Skip to content
Pragmatic Mom
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • KidLit Blogroll
  • My Book Lists
    • My List of Lists
    • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
    • #OwnVoices
    • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids
    • Asian American Children’s Books
    • African American Children’s Books
    • Arab American Children’s Books
    • Latinx American Children’s Books
    • Native American Children’s Books
    • LGBTQIA+ Children’s Books
    • Diverse Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Kids
  • Education
    • STEM/STEAM
    • Math
    • Social Studies
    • Art Projects for Kids
    • Applying to Art School
    • Applying to College
    • Book Club for Kids
    • 70+ Free Educational Games
  • Controversial
    • Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo #TimesUp
    • Rethinking & Examining Dr. Seuss’ Racism
    • Blood Feud over YA #BloodHeir
    • Tulsa Race Massacre: What They Don’t Teach You in History Books
    • The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • Segregation in California Schools: What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • SCBWI Minnesota Racist Illustration and Gaslighting Response
  • My Books
    • My Book Announcements
    • Origami French Fries: Activity for THE TRAVELING TACO
    • Book Announcement: A Place to Call Home! {and a new title …}
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE makes Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction!
    • Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
    • Picture Book Announcement! BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • Book Announcement! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist
    • Kirkus Reviews My Newest Picture Book: THE TRAVELING TACO
    • We Sing From the Heart is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner!
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART wins California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
    • Dorktales Podcast: Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History
    • Food for the Future Wins Nautilus Silver Book Award
    • Food for the Future makes Mass Book Award Long List!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Makes Green Earth Book Award Long List!
    • Food for the Future is a finalist for 2023 INDIES Book of the Year!
    • New! Food for the Future Activity and Discussion Guide!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
    • ‘Food for the Future’ selected for Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books
    • Scholastic Purchased CHANGING THE GAME!
    • Starred Review for FOOD FOR THE FUTURE from School Library Journal!
    • Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
    • How To Coach Girls wins Silver Award!
    • Posts on My Books
  • My Book Events
    • My Book Events
    • I’m Signing Books at ALA 2025 in Philly!
Menu
5th Grade Books from a 5th Grade Boy

15+ Book Recommendations from 5th Grade Boy

Posted on November 30, 2015May 12, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

My 5th grade son is assigned more reading homework than my 8th grade daughter. He is supposed to read 30 minutes a day; my daughter just 2 hours a week. At my son’s Curriculum Night, his teacher explained that reading just 20 minutes a day dramatically increases a child’s vocabulary. Hence, she assigns them 30 minutes a night.

Educator's Briefing

From Educator’s Briefing

It’s not easy to get kids reading. My son will always choose screens over books so it’s helpful to assign reading. I think it’s also important to make reading pleasurable so it becomes a lifelong habit. I choose a shortlist of books carefully for my son that he then selects from.

I also read out loud to my son every night. Reading aloud has the same benefit as independent reading but with an added incentive. I get to quiz my son as he reads, just to make sure he’s paying attention. Usually, I ask him about a vocabulary word in the book. One easy way is to give him a pair of opposites and have him pick the word’s meaning.

I hope your son can find books from my son’s list. Tell him that my son recommends them! It’s more convincing when it’s a peer recommendation so I have my son reviewing his book list.

 

15+ Book Recommendations from 5th Grade Boy

Rising 5th Grade Summer Reading

Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks a Lot by Dav Pilkey

When Smart Fart explodes a piece of zygo-gogzille 24, it falls in the group-therapy ward in Piqua Valley. Mr. Meaner eats it and turns extremely smart. He then makes a spray that makes kids do whatever adults want. [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan

Percy summarizes twelve Greek heroes in his own words. [Greek mythology chapter book, ages 8 and up]

My Life as a Gamer by Janet Tashjian

Derrick Fallon is worried about his school tests. Then he and his friends sign up to test a video game. So he uses video games to help him with the tests. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]

A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

A Mango Shaped Space is about a girl with Synesthesia and it’s like. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis and his family used to be rich but then his father leaves and his mother goes crazy. To regain his fortune, Artemis copies a fairy book to try to take their gold. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

It really sucks you into the book and makes you feel like you’re there. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

The Unofficial Holy Bible for Minecrafters: A Children’s Guide to the Old and New Testament by Christopher Miko

A very cool and creative way to tell people about religion. [graphic novel, ages 7 and up]

 

5th Grade Book Group

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

A very funny story about two people who aren’t like others. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

 

5th Grade Classroom Read Aloud

Courage for Beginners by Karen Harrington

A very funny book that we’re only a few chapters in. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

5th Grade Independent Reading

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

A very suspenseful book. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Another hilarious, interesting book by Rick Riordan. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]

Timmy Failure: Sanitized for Your Protection by Stephan Pastis*

*Stephan Pastis has been accused of sexual misconduct.

