← All grades4th Grade Summer Reading List
The top 50 summer reading picks for 4th Grade — with descriptions and where to find each book. Download the whole list as a free printable PDF.As an Amazon Associate KitQuest earns from qualifying purchases. - 1
Wonderby R.J. Palacio · 315 pagesTen-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student. - 2
Holesby Louis Sachar · 272 pagesStanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day, digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize that Camp Green Lake isn't what it seems. Are the boys digging holes because the warden is looking for something - 3
The Lightning Thiefby Rick Riordan · Percy Jackson series · 416 pagesTwelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction—Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend. - 4
Matildaby Roald Dahl · 240 pagesNo podemos resistirnos a Matilda y recomendar a su autor a los niños que no lo conozcan. Matilda debe poner orden en una escuela poco acogedora porque sus profesores no están a la altura de su profesión. Pero el humor, la ironía y también la ternura harán que la escuela termine siendo un lugar amable donde ayuden a los niños a crecer y a leer. Roald Dahl decía que todos los niños tenían una brasa y que alguien debe encender el fuego y mantenerlo encendido. La escuela tiene este papel que cumplir porque de ello depende la luz del mundo. Source: [1], back cover [1]: https://archive.org/details/m - 5
The BFGby Roald Dahl · 207 pagesKidsnatched from her orphange by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts with him a plan to save the world from nine other man-gobbling cannybull giants. - 6
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Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothingby Judy Blume · Fudge seriesTwo is a crowd when Peter and his little brother, Fudge, are in the same room. Grown-ups think Fudge is absolutely adorable, but Peter and his pet turtle, Dribble, know the truth. From throwing temper tantrums to smearing mashed potatoes on the wall, Fudge causes mischief wherever he goes! --back cover - 8
Number the Starsby Lois Lowry · 137 pagesIn 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis. - 9
Bridge to Terabithiaby Katherine Paterson · 144 pagesThe life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm. - 10
Smileby Raina Telgemeier · 214 pagesFrom sixth grade through ninth, Raina copes with various dental problems, including braces, while wishing to be noticed by the right boy, enduring teasing from her friends, and finally realizing that life is about more than just how she looks. - 11
El Deafoby Cece Bell · 248 pages**El Deafo** is an amazing book! It is a wonderful story as it tells about a girl who loses her hearing one day and she has a whole new life waiting for her! She makes new friends and discovers new ways to do things like one time she was at her friends sleepover "she turned of her hearing aid on her" isn't that so cool!? Any age can read this book because it is a wonderful true story! - 12
Hatchetby Gary Paulsen · Brian's Saga series · 186 pagesBrian Robison, a teenage boy struggling through his parents divorce, is flying up north to stay with his dad for the summer. However, his plane crashes and he is forced to survive the Canadian wilderness. Now living in a world completely opposite of his own, he is now able to discover himself in this forsaken and misunderstood beautiful world. The story is continued in "The River" "Brian's Winter" "Brian's Return" and "The Hunt" - 13
Paxby Sara Pennypacker · Pax series · 288 pagesPax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. At his grandfather's house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. . . . - 14
Fish in a Treeby Lynda Mullaly HuntAlly can't read very well and writing is hard for her too. She finds friends that help with what she does at school and with bullies. Mr. Daniels helps her the best he can by realizing that something is " wrong " with her. This is a great and inspiring book for all people to read. - 15
Diary of a Wimpy Kidby Jeff Kinney · Wimpy Kid series · 226 pagesGreg Heffley finds thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings like him share the hallways with much bigger kids who are already shaving. But nothing scares Greg more than the moldy piece of cheese on the blacktop. Can he and his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, make it through the year without getting the Cheese Touch? - 16
The Wild Robot Escapesby Peter Brown · Wild Robot series · 279 pagesAfter being captured by the Recons and returned to civilization for reprogramming, Roz is sent to Hilltop Farm where she befriends her owner's family and animals, but pines for her son, Brightbill. - 17
Roller Girlby Victoria Jamieson · 32 pagesIn this graphic novel, twelve-year-old Astrid signs up for roller derby camp while her lifelong best friend Nicole chooses dance camp instead. Through bruising falls and hard practice, Astrid learns about grit, friendship, and becoming her own person. - 18
The Mysterious Benedict Societyby Trenton Lee Stewart · Benedict Society series · 448 pagesAfter answering a peculiar newspaper ad, four gifted children — Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance — pass a series of mind-bending tests and are recruited by the eccentric Mr. Benedict for a secret mission: going undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened to stop the sinister Mr. Curtain's plot to control people's minds. - 19
Because of Mr. Teruptby Rob Buyea · Mr. Terupt series · 336 pagesSeven fifth-graders at Snow Hill School in Connecticut relate how their lives are changed for the better by "rookie teacher" Mr. Terupt. - 20
Where the Mountain Meets the Moonby Grace Lin · 282 pagesWhere the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. - 21
The Tiger Risingby Kate DiCamillo · 144 pagesWalking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger - a real-life, very large tiger - pacing back and forth in a cage. What's more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things - like memories, and heartaches, and tigers - can't be locked up forever. - 22
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Shilohby Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · Shiloh series · 144 pagesShiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (part of the Shiloh series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade 4. - 24
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The Name of This Book Is Secretby Pseudonymous Bosch · Secret Series series · 384 pagesWarning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For - 26
How to Steal a Dogby Barbara O'Connor · 192 pagesit is a very good book and she is going to steal a dog - 27
Wonderstruckby Brian Selznick · 639 pagesHaving lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelve-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City, and meets there Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures. - 28
The Sea of Monstersby Rick Riordan · Percy Jackson series · 320 pagesAfter a year spent trying to prevent a catastropic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson--a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends. But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: The magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun b - 29
Frindleby Andrew ClementsFrom bestselling and award-winning author Andrew Clements, a quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words that will have readers inventing their own words. Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Th - 30
The Indian in the Cupboardby Lynne Reid Banks · Indian in the Cupboard series · 240 pages**What could be better than a magic cupboard that turns small toys into living creatures?** Omri's big brother has no birthday present for him, so he gives Omri an old medicine cabinet he's found. Although their mother supplies a key, the cabinet still doesn't seem like much of a present. But when an exhausted Omri dumps a plastic toy Indian into the cabinet just before falling asleep, the magic begins. Turn the key once and the toy comes alive; turn it a second time and it's an action figure again. *The Indian in the Cupboard* is one of those rare books that is equally appealing to children a - 31
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Dog Man: Lord of the Fleasby Dav Pilkey · Dog Man series · 256 pagesWhen a new bunch of baddies — the Fuzzy Little Evil Animal Squad — bust up the town, Dog Man is called into action. With a cute kitten and a remarkable robot by his side, he must save the day by joining forces with an unlikely ally: Petey, the World's Most Evil Cat. - 34
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulesby Jeff Kinney · Wimpy Kid series · 520 pagesGreg Heffley tells about his summer vacation and his attempts to steer clear of trouble when he returns to middle school and tries to keep his older brother Rodrick from telling everyone about Greg's most humiliating experience of the summer. - 35
The Lemonade Warby Jacqueline Davies · Lemonade War series · 192 pagesFourth-grader Evan Treski is people-smart. He’s good at talking with people, even grownups. His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math-smart, but not especially good with people. So when the siblings’ lemonade stand war begins, there really is no telling who will win—or even if their fight will ever end. - 36
The One and Only Ivanby Katherine Applegate · 336 pagesHaving spent 27 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. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes. - 37
Restartby Gordon KormanChase Ambrose, an 8th grade bully has the chance to restart his life after a great, big fall that made him lose his memory.As he tries to rebuild his life he finds out about all the horrible things he has done and does not like that version of himself so he decides to make a change.But others cannot trust his new life.Will Chase be able to gain trust from others or will he never be forgiven? - 38
Save Me a Seatby Sarah WeeksSave Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks. A recommended summer reading selection for grade 4. - 39
The Wild Robotby Peter Brown · Wild Robot seriesWhen robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her. - 40
Crenshawby Katherine Applegate · 205 pagesJackson's family is once again facing homelessness, and just when things seem hardest, his old imaginary friend — a giant, outspoken cat named Crenshaw — reappears. With humor and heart, the story shows how imagination can help a kid face hard truths and ask for help. - 41
The Penderwicksby Jeanne Birdsall · Penderwicks series · 234 pagesThe Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (part of the Penderwicks series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade 4. - 42
Tuck Everlastingby Natalie Babbitt · 144 pagesA surprising encounter between a young girl and a family which is cursed with everlasting life develops into a deep friendship. Lovely prose and a lovely thought provoking story. - 43
The Phantom Tollboothby Norton Juster · 256 pagesFor Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams! --back cover - 44
Walk Two Moonsby Sharon Creech · 280 pagesAfter her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left. - 45
A Wrinkle in Timeby Madeleine L'Engle · Time Quintet series · 245 pagesMeg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government. - 46
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweilerby E.L. Konigsburg · 176 pagesHaving run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself. - 47
Out of My Mindby Sharon M. Draper · 295 pagesA brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy, considered by many to be mentally retarded, discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time. - 48
Because of Winn-Dixieby Kate DiCamillo · 208 pagesTen-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie. - 49
Wishtreeby Katherine Applegate · 215 pagesTrees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . . Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood. You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever. - 50
Esperanza Risingby Pam Munoz Ryan · 262 pagesEsperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
