For Children in Grades K-1 reading at a 3rd Grade level - Children's Book Council
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for Children in Grades K-1
reading at a 3rd Grade level
25 books chosen by the American Library Association &
Children’s Book Council Joint Committee to provide guidance
to parents, caregivers, teachers, librarians, and others
interested in discovering books for children who read at an
advanced level and are seeking more challenging, but still
age-appropriate, books.
2020-2021
*Ada Twist, Scientist *Detective Gordon: Flora and Ulysses:
by Andrea Beaty. Illus by The First Case The Illuminated
David Roberts by Ulf Nilsson. Illus. by Gitte Adventures
Abrams Books for Young Spee by Kate DiCamillo. Illus. by K.
Readers, 2016 Gecko Press, 2016 G. Campbell
A wonderful story told in A chapter book mystery Candlewick Press, 2013
rhyme, Ada asks questions starring Detective Gordon, Flora rescues Ulysses from
and performs experiments a toad searching for the a vacuum cleaner and
to understand the world thieves behind a stolen discovers he has incredible
around her. Just like a stash of nuts in a woodland magical powers. He’s also
scientist! ▲ Spanish. setting. ▲ Spanish. a squirrel.
*Anna Hibiscus
by Atinuke. Illus by Lauren
Tobia Do Not Lick This Book I Dissent: Ruth Bader
Kane Miller Books, 2010 by Idan Ben-Barak. Illus. by Ginsburg Makes Her
The charming, fascinating Julian Frost Mark
stories about the spunky Macmillan Children’s by Debbie Levy. Illus. by
Publishing Group / Roaring
Anna detailing her Elizabeth Baddeley
Brook Press, 2018
urban, middle-class life Simon & Schuster Children’s
Told from the point of view Publishing, 2016
in contemporary Africa,
of Min the microbe, this is a The first Jewish woman
joyfully celebrate family
perfect introduction to the to sit on the United States
and everyday life while
microscopic world around Supreme Court, Ginsburg’s
gently exploring social
us. life story and fight for equal
justice issues in such a
way as to captivate young rights for all is the subject
readers. of this biographical picture
Echo Echo: Reverso book.
Chef Roy Choi and Poems about Greek
the Street Food Remix Myths
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin by Marilyn Singer. Illus. by Insect Superpowers
and June Jo Lee. Illus by Man Josée Masse by Kate Messner. Illus. by
One Random House Children’s Jillian Nickell
Readers to Eaters, 2017 Books / Dial, 2016 Chronicle Books, 2019
A successful food truck Mirror poems that Using a comic-book
cook’s life story and are meant to be read style, this book cleverly
how he decided what he backwards and forwards introduces 18 various
wanted to do with his life. present two sides of classic insects and their
Greek Myths. “superpowers” in action.
The Day the Universe
Exploded My Head:
Poems to Take You Firebird *Mr. Wolf’s Class
into Space and Back by Misty Copeland. Illus. by by Aron Steinke
Again Christopher Myers Scholastic / Graphix, 2018
by Allan Wolf. Illus. by Anna Penguin Young Readers / G.P. A 4th grade first time
Raff Putnam’s Sons, 2014 teacher is anxious to have
Candlewick Press, 2019 Written by the American the first day of school go
Blast off into space with Ballet Theater dancer Misty smoothly in this graphic
a wide variety of space Copeland, this beautifully novel.
poems, from silly pun-filled illustrated story encourages
verses to serious poems; a young ballet dancer to
notes on the poems and a not let her low self-image
glossary of space terms are and lack of confidence get
included. in her way.
