Fabulous Books for Fourth Graders

Fiction

  • Bolger, Kevin. Zombiekins. 2010.

    Stanley buys a weird stuffed animal at the yard sale of a woman rumored to be a witch, and soon he and his friend Miranda are trying to save their schoolmates from becoming zombies.

  • Couloumbis, Audrey. Jake. 2010.

    When 10-year-old Jake's mother breaks her leg just before Christmas while her sister and best friend are away, a grandfather Jake barely remembers must come help a neighbor take care of Jake.

  • Erskine, Kathryn. Mockingbird. 2010.

    Ten-year-old Caitlin, who has Asperger's Syndrome, struggles to understand emotions, show empathy and make friends at school, while at home she seeks closure by working on a project with her father.

  • Freeman, Martha. The Case of the Rock 'n' Roll Dog. 2010.

    Seven-year-old Tessa and 10-year-old Cameron, daughters of the first female president, play detective when a baton belonging to the director of the Marine Band goes missing at the White House.

  • Holm, Jennifer. Turtle in Paradise. 2010.

    In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, 11-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West.

  • Hurwitz, Johanna. I Fooled You: Ten Stories of Tricks, Jokes and Switcheroos. 2010.

    A collection of 10 stories by noted children's authors that feature the phrase "I fooled you."

  • Lowry, Lois. Birthday Ball. 2010.

    When Princess Patricia Priscilla makes her chambermaid switch identities with her so she can attend the village school, her attitude changes and she plans a new way to celebrate her birthday.

  • Lubar, David. The Big Stink. 2010.

    A mold problem disrupts things at Nathan's school and his class is forced to share a space with first and eighth graders. Meanwhile, Nathan notices that a putrid smell is following him around and tries to discover its source.

  • McElligott, Matthew. Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! 2010.

    While working on a science fair project, Victor discovers both a secret laboratory in his basement and Benjamin Franklin, who comes to life after receiving a jolt of electricity.

  • McMullan, Kate. School!: Adventures at the Harvey N. Trouble Elementary School. 2010.

    Each morning, student Ron Faster hurries to Harvey N. Trouble School, where he encounters such staff members as science teacher Ms. Roxanne Pebbles, music instructor Mrs. Doremi Fasollatido and the resigning janitor Mr. Iquit.

  • O'Connor, Barbara. The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester. 2010.

    After Owen captures an enormous bullfrog and then has to release it, he and two friends try to use a small submarine that fell from a passing train to search for it in the pond it came from.

  • Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Night Fairy. 2010.

    When Flory the night fairy's wings are accidentally broken and she cannot fly, she has to learn to do everything differently.

  • Tarshis, Lauren. I Survived: The Shark Attacks of 1916. 2010.

    In 1916, Chet is fascinated by news accounts of the great white shark said to be attacking people along the shore not far from his home, but when he goes swimming in Matawan Creek he discovers the truth about the stories.

  • Tashjian, Janet. My Life as a Book. 2010.

    Dubbed a "reluctant reader" by his teacher, 12-year-old Derek spends summer vacation learning important lessons, even though he does not complete his summer reading list.

  • Voigt, Cynthia. Young Fredle. 2011.

    Fredle the mouse faces danger and predators, makes some important discoveries and allies, and learns the meaning of freedom as he struggles to return home.

Non-fiction

revised April 2011