It’s very funny just like all the other books in the series. [notebook novel, ages 8 and up]

365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts by R. J. Palacio

It’s hard to explain. It’s emotional. [like a calendar quote book with short stories, ages 8 and up]

More 5th Grade Books for Boys

Savvy by Ingrid Law

An interesting story about a family with magical powers. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl has to work with the fairy folk to rescue his father who is being held hostage by the Russian mafia. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Novel in verse about family, twin siblings, growing up, and basketball. [novel in verse, ages 8 and up]

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

5th Grade Books from 5th Grade Boy

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

 

My books:

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  • Massachusetts Book Award Long List
  • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
  • Starred review from School Library Journal
  • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  • Green Earth Book Award Long List
  • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

cover for Sumo JoeChanging the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia WenjenAmazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison FoleyAsian Pacific American Heroes

12 thoughts on “15+ Book Recommendations from 5th Grade Boy”

  1. S.W. Lothian says:
    November 30, 2015 at 7:12 am

    Great post. I’m pinning this on our Great Middle Grade Reads board on Pinterest.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 29, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing S.W.!! I really appreciate it!

      Reply
  2. Sue Ready says:
    November 30, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Great list to highlight books for boys who often are reluctant readers . The list is just in time for holiday shopping. Have pinned it to my board.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 29, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks so much for pinning Sue!

      Reply
  3. Patricia Tilton says:
    November 30, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    Interesting information about reading. Also enjoyed your list for reluctant readers. 20 minutes a day is a great. It’s also good quiet time too.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 29, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      Hi Patricia,
      Thanks so much! It’s a struggle to get him to focus to read but once we start, he really enjoys it! It’s hard to compete with screen time!

      Reply
  4. Maria Marrone says:
    December 1, 2015 at 9:52 am

    Give JG’s by M.D.Marrone a try…written specifically for 5th graders and it’s sure to please…available on Amazon as well as Createspace…

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 29, 2015 at 5:36 pm

      Thanks for the heads up Maria!

      Reply
  5. sneha says:
    December 1, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Heavy collection.. great you are doing. 🙂 my sizy is great reader for these kind of books..i will share this with my sizy.Great to be here.. 😉

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 29, 2015 at 5:36 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing Sneha!

      Reply
  6. 5th grade books says:
    April 3, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    Hey, do you have any science-fiction books that your son like? I’m looking ideas for good s-f books. Any recommendations?

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 4, 2016 at 9:13 pm

      Hi 5th Grade Books,
      What a great idea! I will have to wrack my brain and research a little! I’ll make you a list! Let’s see A Wrinkle in Time series. City of Ember series. I Am Number Four. The Giver. It seems like there is overlap between Dystopian and Science Fiction. Let me figure out how to differentiate if there is a true difference.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for something? Search here.

I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog excessively about diverse children’s books (picture books through middle grade). I am also the co-founder of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jan 25, 2024, our 11th year!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect! PragmaticMomBlog (at) gmail (dot) com or through my social media handles.

Free Blog Updates in your Inbox (RSS feed)

Monthly Newsletter with Subscriber Only Giveaways in your Inbox

My Linktree (click for my links & socials)

my linktree

My Websites

  • How To Coach Girls
  • I Love Newton
  • Mia Wenjen (My New Author Website)

Camp Cody: Overnight Camp in New Hampshire

Read Your World LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch!

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Read-Your-World-FINAL-Merchandise-Video.mp4

Purchase Read Your World Merch

LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch.

Buy it here!

Search Amazon

Find Children's Books

Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

Get My Books Signed or Inscribed through my shop (click to purchase)

Mia Wenjen signed books

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

We Sing From the Heart (click to pre-order)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

Asian Pacific American Heroes (click to purchase)

Asian Pacific American Heroes by Mia Wenjen

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures // I have 3 haiku poems (click to purchase)

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures 3 haiku by Mia Wenjen
Read Your World is Multicultural Children's Book Day

ClothingRIC- A Premium Coupon Website!

ThingsFromMars- The Wondrous World of Wacky Gift Products!

How to Get Kids Reading

  • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
  • Getting Kids to Love Reading
  • Summer Reading Lists for Kids By Grade
  • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Heim Nest Kid Mattress Exclusive Deal

Heim Nest Kid Mattress

AdvancedWriters.com is an expert writing service which helps students with academic writing.

educational toys

CEX.IO is a versatile crypto exchange platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, as well as access resources and tools to learn how to trade effectively.

MyPaperDone.com
is surely one of the best when it comes to paper writing assistance.

My Custom Essay
will guide you through academic life.

Essay Writing Services

If you ask "write my essay", Topessaywriting can help you with paper writing

TranslationReport can help you to choose the best translation service

If you are looking for the most trusted essay writing service, check this article about best essay writing service reviews at Econotimes

educational toys from dhgate stores

Assignment Writing Services Offer Assignment Assistance In UK Based Company 50% Discount Students

Playing at online casinos can be an exciting and rewarding experience, and you can find the best options at casinoszondercruksonline.com. 

For those seeking a safe and reputable gambling experience, the Meest betrouwbare buitenlandse casino lijst is an invaluable resource.

Archives

Categories

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship (click to purchase)

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls silver award winner

Archives

I’ll be sharing WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

Recent Posts

  • Sumo Joe turns 6 Years Old and 6 book GIVEAWAY! June 11, 2025
  • 7 Interfaith Picture Books & GIVEAWAY! June 9, 2025
  • Read Your World Summer Flash Sale! June 6, 2025
  • I’m Signing Books at ALA 2025 in Philly! June 4, 2025
  • Food for the Future: Half Moon Miracle in the Sahal June 2, 2025

Categories

© 2025 Pragmatic Mom | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT