SUMMER READING LISTS

First Grade:

No specific requirements

Second Grade:

This summer the incoming second grade students are asked to read three books of their own choice. The books they select can be fiction or non-fiction at a level that they can read independently. Their book selection should reflect subjects or authors in which they are personally interested (for example books about horses, sports, mysteries, etc.). There will not be a written report due when school begins. However, each student will have the opportunity to give a brief introduction and tell the class about themselves. At this time, they will tell about the books and whether or not they enjoyed them.

You may want to check the Saint Luke Reading Counts list to choose those titles for your child to read. They will be able to take tests on the books they read from the list to earn points when they return to school.

Third Grade:

In order to encourage students to read quality materials over the sumer, we have compiled a Summer Reading list for students entering third grade in the fall. Please select books from the list below to read over the summer:

Husky in a Hut by Ben M. Baglio
Tabby in the Tub by Ben M. Baglio
Any of the Animal Ark series by Ben M. Baglio
Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
The Cricket in Time Square by George Seldon
The Bear on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Balgliesh
Any of the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Any of the A Series of Unfortionate Events by Lemony Snicket

Fourth Grade:

After reading one of the following books over summer vacation, your child will be given the opportunity to take a Reading Counts test within the first week of school. If your child passes the Reading Counts test, he/she will receive 5 points toward the first quarter reading grade.

A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L-Engle, 5.8)
Addy Saves the Day (Connie Rose, 4.9)
Beezus and Ramona (Beverly Cleary, 4.8)
Charlie Bone and the Time Twist (Jenny Nimmo, 5.4)
Chocolate Fever (Robert Kimmel, 4.8)
Chrysanthemum (Kevin Henkes, 4.2)
Class President (Johanna Hurwitz, 4.3)
Dear Dumb Diary: Am I the Princess or the Frog? (Jim Benton, 6.3)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Jeff Kinney, 5.3)
Dolphins at Daybreak (Mary Pope, 2.2)
Double Fudge (Judy Blume, 4.5)
Fourth Grade Rats (Jerry Spinelli, 4.3)
Little and the Lost Children (John Peterson, 3.9)
Martin's Mice (Dick King-Smith, 5.9)
Ribsy (Beverly Cleary, 4.1)
Samantha Learns a Lesson (Susan S. Adler, 4.2)
Season of a Promise (Patricia Hermes, 3.7)
Stormchaser (Payl Stewart, 4.3)
Summer of the Sea Serpent (Mary Pope, 2.9)
The Last Holiday Concert (Andrew Clements, 4.2)
The Report Card (Andrew Clements, 5.1)
The Uncertain Path (Jude Watson, 4.5)
Wayside School is Falling Down (Louis Sachar, 4.1)

Fifth Grade:

Surfer Dog (Reading Level: 3.5)
4 Kids in 5E and 1 Crazy Year (Reading Level: 3.5)
The Homework Machine (Reading Level: 3.7)
Pick of the Litter (Reading Level: 3.7)
Curveball (Reading Level: 3.9)
Because of Winn Dixie (Reading Level: 4.1)
10 Ways to Make My Sister Disappear (Reading Level: 4.2)
Much Ado About Grubstake (Reading Level: 4.2)
Punished (Reading Level: 4.3)
Dear Mr. Henshaw (Reading Level: 4.7)
Al Capone Does My Shirts (Reading Level: 4.7)
Babe and Me (Reading Level: 4.8)
Tales of Despereaux (Reading Level: 4.8)
Sounder (Reading Level: 4.9)
Old Yeller (Reading Level: 5.4)
Loser (Reading Level: 5.5)
The Teacher's Funeral (Reading Level: 5.6)
Shiloh (Reading Level: 5.7)
The White Giraffe (Reading Level: 5.7)
Indian Captive (Reading Level: 5.7)
Heroes Don't Run (Reading Level: 6.1)
Stargirl (Reading Level: 6.1)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Reading Level: 6.4)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Reading Level: 6.4)

Sixth Grade:

Choose one or more books to read. They are all on Reading Counts. We will complete a small class project in the beginning of the year. Parents, please help your child choose a book that is on his/her reading level and that you feel is most appropriate for your child's level and interest.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The Minpins by Ronald Dahl
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experient by James Patterson

Seventh Grade:

This 25 point project is due on the first day of school and the grade will be included in the 1st term literature grade. Students are to read a book from the list and summarize their findings through either a book report or a power point presentation. Use 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing for the book report. Power Point presentation needs to be an easy read-presentation. Both reports need to include the following information:

1. Title, author, and your name should be on the cover page or the first slide (no plastic covers)
2. List and briefly describe the main characters and their roles in the story.
3. Describe the setting including time and place.
4. Which character was your favorite or least favorite and explain why. If there are no characters in your book, explain.
5. Book report must consist of a one-page summary or at a minimum of 4 slides and a maximum of 7 in Power Point. You will have 5 minutes to present your Power Point presentation. Be sure to give enough details to show that you have read the book. Include material from the beginning, middle, and the ending. Do not retell the entire story.
6. Did you like the book? Give criticism either positive or negative with specific references for the story. Don't just say it was a nice book and I liked it.
7. Explain the moral or message that the author hopes to convey to the reader.

Rubric:
Cover Page: Title, Author, Name (0-5 pts.)
Story Elements: Characters, Setting, Plot (0-10 pts.)
Personal Opinion of the story (0-5 pts.)
Moral or message of the story (0-5 pts)

Grade 7 must choose ONE of the following Reading Counts options:
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeline L'Engle)
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad (Ann Petry)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred Taylor)
The Good Earth (Pearl Buck)
The Red Badge of Courage (Stephen Crane)

Eighth Grade:

This book report is due on the first day of school for a total of 30 points. Read a book from the list and complete a book report tha includes the following information:

1. Title, author, and your name should be on the cover page (no plastic covers)
2. List and briefly describe the main characters and their roles in the story (5 pts.)
3. Describe the setting including the time and place (2 pts.)
4. Which character was your favorite or least favorite and explain why. If there are no characters in your book, please explain (3 pts.)
5. Write a one-page summary. Be sure to give enough details to show that you read the book. Include material from the beginning, middle, and the ending. Do not retell the entire story (10 pts.)
6. Did you like the book? Give criticism either positive or negative with specific references for the story. Don't just say it was a nice book and I liked it (5 pts.)
7. Explain the moral or message that the author hopes to convey to the reader (5 pts.)

Grade 8 must choose ONE of the following Reading Counts options:
Number the Stars (Lois Lowry)
The Giver (Lois Lowry)
The Hound of the baskervilles (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens (Franklin/Stephen Covey)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)