Rising Fourth Grade Summer Reading Homework

I’m not gonna lie. I’ve had three kids do this going into fourth-grade summer reading assignment and the book report portion is painful. My kids simply are not in homework mode at the end of the summer, so it takes a ridiculous amount of effort (accompanied by an equal amount of whining) to get it done. My son did his book project over a week with three failed attempts before eventual success.

The reading portion of the homework, however, was a different story. My son and I cranked through three books during the first week of summer vacation. The five books need to be different genres and I may have taken some liberties in naming genres … but I tacked on a few more outside-the-box books at the end including poetry and an easy chapter book.

How about you? Did your kids get summer reading assignments? Please share!

1. 4th Grade Realistic Fiction

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney

My third reading of this book with my kids makes me realize that this book only gets better with every re-read. It was, by far, our favorite book of the summer reading books. And it makes it even more fun than it’s also set during the summer; another seemingly impossible assignment. Birney’s book has a feel of a true old-fashioned classic though it was published in 2007. For a book summary, please see my son’s homework write-up (he didn’t get it exactly right but it’s pretty close). [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

2. 4th Grade Graphic Novel

Sidekicks by Dan Santat

An aging superhero needs a sidekick partner to tackle bad guys and his animal pets are unhappy about being overlooked. What to do? They take matters into their own hands and crash the sidekick auditions. A wonderful graphic novel adventure for a wide range of ages; nothing too scary or graphic involved! [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]

3. 4th Grade Non-Fiction Advanced Picture Book

The Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky, illustrated by S. D. Schindler

I purchased this nonfiction picture book when I saw it on the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award list years ago, but this is the first time we actually read it. I like salt as does my son but we weren’t really aware of its place in history as something wars were fought over until we read this entertaining and well-designed picture book. My son gives it a thumbs up! [advanced picture book, ages 7 and up]

4. 4th Grade Classic

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

Personally, I think Roald Dahl should be its own genre, especially for 3rd and 4th graders. He’s wonderful. PickyKidPix was particularly enamored by Dahl so we have an extensive collection but this is the first one I read with my son. I chose it because it was new to me but we both really liked it. Bonus points: it’s extremely short!

Esio Trot is a love story about two neighbors and a tortoise. It’s quirky vintage Dahl and I found it charming. I’ll say no more except that it has a happy ending. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

5. 4th Grade Action Adventure

The Staff of Serapis by Rick Riordan

My son is a huge Riordan fan so this was an easy sell. Our issue is that he’s read all of Riordan’s books but thankfully this eBook just came out. It’s Annabeth meets Sadie Kane in a girl version of his other eBook Son of Sobek (Carter meets Percy Jackson). It does not disappoint and it’s much shorter than his other Kane Chronicles or Percy Jackson chapter books. I actually think it’s better than Son of Sobek. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

6. 4th Grade Poetry Picture Book

Firefly July and Other Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko

Poetry is outside our comfort zone, but this lovely picture book of very short and famous poems is a good way to get a toe in the water. The illustrations tie the poems from different poets into a cohesive whole. We’re still working on getting through it as poetry is not my son’s favorite genre. It makes for a lovely bedtime story though, by simply reading a few poems a night! [poetry picture book, ages 6 and up]

7. 4th Grade Ninja Historical Fiction Action Adventure (yes, I totally made up this genre)

Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja by Simon Higgins

I could not get either Grasshopper and Sensei or PickyKidPix to give this page-turner a chance. I really wanted them to read about the Shogun period of Japan but Grasshopper and Sensei do not care for ninja stories and PickyKidPix does not read Action Adventure. Luckily my son and I LOVE it and this series does not disappoint!

It helps that my son loves martial arts to draw him into this ninja spy warrior adventure set during the dawn of peace during unified Japan. Moonshadow is the youngest in a secret ninja organization (The Gray Light order) who seeks to preserve the peace while a hungry warlord makes a bid for power using a new powerful weapon from the West. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

8. 4th Grade Anthropomorphic Animal Fantasy Adventure

The Capture: Guardians of Gahoole series by Kathryn Lasky

Personally, an anthropomorphic animal action-adventure series is not my thing. Grasshopper and Sensei loved the Warriors series by Erin Hunter but I would beg her to let me read a different book aloud to her. Those feral cats were too violent for me.

But, The Guardians of Gahoole is different. Owls yes, not cats. Anthropomorphic yes but strangely not irritating. In fact, this series is pulling us in. We’ll update as we finish the book; the first two books of Moonshadow are taking precedence. If you like the picture book, Owl Babies, this is like its spiritual older sibling. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

9. 4th Grade Picture Book

Attack! Boss! Cheat Code!: A Gamer’s Alphabet by Chris Barton and Joey Spiotto

Did you read about how Microsoft is trying to buy Minecraft for $2 billion? So it makes me think that all the gaming that my son is doing is perhaps not completely a waste of time. Still, we are trying to stringently limit his screen time to 2 hours a day. He generally does not spend his non-screen time reading (yet!) but he could not stop reading this Gamer’s Alphabet! I sent him off to bed at the letter “O” and he carefully marked the page and returned to it the next day. This is an alphabet book that gamers of all ages love!

I would also like to note that most of the terminology is new to me! Do you understand this?

This open beta game is in third-person but first-person is unlockable if you know the cheat code or install this mod, but either way, for the best attack on the boss at this level, try to grab that power-up — if you can’t, a guy in a walkthrough showed how you can advance by plugging in a yoke, but then you won’t get to see the developer’s cool Easter egg that turns the whole game into armored-chihuahua kart racing for a few seconds — or instead we could play this new RPG that’s the greatest thing since vectors and joysticks, if you can find an instance where there aren’t any griefers trying to disrupt your quest and there are other nOOBs to help you zerg the enemy while you rack up to XP, unless you’d rather just play sandbox mode.

Either way, what do you want for your handle?

My son said that this totally made sense to him! I need to re-read this alphabet book! [advanced picture book, ages 6 and up]

10. 4th Grade Easy Chapter Book

Fish Finelli (Book 2: Operation Fireball) by E. S. Farber, illustrated by Jason Beene

We read the first Fish Finelli last year so I wanted to read the second one together, but I think my son aged out of easy chapter books. This is a well-written gentle adventure that is perfect for ages 6 and up.

I have two copies of this gentle adventure chapter book geared towards boys so I’m giving them away. [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Fish Finelli GIVEAWAY: 2 Winners!

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20 thoughts on “Rising 4th Grade Summer Reading Book List”

Lots of new books for me here….so many new choices since I was last in a fourth grade classroom.

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:42 am
Hi Barbara,
Having the 5 books be in different genres was a good call on the part of his 4th grade teachers! Otherwise, we would have stuck to tried and true authors!
Reply

It’s a nice eclectic list of books. My daughter is now in 7th grade, so hasn’t had any required summer reading, just suggested books for awhile now, though in earlier grades there were some required books.

I think it’s much better and more enjoyable for kids if they’re given books and genres to choose from, and some agency. The same with the reports: if they’re allowed to choose a format, say, drawing, or writing a comic, or a poem, a letter to the author, journal entry or just the standard report, they’re still learning, while doing something that allows them to express themselves. I guess there would have to be specific guidelines, so they just don’t spend 5 minutes on whatever project they choose.

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:44 am
Hi Maria,
Yes, I agree. My son was given the choice of 4 different kinds of book reports that all had the same elements. Draw a picture about the book. Include author and title. Write a summary of book. But the reports could be a paper bag where you add elements that relate to the book, a diarama, a book jacket or a cereal box covered in paper.
I’m glad you like his book list! I’ll let him know. It will make my son happy!! 🙂
Reply

We did not have any summer assignments this year, and I hope it stays this way! My kids did read a lot of books, though. Emma really enjoyed reading Little Women this summer.

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:45 am
Hi MaryAnne,
Wow, Little Women. I loved that as a kid but I don’t think I was able to read it until like 5th grade!!
Reply

My daughter was such a reluctant reader as a child. As an adult, she still is reluctant, but at certain times will plow through a pile of books. She would rather watch a movie than read. He got the report written. Yay!

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:46 am
Hi Patricia,
Yes, thankfully we started early while his sisters were still at sleepaway camp and plugged away for days until he was done. There was complaining and tears but it got done!
Reply

Just when I thought I’d read all the Roald Dahl books there’s another one, yay! I’ve just read Firefly July and love it! It’s great that your son loves reading that much.

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:50 am
Hi Catherine,
We are still trying to read Firefly July. I love it but my son has it in his head that he doesn’t like poetry so he protests while I read it out loud to him! He is starting to love Roald Dahl which makes me so happy because he didn’t want to read it in 3rd grade last year but is happily reading now and laughing out loud with it. He read Esio Trot with me, The Twits and The Enornous Crocodile at school. He is starting with the shorter ones but hopefully more Dahl books will keep his interest. He is waiting impatiently for the newest Rick Riordan books!
Reply

Our kids just had to record the books they read.
Your son’s summary of The Seven Wonders is fantastic!
We enjoyed Firefly July and I’d like to look up Salt, sounds interesting.

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:55 am
Hi Ann,
My son is excited that your kids will read some of the books on his list!
Reply

My first visit to your site, and I am so impressed. I love to see reviewers and bloggers highlight not just the latest releases and the classics, but those many in between. I’ve added “The Seven Wonders of Sassafas Springs” to my gift list for young boys. Thank you, and thank you for being one of the KidLit Blog Hop hosts!

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:55 am
Thank you so much for your kind words Valerie! You totally made my day!
Reply

I’m sure my son would be interested in some of these. Thanks for sharing in the Kid Lit Blog Hop and I’ll tweet about your giveaway.

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 9:58 am
Thank you for sharing Renee! Hope your son likes the books. That would make my son very happy!
Reply

Fish Finelli sounds so much fun, I think I have read your previous review of the first book. That is one awesome summer reading, happy hopping

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 10:03 am
Thanks Julie! I would love to give Fish Finelli to a boy in 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade because I think they will love it. My son is just a tad too old to appreciate it.
Reply

We didn’t get a summer reading book report *yet*!! But I can see what you mean. My little one wouldn’t really mind reading it, but working through it like a report might be a stretch esp for summer :))
-Reshama @ Stackingbooks

Pragmatic Mom says:
September 20, 2014 at 10:06 am
Hi Reshama,
I’m glad the summer book report is done and there actually isn’t much more assigned summer homework as he grows older if things stay the same as his sisters. In middle school, they don’t require any summer reading at all. And only one book in high school that is the school wide book.
Reply