National Geographic The Roots of Rap: 16 Trombone Shorty
Book of Nature Bars on the 4 Pillars by Troy Andrews. Illus. by
Poetry of Hip-Hop Bryan Collier
by J. Patrick Lewis by Carole Boston Weatherford. Abrams Books for Young
National Geographic Kids, Illus. by Frank Morrison Readers, 2015
2015 Little Bee Books, 2019 The true story of a musician
A broad variety of nature The history of hip-hop, who bucked the odds to
poetry paired with including its roots in achieve his dreams.
breathtaking photographs folktales, spirituals and
that celebrate how poetry, and the art and
inspiring nature can be. dance that co-evolved
*Weekends with Max
with it. and His Dad
by Linda Urban. Illus. by Katie
*Sam Wu is Not Kath
One Proud Penny HMH Books for Young
by Randy Siegel. Illus. by Serge Afraid of Ghosts Readers, 2018
Bloch by Katie Tsang and Kevin Third-grader Max pursues
Macmillan Children’s Tsang. Illus. by Nathan Reed neighborhood adventures
Publishing Group / Roaring Sterling Children’s Books,
with his dad as they both
Brook Press, 2017 2018
adjust to recent changes in
An interesting A zany boy has one
their family.
anthropomorphic penny problem after another
travels from his birthplace trying to convince his
in Philadelphia around the classmates that he isn’t a
country, recounting his scaredy-cat. Wet Cement: A Mix of
adventures. Concrete Poems
Snowman - Cold = by Bob Raczka. Illus. by
Puddle Theodore Taylor III
by Laura Purdie Salas. Illus by Macmillan Children’s
*The Princess in Black Micha Archer Publishing Group / Roaring
by Shannon and Dean Hale. Charlesbridge, 2019 Brook Press, 2016
Illus. by LeUyen Pham A collection of seasonal Concrete poetry is always
Candlewick Press, 2014 poems that creatively popular because it is so
The prim and perfect incorporate math language visually pleasing. This book
princess has an alter ego won’t disappoint.
and concepts.
who dresses all in black
and saves the kingdom
The Stuff of Stars
from various threats. ▲
by Marion Dane Bauer. Illus. Whoosh!: Lonnie
Spanish.
by Ekua Holmes Johnson’s Super-
Candlewick Press, 2018
Soaking Stream of
Gorgeously illustrated, this
Inventions
*Pugs of the Frozen book explores nothing less
than the formation of the by Chris Barton. Illus. by Don
North Tate
by Philip Reeve. Illus. by Sarah universe.
Charlesbridge, 2016
McIntyre This biography of the NASA
Random House Children’s The Thing about Bees
engineer who accidentally
Books / Yearling, 2016 by Shabazz Larkin
invented one of the best
A lively step up from early Readers to Eaters, 2019
toys of all time is inspiring
chapter books, Not-So- A love letter to the author/
and engaging. ▲ Spanish.
Impossible Tales are illustrator’s two sons that
packed with big adventure, describes how important
quirky misfits, and two- bees are.
color art on almost every
page.
* asterisk denotes one book of a series. ▲ denotes Spanish edition available
for Children in Grades 2-3
reading at a 5th Grade level
25 books chosen by the American Library Association &
Children’s Book Council Joint Committee to provide guidance
to parents, caregivers, teachers, librarians, and others
interested in discovering books for children who read at an
advanced level and are seeking more challenging, but still
age-appropriate, books.
2020-2021
Amelia Lost : The Life Go for the Moon: The One and Only
and Disappearance of A Rocket, a Boy, Ivan
Amelia Earhart and the First Moon by Katherine Applegate. Illus.
by Candace Fleming Landing by Patricia Castelao
Random House Children’s by Chris Gall HarperCollins Children’s
Books / Yearling, 2019 Macmillan Children’s Books, 2012
A riveting look at the life, Publishing Group / Roaring Inspired by the true story of
disappearance, and search Brook Press, 2019 a captive gorilla who spent
for legendary aviatrix A boy creates his own 27 years in an enclosure in
Amelia Earhart. adventures to accompany a shopping mall.
the Apollo 11 astronauts in
this picture book filled with
scientific details and fun The Parker
Echo
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
facts. Inheritance
Scholastic, 2015 by Varian Johnson
Her Own Two Feet: A Scholastic, 2018
In a story that blends
folktale and realism, a
Rwandan Girl’s Brave A multigenerational family
harmonica connects three Fight to Walk story set in South Carolina
musically-talented children by Meredith Davis & Rebeka explores the history of
from different periods in Uwitonze racism in a mystery with
history. Scholastic / Focus, 2019 elements of The Westing
A Rwandan girl born with Game.
