F
|
|
J
|
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
|
Eric Carle
|
F
|
|
K
|
Arthur’s Camp-Out (series)
|
Lillian Hoban
|
F
|
|
K
|
Arthur’s Loose Tooth (series)
|
Lillian Hoban
|
F
|
|
K
|
Aunt Eater Loves a Mystery
|
Doug Cushman
|
F
|
|
K
|
A Bear for Miguel
|
Elaine Marie Alphin
|
F
|
|
K
|
Bedtime for Frances
|
Russell Hoban
|
F
|
|
K
|
The Best Way to Play
|
Bill Cosby
|
F
|
|
K
|
The Blind Man and the Elephant
|
Karen Backstein
|
F
|
|
K
|
Bony-Leg
|
Joanna Cole
|
F
|
|
K
|
The Case of the Cat’s Meow
|
Crosby Bonsall
|
F
|
|
K
|
Clifford the Big Red Dog
|
Norman Bridwell
|
F
|
|
K
|
Frog and Toad All Year (series)
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
K
|
Mr. Gumpy’s Outing
|
John Burningham
|
F
|
|
K
|
Harold and the Purple Crayon
|
Crockett Johnson
|
F
|
|
K
|
Here Comes the Strike Out
|
Leonard Kessler
|
F
|
|
K
|
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
|
Laura J. Numeroff
|
F
|
|
K
|
Jamaica’s Find
|
Juanita Havill
|
F
|
|
K
|
Little Witch Goes to School
|
Deborah Hautzig
|
F
|
|
K
|
Nate the Great (series)
|
M. Weinman Sharmat
|
F
|
|
K
|
The Shortest Kid in the World
|
Corinne Demas Bliss
|
F
|
|
K
|
The Surprise Party
|
Pat Hutchins
|
F
|
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
J
|
Uncle Elephant
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
J
|
Will I have a Friend?
|
Miriam Cohen
|
F
|
|
J
|
Curious George
|
H. A. Rey
|
F
|
|
J
|
Doorbell Rang
|
Pat Hutchins
|
F
|
|
J
|
Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat Go to School
|
Tommy dePaola
|
F
|
|
J
|
Owl at Home
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
J
|
Black Cat
|
Myers, Christopher
|
F
|
|
J
|
Young Cam Jansen
|
David Adler
|
F
|
|
J
|
Harriet Tubman
|
Catherine Nichols
|
NF
|
|
J
|
Farmer Boy Birthday
|
Laura Ingalls Wilder
|
F
|
|
J
|
Dance at Grandpa’s
|
Laura Ingalls Wilder
|
F
|
|
J
|
Fox at School (series)
|
Edward Marshall
|
F
|
|
J
|
Mr. Putter (series)
|
Cynthia Rylant
|
F
|
|
J
|
Henry and Mudge
|
Cynthia Rylant
|
F
|
|
K
|
Commander Toad
|
Jane Yolen
|
F
|
|
K
|
Bargain for Francis (series)
|
Russel Hoban
|
F
|
|
K
|
Clifford books
|
Norman Bidwell
|
F
|
|
K
|
Jessica
|
Kevin Henkes
|
F
|
|
K
|
Shelia Rae the Brave
|
Kevin Henkes
|
F
|
|
K
|
Many Nations
|
Joseph Bruchac
|
NF
|
|
K
|
Frog and Toad
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
K
|
Franklin (series)
|
Bourgeois & Clark
|
F
|
|
K
|
Golly Sisters –(Go West & Ride again)
|
Betsy Byars
|
F
|
|
K
|
Jafta, The Town
|
Hugh Lewin
|
F
|
|
K
|
Jamaica’s Find
|
Jaunita Havill
|
F
|
|
K
|
Littles Go Around the World (First Readers)
|
Teddy Slater
|
F
|
|
L
|
Horrible Harry (series)
|
Suzy Kline
|
F
|
|
L
|
The First Thanksgiving
|
Garnet Jackson
|
NF
|
|
L
|
George and Martha series
|
James Marshall
|
F
|
|
L
|
Arthur Books
|
Marc Brown
|
F
|
|
L
|
Amelia Bedelia
|
Peggy Parish
|
F
|
|
L
|
Judy Moody
|
Megan McDonald
|
F
|
|
L
|
The Littles
|
John Peterson
|
F
|
|
L
|
Lost!
|
Julie Mitchel
|
F
|
|
L
|
Make Way for Ducklings
|
Robert McCloskey
|
F
|
|
L
|
Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher’s House
|
Louis Sachar
|
F
|
|
L
|
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse
|
Leo Lionni
|
F
|
|
M
|
Ira Sleeeps Over
|
Bernard Waber
|
F
|
|
M
|
Cody Unplugged
|
Betsy Duffey
|
F
|
|
M
|
Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday
|
Barbara Parks
|
F
|
|
M
|
All Star Fever (other M. Christopher bks)
|
Matt Christopher
|
F
|
|
M
|
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
|
Alice Dalgliesh
|
F
|
|
M
|
Boundless Grace
|
Mary Hoffman
|
F
|
|
M
|
The Littles Take a Trip, The Littles Go Exploring
|
John Peterson
|
F
|
|
M
|
Lucky Baseball Bat, The
|
Matt Christopher
|
F
|
|
M
|
Angel Child, Dragon Child
|
Michele Maria Surat
|
F
|
|
M
|
Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom
|
Margaret Davidson
|
F
|
|
M
|
The Boston Coffee Party
|
Doreen Rappaport
|
F
|
|
M
|
Best Friends
|
Steven Kellogg
|
F
|
|
M
|
Challenge at Second Base
|
Robert Clyde Bulla
|
F
|
|
M
|
Dingoes at Dinner Time
|
Mary Pope Osborne
|
F
|
|
M
|
Farmer Boy Days
|
Laura Ingalls Wilder
|
F
|
|
N
|
Meet Danitra Brown
|
Nikki Grimes
|
F
|
|
N
|
The Chalk Box Kid
|
Clyde Bulla
|
F
|
|
N
|
Return of the Home Run Kid
|
Matt Christopher
|
F
|
|
N
|
My Father’s Dragon
|
Ruth Stiles Gannett
|
F
|
|
N
|
Fables
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
N
|
La Mariposa
|
Francisco Jimenez
|
F
|
|
N
|
Most Wonderful Doll in the World
|
Phyllis McGinley
|
F
|
|
N
|
The Pain and the Great One
|
Judy Blume
|
F
|
|
N
|
The Return of the Homerun Kid
|
Matt Christopher
|
F
|
|
N
|
Song Lee (series)
|
Suzy Kline
|
F
|
|
N
|
A Toad for Tuesday
|
Russell Erikson
|
F
|
|
N
|
Winged Colt of Casa Mia
|
Betsy Byars
|
F
|
|
O
|
Beezus and Ramona
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
Flossie and Fox
|
Patricia C. McKissack
|
F
|
|
O
|
Mouse and the Motorcycle, The
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
New Coat for Anna
|
Harriet Ziefert
|
F
|
|
O
|
Boxcar Children
|
Gertrude Chandler Warner
|
F
|
|
O
|
Henry Huggins
|
Cleary, Beverly
|
F
|
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
K
|
Buffalo Bill and Pony Express
|
Eleanor Coerr
|
TL
|
|
K
|
Commander Toad and Black Hole
|
Jane Yolen
|
FY
|
|
K
|
Dandelions: Stars in the Grass
|
Mia Posada
|
NF
|
|
K
|
Dinosaur Time
|
Peggy Parish
|
NF
|
|
K
|
Frog and Toad
|
Arnold Lobel
|
F
|
|
K
|
Here Comes Strike Out
|
Leonard Kessler
|
F
|
|
K
|
Nate the Great
|
Marjory Sharmat
|
F
|
|
K
|
Outside Dog
|
Charlene Pomerantz
|
F
|
|
L
|
Amanda Pig…Her Big Brother Oliver
|
Jean Van Leeuwen
|
F
|
|
L
|
Judy Moody series
|
Megan McDonald
|
F
|
|
L
|
Amazing Bats
|
Seymour Simon
|
NF
|
|
L
|
Amazing Grace
|
Mary Hoffman
|
F
|
|
L
|
Ananzi, the Spider…Ashanti Tale
|
Gerald McDermott
|
F
|
|
L
|
Beans on the Roof
|
Betsy Byars
|
F
|
|
L
|
Dinosaurs Days
|
Joyce Milton
|
NF
|
|
L
|
Invisible Ink Series
|
Elizabeth Levy
|
Mystery
|
|
L
|
Cam Jansen …Mysteries Series
|
David Adler
|
Mystery
|
|
L
|
Horrible Harry Series
|
Suzie Cline
|
F
|
|
L
|
Ricky Ricotta
|
Dav Pilkey
|
F
|
|
L
|
Armies of Ants
|
Walter Retan
|
NF
|
|
M
|
Ivy + Bean
|
Annie Barrows
|
F
|
|
M
|
Big Bugs
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
M
|
Black Lagoon Adventure
|
Thaler, Mike
|
F
|
|
M
|
Dinosaurs
|
Gail Gibbons
|
NF
|
|
M
|
Magic Tree House Series
|
Mary Pope Osborne
|
F
|
|
M
|
Behind the Couch(M. Redpost Series)
|
Louis Sachar
|
F
|
|
M
|
Super Fast Out of Control
|
Louis Sachar
|
F
|
|
M
|
Five New Dog Stories
|
Margaret Davidson
|
F
|
|
M
|
Bailey Street Kids Series…Vampires
|
D. Daley, M.T. Jones
|
F
|
|
M
|
Hit-Away Kid
|
Matt Christopher
|
F
|
|
M
|
Picture Book of Anne Frank
|
David Adler
|
N F
|
|
M
|
Picture Book of Martin Luther King
|
David Adler
|
NF
|
|
M
|
Picture Book of Sacagawea
|
David Adler
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Bozo the Clown
|
Zach Files Series
|
SF
|
|
N
|
Boom
|
Howard Gunter
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Buffalo Woman
|
Paul Goble
|
TL
|
|
N
|
Cat Wings
|
Ursala LeGuin
|
FY
|
|
N
|
Curse of the Squirrel
|
Laurence Yep
|
F
|
|
N
|
Desert Life
|
Rachel Mann
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Frogs
|
Gail Gibbons
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Best Friend, Emma
|
Warmer. Sally
|
F series
|
|
N
|
Something Queer Mysteries Series
|
Elizabeth Levy
|
F
|
|
N
|
Time Warp Trio
|
Jon Scieska
|
F
|
|
O
|
Amelia Earhart: Adventure in the Sky
|
Sara Pennypacker
|
NF
|
|
O
|
Angel Child, Dragon Child
|
Michele Maria Surat
|
F
|
|
O
|
Beezus and Ramona
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
|
Cleary, Beverly
|
F
|
|
O
|
Ralph S. Mouse
|
Cleary, Beverly
|
F
|
|
O
|
Ramona the Brave/Ramona the Pest
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
Geronimo Stilton
|
Geronimo Stilton
|
FY
|
|
O
|
A Mouse Called Wolf
|
Dick King-Smith
|
F
|
|
O
|
Pony Pals: A Horse to Keep
|
Jeanne Betancourt
|
F
|
|
O
|
Story of Ruby Bridges, The
|
Robert Coles
|
NF
|
|
O
|
Almost Starring Skinny Bones
|
Barbara Park
|
F
|
|
O
|
Teacher’s Pet
|
Johanna Hurwitz
|
F
|
|
O
|
You Can’t Taste a Pickle with Your Ear
|
Harriet Zeifert
|
NF
|
|
O
|
Gloria’s Way
|
Ann Cameron
|
F
|
|
P
|
The Moon
|
Seymor Simon
|
F
|
|
P
|
Animals in the Dark
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
P
|
Encyclopedia Brown
|
Donald J. Sobol
|
Mystery
|
|
P
|
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs
|
Sharon M. Draper
|
F
|
|
P
|
Magic School Bus
|
Joanna Cole
|
NF
|
|
P
|
La Mariposa
|
Franciso Jiminez
|
F
|
|
P
|
Magic School Bus, The
|
Johanna Cole
|
F
|
|
P
|
My America: Our Strange New Land, Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary
|
Patricia Hermes
|
P
|
|
P
|
Pagemaster
|
Jordan Horowitz
|
F
|
|
P
|
Spray-Paint Mystery
|
Angela Shelf Madearis
|
F
|
|
P
|
Talking Eggs
|
Robert San Souci
|
TL
|
|
P
|
Thank you, Jackie Robinson
|
Barbara Cohen
|
B
|
|
P
|
An Alec Flint Mystery
|
Paula Danziger
|
F
|
|
P
|
The Knights of the Kitchen Table
|
Jon Sciesza
|
F
|
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
N
|
Amber Brown is Not a Crayon
|
Paula Danziger
|
F
|
|
N
|
Boom!
|
Howard Gutner
|
N F
|
|
N
|
Cloud Book, The
|
Tomie DePaola
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Frogs
|
Gail Gibbons
|
NF
|
|
N
|
If You Give a T-Rex a Bone
|
Tim Myers
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Jackie Robinson…All Black Baseball
|
Tim O’Connor
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Judy Moody La Mariposa
|
Megan McDonald
|
F
|
|
N
|
Just a few Words Mr. Lincoln
|
Jean Fritz
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Meet Danitra Brown
|
Nikki Grimes
|
F
|
|
N
|
Pompei Buried Alive
|
Edith Kunhardt
|
NF
|
|
N
|
Return of the Home Run Kid
|
Matt Christopher
|
F
|
|
N
|
Time Warp Trio
|
Jon Scieska
|
FY
|
|
N
|
Titanic, The: Lost and Found
|
Judy Donnelly
|
NF
|
|
O
|
Lost Continent and Other Cases
|
Seymour Simon
|
F
|
|
O
|
Mouse and the Motorcycle, The
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
Pony Pals
|
Jeanne Betancourt
|
F
|
|
O
|
Ralph S. Mouse
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
Runaway Ralph
|
Beverly Cleary
|
F
|
|
O
|
Skyscrapers
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
O
|
Spray Paint Mysteries
|
Angela Shelf Medearis
|
F
|
|
O
|
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
|
Clyde Bulla
|
F
|
|
O
|
Whales
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
P
|
Animals in the Dark
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
P
|
Knights of the Kitchen Table
|
Jon Sciezka
|
F
|
|
P
|
Trail of Tears
|
Joseph Bruchac
|
HF
|
|
P
|
David Mortimore Series
|
Karen Tayleur
|
F
|
|
P
|
Ellen Tebbits
|
Beverly Clearly
|
F
|
|
P
|
Brainstorm!
