This is a great reading list from the Newton Free Library system. If you are part of the Minutemen library system, just click on the link of the book title to reserve.
Other lists include:
Great Reading List of New Books: Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Great Reading List of New Books: 3rd and 4th Grade
Great Reading List of New Books: 4th and 5th Grade
Great Reading List of New Books: 5th and 6th Grade
30 Great Books for 2nd and 3rd Grade
*1. Brett, Jan. The Three Little Dassies. (J Folk)
2. Brown, Don. A Wizard from the Start (JE E24.BR)
3. Butterworth, Chris. How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?: The Story of Food. (J 641.3 B98H)
4. Byars, Betsy, B. Duffey, and L. Myers. Cat Diaries: Secret Writings of the MEOW Society. (J Beg Chp)
5. Cronin, Doreen. The Trouble with Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery. (J Beg Chp)
6. Czekaj, Jef. A Call for a New Alphabet. (J Graphic)
*7. DiCamillo, Kate and Alison McGhee. Bink and Gollie. (J Fic)
8. Engle, Margarita. Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian. (J 595.781 E58S)
*9. Fleming, Candace. Clever Jack Takes the Cake. (J Pic)
10. Friedland, Katy and Marla K. Shoemaker. Art Museum Opposites. (J 700 F91A)
*11. Giff, Patricia Reilly. Number One Kid. (Zigzag Kids, #1). (J Beg Chp)
12. Hill, Laban Carrick. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave. (JE D272.HI)
*13. Jenkins, Steve. Bones: Skeletons and How They Work. (J 573.76 J41B)
*14. Juster, Norton. The Odious Ogre. (J Pic+CD)
15. Kelly, David A. The Fenway Foul-Up. (Ballpark Mysteries, #1). (J Beg Chp)
*16. Leedy, Loreen. The Shocking Truth about Energy. (J 333.79 L51S)
17. McGuiness, Dan. Pilot & Huxley: The First Adventure. (J Graphic)
*18. MacLachlan, Patricia. Word After Word After Word. (J Fic)
*19. Munro, Roxie. Ecomazes: Twelve Earth Adventures. (J 577 M92E)
*20. Prelutsky, Jack. The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. (J 821 P91C)
21. Raczka, Bob. Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys. (J 821 R11G)
*22. Ray, Jane. Ahmed and the Feather Girl. (J Folk)
*23. Root, Phyllis. Big Belching Bog. (J 577.687 R67B [Oversize])
24. Seabrooke, Brenda. Wolf Pie. (J Beg Chp) and (J Beg Chp Audiobook)
25. Stauffacher, Sue. Tillie the Terrible Swede (JE A551.ST)
*26. Stevens, Janet. The Little Red Pen. (J Pic)
27. Sylvester, Kevin. Splinters: This Girl Needs a Miracle. (J Pic)
28. Viorst, Judith. Lulu and the Brontosaurus. (J Beg Chp) and (J Beg Chp Audiobook)
29. Wallace, Rich. The Ball Hogs. (Kickers, #1). (J Beg Chp)
30. Yaccarino, Dan. All the Way to America…(J Pic)
* Great author who has other good titles.
p.s. Related posts:
10 Perfect Read Aloud Books for 2nd Grade
26 Perfect Read Alouds for Kindergarten
19 Perfect Read Alouds for 1st Grade
10 Perfect Read Aloud Books for 3rd Grade
10 Perfect Read Alouds for 4th Grade
10 Perfect Read Alouds for 5th Grade
23 Great Picture Books for 5th Grade
90 6th Graders Name Their Favorite Book
To examine any of the items listed, please click on image of item.
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My books:
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Free and downloadable guide:
Barbed Wire Between Us Teacher’s Guide
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
