Fourth Grade Favorites
JUNIOR FICTION
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out, circus-themed mall meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
This is an epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her.
Camp Famous by Jennifer Blecher
When 11-year-old Abby learns she will be attending summer camp, she is excited at the idea of a fresh start, but when she discovers she is going to Camp Famous, a place exclusively for famous kids like pop stars, princesses and geniuses, her enthusiasm turns to apprehension.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Two 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!
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
John Midas is a normal boy, except that he has an abnormal love for chocolate. But when he acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate, he finds out too much.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father – the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different, but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull, she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Evan and his younger sister, Jesse, react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth grade and as the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn 100 dollars. Mathematical calculations and tips for running a successful lemonade stand are included.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Ten-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.
Half Magic by Edward Eager
Faced with a dull summer in the city, Jane, Mark, Katharine and Martha suddenly find themselves involved in a series of extraordinary adventures after Jane discovers an ordinary-looking coin that seems to grant wishes.
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
A fourth-grader fights back when From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg is challenged by a well-meaning parent and taken off the shelves of her school library. Amy Anne is shy and soft-spoken, but don’t mess with her when it comes to her favorite book in the whole world.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.
The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow
Two best friends embark on a project to study the behavior and taste of the popular girls at their elementary school so that by the time they get to middle school they too will be in the right crowd. This novel appears in the form of a scrapbook.
The Bookwanderers by Anna James
Eleven-year-old Tilly Pages, who has found comfort in her grandparents' bookshop since her mother's disappearance, now learns that she can “bookwander” into any story, and decides to seek her mother.
The Unteachables by Gordon Korman
Told in alternating voices, the teacher and students in room 117 find their lives changed over the course of a school year.
On These Magic Shores by Yamile Saied Mendez
A friend and some very real fairy magic help 12-year-old Minnie who is caring for her younger sisters, hiding that their mother is missing, and preparing for her school's production of Peter Pan.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, 12-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, 12-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City, and meets Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words, Rose's in pictures.
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
Take a trip through the American South with an 11-year-old boy who is about to discover that the world hasn't always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren't always what they seem – his G'ma included.
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Hazel and Jack are best friends until an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own, entering an enchanted wood in the hopes of saving Jack's life.
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman
In Chennai, India, after spending his whole life in jail with his mother who is serving time for a crime she did not commit, 9-year-old Kabir is suddenly released and has to figure out how to survive on his own in the outside world.
The Supervillain's Guide to Being a Fat Kid by Matt Wallace
When Max gets fed up with being bullied, he decides to write to imprisoned supervillain Master Plan for advice and help. Master Plan comes up with a step-by-step guide to stop Max from being bullied and elevate his social status – maybe even helping him get closer to the girl he likes.
Nightbooks by J.A. White
Imprisoned by Natacha, a witch, in a New York apartment, Alex must tell her a new scary story every night in order to stay alive.
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, 10-year-old Mia Tang manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. If the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting immigrants stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed. And how can she be a writer when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language? It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year.
JUNIOR NON-FICTION
From an Idea to Disney by Lowey Bundy Sichol
This book is a behind-the-movie-screen look into the history, business and brand of the world's largest entertainment empire. Learn about the company behind the world's favorite mouse, Mickey!
What Breathes Through its Butt?: Mind-blowing Science Questions Answered by Emily Grossman
Why is your elbow called your funny bone? How could you escape the grip of a crocodile's jaw? Which animal can breathe through its butt? This book uncovers the amazing scientific explanations behind all sorts of questions that can pop into our heads.
Amazing Giant Wild Animals by Marie Greenwood
Get ready for a thrilling adventure into the wild and meet some of the tallest, widest, longest creatures that roam the Earth! Fold-out pages open to reveal the most amazing wild animals ever!
Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins
This book profiles a series of animals with unusual eyes and explains how such animals use their uniquely evolved eyes to gain essential information about the biological world.
Pets and their Famous Humans by Ana Gallo
In this charmingly illustrated collection of pet-related stories, children will find out about some of history's most important scientists, artists, writers and musicians, and their beloved animals.
365 Things to do with LEGO Bricks by Simon Hugo
This book features hundreds of creative LEGO build ideas, activities, games, challenges and pranks!
The Book of Queens: Legendary Leaders, Fierce Females, and Wonder Women who Ruled the World by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Empire builders, legendary leaders, revolutionary rebels, powerful pioneers, and more ... discover more than 100 wonder women who prove that girls totally rule.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke
What starts as a normal little garden out back behind the house quickly grows into a wild, magical jungle with tiny onion babies running amok, huge, pink pumpkins that bite, and, on one moonlit night that changes everything…a dragon.
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarishis
Ten-year-old George Calder can't wait to explore every inch of the Titanic, even if his little sister, Phoebe, has to tag along. But when George sneaks away without her and ventures into the first-class baggage room, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George's life changes forever.
Kristy’s Great Idea: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier
Based on the 1988 book by the same name, this graphic novel follows the adventures of Kristy and the other members of the Baby-sitters Club as they deal with crank calls, uncontrollable 2-year-olds, wild pets and parents who do not always tell the truth.
Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir
In this modern retelling, Anne is fostered into the West Philly home of siblings Marilla and Matthew, and while she initially has a hard time at school, she ends up joining the robotics team and competes for a spot in an elite STEM program.