|
Tucker, Tom
|
NF
|
|
P
|
George’s Marvelous Medicine
|
Dahl, Roald
|
|
|
P
|
Return Howladay Inn
|
James Howe
|
F
|
|
P
|
Story of Harriet, The
|
Anne McGovern
|
NF
|
|
P
|
Weslandia
|
Fleischman, Paul
|
F
|
|
P
|
Uncle Andy’s
|
Warhola, James
|
F
|
|
P
|
A Girl Called Al
|
Costamce. Greeme
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Bunnicula
|
James Howe
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Bunnicula Strikes Again
|
James Howe
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Felicity Learns a Lesson
|
American Girls
|
HF
|
|
Q
|
Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library
|
Clifford Eth
|
F
|
|
Q
|
James and the Giant Peach
|
Roald Dahl
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Meet Addy (American Girls Series)
|
American Girl’s Series
|
HF
|
|
Q
|
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
|
Richard & Florence Atwater
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Punished!
|
David Lubar
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Pyramids and Mummies
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
Q
|
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
|
Judy Blume
|
F
|
|
R
|
Caleb’s Story
|
Patricia MacLachian
|
F
|
|
R
|
Charlotte’s Web
|
EB White
|
F
|
|
R
|
Family Under the Bridge
|
Natalie Savage
|
F
|
|
R
|
Frindle
|
Andrew Clements
|
F
|
|
R
|
How Tia Lola Came to Stay
|
Julia Alvarez
|
F
|
|
R
|
Pigs Might Fly
|
Dick King-Smith
|
F
|
|
R
|
Sadako and…Thousand Paper Cranes
|
Eleanor Coerr
|
F
|
|
R
|
The Summit
|
Korman, Gordon
|
R series
|
|
R
|
Shredderman: Secret Identity
|
Wendelin Van Draanen
|
F
|
|
R
|
Eddie and the Jets
|
Attanas John
|
F
|
|
R
|
The Danger
|
Korman, Gordon
|
R series
|
|
R
|
Sebastian Barth Mystery Series
|
James Howe
|
F
|
|
R
|
Trumpet of the Swans
|
E.B. White
|
F
|
|
S
|
Cookcamp
|
Gary Paulsen
|
F
|
|
S
|
Escaping the Giant Wave
|
Kehret, Peg
|
F
|
|
S
|
From Mixed …FilesBasil E. Frankweiller
|
E.L. Konigsbutg
|
F
|
|
S
|
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
|
Sharon Creech
|
F
|
|
S
|
Lewis and Clark Expedition
|
Christian Ditchfield
|
NF
|
|
S
|
The Calder Game
|
Blue Bailliet
|
F
|
|
S
|
The Good Dog
|
Avi
|
F
|
|
S
|
Snakes
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Deltora Quest: Forests of Silence…
|
Emily Rodda
|
SF
|
|
T
|
Free Baseball
|
Corbett, Sue
|
F
|
|
T
|
Galaxies
|
Simon Seymour
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Children of the Lamp
|
Kerr, P.B.
