What does your 4th or 5th grader like to read that isn’t complete crap?

[Anonymous]

Here are some books that might include some of what you’re looking for, but the age is approximate and so is estimation of literary merit (or lack thereof):

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The Westing Game
A Wrinkle in Time
Dark is Rising series
Roald Dahl
Holes by Louis Sachar
Island of the Blue Dolphins
How to Eat Fried Worms
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
The Phantom Tollbooth
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
Narnia Series (starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Green Knowe series
The Secret Garden

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (quirky poetry)

The Newberry Award books tend to be really good. Here’s a list from Wikipedia (under Recipients - scroll down below the pictures)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal

[Anonymous]

d'aulaire's greek and norse myths

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the Alan Gratz and Jennifer Nielsen historic fiction
Eragon series
Lord of the Rings trilogy + the Hobbit
Redwall series
Swiss Family Robinson
Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler
Holes series
Maze Runner series
Number the Stars
Diary of Anne Frank
Fablehaven Series
Gregor the Underlander series

Also, she was really into Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, Julie of the Wolves, and Island of the Blue Dolphins

Call It Courage is another great survival book written for kids. When she’s older, she might also like The Last of the Breed by Louis L’Amour.

[Anonymous]

Agree, just say no to graphic novels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know I know, the crap isn’t crap, kids should read whatever they like.

What does your 4th or 5th grader read? Please share any books that have some literary merit.

Kids should *NOT* read whatever the like. Do you let them eat whatever they like? After all, a calorie is a calorie! No? They don't let them read junk either.

You are there to guide them. They only have so much time for reading. Make it good quality reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I know, the crap isn’t crap, kids should read whatever they like.

What does your 4th or 5th grader read? Please share any books that have some literary merit.

Kids should *NOT* read whatever the like. Do you let them eat whatever they like? After all, a calorie is a calorie! No? They don't let them read junk either.

You are there to guide them. They only have so much time for reading. Make it good quality reading.

Geez!
Talk about helicopter.

My kids can read crap really fast, that's why its a library only books for that type. Plenty of time to read more solid works. Who are these kids who take 20 minutes to read a Dogman book?

The connection you are making between food and books is totally messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I know, the crap isn’t crap, kids should read whatever they like.

What does your 4th or 5th grader read? Please share any books that have some literary merit.

Kids should *NOT* read whatever the like. Do you let them eat whatever they like? After all, a calorie is a calorie! No? They don't let them read junk either.

You are there to guide them. They only have so much time for reading. Make it good quality reading.

Geez!
Talk about helicopter.

My kids can read crap really fast, that's why its a library only books for that type. Plenty of time to read more solid works. Who are these kids who take 20 minutes to read a Dogman book?

The connection you are making between food and books is totally messed up.

Maybe. It's your choice for your family. But Lucy Calkins "Let them read anything, just foster a love of reading..." does not work for most children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the crap is crap. I was at the library recently and the dad specifically told his kids, no graphic novels, and I wish I had known to do the same when my kids were younger.

Seriously? There’s literally no reason to limit.

Yes, there is. Graphic novels don't require the same level of focus as novels do. It's that whole Lucy Calkin thing - "just look at the pictures!" When you try to make the leap into reading books that require sustained focus, have longer sentences and no pictures to explain the plot, it's hard, particularly for older children.

Wrong! Many graphic novels contain more literary merit than some books, and most readers go back and forth with ease. If you want a kid to read well, let them read what they like and whatever they like (age appropriate)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I know, the crap isn’t crap, kids should read whatever they like.

What does your 4th or 5th grader read? Please share any books that have some literary merit.

Kids should *NOT* read whatever the like. Do you let them eat whatever they like? After all, a calorie is a calorie! No? They don't let them read junk either.

You are there to guide them. They only have so much time for reading. Make it good quality reading.

Geez!
Talk about helicopter.

My kids can read crap really fast, that's why its a library only books for that type. Plenty of time to read more solid works. Who are these kids who take 20 minutes to read a Dogman book?

The connection you are making between food and books is totally messed up.

Maybe. It's your choice for your family. But Lucy Calkins "Let them read anything, just foster a love of reading..." does not work for most children.

My kids didn't have Lucy Calkins, but I do love reading and so do they. Do you? I wonder with your idea that "they only have so much time for reading." We make time for reading. It's a preferred activity.

Just because Calkins said it doesn't make it wrong, just because you disagree with her teaching methods. It's a classic idea.

[Anonymous]

All of the who is, what is series are big with my 4th grader. Along with most other biographies or trivia books.

The 14 story treehouse books and diary of a wimpy kid but idk if thats considered crap.

The sports series books, forgetting the names now but they have different ones for every sport and kids going through adversity.

Also loves anything with middle school drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I know, the crap isn’t crap, kids should read whatever they like.

What does your 4th or 5th grader read? Please share any books that have some literary merit.

Kids should *NOT* read whatever the like. Do you let them eat whatever they like? After all, a calorie is a calorie! No? They don't let them read junk either.

You are there to guide them. They only have so much time for reading. Make it good quality reading.

Geez!
Talk about helicopter.

My kids can read crap really fast, that's why its a library only books for that type. Plenty of time to read more solid works. Who are these kids who take 20 minutes to read a Dogman book?

The connection you are making between food and books is totally messed up.

Maybe. It's your choice for your family. But Lucy Calkins "Let them read anything, just foster a love of reading..." does not work for most children.

You disgust me

[Anonymous]

At that age my kids like the “Tales from Earthsea” series by Ursula Le Guin; “Gregor the Overlander” books by Suzanne Collins; and the “Dark Materials” collection by Phillip Pullman.

[Anonymous]

Keeper of the lost cities
Warriors
Spy school
Gregor and the overlanders
Alcatraz and the evil librarians

[Anonymous]

The Phantom Tollbooth
Instant Science or Instant Engineering etc.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe
Wrinkle in Time
Those are just a few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the crap is crap. I was at the library recently and the dad specifically told his kids, no graphic novels, and I wish I had known to do the same when my kids were younger.

Seriously? There’s literally no reason to limit.

Sounds like someone who’s never opened a graphic novel.

Anyway, my kids are loving the hunger games.