Grade: 5

All summer, Jess pushed himself to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade, and when the year’s first school-yard race was run, he was going to win.But his victory was stolen by a newcomer, by a girl, one who didn’t even know enough to stay on the girls’ side of the playground. Then, unexpectedly, Jess finds himself sticking up for Leslie, for the girl who breaks rules and wins races. The friendship between the two grows as Jess guides the city girl through the pitfalls of life in their small, rural town, and Leslie draws him into the world of imaginations world of magic and ceremony called Terabithia. Here, Leslie and Jess rule supreme among the oaks and evergreens, safe from the bullies and ridicule of the mundane world. Safe until an unforeseen tragedy forces Jess to reign in Terabithia alone, and both worlds are forever changed. In this poignant, beautifully rendered novel, Katherine Paterson weaves a powerful story of friendship and courage.

Times are tough for everyone in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression and it’s no different for ten-year-old Bud. His mother is dead, and he has escaped from a bad foster home in order to search for his father. He takes only a few things with him: a suitcase filled with cherished possessions and his list called Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Rules and Things Number Three states: “If you got to tell a lie, make sure it’s simple and easy to remember.” Thank goodness for humor. Curtis has an uncanny ability to take difficult situations, mix them with humor, and cause his readers to laugh out loud.

This book is written by Harold. His fulltime occupation is dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe and their sons Toby and Pete. Also sharing the home are a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It is because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing. Someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived. Was Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure. But the story of Chester’s suspicions and their consequences makes uproarious reading. Since its first appearance in 1979, Bunnicula has been a hit with kids and their parents everywhere, selling over 8 million copies and winning numerous awards.

Vivid color photographs guide readers through an alphabetical discovery of the flora, fauna, people, and places of the Southwest. Each page also has a short, engaging paragraph detailing interesting facts about the creatures and features in the photographs. This book will inspire budding photographers and writers to create an alphabet book of their own town or region.

This is the story of the author’s childhood as the son of migrant farmworkers in the fields of California. In rich lyrical prose he recreates the joy of sleeping and eating under the stars, listening to his father make bird calls and play the harmonica, and hearing his mother sing and recite poetry. With this strong foundation of family and love, Juanito knows that one day he will be able to follow his own road.

Also about a family, this story introduces a spunky girl determined to learn why her father is so angry and demanding. Chartreuse “Charlie” Pippin seeks her uncle’s help to learn about the Vietnam War. Boyd touches on sensitive issues that many young readers who would like to have a closer relationship to a parent will recognize.

Wilbur the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer’s Christmas dinner, Then his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him. It is a wonderful story filled with humor and examples of what it really means to be a friend. The book will not dissapoint, even if kids have seen the movie version.

Since the death of his mother, Tobin’s family life and school life have been in disarray, but after he starts raising chickens with his seventh-grade classmate, Henry, everything starts to fall into place.