|
F series
|
|
T
|
George Washington’s Socks
|
Elvira Woodruff
|
HF
|
|
T
|
Al Capone Does My Shirts
|
Choldenko, Gennifer
|
F
|
|
T
|
Guests
|
Michael Dorris
|
F
|
|
T
|
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
|
Jack Gantos
|
F
|
|
T
|
Joey Pigza Loses Control
|
Jack Gantos
|
F
|
|
T
|
Pacific Crossing
|
Gary Soto
|
F
|
|
T
|
Time Pieces
|
Virginia Hamilton
|
F
|
|
T
|
Cousins
|
Virginia Hamilton
|
F
|
|
T
|
The Dragon Trilogy
|
D’Lacey
|
F series
|
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Q
|
American Girl The series
|
Various authors
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Exploring the Titanic
|
Robert Ballard
|
NF
|
|
Q
|
Anastasia
|
Lois Lowry
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Amazing But True Sports Stories
|
Phyllis Hollander
|
NF
|
|
Q
|
Clementine
|
Sara Pennypacker
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Little House in the Prairie
|
Laura Ingalls Wilder
|
F
|
|
Q
|
Soup
|
Robert Peck
|
F
|
|
R
|
They Came From Center Field
|
Dan Gutman
|
SF
|
|
R
|
The Landry News
|
Clements, Andrew
|
F
|
|
R
|
Iqbal
|
Francesco D’Adamo
|
HF
|
|
R
|
The Island
|
Paulsen
|
F
|
|
R
|
Everest Series
|
Gordon Kormin
|
F
|
|
R
|
Inkheart
|
Cornelius Funke
|
SF
|
|
R
|
Celery Stalks at Midnight, The
|
James Howe
|
F
|
|
R
|
Flying Solo
|
Ralph Fletcher
|
F
|
|
R
|
Hello, My Name is Scrambled Eggs
|
Jamie Gilson
|
F
|
|
S
|
My Teacher is an Alien
|
Bruce Colville
|
SF
|
|
S
|
Navaho Long Walk
|
Nancy Armstrong
|
HF
|
|
S
|
Sideways Arithmetic form Wayside School
|
Louis Sachar
|
F
|
|
S
|
In the Shade of the Nispero Tree
|
Bernier-Grand, Carmen
|
F
|
|
S
|
The Friendship
|
Mildred Taylor
|
F
|
|
S
|
Yeh-Shen
|
Ai-Ling Louie
|
F
|
|
S
|
Young Merlin series
|
Jane Yolen
|
FY
|
|
S
|
Hiroshima
|
Yep, Laurence
|
F
|
|
T
|
Shoeless Joe and ME
|
Dan Gutman
|
HF
|
|
T
|
Children of the Lamp series
|
Jeanne Duprau
|
F
|
|
T
|
Dragon Trilogy
|
Chris D’Lacey
|
F
|
|
T
|
Danny Champion of World
|
Roald Dahl
|
F
|
|
T
|
Sharks
|
Simon Seymour
|
I
|
|
T
|
Harriet, the Spy
|
Louise Fitzhugh
|
F
|
|
T
|
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple
|
Cushman, Karen
|
HF
|
|
T
|
The Tale of Despereaux
|
DiCamillo, Kate
|
FY
|
|
T
|
Small Steps
|
Sachar, Louis
|
F
|
|
T
|
Time Pieces
|
Virginia Hamilton
|
F
|
|
T
|
They Came from Center Field
|
Gutman, Dan
|
F
|
|
T
|
The Lost Star: Story of Amelia Earhart
|
Lauber, Patricia
|
NF
|
|
T
|
The Old Willis Place
|
Downing, Hahn, Mary
|
F
|
|
T
|
Seeing the Blue Between
|
Janeszko, Paul B. `
|
P
|
|
T
|
Going Solo
|
Soto, Gary
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Woodsong
|
Paulsen, Gary
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Hush
|
Woodson, Jacqueline
|
F
|
|
T
|
The Old Willis Place
|
Downing, Hahn, Mary
|
F
|
|
U
|
Best Bad Thing, The
|
Yoshiko Uchida
|
F
|
|
U
|
The BFG
|
Raold Dahl
|
F
|
|
U
|
Bronze Bow, The
|
Elizabeth George Speare
|
F
|
|
U
|
My Side of the Mountain
|
Elizabeth Craighead George
|
F
|
|
U
|
Ella Enchanted
|
Amy Levine
|
TL
|
|
U
|
Animorphs Series
|
K.A. Applegate
|
F
|
|
U
|
City of Ember (Trilogy)
|
Jeanne Dupreu
|
F
|
|
U
|
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars series
|
Citrin & Mack
|
F
|
|
U
|
Crash
|
Jerry Spinelli
|
F
|
|
U
|
Flying With the Eagle, Racing the Great Bear
|
Joseph Bruchac
|
TL
|
|
U
|
Journey to America
|
Sonia Levitin
|
F
|
|
V
|
Guardians of Ga’Hoole
|
Kathryn Lasky
|
FY
|
|
V
|
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
|
Robert C. O’Brien
|
FY
|
|
V
|
Breadwinner
|
Deborah Ellis
|
F
|
|
V
|
Twenty-One Balloons, The
|
William DuBois
|
F
|
|
V
|
Wind in the Door
|
Madeleine L’Engle
|
FY
|
|
V
|
Drylongso
|
Virginia Hamilton
|
F
|
|
V
|
The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas
|
Michael Citrin & Tracy Mack
|
F
|
|
V
|
Olive’s Ocean
|
Kevin Henkes
|
F
|
|
V
|
Clay Marble, The
|
Minfong Ho
|
F
|
|
V
|
House of Dies Drear
|
Hamilton Virginia
|
F
|
|
V
|
A Wrinkle in Time
|
L’Engle, Madeline
|
FY
|
|
V
|
The Cay
|
Taylor, Theodore
|
F
|
|
V
|
The Rainbow People
|
Yep, Laurence
|
F
|
|
V
|
Island of the Blue Dolphin
|
O’Dell, Scott
|
F
|
|
V
|
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
|
O’Brien, Robert C.
|
FY
|
|
V
|
Call Me Maria
|
Ortiz, Cofer Judith
|
N
|
|
W
|
Bone (series)
|
Jeff Smith
|
F
|
|
W
|
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
|
Selsnick, Brian
|
F
|
|
W
|
And Now Miguel
|
Krumgold, Joseph
|
F
|
|
W
|
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
|
Farmer, Nancy
|
SF
|
|
W
|
Double Identity
|
Haddix, Margeret Peterson
|
SF
|
|
W
|
Dragonwings
|
Yep, Laurence
|
F
|
|
LEVEL
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
GENRE
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
T
|
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple
|
Cushman, Karen
|
HF
|
|
T
|
The Tale of Despereaux
|
DiCamillo, Kate
|
FY
|
|
T
|
Small Steps
|
Sachar, Louis
|
F
|
|
T
|
Time Pieces
|
Virginia Hamilton
|
F
|
|
T
|
They Came from Center Field
|
Gutman, Dan
|
F
|
|
T
|
The Lost Star: Story of Amelia Earhart
|
Lauber, Patricia
|
NF
|
|
T
|
I’ve Seen the Promised Land
|
Meyers, Walter Dean
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Childhood in Cuba
|
Ada, Alma For
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Freedom Train
|
Sterling, Dorothy
|
NF
|
|
T
|
The Old Willis Place
|
Downing, Hahn, Mary
|
F
|
|
T
|
Seeing the Blue Between
|
Janeszko, Paul B. `
|
P
|
|
T
|
Going Solo
|
Soto, Gary
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Woodsong
|
Paulsen, Gary
|
NF
|
|
T
|
Hush
|
Woodson, Jacqueline
|
F
|
|
U
|
A Single Shard
|
Park, Linda Sue
|
F
|
|
U
|
Absolutely Normal Chaos
|
Creech, Sharon
|
F
|
|
U
|
Night Journeys
|
Avi
|
F
|
|
U
|
Julie of the Wolves
|
George, Jean Craighead
|
F
|
|
U
|
Summer of the Swans
|
Byers, Betsy
|
F
|
|
U
|
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
|
Kerr, Judith
|
F
|
|
U
|
Love, Ruby Lavender
|
Wiles, Deborah
|
F
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
V
|
House of Dies Drear
|
Hamilton Virginia
|
F
|
|
V
|
A Wrinkle in Time
|
L’Engle, Madeline
|
FY
|
|
V
|
Bridge to Terabithia
|
Paterson, Katherine
|
F
|
|
V
|
The Cay
|
Taylor, Theodore
|
F
|
|
V
|
Esperanza Rising
|
Ryan, Pam Munoz
|
F
|
|
V
|
The Rainbow People
|
Yep, Laurence
|
F
|
|
V
|
Island of the Blue Dolphin
|
O’Dell, Scott
|
F
|
|
V
|
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
|
O’Brien, Robert C.
|
FY
|
|
V
|
Call Me Maria
|
Ortiz, Cofer Judith
|
N
|
|
W
|
Bone (series)
|
Jeff Smith
|
F
|
|
W
|
Tuck Everlasting
|
Babbitt, Natalie
|
F
|
|
W
|
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
|
Selsnick, Brian
|
F
|
|
W
|
And Now Miguel
|
Krumgold, Joseph
|
F
|
|
W
|
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
|
Farmer, Nancy
|
SF
|
|
W
|
Devil’s Arithmetic
|
Yolen, Jane
|
F
|
|
W
|
D’Aulaires book of Greek Myths
|
D’Aulaire, Ingir
|
TL
|
|
W
|
Double Identity
|
Haddix, Margeret Peterson
|
SF
|
|
W
|
Dragonwings
|
Yep, Laurence
|
F
|
|
W
|
Missing May
|
Rylant, Cynthia
|
F
|
|
W
|
The Phantom Tollbooth
|
Juster, Norton
|
F
|
|
W
|
Hoot
|
Hiaasen, Carl
|
F
|
|
W
|
Flush
|
Hiaasen, Carl
|
F
|
|
X
|
Home of the Brave
|
Applegate Katherine
|
R
|
|
X
|
Maximum Ride series
|
Patterson, James
|
SF
|
|
X
|
Jacob Have I Loved
|
Paterson, Katherine
|
F
|
|
X
|
Dark is Rising, The
|
Cooper. Susan
|
F
|
|
X
|
Homesick, My Own Story
|
Fritz, Jean
|
NF
|
|
X
|
Hoops
|
Meyers, Walter Dean
|
F
|
|
X
|
Let the Circle Be Unbroken
|
Taylor, Mildred
|
F
|
|
X
|
M.C. Higgins the Great
|
Hamilton,Virginia
|
F
|
|
X
|
Zlata’s Diary
|
Filipovic, Ziata
|
NF
|
|
X
|
Artemis Fowl
|
Eoin Colfer
|
F
|
|
X
|
Down the Rabbit Hole
|
Abrahams, Peter
|
Mystery
|
|
X
|
Travel Team
|
Mike Lupica
|
F
|
|
X
|
The Graveyard Book
|
Gaiman, Neil
|
F
|
|
X
|
Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio
|
Tony Johnston
|
F
|
|
X
|
Feathers
|
Jacqueline Woodland
|
F
|
We, your ARMS English teachers and librarian, cannot wait to get started on our lists of summer books and encourage you to read all summer! Bring a book to read with you wherever you go this summer: Puffer’s Pond, the mall, on vacation. For these reasons, we expect all rising 7th and 8th grade ARMS students to read at least the equivalent of 2 books over the summer. Of course, as people who love books, we encourage students to read MORE than two books. These can be:
If you are looking for great reading suggestions, our ARMS librarian, Peter Riedel, has compiled a list of excellent, current adolescent literature as well as some classic titles. A short synopsis about each book listed below can be viewed at: http://armslibrary.wikispaces.com/Summer+Reading+Suggestions .
A Summer Reading Letter was sent home to all families of incoming ARMS students (Spanish version also available).
(John Newbery Medal, Michael L. Printz Award, Pura Belpre Award, and Coretta Scott King Book Award)
90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Airhead by Meg Cabot
As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins
The Boy Who Couldn’t Die by William Sleator
The Clone Codes by Patricia, Frederick, and John McKissack
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney
The Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 1st Case by Shane Peacock
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
The Mysterious Benedict Society Series by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Dune by Frank Herbert
Emma by Jane Austen
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolien
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
White Fang by Jack London
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
No reading list would be complete without poetry! Listed here are some suggested poets; each is followed by
a title including some of their work, but there are many more from which to choose.
Maya Angelou (1928 - )
Maya Angelou: Poetry for Young People
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Emily Dickinson: Poetry for Young People
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
You Come Too: Favorite Poems for Young Readers
Nikki Giovanni (1943- )
Vacation Time
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry for Young People
Students and families have asked us for to provide recommendations for summer reading for high school students. Below, we provide specific book recommendations from many areas of our school.
We hope that students will browse through these suggestions and find something that appeals. Students’ choices may or may not be connected to the courses they have selected for next year. The suggestions are organized by department, and in some cases by grade level or course, but these are meant as guidelines only. Our goal is to encourage reading and learning over the summer holiday.
Please note that this is not a mandatory summer reading program, and that there is no assessment or credit tied to the reading. There is also no expectation that any student will read a particular number of books from the list; these choices should be made according to what is appropriate for an individual student in the context of their other summer commitments.
Summer provides opportunities for students and their families to enjoy books together, and yet not all recommendations will suit all readers. We encourage parent/guardians to make decisions about reading choices along with their children.
Happy reading to you from the staff of Amherst Regional High School!
Please Note: Not all books are appropriate for all students. Parents and guardians are encouraged to make decisions about books along with their children.
Html, Xhtml & CSS, 6thed., Elizabeth Castro
Head First: Html with CSS & Xhtml, Elizabeth Freeman & Eric Freeman
CSS: The Missing Manual, David Sawyer McFarland
Understanding Wood, by R. Bruce Hoadley
Shop Class as Soul Craft, by Matt Crawford
Soul of a New Machine, by Tracy Kidder
Engineering 1 and 2:
Green: Your Place in the New Energy
Revolution, by Jane Hoffman and Michael J. Hoffman
Transportation Technology
, by Brian Williams
Product Design
, teNeues
Can’t Buy My Love, How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel, by
Jean Kilbourne
Fast Food Nation, by Eric Scholsser
The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership, by
John Wooden and Steve Jamison
The Young Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting and Running a Business, by Steve Mariotti
Summer Reading Recommendations from the ARHS English Department:
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
Summerland, Michael Chabon
Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman
Ellen Foster, Kaye Gibbons
Mean Spirit, Linda Hogan
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon
Donald Duk, Frank Chin
Welcome to the Monkey House, Kurt Vonnegut
When I Was Puerto Rican, Esmeralda Santiago
Annie on My Mind, Nancy Garden
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Buddha, Osamu Tezuka
Flight, Sherman Alexie
White Oleander, Janet Fitch
The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver
A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers
Breath, Eyes, Memory, Edwidge Danticat
Kindred, Olivia Butler
Rule of the Bone, Russell Banks
She’s Come Undone, Wally Lamb
Gentlemen of the Road, Michael Chabon
Kitchen, Banana Yoshimoto
Dune, Frank Herbert
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders, Jennifer Finney Boylan
Leaving Atlanta, Tayari Jones
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
Push, Sapphire (adult themes, language)
When the Elephants Dance, Tess Uriza Holthe
Breath, Eyes, Memory, Edwidge Danticat
The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Marisha Pessl
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula k. Le Guin
Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz
House Made of Dawn, N. Scott Momaday
Storming Heaven, Denise Giardina
War Dances, Sherman Alexie
A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Ishmael Beah
The Help, Katherine Stockett
Blankets, Craig Thompson
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, Heidi W. Durrow
Lighthousekeeping, Jeanette Winterson
The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
A Mercy, Toni Morrison
Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
1984, George Orwell
Summer reading recommendations from the ARHS Performing Arts Department:
A Century of Jazz: From Blues to Bop, Swing to Hip Hop, by R. Carr
America’s Musical Life-A History, by Richard Crawford
Caribbean Currents, from Rumba to Reggae, by Peter Manuel
Funk: The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One, by R. Vincent, et al.
Jazz: The Rough Guide, by Carr, Fairweather, and Priestley
Our Musicals, Ourselves, John Bush Jones
Our Singing Country, Folk Songs and Ballads, by John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax
World Music: The Rough Guide, Ed. by Broughton
Music for Sight Singing, by Ottman
A History of Western Music, by Grout
Oxford History of Western Music, by Richard Taruskin
What to Listen for in Music, by Aaron Copland
The Wind Ensemble, by Fred Fennell
The Joy of Music, by Leonard Bernstein
These books cover a variety of areas in the sciences, and a variety of reading levels. There are selections ranging from topics in specific sciences, to nature study, to scientific fiction, to biography. Find one you are interested in, and enjoy!
Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood, by Oliver Sacks
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History, by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson
The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus..., by John Emsley
Why Big Fierce Animals are Rare, byPaul Colinvaux, (good for 9thgrade Honors)
Lady & The Sharks, byEugenie Clarke (animal study)
All Things Bright and Beautiful, by James Herriott (about a veterinarian)
Voyage of the Beagle, by Darwin (a bit denser)
The Panda’s Thumb: More Reflections on Natural History, by Stephen Jay Gould
Survival of the Sickest, by Dr. Sharon Moalem
Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, by Carl Zimmer
Frogs, Files & Dandelions, by Menno Schilthuizen
A Feeling for the Organism: The Life and Work of Barbara McClintock, by Evelyn Fox Keller Freeman (biography)
Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold
King Solomon’s Ring: New Light on Animal Ways, by Konrad Lorenz (animal behavior)
Rosalind Franklin & DNA, by Anne Sayre
The Herring Gull’s World, A Study of the Social Behavior of Birds, by Niko Tinbergen
Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson (ecology)
Darwinian Detectives, by Norm Johnson
Micrographia, by Robert Hooke
The Ocean World, by Jacques Cousteau
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals, by Masson and McCarthy
Summer reading recommendations from the ARHS Social Studies Department:
Gates of Fire, by Stephen Pressfield
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, by John Dittmer
The Enchantress of Florence, by Salman Rushdie
Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Flat, Hot and Crowded, by Thomas Friedman
Maus, by Art Spiegelman
Metamorphoses, by Franz Kafka
Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen
Germinale, by Emile Zola
Summer reading recommendations from the ARHS World Languages Department:
French: The Essence of Style:How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Sophistication, and Glamour, by Joan De Jean
Latin: D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
French: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Hugo
Latin: Conspirata, by Robert Harris
Russian: Between Heaven and Hell: A Thousand Years of Russia's Artistic Experience, by W. Bruce Lincoln; What Men Live By and Other Tales, by Leo Tolstoy
Spanish: When I was Puerto Rican, by Esmerelda Santiago
French: Le Petit Prince, by Saint-Exupery
Latin: A book of poetry in English
Spanish: Veinte Poemas de Amor, by Pablo Neruda
French: Antéchrista, by Nothomb
Latin: The Iliad, by Homer
Spanish: Cien Anos de Soledad, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez