By the Southern Schoolhouse
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Ten Summer Reading Picks for 4-5 students
The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon
This masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
The first in a fun and action-packed graphic novel series about a group of kids surviving in a post-apocalyptic world, filled with zombies, monsters, and hilarious moments.
The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud
A graphic novel about four friends exploring identity, their love of the arts, and community.
J vs. K by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft
A humorous and heartwarming story of two creative fifth graders who’ll stop at nothing to one-up each other, blending poetry and illustration.
The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln
A funny, fast-paced mystery with wordplay, quirky characters, and themes of identity and family.
The Salt Princess by Anoosha Syed
A beautifully illustrated story that blends folklore and fantasy, perfect for young readers interested in magical tales.
The Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
A present-day Lakota boy encounters new experiences during a summer with his grandparents on the Rosebud Reservation.
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston
The second book in the Supernatural Investigations series, filled with mystery, magic, and intense action as Amari faces new challenges in the secretive world of supernatural agents.
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dav Pilkey
(#11)
Another hilarious entry in the Dog Man series that kids love. Full of adventure, humor, and action, it’s perfect for readers who enjoy graphic novels with heart.
The Adventurers Guild by Zack Loran Clark & Nick Eliopulos
A fantasy adventure that follows two unlikely heroes as they join the Guild to fight magical monsters and navigate life-threatening quests.