clubfeet moves to America
and endures numerous
Genius!: The surgeries in this story of
Most Astonishing faith and perseverance. A Place to Belong
Inventions of All Time by Cynthia Kadohata. Illus. by
by Deborah Kespert Julia Kuo
Thames and Hudson, 2015 Simon & Schuster Children’s
Migrations: Open Publishing / Atheneum, 2019
Young readers are
introduced to the stories of
Hearts, Open Borders Story illuminating the
the thinkers and inventors by ICPBS (various authors). history of post-WWII Japan,
that helped shape our Illus. by various told through a Japanese-
modern world, such as Candlewick Studio, 2019 American girl whose family
Archimedes, da Vinci, Postcard images of birds was expatriated and had to
Gutenberg, James Watt, (and words) by 50+ join her grandparents on a
the Wright brothers, and creators from all over the farm outside Hiroshima.
Tim Berners-Lee. world send messages of
hope for human migration.
Mountain Dog The Poetry of Us
The Girl Who Drew by J. Patrick Lewis
by Margarita Engle. Illus. by
National Geographic Kids,
Butterflies: How Aleksey and Olga Ivanov 2018
Maria Merian’s Art Macmillan Children’s
A wide variety of old
Changed Science Publishing Group / Henry Holt
and Co, 2013 and new poets, poetic
by Joyce Sidman techniques, forms, and
HMH Books for Young A novel in verse told
from two points of view: topics covering life in the
Readers, 2018 United States, from large
A biography of Maria Tony, whose mother is
incarcerated, and Gabe, cities to rural areas.
Sibylla Merian, a pioneering
17th-century scientist and a search-and-rescue dog
artist who documented who helps Tony learn about
the metamorphosis of life in the wilderness.
butterflies.Random Body Parts: *The Serpent’s Secret What Elephants Know
Gross Anatomy by Sayantani DasGupta by Eric Dinerstein
Riddles in Verse Scholastic Press, 2018 Little, Brown Books for Young
by Leslie Bulion. Illus. by Mike A New Jersey sixth grader Readers, 2016
Lowery discovers that she might A renowned scientist
Peachtree Publishing be an Indian princess who depicts the complexities
Company, 2015 must solve riddles and of life in the Nepalese
Anatomy riddles with high- battle demons to save the Borderlands during the
level vocabulary and a world. 1970s and the delicate
Shakespeare theme. relationship between man
and nature.
The Right Word: Smile
Roget and His When the Sea Turned
by Raina Telgemeier
Thesaurus to Silver
Scholastic / Graphix, 2010
by Jen Bryant. Illus. by Melissa by Grace Lin
Based on the author’s own
Sweet Little, Brown Books for Young
experiences, this graphic Readers, 2016
Eerdmans Books for Young memoir addresses the
Readers, 2014 In a fantasy inspired by
pain and embarrassment Chinese folklore, a girl
Roget is more than the of years of orthodontia
creator of the thesaurus, goes on a quest to save
following an accident. ▲ her grandmother’s life.
this extensive biography Spanish.
shows many aspects of
his life, from his list-loving *The Wild Robot
childhood to his inventions. by Peter Brown
▲ Spanish. The Way Things Work Little, Brown Books for Young
Now Readers, 2016
*Science Comics: by David Macaulay Robot Roz is marooned
on a desert island and
Trees: Kings of the HMH Books for Young
becomes part of the
Forest Readers, 2016
Clever illustrations and wildlife family, but her new
by Andy Hirsch life is threatened when her
text explain how the
Macmillan Children’s creator discovers her new
Publishing Group / First technological wonders of
Second, 2018 the past and present work. home.
A personified acorn (and
its woodland friends) teach *Wings of Fire: The
us about phototropism, Graphic Novel
What Do You Do with by Tui Sutherland. Illus. by
the mycorrhizal network, a Voice Like That?
and other science details Mike Holmes
by Chris Barton. Illus. by Ekua Scholastic / Graphix, 2013
behind the growth of a tree.
Holmes Graphic novel adaptation of
Simon & Schuster Children’s the popular fantasy series
*Secret Coders Publishing / Beach Lane
by Gene Luen Yang. Illus. by shows the world of warring
Books, 2018
Mike Holmes dragons in full color.
This celebration of
Macmillan Children’s Congresswoman and
Publishing Group / First African-American pioneer
Women in Science: 50
Second, 2015 Barbara Jordan contains Fearless Pioneers Who
In this graphic novel, rich back matter that asks Changed the World
Hopper is a new student readers to think about by Rachel Ignotofsky
at a school filled with how to use their own gifts Ten Speed Press, 2016
secrets. She and friend Eni toward a greater good. Profiles of 50 women
use the magic of coding leaders in STEM, as well
to figure out what’s been as an illustrated scientific
hidden, but will they be glossary and supplemental
discovered? information.
* asterisk denotes one book of a series. ▲ denotes Spanish edition availablefor Children in Grades 4-5
reading at a 7th Grade level
25 books chosen by the American Library Association &
Children’s Book Council Joint Committee to provide guidance
to parents, caregivers, teachers, librarians, and others
interested in discovering books for children who read at an
advanced level and are seeking more challenging, but still
age-appropriate, books.
2020-2021The Best at It Girl Rising: Changing journeys to Europe to reunite
by Maulik Pancholy the World One Girl at with his siblings. ▲ Spanish.
HarperCollins Children’s a Time
Books / Balzer+Bray, 2019 by Tanya Lee Stone The Inquisitor’s Tale:
An Indian American Random House Children’s Or, The Three Magical
boy in Indiana, nervous Books / Wendy Lamb, 2017 Children and Their
about entering middle A compelling collection of Holy Dog
school, tries to follow his stories of girls around the by Adam Gidwitz. Illus. by
grandfather’s advice and world who managed to Hatem Aly
become the best. get an education despite Penguin Young Readers /
efforts to keep them from Dutton, 2016
attending school. A medieval tale, told from
The Boy Who multiple points of view,
Harnessed the Wind: Gracefully Grayson about three children with
by Ami Polonsky extraordinary gifts on an
Young Reader’s incredible journey.
Little, Brown Books for Young
Edition Readers, 2014
by William Kamkwamba and Sixth-grader Grayson feels Internment
Bryan Mealer stuck in the wrong gender’s by Samira Ahmed
Penguin Young Readers / body but hopes to be cast Little, Brown Books for Young
Puffin Books, 2016
as the female lead in the Readers, 2019
The memoir of William school play. An emotional This cautionary tale takes
Kamkwamba, who created and courageous journey of place in an internment
a windmill to bring lighting self-discovery to be one’s camp in California for
to his family home in Muslim Americans, with a
true self. ▲ Spanish.
Malawi. A true story about teen leading a revolution
ingenuity from a pioneering
Harbor Me against the camp’s director
spirit. ▲ Spanish.
by Jacqueline Woodson and guards. ▲ Spanish.
Penguin Young Readers /
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018 The Journey of Little
The Bridge Home Six sixth graders meet Charlie
by Padma Venkatraman weekly to talk about by Christopher Paul Curtis
Penguin Young Readers / personal and global issues, Scholastic Press, 2018
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2019 providing safe harbors for Set in 1858, a boy from
Four homeless children in each other. South Carolina tries
India form a chosen family to settle a debt for his
and support each other Hurricane Child sharecropper family by
through difficult times in by Kacen Callender accompanying a plantation
this debut novel. Scholastic Press, 2018 owner on a journey to
Set in the Caribbean Canada to capture a
(the U.S. Virgin Islands), fugitive slave. ▲ Spanish.
this coming-of-age
*Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
novel explores topics of Legends, Icons &
loneliness, abandonment, Rebels: Music that
Scholastic / Arthur A. Levine
friendship, and love. Changed the World
Books, 2018
A resourceful Chinese by Robbie Robertson et al.
immigrant girl makes
Illegal Tundra Books, 2013
friends and solves by Eoin Colfer and Andrew The lives of 27 musicians
mysteries while working at Donkin. Illus. by Giovanni Rigano are showcased in
Sourcebooks, 2018 thoughtful biographies,
the front desk of the motel
that her parents manage A graphic novel exploring gorgeous artwork, and CDs
for an exploitive owner. the plight of undocumented of their music.
immigrants in which a
Ghanian refugee childThe Lightning Queen One Last Word: Sachiko: A Nagasaki
by Laura Resau Wisdom from the Bomb Survivor’s
Scholastic Press, 2016 Harlem Renaissance Story
A glimpse of the encounter by Nikki Grimes by Caren Stelson
between two fascinating Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Lerner / Carolrhoda Books,
but marginalized mexican 2017 2016
cultures—the Rom and Using the Golden Shovel After surviving the bombing
the Mixtec Indians— poetic form, Nikki Grimes of her hometown of
while sharing an unlikely shares classic poetry and Nagasaki, Sachiko Yasui’s
friendship that spans her own poems to bring the story of the aftermath and
generations. Harlem Renaissance to life her journey of healing is
for young readers. captured by biographer
Caren Stelson.
Lincoln’s Grave
Samurai Rising: The
Robbers Pathfinders: The
Epic Life of Minamoto
by Steve Sheinkin Journeys of 16
Yoshitsune
Scholastic Press, 2013 Extraordinary Black
A counterfeiting ring by Pamela S. Turner. Illus. by
Souls Gareth Hinds
plotted to ransom Lincoln’s by Tonya Bolden
body to secure the release Charlesbridge, 2016
Abrams Books for Young Gareth Hinds’s stylish
of their imprisoned Readers, 2017
ringleader. Then the Secret graphic adaptation of the
A collection of sixteen
Service conducted a Bard’s romantic tragedy
mini-biographies of African-
daring election night sting offers modern touches—
American trailblazers,
operation. including a diverse cast
brought to life with detailed
that underscores the
histories and illustrations.
Moonbird: A Year on story’s universality.
the Wind with the Promise of Change: The Watch that Ends
Great Survivor B95 One Girl’s Story in the Night: Voices
by Phillip Hoose the Fight for School from the Titanic
Macmillan Children’s Equality
Publishing Group / Farrar, by Allan Wolf
by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Candlewick Press, 2013
Straus and Giroux, 2012
Debbie Levy The Titanic story, told in
This book shows the
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, verse (24 voices), with
obstacles that shorebirds 2019
called rufa red knots extensive back matter,
In 1956, Jo Ann Allen was
face as a worldwide including coded messages
one of twelve African-
team of scientists and to decipher and historical
American students who
conservationists try to save documents.
broke the color barrier and
them before it’s too late. integrated Clinton High
School in Tennessee.
We Will Not Be Silent
by Russell Freedman
HMH Books for Young
The Night Diary Readers / Clarion Books,
by Veera Hiranandani Refugee 2016
Penguin Young Readers / The true story of the White
by Alan Gratz
Kokila, 2018 Rose student resistance
Scholastic Press, 2017
In 1947, as India was movement that defied Nazi
A hopeful novel tying
divided into two countries— Germany.
together the stories of
India (for Hindus) and
three refugee children: a
Pakistan (for Muslims)—a
boy in 1930s Nazi Germany,
half-Muslim, half-Hindu girl
a girl in Castro’s Cuba in
wonders where she will be
1994, and a boy in Syria in
safe.
2015. ▲ Spanish.
* asterisk denotes one book of a series. ▲ denotes Spanish edition availableWe suggest the following sites for more book titles:
www.cbcbooks.org
www.ala.org/alsc
Questions?
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50 East Huron Street 54 W 39th St., 14 Floor
Chicago, IL 60611 New York, NY 10018
alsc@ala.org cbc.info@cbcbooks.org
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