GREAT BOOKS

Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Mystery by David Adler

On her first day of fifth grade, Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to help the police find a car thief. Includes a memory game. SERIES

I Was a Third Grade Science Project by Mary Jane Auch

While trying to hypnotize his dog for the third grade science fair, Brian accidentally makes his best friend Josh think he's a cat. SERIES

The Berenstain Bears and the School Scandal Sheet by Stan Berenstain

Frustrated by their lack of artistic freedom on the staff of the school newspaper, Brother Bear and his friends start an underground paper and discover some basic truths about freedom of the press and responsibility. SERIES

Superfudge by Judy Blume

Peter is going into sixth grade, his younger brother, Fudge, is a royal pain and now there is a new baby. On top of all that, his parents decide they are going to move to Princeton, N.J. Peter copes with the new family in his own hilarious fashion.

Arthur and the Comet Crisis by Marc Brown

Buster tries to convince Arthur, the Brain, and his other friends that he not only saw a UFO but also a comet heading for the earth. SERIES

Crazy Horse's Vision by Joeseph Bruchac

A story based on the life of the dedicated young Lakota boy who grew up to be one of the bravest defenders of his people.

Mansa Musa : the Lion of Mali by Khephra Burns

A fictional account of the nomadic wanderings of the boy who grew up to become Mali's great fourteenth-century leader, Mansa Musa.

Sebastian (Super Sleuth) and the Baffling Bigfoot by Mary Christian

Arthur and his hockey teammates, as well as the ghost of the greatest goalie of all time, help out when Buster worries he'll never be as good a goalie as his hero. SERIES

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

The continuing adventures of Ramona, as she faces good and bad times during her third-grade year, becoming newly aware of the strength and durability of her family.

Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement

Soon after Grandpa's teeth disappear from a glass of water near his bed, Inspector Rate has the whole town under investigation.

The Report Card by Andrew Clements

Fifth-grader Nora Rowley has always hidden the fact that she is a genius from everyone because all she wants is to be normal, but when she comes up with a plan to prove that grades are not important, things quickly get out of control. Also available as

The Christmas Menorahs by Janice Cohn

Describes how people in Billings, Montana joined together to fight a series of hate crimes against a Jewish family.

How To Be a Pirate by Mark Crilley

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, also of How to Train Your Dragon, is the smallest, slowest, clumsiest 12 year old training to be a Viking Pirate in 1000 AD. Also available as a Book on Tapl

Dracula Doesn't Rock and Roll by Debbie Dadey

When former school counselor Mr. Drake returns to town as the leader of the BATs, who will be performing at the annual Winterfest, the students at Bailey School are certain that the festival will turn into a feast for vampires. SERIES

Amber Brown Is Feeling Blue by Paula Danzinger

Nine-year-old Amber Brown faces further complications because of her parents' divorce when her father plans to move back from Paris and she must decide which parent she will be with on Thanksgiving. SERIES Also available as Book on Tape & Book on C

The Possum Always Rings Twice by Bruce Hale

Chet Gecko and his partner, Natalie Attired, try to find out who is sending threatening notes to Viola Fuss, candidate for student council president at Emerson Hickey Elementary School. SERIES

Babymouse : Queen of the World by Jennifer Holm

Babymouse, an imaginative and dreamy mouse, dreams of being a queen of the world, but try's settling for an invitation to the most popular girl's exclusive slumber party.

Bunnicula: a Rabbit Tale of Mystery by James Howe

Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire. Also available as a Book on Tape or CD

Don't Sit On My Lunch! by Abby Klein

When first-grader Freddy Thresher decides to try out for peewee hockey, his archenemy and school bully Max Sellars decides to also try out for the one slot left on the team. SERIES

The Raft by Jim LaMarche

Reluctant Nicky spends a wonderful summer with Grandma who introduces him to the joy of rafting down the river near her home and watching the animals along the banks.

Punished by David Lubar

After Logan receives a face full of magic dust from a man in the reference section of the library, he finds the only way to stop his incessant punning is to find oxymorons, anagrams, and palindromes to fulfill the requirements of three quests.

Saving Shiloh by Phyllis Naylor

Sequel to: Shiloh season. Sixth-grader Marty and his family try to help their rough neighbor, Judd Travers, change his mean ways, even though their West Virginia community continues to expect the worst of him.

First Test by Tamora Pierce

Ten-year-old Keladry of Mindalen, daughter of nobles, serves as a page but must prove herself to the males around her if she is ever to fulfill her dream of becoming a knight. SERIES

Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen. Also available En Espanol

The Real Lucky Charm by Charisse Richardson

Thinking that luck--rather than hard work--has helped her succeed on the court and at school, ten-year-old Mia panics and turns to her twin brother for help when her lucky gold basketball goes missing from her charm bracelet.

The Panda Puzzle by Ron Roy

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose investigate the kidnapping of the new baby panda at the petting zoo. SERIES

Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar

More humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, where students learn to tango, face the cafeteria's dreaded Mushroom Surprise, and study a hobo during Show and Tell. Sequel to "Sideways Stories from Wayside School."

Pedro and the Monkey by Robert SanSouci

A sly monkey secures the fortune of his young owner in this variation of a traditional Filipino tale.

Home To Medicine Mountain by Chiori Santiago

Two young Maidu Indian brothers sent to live at a government-run Indian residential school in California in the 1930s find a way to escape and return home for the summer.

Summer Reading Is Killing Me by Jon Scieszka

At the beginning of summer vacation Joe, Sam, and Fred find themselves trapped inside their summer reading list, involved in a battle between good and evil characters from well-known children's books. SERIES

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs by Donald Sobol

Encyclopedia Brown, boy detective extraordinaire, solves ten new cases, including "The Case of the Miracle Pill," "The Case of Nemo's Tuba," "The Case of the Lawn Mower Races," and "The Case of the Air Guitar." SERIES

Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto

Chato decides to throw a "pachanga" for his friend Novio Boy, who has never had a birthday party. Sequel to Chato's Kitchen. . Also available in Audio and En Espanol

The Case of the Barfy Birthday by Michele Torrey

Fifth graders Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey use their detective and scientific investigation skills to solve cases which involve food poisoning, missing terns, a haunted treehouse, and a pig in a pit. SERIES

Library Lil by Suzanne Williams

A formidable librarian makes readers not only out of the once resistant residents of her small town, but out of a tough-talking, television-watching motorcycle gang as well.92

The Night I Flunked My Field Trip by Henry Winkler

When Hank gets chosen to be first mate on the class's field trip aboard an old-fashioned three-mast sailing ship in New York Harbor, Hank finds that the crazy captain takes his job a little too seriously. SERIES

The Ballad of the Pirate Queens by Jane Yolen

Two women who sailed with Calico Jack Rackham and his pirates in the early 1700s do their best to defend their ship while the men on board are busy drinking.