5th grade level biography books

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Best Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for Upper Elementary

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students don't often automatically grab biographies and autobiographies off the classroom library shelf.  But the inspiring biographies below will have your upper elementary students begging for more!

Written by guest blogger Cindy Koopmans

In my classroom I’ve often found that biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are a bit of a hard sell.  Besides selecting only the best nonfiction books for my classroom shelves to begin with, this is how I’ve made it work...

Tips for Encouraging Students to Read Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs

When students are looking for a new book to read, I go to the shelves and hand pick a stack of books for them to peruse.  I’ll start the process by asking them what they’ve read lately and what they liked about those books.  This strategy works because it is built on choice and trust.  I’m enthusiastic about books and I never force a book on a kid.  They get to choose what to read.

And when that happens, the conversation I have with one of my lovies goes something like this: “Mrs. K.  This really happened?  This story is like, for real?” 

Me, “Yup.”   

This is the truth:  no matter who we are or how old we are, we are always looking for someone to light the way forward on this dark road called life.  

Even the most jaded of students have the propensity to be inspired by the stories of people who have survived and thrived.  

And that’s why it is so critical to give our students the gift of great nonfiction and allow them a glimpse into other people’s worlds.  When we see how other people navigate the not insubstantial bumps in their personal roads it gives us hope.  

So here you will find a nicely balanced list of great nonfiction books that are tried and true winners for upper elementary students.  There is great variety in this role call.  I’ve included books written about or by creatives, trailblazers, and a few so-called “ordinary” people, who when called upon by fate, did not back down.  They met the challenges they faced head on and triumphed.  

These people found themselves in extraordinarily difficult and, in some cases, harrowing life situations.  The stories are unique, multi-faceted and...well...true!  

As an added bonus, you can trust that these nonfiction books are incredibly well-written.  

Sometimes, just to hook some of my more reluctant student readers, I take a minute out of our precious instructional time.  I’m not doing anything too fancy, I simply introduce a new book and read the first page or two enthusiastically.

If I’m with a particularly apathetic class I’ve been known to climb up on a chair and use lots of over the top hand gestures.  Hey! Whatever it takes, right?  

Anyway, I’m never sorry about taking the time because there is absolutely nothing more exciting than hearing numerous kids blurt out an enthusiastic, “I want to read that one!” 

What just happened here? A waiting list?  Awesome.

These are good books.  Many of these books are showing the wear and tear of being well-loved in my fifth grade classroom.  Others have gotten a thorough vetting before they made this list and are now on an Amazon wish list until I get two nickels to rub together.  You and your students will find them to be deeply satisfying reads.  Get ready for a cupcake shop moment, because you are not going to know which one to pick! 

12 Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students

Anne frank: the diary of a young girl by anne frank, b.m. mooyaart (translator), eleanor roosevelt (introduction).

It is July 6, 1942, the setting is Amsterdam, and Anne Frank has just received a diary for her birthday.  The rest is history. 

Every year I have at least one student who loves Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction books.  If you have students like that in your class, then Anne Frank will absolutely blow their minds.  Introduce them to this classic read, then share the link to the full length movie.   

Some books introduced to students are gifts that they will remember the rest of their lives.  Be that teacher that gives that gift.  Here I just want to say thank you to Mrs. Barclay.  I still have my original copy.

Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive  by Laura Hillenbrand

This book begins with an excruciating description of three men who are floating on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Suffice it to say that sharks are predominant in the narrative of the first chapter.  Fifth grade boys?  Gotcha.  Add to the sharks stuff the fact that the main character, Louis Zabarelli, is a former Olympian and you just set the hook.

This recommendation of the young adult adaptation of Louis Zabarelli’s story, but that shouldn’t be a cause for hesitation.  This book graces the shelf of my classroom library, but it isn’t on the shelf very often.  That and it’s worn condition testifies that Louis Zabarelli’s story does hold appeal for upper elementary aged students.  I’ve included the movie trailer for you in case you want more evidence.

Hidden Figures  by Margot Lee Shetterly

This is another worn book in my classroom library.  In fact, I have three copies because it has been that popular. 

You can find some extra resources here if you’re that smart teacher that seeks to intertwine some science lessons into your literature.  If you haven’t seen the movie that was released a few years ago, you can watch the trailer here.

Save time and stress this school year with these   Nonfiction Reading Response Activities that can be used over and over throughout the school year with ANY nonfiction text.   

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will respond through reading, writing, poetry, speaking, listening, drawing, interviewing, and more.    This is a must have   for any upper elementary teacher that does not want to have to constantly recreate the wheel.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kamkwamba

You may want to watch the movie on Netflix, but don’t tell your students it is there until after they read the book.  (And you could use some of these questions and activity ideas for comparing movies to books.)   Another recommendation from my classroom shelves.

I Am Malala  by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

Look up the word inspiring in the dictionary and you may find Malala Yousafzai’s picture there.  Malala Yousafzai is internationally famous because she and her family stood up to the Taliban’s edict that girls were not allowed to receive an education.  Malala’s father taught her not to back down from what she believed in, even though she knew she was in danger, Malala continued to attend school.  As a result, Malala almost lost her life when she was shot riding the bus home from school. 

Here’s a short video about how Malala, the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, continues her mission to make a difference in the lives of young women around the world.

A biography of Malala also made this list of books about overcoming obstacles.

Ugly  by Robert Hoge

Do we have a choice in what we allow to define us?  Robert Hoge’s memoir answers this question with a resounding, “Yes!” 

Bullied and misunderstood because of a facial tumor and other disabilities he was born with, Robert Hoge teaches us how to live wholeheartedly and fearlessly despite how we might be judged and treated by the world.  This is the very best kind of story, honestly and simply told by the person who lived through it all. 

Robert was born with disfigurements that made him a baby only a mother could love, except his own mother didn’t want him and still, he made it.  I know I have students who need to hear his story and I’m sure you do too.

Mountains Beyond Mountains  by Tracey Kidder

I was beyond excited when I learned that Tracey Kidder’s book about Dr. Paul Farmer and his work with Partners in Health had been adapted for young readers. 

Tracey Kidder shadows Dr. Paul Farmer whose mission is to provide quality healthcare to the most economically disadvantaged people in the world’s most impoverished populations.  Dr. Farmer’s father exemplified altruism and expected his children to participate in his passion. 

Even though the family didn’t have money, Dr. Farmer made a decision to attend college and pursue medicine.  It was a high school guidance counselor that helped him take the first steps. 

This is a book that I challenge students to read, because it’s...well...challenging!  But a student who  choses to tackle it has not been disappointed.  

My Thirteenth Winter  by Samantha Abel

Samantha Abel was a straight A student with a secret.  She couldn’t remember her locker combination or tell time.  The disconnect caused her to suffer from anxiety attacks.  In her thirteenth winter, Samantha found the strength and the courage to confront her problems.  Consequently, Samantha learned that she had a learning disability called dyscalculia.   Once the disability is discovered and addressed, Samantha’s life begins to change. 

As teachers know, learning disabilities are a discrepancy between intelligence and academic struggle.  It is in that often agonizing struggle that a learning disability is  forced to the surface.  We know what they are, but we don’t really know what causes them. 

A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park

Linda Sue Park lays out the story in two distinct sections, intermingling fiction and nonfiction.  The book tells the story from the point of view of a young girl, Nya, as she walks all day long to procure water for her family’s needs:  hence the title.  But it is Salva’s point of view story that is truly central to the book.  Salva is one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan who is walking to escape the violence and constant threat of being conscripted into the Sudanese army.  Spoiler...the two stories come together at the end of the book. 

I spend a lot of time convincing those kiddos who read ahead not to give away the ending and wreck the book for their classmates.  This link will take you to a short video about Salva.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland is the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history.  Adapted for young readers, the adult version of this book made the New York Times best-seller list.  This is another excellent autobiography I’ve had to purchase in multiples because it is in demand with my girls. 

Misty Copeland’s grit and determination, added to her passion, led her to a successful career in dance.  It all began so simply. 

She writes,  “My family didn't have very much money, so ballet wasn't even on my radar; I just found it randomly when I was 13 at a Boys & Girls Club. We were practicing on a basketball court in gym clothes with some old socks on. Even though it terrified me at first, I found that I really liked it.”  Find something you love and pursue it with all your heart.  Yes.

Check out these other inspirational biographies of African-Americans.

Lion: A Long Way Home  by Saroo Brierley

An incredible true story that just proves the point that life is often stranger than anything anyone could make up in a million years. 

His book chronicles his struggle to remember where he came from and to reconnect with his family, which he does when he is 25 years old.  You can watch a trailer for the Hollywood Version here.

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Vincent’s younger brother Theo is the pragmatist in the relationship, but still an art lover—he works as an art dealer, which on the face of it could be immensely helpful for Vincent.  But Vincent’s artistic style, that of the Impressionist school, is simply not in fashion and Theo can’t change that fact. 

Despite their personality differences and all the drama Vincent brings to the relationship these brothers remain loyal to the core.  This is a beautiful and touching story of brotherly love and devotion. 

You’ll find it special as a direct result of Deborah Heilgman’s efforts to get the details right: she carefully gleaned information from more than 600 letters Vincent wrote to his brother Theo over his lifetime. 

Deborah Heiligman is the award winning author of Charles and Emma and many other books for children and young adults.

Find more book suggestions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students here.  

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Books for Kids and Grown Ups

The Best Biography Books for Middle School

Ahh, middle school. Those awkward early teen years, brimming with angst and euphoria, are all about kids on the cusp of adolescence, trying to figure out their story and who they will be. Middle schoolers have developed a sense of their own history and are developing their passions that will shape who they are in the years to come. Middle grade biography books are a critical gateway into giving middle schoolers a chance to glimpse the coming-of-age stories of their own idols and heroes. Whether they are ballerinas, civil rights activists, inventors or foodies, there are middle school biography books for kids of all interests on this list. You’ll also find the recommended grade levels for each book on this list!

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20 Best Middle Grade Biography Books

Text Middle School Biography Books

The books in this section are the typical biographies, written in largely text format:

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

Steve Sheinkin, a three-time National Book Award finalist, writes a compelling history of one of the most impressive athletes in American history, as well as one of its most disturbing instances: the creation of Indian boarding schools in the late 1800s to early 1900s. This book highlights one athlete’s story, from his humble beginnings to his athletic triumphs over adversity on the football field to the larger contributions of Native Americans to the field of football. This is an intriguing and important must-read for many sports fans. 

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

There are multiple children’s biographies and picture books of Misty Copeland, the first African American principal dancer for the prestigious American Ballet Theater. This autobiography shares the details of her impressive rise from an itinerant childhood to the elevated niche in which she now finds herself. Hand this book to kids who devoured her picture books and are now ready to read the finer details of her life and the way she persevered through challenges like her stepfather’s alcoholism, frequent moves, and body image issues in a notoriously difficult environment for girls with curves. Her optimistic voice, giddy with youth yet wise with a sense of purpose, sends a strong message to teens about the importance of hard work, perseverance, and a strong commitment to family, making her a positive, yet very cool, role model to look up to. 

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind 

A nonfiction classic that weaves strands of agricultural innovation, strength in adversity, and a community coming together, this book, also the subject of multiple movies and documentaries, doesn’t get old. This book tells the fascinating story of a boy and a community. William Kamkwamba, who was born into a small village in Malawi, faces the terrible consequences of a drought that hits his village. Losing all their crops and struggling to farm their land with the rising cost of maize and faced with a government that could or would not help much, Kamkwamba ends up creating a windmill out of old, scavenged parts that helps their community pump water back into the village’s land. Told with strength, joy, humor, and energy, this nonfiction book is a great read-aloud or book to be shared between middle schoolers and adults alike.

Popular: How a Geek in Pearls Discovered the Secret to Confidence

The premise of this book is bound to appeal to middle schoolers. Written by a teen herself, Maya Van Wagenen is a shy, quiet bookworm who is having trouble making friends at her school in rural Texas and is, in her words, on one of the lowest rungs of the social ladder. Before her 8th grade year, she finds a vintage book in her parents’ collection, titled “How to Be Popular,” written in 1951 by former teen model Betty Cornell. Maya decides, as a social experiment, to follow these rules for popularity in her contemporary 2000s-era high school to a tee. What follows is expectedly hilarious, adorably awkward, sweetly poignant and unapologetically, unflinchingly beautiful and inspiring, as Maya learns the true secret of popularity – confidence in one’s own unique voice. Hand this book to every middle schooler navigating the treacherous shoals of finding their own identity during their teen years.

Amelia Lost

Candace Fleming is a nonfiction author who is such an expert at characterization and tight pacing,  that her biography of this famed aviator, which could have been very run-of-the-mill (and we know there are many of those out there!), into a suspenseful thriller that will keep readers turning the pages, even though we already know how it all ends. Starting not at Earhart’s childhood but at her disappearance, Fleming’s narrative flips back and forth between the excruciating hours of her disappearance and the frantic search to find her, to snippets from her childhood, growing up years, eventual fame, and marriage, before all finally meeting up at the end. You think you know the story of Amelia Earhart, but this book writes it in a way that feels fresh and fascinating.

Unbroken (Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive 

This book is a harrowing true account of Louis Zamperini, an exuberant Italian American immigrant who gets shot down during World War 2 and survives being stranded at sea as well as nightmarish torture in a Japanese POW camp. Adapted for teen readers, the author unflinchingly describes the hope and suffering that Louis Zamperini experiences during wartime. The evocative, spare language, accompanied by the expert pacing, will leave readers racing to read each next chapter to find out what happens. Unflinching descriptions of the harsh conditions that Zamperini experiences make this book one to read before giving to younger readers, but teens will be able to read this important and classic survival epic and have a renewed appreciation for war veterans and the heavy price our veterans have paid for America’s freedom.

Free Lunch 

This searing true account of the author’s personal experiences as a 6th grader experiencing hunger will have middle school readers poring over every page and when the book is done, seeing their world with new eyes. For privileged readers, this will help them better understand the unseen hardships of their fellow students. For those who are struggling, this book will help them feel seen and hopefully, understood. Ogle’s writing is direct, honest and sympathetic and will go straight to the heart of all readers, whether they are fantasy readers who often reject nonfiction in favor of new worlds to explore, or reluctant readers who get overwhelmed by too much descriptive text on the page. Ogle’s short, spare, evocative language will appeal to all readers.

Becoming Kid Quixote

A sweet, authentic nonfiction biography narrated by a ten year old girl, who finds inspiration and a way to share her story and her voice in the after school program she attends. Sarah Sierra, a daughter of Mexican American immigrant parents, studies the Spanish classic Don Quixote and together with a group of other young theater students, reimagine the play in modern day Brooklyn, New York. A slim, accessible volume, suitable for younger readers who will relish the opportunity to see and hear the words of one of their own and be inspired by her creativity themselves.

The Plot to Kill Hitler

A sobering, heroic biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a quiet, bookish pastor who saw the rise of Hitler and fought in a conspiracy to stop it. Although his actions ended in tragedy, his words continued to live on and inspire other activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr. This young reader’s adaptation is text-heavy but worth the time, especially for readers interested in this time period and the actions of those who resisted Nazi thinking and atrocities.

The Boys who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

A more hopeful story of another band of World War 2 resisters, this biography of a group of schoolboys in Denmark who end up fighting back against the Nazis in Occupied Denmark, will be sure to delight middle schoolers who are history buffs and enjoy reading about the part children can play in history as well. We often tell the story of battles from the general’s point of view, but it is invigorating and inspiring to read how even small actions can have a powerful impact, to shape and motivate an entire community to act for the greater good.

Middle School Graphic Memoirs

There’s been a growing trend in middle grade nonfiction publishing for graphic memoirs – or autobiographies in a graphic novel format. These books are highly appealing for middle school readers, especially those who are reluctant readers. These graphic memoirs can seem deceptively simple but offer layers of emotional resonance, encouraging middle school readers to read text as well as visual cues of these biographies of authors who often share anecdotes and insights about their own teen years. 

Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey 

This funny, heartrending graphic memoir tells the story of Ozge, a girl growing up in 1980s Turkey. Readers will laugh along with Ozge as she describes her childhood growing up in Turkey and be intrigued by the differences between her childhood in newly industrializing Turkey and our modern-day American experience. As the book progresses, more complicated forces come into play and we notice, like the author as she gets older, the contradictory tug between loyalty,  faith, Muslim traditions and Westernized values. Hand this book to older middle schoolers who love art and who are ready for the harder questions of politics, economy and history.

Diary of a Tokyo Teen

This short, sweet graphic memoir was written by the author when she was just seventeen years old. Interspersed with drawings and photographs, this book traces the author’s first solo trip as a sixteen-year-old to stay with her grandparents in Japan for one summer. Told with a vivacious, authentic energy, this rises up above the mere travelogue and explores the thoughts and feelings a teenaged girl would experience, from the touristy (visiting golden Buddhist temples and feeding the Nara deer) to the mundane (like riding the bullet train by herself). This book will appeal to armchair travelers, artists and foodie teens alike.

Dreamer 

For the sports fan especially during hockey season, this memoir tells the story of Akim Aliu, a Nigerian-Ukrainian-Canadian professional hockey player who charts his fascinating personal story of his childhood and how he discovers ice hockey. Aliu shares his personal experiences with racism on and off the ice, his engrossing candor and compelling stories will make this a surefire hit with middle school readers. There are some visually depicted scenes of violence and swearing, just as a warning to parents who want to explore this before handing this book to their younger readers.

Almost American Girl: A Memoir

Middle schoolers who loved Raina Telgemeier’s Smile will be immersed in Robin Ha’s memoir. She came to Kansas on what she thought was a vacation with her single mother. However, once she landed in the United States, a teenage Robin was astounded to learn that they were no longer returning to Seoul, Korea, but living in the Southern US with a Korean-American man whom her mother had just met and planned to marry. Empathetic tween readers will shudder with sympathy as they follow Robin’s years through an American education, not speaking the language or being able to read her beloved comics. Artistic readers will relish the solace she ends up finding in drawing.

A First Time for Everything

Awardwinning graphic novelist Dan Santat pulls off a hat trick of a book – a personal story of his own awkward middle school years seen through the prism of one trip to Europe. This book hits all the right notes – the travelogue aspect, a chance to see Santat’s incredible illustrations of Europe in the 1980s, and his realistic, humorous depiction of his own experiences with friendship, first love and…Fanta, the European soda. Middle school readers will come for the drawings and stay for the thoughtful, poignant and thoroughly engaging musings of the brilliant Dan Santat.

Picture this: a Winnebago full of your EIGHT siblings, as you travel into Mexico, where you have barely been, even though you are a Mexican-American family, to find your abuelita and bring her back with you to the United States. This reads like the best premise of a novel, but is the true story of Pedro Martin, describing his own journey! Told in a poignant yet hilarious fashion, Martin’s graphic memoir (which won a Newbery Honor), shares family misadventures and anecdotal insights into Mexican-American culture that everyone will appreciate.

Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation 

The trend of graphic novel adaptations of classic middle grade books continues to grow. This book, one of the early adaptations, is a haunting, powerful and compelling version that stays true to the original text and portrays Anne Frank’s words and experience in elegant yet ominous detail.  The subdued color palette sets the atmosphere but the finely rendered ink drawings bring sophistication and dignity to this important story. Recommended for older middle grade readers, who will not be able to gloss over the realities of Anne Frank’s tragedy since it is rendered in visual detail, rather than in nuanced text.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen 

The first of author/illustrator Lucy Knisley’s graphic memoirs, this book traces Lucy’s origins as a child of culinary parents, chefs and gourmets, in New York. From fine dining restaurants to farmers’ markets, this book has complex but beautifully illustrated recipes, detailed explanations and comic drawings, all of which will appeal to any young readers who love cooking shows. Whether you love creme brulee or cupcakes, this book has something for each palate.

Dragon Hoops

One of the best graphic biographies out there – since it combines the biography of Gene Luen Yang himself, as he struggles to write another book after his bestselling graphic novel, American Born Chinese. As he shares his writerly struggles, we learn more about his role as a teacher and his unexpected interest in his school’s varsity basketball team, which is making waves as they move towards the unprecedented goal of making the California State Championships. As Yang finds himself drawn to tracing their journey and their biographies, as individuals and as a team, he begins to see how this impacts his own history and view of himself. A must-read for middle schoolers who love comics, history, basketball, who didn’t think they liked comics, history or basketball. This book has it all.

March: Book One

A powerful graphic memoir about the beginnings of the civil rights movement, told through the eyes of Congressman John Lewis, one of its key figures. The first in a trilogy, the first book tells the story of Lewis’s childhood in Alabama, the life-changing moment he met Martin Luther King Jr, and his growing involvement in the sit-ins and other non-violent protests against segregation and discrimination. Readers will want to continue observing his journey in the following books in the series, that will take us up to the powerful March on Washington.

There they are: 20 fantastic middle school biographies! Which one of these have you read and enjoyed? What did I miss?

More Middle Grade Nonfiction

• 40 best middle grade nonfiction books
• Great nonfiction books for 6th graders
• 5th grade nonfiction books

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About Evelyn Schwartz

Evelyn is a school librarian/fifth grade teacher who loves board games, bird watching and most of all, being buried in a good book! Preferably while sipping hot cocoa on a slouchy couch with her family.

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Living Well + Learning Well

with Alicia Hutchinson

100+ Beautiful Biographies Your Kids Will Love

73   95 100+ Biographies for Kids

This post was originally posted in 2014 with 73 biographies and there been TONS more biographies for kids published since then. As I added to our library, I updated this post again in 2018. I gave this post a THIRD revision in 2020 to add in even more amazing biographies for kids! Here’s the updated list, categorized for easy searching and saving.

Biographies for Kids: Scientists + Mathematicians to Admire

• The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbably Life of Paul Erdos  by Deborah Heiligman

2. Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne

3. The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter

Learning Well LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links from Amazon or other programs are used on this website. For more info, please refer to our disclosure statement .

4.  Rosie Revere, Engineer  by Andrea Beaty

5.   Who Says Women Can’t be Doctors: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone

6.  Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

7. Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit up the World by Elizabeth Rusch

8. Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed our Lives by Gene Berretta

9. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

10. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne

11. Summer birds: the Butterflies of Maria Marion by Margarita Engle

12. Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese

13. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of James John Audubon by Jacqueline Davies

14. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

15. Caroline’s Comets: A True Story by Emily Arnold McCully

16. Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness by Donna Janell Bowman

17. Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer  by Robert Burleigh

18. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin  by  Julia Finley Mosca 

19. Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World  by  Rachel Ignotofsky

Artists + Musicians to Learn About

20. When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan

21. Mr Cornell’s Dream Boxes by Jeanette Winter

22. Ella Fitzgerald : The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso by Andrea Pinkney

23. The Iridescence of Birds: Henri Matisse by Patricia MacLaughlan

24. A Splash of Red: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin  by Jen Bryant

25. Duke Ellington: the Piano Prince and his Orchestra  by Andrea Davis Pinkney

26. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell

27. Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter

28. Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard

29. Viva Frieda by  Yuyi Morales

30. Prairie Boy: Frank Lloyd Wright Turns the Heartland into a Home  by Barb Rosenstock

31. Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle

Biographies for Kids: Heroes from History

29. Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman

30. To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Doreen Rappaport

31. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candice Fleming

32. Amelia lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candice Fleming

33. The Lincoln’s: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary  by Candace Fleming

34. Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

35. What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley

36. Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone

37. Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley

38. Leif the Lucky  by Ingri Daulaire

39. Columbus  by Ingri Daulaire

41. George Washington by Ingri Daulaire

42. Benjamin Franklin by Ingri Daulaire

43. Buffalo Bill  by Ingri Daulaire

44. Abraham Lincoln  by Ingri Daulaire

45. Bard of Avon:William Shakespeare  by Diane Stanley

46. Leonardo Davinci by Diane Stanley

47. Good Queen Bess by Dianne Stanley

48. Peter the Great by Dianne Stanley

49. Cleopatra by Diane Stanley

50. Along Came Galileo  by Jeanne Bendick

51. Joan of Arc: Warrior Saint by Jay Williams

52. Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock

53. Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta

54. Eleanor by Barbara Cooney

55. A Boy Named FDR  by Kathleen Krull

56. Alexander the Great by John Gunther

57. George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster

58. The World of Captain John Smith by Genevieve Foster

59. The World of Christopher Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster

60. Augustus Caesar’s World by Genevieve Foster

61. Abraham Lincoln’s World by Genevieve Foster

62. Louis and Clark: Explorer’s of the American West by Steven Kroll

63. Encounter by Jane Yolen

64. Picture Book of Daniel Boone by David Adler

65. The Secret Subway by Shana Corey

66. Abraham by Frank Keating

67. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford

68. Brave Clara Barton by Frank Murphy

69. Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt by Don Brown

70. The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans  by Barbara E. Walsh

71. First Mothers  by Beverly Gherman

72. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford

73. Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero  by Marissa Moss

74. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson

75. Before She was Harriet   by  Lesa Cline-Ransome 

76. Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  by  Doreen Rappaport 

77. Nelson Mandela   by  Kadir Nelson

78. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History  by Vashti Harrison

Biographies about Writers

79. The Boy on Fairfield street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Suess by Kathleen Krull

80. Louisa: the Life of Louisa May Alcott  by Yona Zeldis McDonough

82. Noah Webster and his Words  by Jeri Chase Ferris

81. Going Solo by Roald Dahl

83. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant

84. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise

85. The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome

86. Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel

87. Malala’s Magic Pencil  by  Malala Yousafzai 

Biographies for Kids About Amazing Athletes

88. Ali an American Champion by Barry Denenburg

90. Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick

91. The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game  by Nancy Churnin

92. Charlie Takes His Shot: How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf   by Nancy Churnin

93. Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win   by  Rachel Ignotofsky 

Too Cool for Categories: Everyday Folks Who Made a Extraordinary Impact

94. Mr. Ferris and his Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

95. Iggy Peck, Architect  by Andrea Beaty

96. The Story of Johnny Appleseed  by Aliki

97. The Fairy Ring: Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure

98. The Great and Only Barnum by Candice Fleming

99. Bon appétit! The Delicious Life of Julia Childs  by Jessie Hartland

100. Daredevil: the Daring Life of Betty Skelton  by Meghan Macarthy

101. Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi

102. Here come the Girl Scouts by Shana Correy

103. The Man who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gernstein

104. Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

105. Pocket Full of Colors:  The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo

106. Manjhi Moves a Mountain

107. Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

108. Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God 

109. Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito

110. The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard

My hope is that, as a result of this big ol’ list, you and your children will discover amazing people whose stories should be continued to be shared. Most of all, I want my kids to know that reading and continuing to read will keep expanding their world!

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24 Comments

I love this list and have referenced it many times!!! Has anyone made an excel file of these to check off? Also my daughter loves to listen and so I’m wondering if anyone has found any of these on audiobooks?

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Great list!

Additional picture book biographies that we’ve enjoyed: Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & His World of Insects by Matthew Clark Smith The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating Pippo the Fool by Tracey Fern

This list is fantastic! I order the biographies for our library and we were missing several of these. You know it’s a good list when the library already has most of the books and they are regularly checked out!

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This looks like an awesome list! However please note that Rosie Revere Engineer is NOT a biography. It’s a wonderful book about a little girl who wants to be an engineer, but it is NOT about Rosie the Riveter. There is an implication that the character’s great great aunt is the riveter but this is not a biography. Thank you very much for this list, it’s super helpful!

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Thank you so much! I love getting my kids biographies! Great looking list!

This is a goldmine! Thanks so much for compiling this list Alicia! My little bookworm will thank you for this. xo emily

This is incredible! I am always on the hunt for book list and adding in some biographies would be such an excellent learning tool. Like you, life fascinates me and I love reading about them!

http://www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

My daughter's class does a book report a month. She has done mysteries, but this month she will be reading the story of olympic gymnast Shaun Johnson. Callie is a gymnast as well (a newcomer)and I love that she will be reading about one of her heroes. You have compiled a great list. Makes me truly miss teaching reading.

Love this list! I'm looking for books to steer my kids to. 😉

Oh how I nerdily love this list! My girls have been reading a lot of biographies about people in the Revolutionary War and they have been loving them! Hooray for raising future biography nerds!!

Love love love this post! Thank you!

What a fun list'. We haven't really done much biography reading at all. This list will be a great place to start!

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Living Books Library

Living books in a charlotte mason education., top picks: biography series.

Step-Up Books First, we must note that while the reprints of these wonderful old books say “Landmark Books” on the covers, inside they are the original text of the Step-Up Books, they are written on a younger level than the Landmark Book series which is listed below.  If you can find the originals young readers will be delighted with the large print and spacing that is easy on their eyes.  The Step-Up books are written on a 1st or 2nd grade reading level, but are great stories that will interest even older readers.

Signature Biographies Published by Grosset & Dunlap in the 1950s and 60s, these are a non-fiction equivalent to their popular We Were There series, but instead of fictional children as the main characters the Signature Books are told from the perspective of the biography’s subject.  Plenty of dialogue make these books read like a fictional story, but they are really true–these biographies are fun to read and will engage your upper-elementary readers.  The information isn’t dumbed down, and will be enjoyed by older readers as well.  The Story of Edith Cavell–a World War One nurse is a favorite in the series, with both boys and girls.

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What a wonderful site you've put together!! We are just starting our homeschooling journey as the dd is now 4. I have been very stirred by Charlotte Mason and what I have learned so far. Will probably be following mainly AO year 0 with bits & pieces of other methods/curriculum as it interests us. I think this next year will probably be more "school" for me than my little one, as I try to work it all outplan, etc)! LOL Thanks so much for taking the time to put all this together:)

We have so many things to learn from biography books. One day I was looking for a good book and I found Yuri Mintskovsky 's top 9 biographies and I decided to try and read one. Even if all of them are about business I enjoyed reading them and I've also learned so many interesting things.

I appreciated the Josephine Baker narrative! I hope and pray Rih Rih can do it justice….from time to time things are just improved left alone. Biography

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What a great find you have there. My little boys especially loved those books. They are not tales, however, but could work for a history biography n form 1A, especially if your child is beginning to read.

Thank you for these lists! I am wondering, what do you think of The Sowers biography series? (I ask because I see these a lot at used bookstores, etc.)

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Biographies & Autobiographies for Kids

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6 Amazing Biography Book Series Teachers and Students will Love

I love having my students read biographies.  Not only does this expose them to a new genre of writing, but there is quite often a great social studies or history connection too!  And . . . if that wasn’t enough, there are so many amazing people that can inspire our students to do anything, go anywhere, be all they can dream of being!  I’m excited to share some of my favorite biographies for elementary students and activities we use when studying this genre.

Amazing Biographies for Kids

1. ordinary people change the world by brad meltzer.

2. You Should Meet . . . by Ready to Read

3.  Step into Reading Biographies

4. The Story Of . . .  A Biography Series for New Readers

5.  Easy Reader Biographies by Scholastic

6. National Geographic Kids Biographies

You Can’t Go Wrong with Biographies

• Not all books with illustrations are fiction
• Real-life events and people can be engaging and entertaining like a story
• Books can help us learn and inspire us

Biography Activities

1. fact and opinion, 2. non-fiction text features.

Many of these biographies series I love to use are written with a variety of non-fiction text features.  This is a great way to teach students about how these text features can help them improve their understanding of the non-fiction books they read.  

• Headings & Sub-Headings
• Photos & Captions
• Table of Contents

3. Introductory Research and Note Taking

Grab these free biography note taking templates.

Biography Research Project

Save these Biography Books and Teaching Ideas

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Favorite books for 5th graders

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team

Print book list

I Am the Ice Worm

by: MaryAnn Easley - (Boys Mill Press, 1996) 127 pages.

This book is sort of a girls’ version of Gary Paulsen’s classic Hatchet. In both stories, a teenage character is stranded in the wilderness following a plane crash. In I Am the Ice Worm , 14-year-old Allison is rescued from the Alaskan wild by an Inupiat trapper, who takes her to his village to stay until she can be reunited with her mother. Allison’s upbringing in an upper-class family in southern California certainly didn’t prepare her for this icy adventure, but she turns out to have courage and adaptability that she didn’t expect. Though Allison may initially seem too “girly” for boy readers, this novel has a great blend of adventure, wilderness and family matters that will captivate boys and girls alike.

Perfect for: Kids who like adventure stories.

Find I Am the Ice Worm at your local library.

by: Gary Paulsen - (Simon & Schuster, 1987) 192 pages.

The story is about Brian, 13, and how he manages to survive 54 days in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Brian was flying to visit his father when the pilot dies of a heart attack in mid-flight. Brian crash lands the plane into a small lake and swims out of the wreckage. He has his clothing, a tattered windbreaker and a hatchet (a gift from his mother). The novel takes us through Brian’s days, how he learns patience through his experiences with failures and small successes: building a fire, fishing and hunting, making his shelter a safe one. He endures a porcupine attack, a tornado and being utterly alone for almost two months. This is a tale of adventure but, more importantly, it is a tale of character growth. This edition includes a new introduction and sidebar commentary by the author.

Find Hatchet at your local library.

Kit’s Wilderness

by: David Almond - (Delacorte Press, 2000) 229 pages.

Kit’s family moves to Stoneygate, an old coal-mining town where his family has lived for generations, to be near his ailing grandfather. Here, Kit is invited by an odd neighbor boy to play a game called Death. The game and the town’s haunted history get under Kit’s skin, while the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur. This multi-generational tale is engrossing and chilling.

Find Kit’s Wilderness at your local library.

by: Roland Smith - (Harcourt, 2007) 246 pages.

When 14-year-old Peak Marcello is caught scaling a skyscraper to place his signature graffiti tag, he is offered a choice: spend three years in juvenile detention or climb Mt. Everest with his long-absent father. Though the choice might be easy, the journey is not. Peak is physically and emotionally challenged by the grueling climb, the weather, and the politics and drama of climbing culture. And the pressure is on, because if Peak can reach the summit before his 15th birthday, he’ll break a world record and gain glory and money. Peak is gripping and surprising, and though it’s written for a middle-grade audience, readers young and old will be sucked in by the sharp writing and memorable characters.

Find Peak at your local library.

Baseball in April and Other Stories

by: Gary Soto - (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990) 111 pages.

Alfonso is a seventh grader who wishes his teeth were straighter, his hair were cooler, and his abs were more muscular. His parents are preoccupied with earning a living and his older brother, Ernie, has girl troubles. Alfonso meets a girl with ponytails and invites her for a bike ride, but then his bike chain breaks. Will Ernie lend Alfonso his bike? The eleven short stories in this book explore family bonds, falling in love, fears, and insecurities — themes common to all kids as they grow up. They feature Mexican-American families and are full of colorful details from the author’s own experiences growing up in California’s Central Valley.

Perfect for: Tweens navigating life with friends, siblings, and crushes.

Find Baseball in April and Other Stories at your local library.

The Light Princess

by: George McDonald , illustrated by: Maurice Sendak - (Farrar Straus Giroux, 1864) 110 pages.

Just when you think your child might be getting too old for fairy tales, along comes this amazing 19th-century princess story to change both of your minds. Chock-full of puns and mixed with just the right blend of whimsy and ethics lessons, The Light Princess deserves a fresh set of 21st-century eyes. Resoundingly recommended. In 1977 Maurice Sendak created illustrations for a rerelease of this 1864 book.

Perfect for: Kids who like classic stories.

Find The Light Princess at your local library.

The Phantom Tollbooth

by: Norton Juster , illustrated by: Jules Feiffer - (Random House, 1961) 255 pages.

Described by many children as “the best book ever,” this is fantasy at its best. Full of irony and insights, Juster created a masterpiece when he wrote The Phantom Tollbooth . Give this book to your child and let the wave of words and numbers sweep them into a fantastical world. A clever, almost indescribable book that you may already know about, but is too indispensable to keep from mentioning it here.

Find The Phantom Tollbooth at your local library.

Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure

by: Cindy Neuschwander , illustrated by: Wayne Geehan - (Charlesbridge Publishing, 1997) 32 pages.

This book is the perfect read-aloud to introduce the concepts of circumference, diameter and radius. Students will be exposed to many other geometric shapes as well. Children of all ages will enjoy this mathematical adventure. Sir Circumference and his Knight work to solve a mathematical dilemma. What would be the best-shaped table for Sir Circumference to gather his knights? Will it be a square, rectangle, parallelogram or circle? You must read to find out.

Perfect for: Kids who like numbers.

Find Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure at your local library.

Bread and Roses, Too

by: Katherine Paterson - (Clarion Books, 2006) 288 pages.

Life in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912 wasn’t easy. … Born to Italian immigrants, Rosa’s parents and older sister work in the mills. After her father died in a mill accident, Rosa’s mother took in a family of boarders. Even though they needed the money, Rosa’s feisty mother insisted that 12-year-old Rosa attend school rather than work in the mill. … With her unfailing empathy for the young, Paterson combines the thoughts and feelings of a timid child who is torn between the admonitions of an admired teacher who talks against an unfolding mill strike and her earthy Italian mother who, along with Rosa’s older sister, participates wholeheartedly in the strike. … Once again, Paterson displays her gift for bringing the hard past to life for present-day readers.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

Find Bread and Roses, Too at your local library.

The Secret Garden

by: Frances Hodgson Burnett - (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1911) 288 pages.

Mary is an orphan who is angry at the world when she arrives at a forsaken mansion on the British moors. As she slowly discovers the secrets of the mansion, including an invalid cousin, an abandoned garden, and a family’s sad history, she begins to hesitantly open her heart. She shows her cousin the garden and his ecstatic encounter with nature is as healing for him as it has been for Mary. The young people flourish along with the garden, as the lonely mansion becomes a loving home.

Want to see the movie? Check out the 1993 adaptation featuring Maggie Smith as Mrs. Medlock.

Find The Secret Garden at your local library.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

by: Scott O'Dell - (Yearling, 1971) 192 pages.

The Newbery Medal winner for 1961, this book could be seen as a precursor to Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet (see below). Karana is a 12-year-old Native American who refuses to abandon her 6-year-old brother when her island, Ghalas-at (off the Southern California coast) is evacuated. Shortly thereafter, he tragically dies after being attacked by wild dogs, and Karana begins her solitary wait for a ship to come for her. She waits 18 years. Karana survives by foraging, fishing in the ocean, defending herself from wild dogs and elephant seals, and hiding from the Aleut tribe. Told from her point of view, we share the details of her day-to-day life, watch the days turn into years, and wait for the ship to carry her off her lonely island. O’Dell based this novel on an actual historical figure, known as The Lost Woman of San Nicolas, who lived on the island from 1835-1853.

Find Island of the Blue Dolphins at your local library.

The Mystery of Rascal Pratt

by: Robbie Scott and Gary Cianciarulo - (Greenwich Mill Pub., 2007) 207 pages.

This is great historical fiction for children. The story takes place in 1866 at the tip of the Marin Headlands in Northern California. Shipwrecks, pirate adventure, bigotry, friendships, local flavor — this book has it all to hold the attention of the tween crowd. The protagonists are Emma, Sue and Harris (all 12 years old) and Rascal Pratt, a self-proclaimed pirate who is older than he looks. Achilles, Sue’s grandfather, a blind, Native American ranch worker, asks Rascal to find the long-lost treasure of Sir Francis Drake, so that he can buy his freedom from the ranch. The action takes place at a lighthouse and the nearby shoreline and ocean. Because of the wonderful period detail found here, this book is a perfect tie-in for “Talk Like a Pirate Day” on September 19!

Find The Mystery of Rascal Pratt at your local library.

Number the Stars

by: Lois Lowry - (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1989) 137 pages.

A brave Danish girl helps smuggle her Jewish friends to safety. Lowry’s sense of timing and choice of details put readers in the middle of the story. A riveting read, but your kids may have questions afterward.

Find Number the Stars at your local library.

On the Wings of Heroes

by: Richard Peck - (Dial Books, 2007) 148 pages.

This book is a funny, poignant book about life on the home front during World War II. There is some violence: a father is knocked out with a wrench, a girl’s hand is caught in a rat trap, and an old lady likes to tell tales of gruesome injuries. Families can talk about the differences between life then and now. What aspects of Davy’s life sound similar to your own? Which are completely different? Does it sound like it was fun to grow up then? Is it more fun now? What else have you seen and read about World War II?

Find On the Wings of Heroes at your local library.

The Shakespeare Stealer

by: Gary Blackwood - (Puffin Books, 1998) 216 pages.

Fourteen-year-old orphan Widge works for a mean and unscrupulous master who goes by the name of Falconer. Ordered to steal the script for Hamlet, Widge is taken to London and forced to attend a performance of the play. Instead of concentrating on stealing the script, he becomes engrossed in the show. Reluctantly, Widge admits his failure to Falconer and is told to return until his mission is accomplished. Nothing goes as planned and a very surprised Widge finds himself an accepted member of the backstage crew. Once a lonely outcast, he has friends and a place to call home for the first time in his life. Will he have the moral integrity to disobey his master or will he betray his new family? Set in Elizabethan London, The Shakespeare Stealer introduces us to Shakespearean stagecraft, life on the streets of London and to the truth behind the youthful appearance of Queen Elizabeth I!

Find The Shakespeare Stealer at your local library.

The Slave Dancer

by: Paula Fox - (Bradbury Press, 1973) 204 pages.

This moderately graphic depiction of the worst of the slave trade, told exclusively from a white boy’s point of view, will raise many questions, both historical and moral. Though the reading level is middle to upper elementary, sensitive children may find it very disturbing.

Find The Slave Dancer at your local library.

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

by: Peter Sis - (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2007) 56 pages.

This award-winner shows a child’s view of the Cold War. This serious book deserves time and close attention. There are many big political and philosophical ideas, and mentions of events that may disturb some children, including a plane hijacking, imprisonments and deaths. Families can talk about and compare what was happening in America during that time. Are grandparents available to share their own memories of the Cold War era? Families can also explore the Western cultural touchstones that meant so much to Sis — the Beach Boys, the Beatles. Awards: Caldecott Honor, New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice, School Library Journal Best Book, Parents’ Choice Award Winner, Horn Book Fanfare.

Find The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain at your local library.

The Canning Season

by: Polly Horvath - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003) 208 pages.

Ratchet loves her selfish mother but receives little in return. Without warning or luggage of any sort, Ratchet’s mother ships her to Maine to spend the summer with two elderly relatives. Tilly and Penpen are un-identical twins who are tremendously eccentric; they are also kind and generous. A laugh-aloud, farcical story evolves from this unlikely premise. Winner of the 2003 National Book Award for Children’s Literature.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find The Canning Season at your local library.

The Pepins and Their Problems

by: Polly Horvath , illustrated by: Marylin Hafner - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2004) 192 pages.

Whether it’s waking up to find toads in their shoes or searching for cheese when their cow makes lemonade, the Pepin family’s endless tangles entertain the reader. Lucky for them they have the author, whose insight into their hilarious misfortunes helps guide them in problem solving.

Find The Pepins and Their Problems at your local library.

The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade

by: Kenneth Derby - (Holiday House, 2004) 144 pages.

Tony Baloney is obsessed with David Letterman and is determined to be a guest on his show. This fast-paced, action-packed story is sure to keep the reader amused — top 10 lists and all!

Find The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade at your local library.

What Would Joey Do?

by: Jack Gantos - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002) 240 pages.

Now that Joey’s divorced mom has a new boyfriend, his dad has returned to town to buzz their house on his roaring motorcycle. The fact that his own sick, elderly mother is living with his son and former wife doesn’t deter him at all. When Joey’s mom sends him to be homeschooled with a bratty blind girl with a religious mother whose motto is “What Would Jesus Do?” Joey adopts this motto — with his own modifications. While the premises of Joey’s story – no allies except a small dog and a sick old lady — are harsh, the book is hilarious.

Find What Would Joey Do? at your local library.

by: Kenneth Oppel - (Eos, 2004) 544 pages.

Matt is a cabin boy on board a luxurious airship, the Aurora. Matt meets Kate, who has arranged for a flight on the Aurora so that she can investigate diary entries her grandfather made regarding large, feline creatures with bat-like wings. Soon, the Aurora is attacked by pirates and forced by a storm to land on a tropical island. While exploring the island, Matt and Kate stumble across the bones of one of the “cloud cats” and observe one living in the treetops. But they are captured by the pirates, whose hideout is on the very same island. Will Matt and Kate be able to escape? You won’t want to stop turning the pages until you know the answer! Rich with action, the character development does not suffer. Matt and Kate are likable heroes, the pirates vile and even the airship, Aurora, takes on a personality of its own.

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find Airborn at your local library.

Chasing Vermeer

by: Blue Balliett - (Scholastic, 2004) 254 pages.

Mysterious letters, picture puzzles called “pentominoes,” and a stolen painting by the Dutch artist Vermeer unite unlikely friends, Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay, in an effort to solve a mystery.

Find Chasing Vermeer at your local library.

Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case

by: Donald J. Sobol - (Dutton, 2007) 128 pages.

Children will enjoy beating Encyclopedia Brown to the solution in each of these 10 short stories. The cases require different knowledge to solve them, so this collection is good for budding history buffs and scientists.

Find Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case at your local library.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by: E.L. Konigsburg - (Simon & Schuster, 1967) 162 pages.

Twelve-year-old Claudia and her younger brother Jamie are running away from the tyranny of unappreciative parents and the drudgery of day-to-day living. Claudia has carefully hand-picked the beautiful Metropolitan Museum of Art as their new home. There they quite unexpectedly stumble upon an unknown statue by none other than Michelangelo…or is it? Winner of the 1967 Newbery Award.

Find From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler at your local library.

The Homework Machine

by: Dan Gutman - (Simon & Schuster, 2006) 160 pages.

Young readers will recognize their classmates and maybe themselves in the key witnesses who describe the events (interrogation-style) leading up to the discovery, use and destruction of a computer that was supposed to make kids’ lives easier. It didn’t.

Find The Homework Machine at your local library.

The Lady Grace Mysteries

by: Lady Grace Cavendish - (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2004)

Series by various authors writing as Lady Grace Cavendish (Random House, 2004-2006). Lady Grace Cavendish is the Nancy Drew of the Elizabethan Age, an independent-minded teenager whose godmother just happens to be Elizabeth I. Court intrigues and rivalries, swashbucklers, unlikely friends and a mystery in each book make these very lively historical novels.

Find The Lady Grace Mysteries at your local library.

Spy Force Mission: In Search of the Time and Space Machine

by: Deborah Abela , illustrated by: George O'Connor - (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2005) 240 pages.

An 11-year-old girl discovers boredom is the least of her problems during the summer she spends at her aunt’s farm. Her secret-agent stories take on a new reality when she happens upon a real spy ring. This story is the ultimate thriller for our age.

Find Spy Force Mission: In Search of the Time and Space Machine at your local library.

Time Stops for No Mouse

by: Michael Hoeye - (Putnam, 2002) 279 pages.

Hermux is a watchmaker who also happens to be a mouse. He is mostly content with his life of order and quiet nights curled up with some cheese and a good book, but that all changes when one Linka Perflinger, aviatrix and daredevil, enters and mysteriously exits the picture.

Find Time Stops for No Mouse at your local library.

Alabama Moon

by: Watt Key - (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006) 304 pages.

In the piney woods of south Alabama, 10-year-old Moon Blake has been raised by his survivalist father, a paranoid Vietnam veteran. When his father dies, Moon buries him beside his mother, who had softened their harsh existence while she lived. Not long before he died, Moon’s father told him to write him letters after his death — and if Moon burned the letters, the messages would reach him. Pap called these “smoke letters.” … With a wonderful villain and touches of distinctive humor, the author takes his wiry, tough, goodhearted hero through a residence in a boys’ “home,” a true friendship, assorted escapes and into a happy ending. … This debut novel is absolutely first-rate.

Perfect for: Kids who like realism.

Find Alabama Moon at your local library.

Becoming Naomi Leon

by: Pam Munoz Ryan - (Scholastic, 2004) 272 pages.

Naomi Leon Outlaw is many things: a great sister, a kind granddaughter, and an excellent soap carver, but she is having a harder time just being Naomi. Her journey to find her own true voice and reconnect with her father takes her from a trailer park in Lemon Tree, California, to a radish-carving festival in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Perfect for: Kids who have changed as they’ve grown up.

Find Becoming Naomi Leon at your local library.

Homeless Bird

by: Gloria Whelan - (HarperCollins Publishers, 2000) 192 pages.

Set in India, this is a lyrical and compassionate portrait of a survivor. Thirteen-year-old Koly is getting married to someone she has never met. When her new husband turns out to be gravely ill, things take a turn for the worse. Koly finds herself widowed, hopeless and on the streets.

Find Homeless Bird at your local library.

The Liberation of Gabriel King

by: K.L. Going - (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005) 151 pages.

Frita Wilson works hard to help her friend Gabe to overcome the fear of bullies in fifth grade. This is an inspiring story about friendship and understanding between an African American girl and a white boy.

Find The Liberation of Gabriel King at your local library.

Maniac Magee

by: Jerry Spinelli - (Little, Brown, 1990) 184 pages.

A homeless orphan becomes a legend in a town divided by racism in this sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always exciting story. Jeffrey Magee’s exploits may have made him famous, but reconciling a town filled with hate and finding a decent life for himself may be more than even he can manage.

Find Maniac Magee at your local library.

by: Andrew Clements , illustrated by: Mark Elliott - (Simon & Schuster, 2007) 146 pages.

This is an ear-to-ear-grinningly delightful school story. Parents need to know that there is nothing to be concerned about here and lots to cheer. It’s a story that even reluctant readers can love, about good-hearted children and adults who grow in compassion and understanding. Families can talk about silence and civil disobedience. Why does the silence seem so powerful? How does it change everyone’s perceptions? What do you think of the standoff between Dave and the principal?

Find No Talking at your local library.

by: Eleanor Porter - (Simon and Schuster, 1913) 304 pages.

A tonic in cynical times, this book offers a philosophy of life that can have a big impact on younger children. Playing the Glad Game is worth a try for any family. Like other books of its time, Pollyanna contains a few comments that are considered racist by modern standards: a maid is referred to as “Black Tilly,” and there are several comments to the effect that little boys from India are “heathens” who “don’t know any more than to think that God was in that [idol].”

Find Pollyanna at your local library.

The Wednesday Wars

by: Gary Schmidt - (Clarion Books, 2007) 264 pages.

On Wednesday afternoons half of Holling’s class leaves school early for Catechism class. The other half leaves early for Hebrew School. That leaves Presbyterian Holling alone every Wednesday afternoon with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Neither of them is happy at the prospect, and Holling is sure Mrs. Baker hates him as a result. At first, Mrs. Baker just has Holling clean erasers, but then decides to make better use of the time by introducing him to Shakespeare. And as events in the larger world during the 1967-68 school year unfold in the background, Holling begins to learn about himself, his family, friends and the mysterious adult world.

Find The Wednesday Wars at your local library.

The View From Saturday

by: E.L. Konigsburg - (Simon and Schuster, 1996) 163 pages.

Main characters not only compete in an academic contest (contest answers included at the back!) but also outwit the class bullies using brains, not brawn. Nadia, Noah, Ethan and Julian, so closely linked in friendship that they call themselves “the Souls,” each narrates a part of the book. Part of the pleasure comes from watching the foursome’s varied life experiences help them succeed as an Academic Bowl Team, and part comes from the suspense generated at the story’s beginning: How does Mrs. Olinski select the children for her team? Only Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian know — and in alternating chapters, each one tells a different piece of the story of how they became friends. The calamitous wedding of Nadia’s grandfather and Ethan’s grandmother, where Noah fills in as best man, is just the beginning. Mrs. Olinski, a paraplegic, proves to be an indomitable coach as the foursome wins one victory after another.

Find The View From Saturday at your local library.

by: Dan and Zaki Gordon - (Delacorte Press, 1997) 170 pages.

Children are encouraged to interact with the exciting story. When melodramatically read aloud, it’s a sure success. The Bugle Boy models brave steadfast friendship. The toys are animated by the power of imagination, and represent characters from various other stories.

Perfect for: Kids who like science fiction and fantasy.

Find Davin at your local library.

The Emerald Wand of Oz

by: Sherwood Smith , illustrated by: William Stout - (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2005) 272 pages.

This book transports the reader back to the enchanted land of Oz, but it is a much different Oz than the one to which Dorothy traveled. Two girls named Dori and Em will try to save Oz from yet another wicked witch.

Find The Emerald Wand of Oz at your local library.

The Five Ancestors: Snake

by: Jeff Stone - (Random House, 2006) 208 pages.

Follow the adventures of 12-year-old Seh (snake), Fu (tiger) and Malao (monkey) in 17th-century China. With the many twists and turns in the plot, you never know who is friend or foe. Even family members are not always who they seem to be.

Find The Five Ancestors: Snake at your local library.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories

by: Salman Rushdie - (Granta Books in association with Viking, 1990) 224 pages.

Rushdie’s only children’s book begins somewhere in Western Asia. Drawing upon the folklore of India and Muslim cultures, the story takes its father and son heroes on a quest from our contemporary world into a magnificently conceived “other” world. In the real world, Rashid Khalifa, the father, has lost his remarkable ability to tell stories, earning the moniker the Shah of Blah. Simultaneously, in the fantasy world, stories are disappearing from the Sea of Stories. Haroun, Rashid’s son, searches for the mysterious cause of his father’s loss and remedy to restore his talent. He encounters situations and characters of great originality, humor and imagination in a fast-moving tale full of word play and clever dialogue.

Find Haroun and the Sea of Stories at your local library.

Molly Moon’s Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure

by: Georgia Byng , illustrated by: Mark Zug - (HarperCollins, 2005) 400 pages.

Molly’s time travels take her to India in the late 1800s. The high-speed novel fascinates readers as the nasty maharaja of Waqt sets about kidnapping Molly at ages 10, 6 and 3, and as a baby.

Find Molly Moon’s Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure at your local library.

Ranger’s Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan

by: John Flanagan - (The Penguin Group, 2005) 249 pages.

Will wants to attend Battleschool to serve the kingdom. His small size leads him to be assigned as a Ranger’s apprentice. His bravery and skills eventually fulfill his dream of protecting the kingdom.

Find Ranger’s Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan at your local library.

The Scarecrow and His Servant

by: Philip Pullman , illustrated by: Peter Bailey - (Random House, 2005) 229 pages.

This scarecrow is not from a cornfield in Oz. He is from a real cornfield, but he springs to life and goes on many dangerous adventures. The biggest danger is from a family that the reader is sure to find exciting.

Find The Scarecrow and His Servant at your local library.

The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy-Tale Detectives

by: Michael Buckley - (Scholastic, 2007) 284 pages.

Have you read the Brothers Grimm classic book of fairy tales? Did you think they were “just stories”? That is what sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm thought until their parents mysteriously disappeared one day. After being shuffled through several foster homes, they end up with a woman named Relda Grimm. Relda claims to be their grandmother and informs the sisters that the fairy tales are actually historical events collected by their ancestors, whose role has always been to maintain the fragile peace between the humans and the Everafters, the proper term for fairy-tale creatures. Daphne, the younger sister, loves Relda and their new life, while Sabrina is skeptical. Everything changes, however, when their grandmother and Mr. Canis, the butler, are kidnapped by a giant and the girls have no choice but to rescue their newfound family.

Find The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy-Tale Detectives at your local library.

The Sisters Grimm Book Two: The Unusual Suspects

by: Michael Buckley - (Scholastic, 2007) 290 pages.

Now that Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are living with their grandmother Relda in Ferryport Landing, New York, the time to start school has arrived. Daphne is in second grade, with Snow White as a teacher, and school could not be more fun. Sabrina, on the other hand, is in sixth grade and quickly discovers that the entire sixth-grade teaching staff is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Not only that, but the majority of the students sleep through every class and have not done their homework. When Sabrina’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Grumpner, is found dead and dangling from a spider’s web, the Grimm family must step in and try to solve the crime before more people get hurt.

Find The Sisters Grimm Book Two: The Unusual Suspects at your local library.

by: David Almond - (Random House, 1998) 182 pages.

Is the creature dying in Michael’s garage a man, a bird, an angel or all three? And what is his connection to Michael’s baby sister, who’s in the hospital with a heart problem? This gorgeously weird novel holds readers entranced in a spell woven of moonlight, owls and poetry. Among the many pleasures of this atmospheric and stunningly beautiful novel are the characters of Michael, a deeply empathetic boy, and Mina, who studies birds and William Blake (and who should be the poster child for home schooling) — and the tender and touching relationship Michael and Mina develop in caring for Skellig and worrying about his baby sister.

Want to see the movie? Check out the 2009 made-for-TV adaptation, Skellig: The Owl Man .

Find Skellig at your local library.

The True Meaning of SmekDay

by: Adam Rex - (Hyperion, 2007) 423 pages.

A rollicking adventure told by young Gratuity Tucci, this is the story of the invasion of Earth by aliens known as the Boov. All Americans are relocated to Florida (but then to Texas, once the Boov figure out the joys of orange juice). Gratuity only wants to find her mom. She sets out on her own, joins forces with a renegade Boovian mechanic named J.Lo, has to figure out how to save the Earth, and then the Boov from the Gorg. Good grief, what a mess! But Gratuity Tucci is a heroine of the most invincible kind: a small, 12-year-old girl. And in the grand tradition of small, 12-year-old girls everywhere, she is completely underestimated by absolutely everyone!

Find The True Meaning of Smekday at your local library.

Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates

by: Mary Mapes Dodge - (TorBooks, 1999) 288 pages.

In this enduring winter classic, Hans and his sister Gretel must find a way to help their desperately poor family survive. Their chance to win the coveted silver skates in a race on the village’s frozen canals could save them all. Continuously in print since 1865, this is a timeless classic of love and loyalty to share with a new generation.

Perfect for: Kids who likes classic stories.

Find Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates at your local library.

by: Jutta Goetze - (Allen & Unwin, 2006) 300 pages.

Snow Wings is a fantasy where evil forces have taken over the world. Six kids must learn to face their fears and work together to save the planet in this page-turner that takes its heroes on alpine adventures involving avalanche rescues, ski races, snow lizards, flying sleighs and magical snowmen. An engaging fantasy mixed with a modern-day thriller.

Find Snow Wings at your local library.

Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes

by: Pamela S. Turner - (Houghton Mifflin, 2005) 64 pages.

The veterinarians of Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Project make house calls — or rather, “forest calls” — tracking down and treating ailing gorillas in the wild. Short chapters present dramatic accounts of real incidents, such as an expedition to untangle a gorilla from an antelope snare or the rescue of an orphaned baby gorilla. Factual information about these endangered animals is included, as well as full-color photos of the gorillas and the doctors. This book will appeal to animal lovers and to kids thinking of careers as veterinarians or naturalists.

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction and animals.

Find Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes at your local library.

by: Lady Hestia Evans - (Candlewick, 2007) 332 pages.

The illustrations, maps and interactive pop-ups in this book will develop a child’s interest in mythology. Add to that a sidebar of mystery on every page, and they will learn the relationships between the characters in no time.

Find Mythology at your local library.

Show; Don’t Tell! Secrets of Writing

by: Josephine Nobisso , illustrated by: Eva Montanari - (Gingerbread House, 2004) 40 pages.

This nonfiction text offers older students the chance to explore the genres of writing in an easy-to-use format. The characters and illustrations were found to be intriguing enough to make students want to finish the book.

Perfect for: Kids who like to write.

Find Show; Don’t Tell! Secrets of Writing at your local library.

The Grapes of Math

by: Gregory Tang , illustrated by: Harry Briggs - (Scholastic, 2001) 40 pages.

Parents and teachers alike, if you want a fun and innovative way to motivate your math students, this book is for you! Tang cleverly teaches problem solving through the use of mind-stretching riddles. Don’t expect the ordinary with this book. Children are taught to look for patterns and solve problems in unexpected ways. In fact, your child will be so engrossed that he won’t even realize the educational value of this book.

Perfect for: Kids who like numbers.

Find The Grapes of Math at your local library.

Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets

by: John Farndon - (DK Publishing, 2007) 256 pages.

The name of the book alone gets readers to pick it up. Once open, they’ll find weird and interesting facts. Readers engage in learning through rich illustrations of the world’s best-kept secrets. This book contains much more than just trivia.

Find Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets at your local library.

Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know…

by: Jeremy Leslie and David Roberts - (DK Publishing, 2006) 352 pages.

Longtime publisher of kid’s information-weighted books and software, Dorling Kindersley (DK) is trying to bring the computer-mesmerized, videogame-addicted, next-generation kids back to books. And this energetic, colorful, oddball compendium of info “you need to know” tackles that objective head-on. … True to DK’s approach, this plump collection of all and everything is illustrated to the extreme, some of its pages dominated with poignant or wacky photos and minimal explanations, others filled with words in the tiniest of type. … Unconventional, yes, but the book is fun and fascinating, and aptly titled. Young readers will pick it up again and again, and undoubtedly learn something they “need to know.”

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction and facts.

Find Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know… at your local library.

Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My World! Recipes that Take You Places

by: Emeril Lagasse , illustrated by: Charles Yuen - (HarperCollins, 2006) 210 pages.

Star chef Emeril Lagasse takes readers’ taste buds on a trip around the world in this follow-up book to his two previous kids’ cookbooks (There’s a Chef in My Soup! and There’s a Chef in My Family!). Young chefs will enjoy this lively cookbook that includes more than 70 recipes from every region of the world. The format is friendly with clear ingredient lists and numbered directions. There are pronunciation guides for foreign names, interesting food and cultural facts (for instance, in Ireland, salmon is the most prized fish and thought to have magical powers), and bright and colorful illustrations of the dishes. This book would be a great way to get the whole family into the kitchen and cooking together.

Perfect for: Kids who like to cook.

Find Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My World! Recipes that Take You Places at your local library.

Roald Dahl’s Even More Revolting Recipes

by: Felicity Dahl and Roald Dahl , illustrated by: Quentin Blake and Jan Baldwin - (Viking/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 2001) 64 pages.

If the Addams Family had a favorite cookbook, this would be it. Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake have teamed up again to create the companion volume to his first culinary compendium, Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes. Aficionados will recognize some of the dishes from Mr. Dahl’s other works, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. While some of the recipes may sound fairly disgusting, none of them really is. The titles alone are enough to fill young and mischievous cooks with glee as they look forward to presenting company with a plate of Soil with Engine Oil or some Boiled Slobbages. Parents, please note: While the dishes are calculated to appeal to younger appetites, the directions may get a bit overwhelming for junior chefs. Adult supervision is the rule rather than the exception here, so get a firm grip on your sense of humor and wade on in. Who knew lizard’s tails could be so tasty?

Find Roald Dahl’s Even More Revolting Recipes at your local library.

Everything Kids’ Environment Book

by: Sheri Amsel - (Adams Media, 2007) 144 pages.

The books in Adams Media’s Everything Kids’ series provide encyclopedic yet entertaining introductions to their topics, and this volume on the environment is no exception. Perfect for the curious child, this guide — filled with eco-friendly activities and puzzles — shows them how to reduce waste, recycle materials and protect plants and animals.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find Everything Kids’ Environment Book at your local library.

A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids: Understanding Climate Change and What You Can Do About It

by: Julie Hall , illustrated by: Sarah Lane - (Green Goat Books, 2007) 88 pages.

A great find, A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids features the very latest information about the causes and effects of climate change without being heavy-handed. Through its hands-on activities, eco-hero stories and hopeful message, this book will inspire kids, families and schools to join the fight against global warming.

Find A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids at your local library.

Hurricane Force: In the Path of America’s Deadliest Storms

by: Joseph B. Treaster - (Kingfisher, 2007) 128 pages.

The author of this book, longtime New York Times reporter Joseph Treaster, was in the New Orleans city hall when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He draws on his experiences covering Katrina and its aftermath to provide younger readers with a first-hand look at the deadly storms we call hurricanes. Along with his eyewitness accounts, there is information about what scientists currently know about how and why hurricanes form, how they are tracked, and how they impact coastal areas. Precautions and planning for future storms are also discussed. Dramatic color photos enhance the solid information presented in this book.

Find Hurricane Force at your local library.

How Basketball Works

by: Keltie Thomas , illustrated by: Greg Hall - (Maple Tree Press, 2005) 64 pages.

Young readers who enjoy basketball will love this book. Beyond the usual retelling of the history of the game (the physical education teacher who nailed the peach baskets to the gymnasium balcony to give athletes something to do in the winter), this book provides information about the rules of the game, how to become a better player, anecdotes about legendary players, how equipment has evolved over time and tips on game strategy. Conversational text is interspersed with lively illustrations, diagrams and photographs. Even reluctant readers might actually take a break from shooting hoops to read this one.

Perfect for: Kids who like sports.

Find How Basketball Works at your local library.

Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself

by: Maxine Anderson - (Nomad Press, 2006) 128 pages.

DIY kids will love this book. Parents will love what they’re learning. Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself begins with an introduction to the Renaissance and a biography of da Vinci, including excerpts from his notebooks and reproductions of his drawings. But the main attraction is the step-by-step instructions for making 19 of da Vinci’s inventions, including a perspectograph, a camera obscura, a hydrometer, invisible ink, walk-on-water shoes, and miniature versions of his helicopter and tank. Adult supervision is recommended where appropriate. For kids who like science and nature.

Perfect for: Kids who like building things.

Find Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself at your local library.

The Dark Is Rising

by: Susan Cooper - (Simon and Schuster, 1973) 224 pages.

This is the second book in a five-book series and actually the best one to start with. Cooper convincingly combines fantasy elements with folklore and mythology. Events coincide with significant dates, such as Will’s birthday, which is close to Christmas and Twelfth Night, and the use of circles to create a link between the Six Signs and the power of the Light add to this story’s mystical aura. Will Stanton meets his destiny on his 11th birthday. He is the Sign-Seeker, last of the immortal Old Ones, who must find and guard the six great Signs of the Light that will overcome the ancient evil that is overpowering the land. This classic fantasy is a bit slow, but enthralling.

Perfect for: Kids who like fantasy stories.

Find The Dark Is Rising at your local library.

Pirateology

by: Captain William Lubber, Dugald A. Steer (Editor) , illustrated by: Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Ian Andrew and Helen Ward - (Candlewick Press, 2006) 32 pages.

The richly detailed Pirateology (the latest of the popular ‘Ology books) is a standout among pirate merchandise, and a treat for both children and adults. This hefty volume centers on the search for treasure left by the “notorious” (i.e., fictional) pirate Arabella Drummond and comes with a host of pirate gear: a compass, maps and scraps of flags, among others. Pirateology is loaded with envelopes to be opened, journals and letters to pore over, and codes to be deciphered. Along the way, children learn about navigation, history, zoology and more. Real pirate lore is seamlessly blended with fictional narrative (even the publishing credits are disguised so as not to break the mood), and the old-fashioned illustrations are top notch. Another notable feature is that the pirate pursued here is female, making this book appeal to readers of both genders.

Find Pirateology at your local library.

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

by: Margriet Ruurs - (Boyds Mills Press, 2005) 32 pages.

From camels to elephants to boats and trolleys, this is an inspirational look at the great lengths that some librarians go to to bring books to children around the world.

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction.

Find My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World at your local library.

Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People

by: Sheila Keenan - (Scholastic Nonfiction, 2007) 112 pages.

Fascinating facts, historical details, endearing animal photographs and some famous people with their pets are presented in a colorful and inviting format that provides young pet lovers with an abundance of reasons for why we love our furry or feathered friends.

Perfect for: Kids who like history.

Find Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People at your local library.

The Water Horse

by: Dick King-Smith , illustrated by: David Parkins - (Crown Publishers, 1998) 118 pages.

The hook: Here is another sweet animal tale from the author of Babe. Aside from the Water Horse eating a swan, there is little to be concerned about here. Families who read this book could discuss the Loch Ness Monster. Do you think it could be real? Why or why not? How might a story like this have gotten started? Your children might be interested in doing a little research and seeing the supposed photos of the monster.

Want to see the movie? The 2007 adaptation, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep , is loosely based on the book, but adds in a WWII plot line to lengthen the story.

Find The Water Horse at your local library.

Freak the Mighty

by: Rodman Philbrick - (Blue Sky Press, 1993) 192 pages.

Max, who struggles with a learning disability, is big compared to other kids his age — though he’s not as big as his violent, convict father, who is in prison for killing Max’s mother. Brilliant, tiny Kevin suffers from a crippling disease that causes him to wear leg braces and keeps his body from growing. The two eighth grade outcasts form a powerfully symbiotic friendship, each drawing on the other’s strengths as they face bullies and more serious dangers together. This poignant, often funny book deals with intense subject matter and packs strong messages about friendship, bravery, and accepting those who are different.

Want to see the movie? Check out The Mighty (1998), starring Sharon Stone and Kieran Culkin as Kevin.

Perfect for: Kids who have ever felt different or left out.

Find Freak the Mighty at your local library.

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Best Books for 5th Graders

Dive into literary worlds perfect for 5th graders, as featured in leading book blogs. these titles have been consistently ranked as top picks for young readers..

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Best Books for Fifth Graders

By fifth grade, kids are more curious about the world around them and starting to wonder about their place in it. Our list offers captivating, tween-friendly stories from a variety of perspectives. You'll find historical fiction, realistic contemporary stories, exciting fantasies, middle school tales, and memoirs in verse. There is so much to choose from for kids age 10 to 11. Dive into these picks for older elementary school kids, and also explore our Best Book Series for Tweens . And when they're ready, check out the Best Books for Sixth Graders .

Amber & Clay

Lyrical, epic tale of ancient Greece is emotionally intense.

As Brave As You

Poignant summer adventure brims with family love and hope.

Best Nerds Forever

Ghostly mystery has humor, sadness, and surprising depth.

Better Nate Than Ever

Terrific tale of misfit taking bold step to remake his life.

Soccer player faces divorce, bullies in fast-paced novel.

Brown Girl Dreaming

Captivating poems depict coming-of-age in tumultuous 1960s.

The Chance to Fly

Uplifting musical theater-themed story has charming lead.

Counting by 7s

Striking tale of quirky girl connecting after parental loss.

Echo Mountain

Girl finds her strengths in rich, poignant Depression tale.

Esperanza Rising

Historical fiction at its best in story of '30s farmworkers.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Newbery Honor book about a smart Southern tomboy in 1899.

The False Prince: The Ascendance Trilogy, Book 1

Page-turning adventure of false identity and intrigue.

Fish in a Tree

Big-hearted book about overcoming dyslexia inspires.

Ghost: Track, Book 1

Poignant, smart look at track star running from his past.

Girl Giant and the Monkey King

Middle school girl uses trickster god's help in fun fantasy.

Gold Rush Girl

Great characters, perilous adventures in historical tale.

Exciting mystery is often intense but occasionally funny.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

Inspiring memoir of teen Nobel laureate shot by Taliban.

I Funny: A Middle School Story

Middle school humor mixes with moving disability subplot.

Inside Out and Back Again

Inspiring verse story of immigrant's new life in the U.S.

Other great lists from our editors

• Best Books for Sixth Graders
• Mystery Books
• Adventure Books
• Books to Help Your Kid Survive Middle School
• How to Raise a Reader
• How Comics Helped My Kid Love Reading
• Help Your Kids Find Books with Diverse Characters

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

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20 Chapter Books To Inspire Fifth Graders

A good book can be life-changing.

Fifth grade is a year of many transitions. As students gain more maturity and life experience, they can access books that expand their minds and hearts. With the right books, the freedom to explore new genres and content can be invigorating for you and your readers. Get ready to laugh, cry, and learn alongside them as you experience these literary gems together. And as they incorporate deeper themes of hope, loss, and connection, these chapter books for fifth graders are sure to stay with your students long after they leave your classroom. But even with our highly independent readers and thinkers, we still love to include read-alouds in our instruction. Promoting discussion and understanding with students, it offers a chance to safely navigate complex topics and discover wisdom together.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

We can’t recommend this uplifting book enough! With the help of an inspiring teacher who sees her for who she really is, Ally learns how to embrace her dyslexia and believe in herself. Students will resonate with the accurate portrayal of learning differences and how hard it can feel to stand out. This important and moving story will make for a powerful discussion, and it encourages acceptance and understanding of the unique qualities that define us.

Buy it: Fish in a Tree at Amazon

2. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A young girl named Ada and her brother escape the wrath of their abusive mom when they flee their town during World War II. To make matters more complicated, Ada has a club foot and struggles to walk. Once they are taken in by an older women, Ada lives in fear that they will have to return home. Beautiful, descriptive writing and captivating storytelling propel this emotional tale, as it details the devastation and consequences of the war.

Buy it: The War That Saved My Life at Amazon

3. Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series by Chris Grabenstein

More than anything, Kyle Keeley loves to play games and is thrilled to be picked to attend the grand opening of an innovative new library. After meeting his idol and the mastermind behind it all, Mr. Lemoncello, Kyle ends up getting more adventure than he bargained for. This book is a great introduction to these page-turning chapter books for fifth graders. The funny, engaging story will leave readers eager to experience more escapades with eccentric characters.

Buy it: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series at Amazon

4. The Crossover series by Kwame Alexander

Don’t miss this Newbery-award winner by celebrated author Kwame Alexander. Josh and his twin brother, JB, are the stars of their basketball team. Underneath this simple backdrop comes an extraordinary story written entirely in verse. These chapter books for fifth graders explore the power of family relationships, middle school social dynamics, and, of course, basketball. An emotional read that will resonate with you and your students, this story will make an impression on everyone.

Buy it: Crossover series at Amazon ADVERTISEMENT

5. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Everyone assumes that because 11-year-old Melody has cerebral palsy and can’t talk, she’s not smart, but nothing could be further from the truth. Once she finds a way to communicate, the world opens up for her. Filled with hope, self-acceptance, and courage, this powerful novel is a must-read.

Buy it: Out of My Mind at Amazon

6. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Our list would not be complete without including a book by all-star author Kate DiCamillo. Unique and imaginative, the story of a cynical girl and a squirrel turned superhero is pure magic. Readers will appreciate the emotional nuance and maturity it entrusts to them, as well as the somewhat absurd premise. This thrilling combination makes this chapter book for fifth graders a standout.

Buy it: Flora and Ulysses at Amazon

7. When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

This fantastic graphic novel about Omar’s experience growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya is eye-opening and unforgettable. Exploring what it means to find hope and courage in the most harrowing circumstances, the story awakens our empathy for these immensely difficult experiences and inspires us on our own journeys.

Buy it: When Stars Are Scattered at Amazon

8. Best Nerds Forever by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Ghosts don’t always have to be scary—in fact, they can be downright hilarious. In this engrossing and emotional story, Finn dies in a bike accident but comes back as a ghost to learn the truth surrounding his mysterious death. Exploring themes of friendship, what it means to be alive, and how to deal with regret, the story will resonate with readers while pulling at their heartstrings.

Buy it: Best Nerds Forever at Amazon

9. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Delphine and her two younger sisters travel across the country to visit their mother, who had long since abandoned them. Set in the backdrop of Oakland and the Black Panther movement of 1968, this award-winning novel explores complex family dynamics as well as important historical events. Don’t miss this beautiful and honest story to engage and inform your fifth graders.

Buy it: One Crazy Summer at Amazon

10. The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

If you haven’t yet explored the work of talented author Gordon Korman, this chapter book for fifth graders is a great place to start. Much to his chagrin, Mr. Kermit, an ostracized teacher on the brink of retirement, is put in charge of a group of misfit eighth graders. Can he rediscover his love of teaching while helping his disheartened students finally find their voice? With a keen understanding of early adolescents and talent for character development, Korman will have you laughing and crying, all while routing for the underdog in this story brimming with humanity.

Buy it: The Unteachables at Amazon

11. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry masterfully tells the fictional story of Annemarie, a young girl in Denmark during World War II. She and her family help their Jewish best friends escape from the Nazis to Sweden. Tackling the immense topic of the Holocaust with incredible precision and tenderness, the story is evocative and heartbreaking. We recommend reading this well-deserved Newbery winner alongside your students. This is one of those rare books that will stay with you and your readers for a lifetime.

Buy it: Number the Stars at Amazon

12. Ghost by Jason Reynolds

One of four stories in a series, this one is a great choice for reluctant readers. Castle Crenshaw, aka Ghost, has always known how to run fast, especially when his life depended on it. But the last thing he expects to do is join the track team and train with teammates who are all running from something in their lives too. Honest and relatable, these chapter books for fifth graders are so much more than just another collection of sports stories.

Buy it: Ghost at Amazon

13. Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

From the distinguished author of Brown Girl Dreaming comes another wonderful title to add to your fifth grade classroom library. As a group of kids meets to share with each other their painful personal struggles, their lives open up in meaningful and unexpected ways. Sometimes being vulnerable and forming connections can make all the difference, even when the challenges we face feel impossibly daunting. This weighty but relevant book is an important read.

Buy it: Harbor Me at Amazon

14. The Cardboard Kingdom series by Chad Sell

Graphic novels just never get old. Enticing art and accessible writing contribute to the success of these entertaining chapter books for fifth graders. Kids in the neighborhood create their own imaginative characters and costumes out of cardboard boxes, which helps them process the challenges in their lives. Imaginative and clever, each chapter features a diverse character and their alter ego.

Buy it: The Cardboard Kingdom series at Amazon

15. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

We couldn’t resist adding yet another Newbery Medal winner to our list. This sci-fi story is brilliant in its originality and intricate plot. A young girl named Miranda receives mysterious notes and has to figure out who they’re from and why she’s getting them before something terrible happens. The story includes many references to the classic book A Wrinkle in Time , offering a great opportunity to read these two books together and discuss the connections between them.

Buy it: When You Reach Me at Amazon

16. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

What do you do when the only two people who understand you are killed in a tragic accident? This is the start to the remarkable story of a special girl named Willow who loses her parents and is left to navigate life on her own. She also happens to be a genius, and with that comes with its own unique challenges. As Willow figures out how to carry on, she learns who she really is by trusting new friendships and building lasting bonds. Filled with wonderful insight into grief, individuality, and how to hold onto hope, this poignant story is a must-read.

Buy it: Counting by 7s at Amazon

17. City Spies series by James Ponti

Looking for a fun, fast-paced spy series? These adventurous chapter books for fifth graders hit the mark. A team of five young secret agents from all over the world come together to fight evil, each of them bringing a unique special talent to the group. A page-turner perfect for readers who love mystery, the first installment will hook readers and get them excited about reading all four books in the series.

Buy it: City Spies series at Amazon

18. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This one definitely lives up to its hype. Auggie is a boy with significant facial differences who is returning to mainstream school after many years of being home. The rejection he experiences at school, as well as the kindness of some of his peers and teachers, gives us a glimpse at the best and worst in humanity. We love how this book beautifully promotes acceptance and shares the important implications of how we treat each other.

Buy it: Wonder at Amazon

19. Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia

This stunning compilation of short stories written by acclaimed Black authors is filled with heart. Seventeen stories across different genres highlight what it means to find joy in our lives even when things are hard. Each unique narrative explores the positive aspects of life with authenticity and honesty.

Buy it: Black Boy Joy at Amazon

20. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

A true classic to share with your fifth graders. Sal is on a road trip with her grandparents and tells them an elaborate and strange story about her friend, Phoebe Winterbottom. As she shares Phoebe’s story, she has to come to terms with her own feelings of loss and longing. With brilliant storytelling and emotional complexity, this award-winning novel is incredibly deep and moving.

Buy it: Walk Two Moons at Amazon

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Plus, check out this list for more book inspiration for fifth graders., you might also like.

45 Page-Turning 5th Grade Books Kids Love To Read (Plus Free Printable)

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46 Outstanding Books for 5th Graders That Are Lit

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Finding books for 5th graders, and middle schoolers in general, that not only appeal to but challenge our kids can be difficult.

We try to get them fired up about reading and keep their interest level up. Despite what they tell us, often, the problem isn’t that they don’t want to read it’s the books that miss the mark.

“There’s no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.” ―  James Patterson

But with some trial and error, you can find something your fifth-grade reader will enjoy.

This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission at no additional charge to you if you make a purchase using my links. Click here to see my full disclosure policy .

How to help your fifth grader choose the right book

Why is your reader reluctant?

• Is the book too hard?
• Do they struggle with a learning disability or other reading skills?
• Is it in the recommended reading list for their grade level but they’re an advanced reader and they’re simply bored?
• The subject matter or genre isn’t one that excites them

Even still, is it the way our society is fast-paced, and wants results right away from a screen?

I know my own kids have struggled with being interested in a book simply because they can “just watch the movie”.

They have the often-made misconception that because the movie has such graphic depictions with sights and sounds the book will be somehow lacking.

As an avid reader my entire life this is soul-crushing.

They miss out on being transported to another place and time so immersive that all else is forgotten. You are there. One with the characters. It’s happening to you.

They will argue this happens with movies.

But only a true book lover will tell you, “Well sort of but not quite”. As good as movies are, it’s a kinda almost.

Especially if you have read both the books and seen the movie. Leaving most book lovers screaming at the screen and completely dissatisfied afterward.

There are exceptions of course. And movies do offer an important place in storytelling.

As they move from young readers in elementary school to read more mature themes they will see, perhaps for the first time, that the best books are the ones where they can identify with personally or recognize their middle school peers.

Perhaps not in location but in feelings and hardships that the main character encounters. Through these great reads, they can learn how to cope with or deal with their own problems.

Empathy and compassion can be developed when individuals realize what it’s like to be in the shoes of others.

How can you encourage your reluctant reader?

• Follow their interests – biography of Jackie Robinson vs George Washington
• Read just for fun – magazines count too!
• Try audiobooks for a great way for struggling readers to enjoy stories
• Encourage trying a completely different genre
• Read aloud together – even older kids really enjoy it
• Read the same book and have discussions like a book club
• Online apps for reading e-books with laptops, tablets, or phones

Recommendations for Fifth Grade Reading Level Books

Since by now, most of you know all about Harry Potter and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and of great popular middle school writers like Jerry Spinelli and Gary Paulson that make all the book lists.

So while I have listed a few books that appear on many other 5th grade reading book lists I have also tried to include many that are not.

I have sorted them into types of books but some criss-cross into different categories so I have tried to list some stand-out attributes that make them great books.

My teens are well beyond fifth grade now but, it’s still about finding the right book.

So I asked them to give me a list of their favorites to add to this post.

My Teenager’s Must-Read Books for 5th Graders

N’s book recommendation.

• Coming of age
• Book 1 of 3
• Award-winning

Q’s Favorite Fifth Grade Book

• Historical Fiction
• Strong female lead
• Social injustice

R’s Top Pick for Chapter Book

• #1 New York Times Bestseller

“A mediation on kindness” R.J. Palacio – description of Wonder by the author

One more expert weighs in. My father taught middle school English for over 25 years.

He continues to teach at the college level for both reading and writing. As a teacher who still gets notes and kudos from former students and parents, I asked him for his top recommendation for the fifth-grade level.

Professor Dad’s Favorite Books for 5th Graders to Read

• Book 1 of 4
• Advanced readers

Best Series Books for Fifth Graders

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

• 5 book series
• New York Times Bestseller for over 600 weeks
• Classic novel
• 7 book series + Trivia book

Little House on the Prarie

• Historical fiction
• 9 book series

Humor Books For 5th Graders

• Graphic Novel
• Apocolyptic adventure
• Netflix series
• Superhero fiction
• Graphic novel
• Book 1 of 15
• Teacher’s Pick

• Action/Suspense
• Social Issues
• Clean reading

Graphic Novels for 5th Graders

• Amazon Editor’s Pick
• Award-Winning

Fantasy Books for 5th Graders

• New York Times Bestseller
• #1 New York Times Best Seller
• Teacher’s Choice

• Award-winning author

Science Fiction Books for 5th Graders

• Sci-fi / aliens
• Mystery/suspense
• Book 1 of 6
• Sci-fi/fantasy
• Mystery/Adventure

• Dystopian fantasy

Non-Fiction Books for 5th Graders

• Nat Geo fun facts
• Format great for reluctant readers
• Picture book

• New York Times bestseller
• Netflix film

General Fiction Books for 5th Grade

• Animal lovers
• Book 1 of 2

• Dog autobiography
• Scholastic Gold

Historical Fiction Books for 5th Graders

• African History
• Military Fiction
• World War I

• Social justice

Mystery Books for 5th Graders

• Time travel
• Historical references
• Recluctant readers
• Book 1 of 10

• Reluctant reader
• Book 1 of 5

Poem Books for Fifth Graders

• Vietnamese History
• Coming-of-Age

5th Grade Reading Books on Social Justice

• Women’s Right’s
• Middle Eastern History
• Nobel Peace Prize Author
• Biographies
• Social Activism
• Book 6 of 7

• Civil Rights
• New York Times best-seller

Best Fifth Grade Books with a Strong Female Lead

• Netflix Series
• Book 1 of 8

Scary 5th-Grade Reading Level Books

His Dark Materials 

• Fantasy/Sci-fi
• Action-thriller
• HBO Original Series
• Social science

• Short-stories collection

Classic Chapter Books for 5th Graders

• Action/Adventure

I hope you and your fifth grader enjoy this selection of 5th grade reading level books.

Which ones have you tried? Did you enjoy them? Which ones do you recommend? Leave us a comment.

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Honor Women’s History Month with your students by reading enriching biographies that will inspire all learners.

Covering a wide breadth of disciplines, eras, and reading levels, these nonfiction titles explore the vital contributions women have made to history, culture, and society. From politics and science , to sports and the arts and more, the endless fields in which women have made great strides will open your students’ eyes to their achievements and legacy. They’ll also have the chance to explore the many challenges these women faced along the way.

Perfect for building lesson plans around Women’s History Month or specific eras in history, these titles will help you teach students about the value of perseverance and overcoming adversity.

For instance,  I Am Ruby Bridges   shares the landmark story of one brave little girl who changed the trajectory of the Civil Rights movement and helped build a bridge between all people — told from the perspective of Ruby Bridges herself. Use this reading guide to spark meaningful conversation and reflection about Ruby Bridges' legacy and impact on education for future generations. 

Shop biographies about inspiring women below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store .

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53 Teacher Favorite 5th Grade Books for Mentor Texts and Classroom Read-Alouds

Written by Hilary Dorr

A love for reading often starts between the four walls of a classroom. Maybe you even still remember your favorite book from elementary school?

Our teacher team has put together a list of beloved books for 5th grade that will not only captivate young minds but can also teach a host of valuable lessons. To help you brainstorm lesson ideas, we have specific sections on stories surrounding World War II topics and mentor texts. Explore the list for read-aloud options, books for reluctant readers and stories that will open up some deep classroom discussions.

Many of these titles are award winners, engage resistant readers and inspire a love of reading. Keep reading to explore the list!

Books for 5th Graders

Insignificant events in the life of a cactus by dusti bowling.

Aven Green is a young girl born without arms who bonds with a classmate who also feels isolated because of a disability in this book that made the Library of Congress’s 52 Great Reads List in 2018. Aven and her family move to Arizona to manage a western-themed amusement park. Navigating the frigid waters of a new school is difficult for Aven — other kids stare and ignore her until she befriends a boy named Connor who has Tourette Syndrome.

This uplifting, coming-of-age story is a great representation of empathy for young readers, all while the plot thickens as Aven learns about her own past through the amusement park. Enthusiasts of this book can check out the sequel, Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus .

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

In this children’s literature classic, a mysterious tollbooth adds excitement to life for a young, once perpetually bored boy named Milo. Writer Norton Juster has said the book is meant to speak to the importance of learning to love learning. Now more than 50 years old, the book is still a kid favorite that can help you get your students hooked on  idioms  and figurative language — both are used in a creative, entertaining way throughout Juster’s book!

Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Is your class studying the Great Depression in American history this year? Consider adding this book to your lesson plans about a 10-year-old motherless boy on the run in 1936 Flint, Michigan . After spending time in orphanages and foster homes, Bud is a 10-year-old with a big hope: finding his father in Grand Rapids. Many of the characters he meets along the way help assist him in his quest, only for the reader to find a surprising turn when Bud reaches his destination.

This Coretta Scott King Award and Newberry Medal winner was also voted Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, and School Library Journal. This story is not only entertaining, but it also shines a light on perseverance through difficult situations.

A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park

This powerful book of hope and perseverance intertwines the stories of two 11-year-olds in Sudan overcoming life-threatening situations. Two parallel stories from different eras — 1985 and 2008 — intertwine in Park’s novel, and the alternating chapters of Nya’s and Salva’s stories make for a good narrative flow that will keep your 5th-graders engaged.

This book can spark classroom discussions on different lives and how some people are forced to live through extreme obstacles.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

This survival story is a riveting read and one that’s great for reluctant readers. The teen protagonist, Brian, is the only survivor of a plane crash and must learn to survive in the Canadian wilderness.

Hatchet was nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s the Great American Read, and you can use the award-winner as a model text for teaching descriptive writing. Have students write their own descriptions of the wilderness based on the book.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Known to captivate classes, Because of Mr. Terupt tells the story of a 5th-grade teacher who brings students together by helping them find each other’s strengths despite their differences. Weaving in important life lessons, the focus on students their own age will be relatable to your class, and the book has the added bonus of being a great model text for teaching character development.

Teach Starter Teacher Tip: Ask students to create a character profile for each of the students in Mr. Terupt’s class.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Lathan

Based on a true American mathematician, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch tells the story of Nathaniel Bowditch, a self-educated man of humble beginnings who went on to become the founder of modern maritime navigation. The novel includes descriptions of Nathaniel Bowditch’s passion for learning, and scenes of him studying late into the night and teaching himself Latin and French could motivate your students to pursue their own passions.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis’s book captures the power of family bonds as the Watson family travels to Birmingham, Alabama right as the civil rights movement gains momentum in 1960s America. This fictional Coretta Scott King Honoree is a great read and introduction to the civil rights movement or Black History Month with your students. The real-life bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is included in the tale, and this tragic moment in American history is handled with sensitivity and nuance, making it a powerful teaching moment.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Known for teacher favorites like Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Desperaux, award-winning author Kate DiCamillo brings us this perfect tale for reading out loud to your fifth-grade class. This emotional story is a tale of love and adventure when a little porcelain rabbit named Edward Tulane gets lost.

Use the book to open up discussions of compassion, brokenness and character development in a story.

Holes by Louis Sachar

For more than 20 years, readers have read and reread this beloved New York Times Bestseller and National Book Award Winner. Holes tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy sent to a detention center to build character by digging holes all day. Your students will love this cleverly written adventure story as the boys in the detention center work to find out why they’re digging holes.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Also the author of Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech tells the beloved story of orphaned teenage twins in Ruby Holler. Your class will stay rapt as the twins finally learn the meaning of family after being in and out of foster homes. Be aware that there are some descriptions of child abuse exacted by the children’s foster parents.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

We realize it’s almost impossible not to have heard of or read Bridge to Terabithia if you work in an elementary school, but we also know you’d be asking why we left this off our 5th grade book list if we did! This Newbery Medal winner is a story of friendship featuring two 5th graders, Jess and Leslie, who form a special bond while creating their own imaginary kingdom.

Although this book involves a tragedy with one of the main characters , its lessons in loss, finding strength, and building confidence in oneself make it an unforgettable read.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Adventure-seeking historical fiction-loving students will enjoy this Newbery Honor book. Charlotte Doyle is a 13-year-old who finds herself companionless on a long sea voyage from England to Rhode Island .

The journey becomes complicated as she gets entangled in a conflict between the captain and the crew. Resistant readers are known to gobble up this adventure story along with their bookworm buddies.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

This incredible survival story, based on real life, follows a young girl living alone on an island off the coast of California . Students will be inspired by the protagonist’s resistance, independence and courage as she navigates her small world alone.

You can explore the book’s historical context by discussing Native American history and the colonization of California. Why not have your students research and present on related topics?

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

This heartfelt book tells the story of a 216-year-old wish tree that shelters animals and watches over the neighborhood . When the wish tree’s life is threatened by the arrival of a new family, it seeks help from its animal friends. Topics covered in Wishtree include prejudice, hope, friendship and kindness.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

This hard-to-put-down mystery has sold more than 4 million copies! It follows the protagonist, Lina, as she and her friend try to save the city of Ember, the last refuge for the human race before it’s too late. This book sparks great discussions about human nature and immigration .

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Wonder is not only a wonderful story; it’s a great novel to read to teach higher-order thinking. Wonder follows a boy named Auggie Pullman who tries to navigate the harsh environment of bullying in a public school. Auggie is picked on because he has a facial deformity, but the book turns out to be a heartwarming, emotional and hopeful read that will spark discussions on acceptance, tolerance and awareness.

Try some of these ideas with your students after reading:

• Discuss common themes of the story including courage, kindness, bullying, isolation and acceptance.
• Brainstorm random acts of kindness students can do at school and in their communities.
• Check out the Wonder guide for teachers for project inspiration, teaching ideas and more.
• Watch the movie starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

We already mentioned one DiCamillo book, but we couldn’t skip this teacher favorite! Students’ imaginations will run wild as they follow the adventures of a little mouse. Despite feeling different from the other mice, Despereaux sets out to change the life of others and simultaneously finds his own courage and self-esteem along the way.

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins’s five-book series starts with Gregor the Overlander and ends with Gregor and the Code of Claw. These novels tell the story of a boy named Gregor who discovers that his destiny is to embark on a quest in the Underland, a world below New York City, and find his father. This enticing series will captivate students’ imaginations and hopefully inspire them to finish the series on the own (if you don’t do so as a read-aloud in class!).

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

A story of determination, E.B. White’s classic tells the tale of a trumpeter swan born without the ability to make any sound. Louis is the book’s protagonist who tries to find his own voice and win the affection of another swan. After he struggles in vain with this hope, his father gives him a trumpet — allowing Louis to both find his voice and express his feelings through music.

Bambi by Felix Salten

We all know of the cute, simplified interpretation by Disney, but the original Bambi story by Felix Salten is a true classic originally published in 1923. This timeless story of a young deer teaches lessons on the fragility of life, the cycles of nature  and the human effect on wildlife.

Teach Starter Teacher Tip: After reading, ask your students to create a nature journal based on their observations of the natural world, inspired by the descriptions in Bambi.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

A young girl named Winnie Foster discovers a spring that grants immortality in this modern-day classic. The story makes readers and listeners ponder whether eternal life is a blessing or a curse. Other themes in this novel include friendship , change, and transformation.

Discussion questions you can ask your class include:

• Would you want to live forever?
• If you had the opportunity to live forever, what age would you like to be and why?

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Lowry dives into the world of dreams with her imaginary creature, Littlest One, who’s responsible for delivering pleasant dreams to humans. When Sinisteeds, or dark creatures that deliver nightmares, try to control the dreams of a foster child with a troubled past, Littlest One tries to protect him. This original story lays a foundation for conversations about identity and perspective with your fifth graders.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Do you have students interested in STEM? This novel by Madeleine L’Engle can spark some imagination and perhaps encourage some of your young female students to embrace the world of STEM with vigor and enthusiasm, much like the story’s protagonist Meg.

In this classic Newbery Medal-winning story, Meg and Charles’ father mysteriously disappeared, and they must travel through space and time to try and find him. Family love and friendship are two takeaways from this story, along with good overcoming evil.

Browse our STEAM resource collection for further activities and worksheets after reading.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Tragedy strikes a wealthy family in Mexico forcing them to resettle in California during the Great Depression in this book perfect for 5th grade. The young protagonist, Esperanza, must learn important life lessons such as sacrifice and hard work for the well-being of her family. Many layers of discussion points stem from this book including rising above tragedy and adversity to the struggles many immigrants face on a daily basis.

Teach Starter Teacher Tip: Why not use the book as a starting point for a larger discussion on labor rights and workers’ rights? Students can do research and present on related topics such as the United Farm Workers and the history of labor unions in America.

There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar

Before Holes, Louis Sachar wrote another hit with kids, There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom. This realistic fiction novel tells the story of Bradley, the most hated kid in school. Through the encouragement of a new school counselor, Bradley finds the strength to believe in himself and find friendship. Teachers comment that this is an annual hit with their classes and teaches the importance of kindness.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver is a great introduction to the dystopian fiction genre from the author of Gossamer. Jonas is the protagonist living in a world where no one questions anything and citizens blindly obey orders. Once he receives his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory, he starts to understand the darkness of his fragile community. This thought-provoking story will have students analyze what it means to be human and have the ability to question and make choices.

If your students are begging for more when you’ve finished up this book, don’t worry — Lowry wrote four books in the series, so you can keep it going!

Shiloh by Phyllis Renolds Naylor

Who doesn’t love a story between a dog and a child? This heartwarming book is about a young boy, Marty, who befriends an abused dog owned by his neighbor. Although simplistic, this book has many underlying life lessons and messages that kids can relate to. It’s also relatively short, making it accessible to reluctant readers.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

This action-packed story is included in Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The author mixes Chinese folklore with fantasy, making this book an engaging option for young readers. Minli is the protagonist and gets inspired to set off on her own journey to find the Old Man on the Moon after listening to her father’s folktales.

Metaphors are woven into the characters symbolizing lessons of gratitude , becoming a role model and focusing on the positive.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Written from the perspective of a young teenager living during the dust bowl days, readers will enjoy this story of perseverance steeped in history. Billie Jo loves playing the piano, but an accident robs her of her ability to play which used to be the one thing that made her feel better. While dust storms and environmental turmoil ravage the land, Billie Jo and her family learn the power of hope and inner strength. This is a powerful story of the human spirit.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Billy is a young boy living in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma who works hard to save every penny in pursuit of buying two hunting dogs. His hard work pays off, and his small team’s achievements catch the attention of the region.  When tragedy strikes, Billy must learn how to focus on the power of hope. As a protagonist, Billy makes a great model of integrity, determination and hard work for students.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

A sweet and classic story of friendship, Charlotte’s Web’s beloved characters have captivated young minds for decades. Wilbur, a little pig in Zuckerman’s barn, befriends a small spider named Charlotte who expresses her feelings for him in her doorway web. This story is another treasured look at the circle of life, friendship and love.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Yes, it’s another DiCamillo book! Animal stories sure have a way of touching our souls and inspiring lives. This uplifting story is about a little girl named Opal who befriends a dog. It’s because of this dog — named Winn-Dixie just like the grocery store — that Opal starts to make friends and has the courage to ask her father about her mother abandoning them. She admits that everything that happened that same summer is because of her special canine friend.

While the overall story is heartwarming and age-appropriate, this story deals with more difficult experiences such as abandonment and losing a loved one.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Another Newbery Medal-winning classic, this survival story will engage young readers who love wilderness adventures similar to Island of the Blue Dolphins and Hatchet. Julie runs away from her village in this novel and becomes lost and alone on the Alaskan tundra . She must survive by copying the ways of a wolf pack until she can return to civilization.

The question is, when she returns to her old life, is it what she really wants? This story touches upon Inuit culture, the impact of Americanization and the protagonist’s determination to survive and learn to use her surroundings.

False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

The False Prince is the first of five books in the Ascendance series by Jennifer Nielsen. Sage is the orphaned protagonist who is recruited to compete for the role of impersonator of the king’s long-lost son. Sage is defiant and questions the motives behind this plan, but knows he will surely be killed if he refuses. With its twists and turns, this story is known to glue readers to the pages. Engage your young learners after reading with discussions around vocabulary words like deceit, the fantasy genre, and how monarchies still make an appearance in today’s world.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

The first installment of a two-part series, Out of My Mind is the story of a girl named Melody, the smartest kid in school. No one knows this, however, because Melody has cerebral palsy and cannot walk, talk, or write. Draper’s story is a great book about inclusion and accepting others despite their abilities, tying directly into social and emotional learning lessons.

The second book in this series is Out of My Heart .

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Salamanca (Sal) Tree Hiddle is an imaginative 13-year-old on a road trip from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric grandparents. To pass the time, Salamanca tells them a made-up story about Phoebe Winterbottom. It becomes clear that as their road trip progresses, Sal’s story about Phoebe parallels her own life. Themes in this story include loss, empathy and family, which you can discuss with your students.

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Fast-paced adventure fills the pages of The Lightning Thief and the rest of the Percy Jackson series. Some compare Percy Jackson to Harry Potter in the sense that the protagonist chases his destiny in a fantastical world through seven books. These stories also surround the overarching themes of friendship , loyalty, and doing what is right. Percy finds himself in a world where the mythical creatures in his mythology textbooks walk straight into his reality. He becomes the prime suspect for stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt and has 10 days to return it.

The Lightning Thief and the Percy Jackson series is a great base for a Greek mythology unit. As you come across new gods and goddesses in the novel, take time to explore each one, discover their symbolism and read shorter versions of their myths.

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen

From the author of False Prince, Jennifer Nielsen’s A Night Divided tells the fictional account of a girl named Gerta in 1960s Germany. When the Berlin Wall divides the country into East and West Germany, Gerta’s family is separated. Now, she and her family must carefully find their way to freedom.

Themes of courage, determination and family are all found in this story while also introducing the true construction of the Berlin Wall that stood for over two decades.

World War II Books for Kids

Looking for some books that are specifically focused around World War II to read with your 5th grade class? We’ve got you covered there too! Here are a few of our teacher team’s favorites from this era.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Your survival story-loving readers of Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins will also love The Cay. This survival story takes place during World War II when the Germans invade the island of Curaçao. The Cay covers serious topics such as racism in a captivating story that won The New York Times Best Book of the Year award.

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee follows three different child refugees from different eras: Josef escaping Nazi Germany in 1939, Isabel fleeing Cuba in 1994, and Muhamad feeling Syria in 2015. Students will not only learn about difficult historical events, but they’ll also be able to make comparisons between the three characters who all have shocking connections by the end of the book.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Written by the author of The Giver, Number the Stars is another Newbery Medal winner by Lois Lowry. This story is portrayed through the eyes of a 10-year-old girl named Annemarie. As German troops begin to relocate the Jewish people of Denmark, Annemarie’s family conceals her Jewish best friend, Ellen, as part of their family to save her life.

Besides themes of friendship and bravery, Number the Stars can help students relate to what they’re learning about the Holocaust as it puts the focus on children their own age and how it impacted them.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The innocence of two boys is highlighted in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Bruno is the lonely son of a Nazi commandant, and Shmuel is a Jewish prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp . Both boys develop a friendship despite the horrors and literal fence that divides them. Though emotional and tragic, this fictional story is truly memorable to its readers, symbolizing a horrible time in human history.

Here are some questions and lesson ideas you can use after reading:

• Analyze symbols in the story, such as Shmuel’s “pajamas.”
• Explore the meanings of friendship and innocence.
• Why does the author have Bruno mispronounce words such as “Out-With” for Auschwitz?
• What do you think the author wants you to gain from reading this story?

Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf

Someone Named Eva is another World War II story, this time from the perspective of a Czech Catholic girl who gets separated from her family during the Nazi occupation. Milada (Eva) is taken to a German training center to be reconditioned to become part of the “New Germany” and receives a new name and Nazi family. Throughout the hardships of war, Milada learns that holding on to her true identity is the most difficult task she’s ever experienced. While many stories surrounding Nazi Germany are told through the perspective of Jewish people, this fictional account looks at the effects of Germanization on children and can spark discussions on identity and family.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr

Like Someone Named Eva, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is another example of a lesser-known perspective of World War II. Sadako is a young Japanese girl who learns her life is in danger after radiation exposure from the Atomic bomb begins to weaken her body. As a symbol of hope, she starts to create 1,000 paper origami cranes.

This story is an easy read and a good one to read after Number the Stars for a varying perspective of World War II. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is also based on a real person which can provide additional research and exploration after reading the book.

Browse our World War II resource collection to enhance these stories and solidify students’ understanding.

Mentor Texts for 5th Graders

Looking for new mentor texts to introduce to your students? Consider adding these to your classroom library or curriculum!

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

This story will demonstrate to readers the importance of kindness and how every decision you make can affect those around you. Each Kindness has a powerful anti-bullying message when the main character, Chloe, realizes she lost an opportunity for friendship after rejecting the new girl, Maya,  at school. This book is perfect for important class discussions surrounding bullying, acceptance, and kindness.

After reading, ask your students:

• How do you think Maya felt after being rejected at school?
• Do you think Chloe regretted her actions by not including Maya?
• Have you ever felt like Chloe/Maya at school? How could you change your actions if you were Chloe?

The Fish House Door by Robert Baldwin

Shawn is the fourth son in a long line of island lobstermen. He doesn’t realize the value of their painted buoys and old fish house door until an art dealer visits and makes them an offer for it. Shawn realizes the unique history of his family, explores the traditions of the past and gains a new perspective on his future in this great mentor text for kids.

The illustrations in this book are vibrant and captivating — creating a vivid look of the Maine coast for students to envision. Students can learn and discuss themes like family history and the value of traditions. Here are some question ideas after reading:

• What’s something ordinary you look at every day that may be valuable to an outsider?
• What’s a sentimental object you have in your family or at home?
• Do you have a family tradition such as how to cook, clean, or decorate something?

Nic and Nellie by Astrid Sheckels

Another visually captivating story is Nic and Nellie; a tender story about overcoming the fear of new places and loneliness. Nic spends a summer with her grandparents on a small New England island, introducing her to a world different from hers. She slowly learns that friends can be found anywhere you go and that it takes time to adjust to a new environment.

Many students will be able to relate to the feeling of homesickness whether they’ve moved homes, visited somewhere unfamiliar, or even stayed overnight at a friend’s house. You can ask:

• Explain a time you felt homesick.
• Have you ever moved to a new home before? What are some methods that helped you acclimate to your new surroundings?
• How can you help someone feel welcome or comfortable if they’re feeling homesick?

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

Need a good book for social-emotional learning? Strong themes of community and finding beauty everywhere you go are found in Last Stop on Market Street. You can use this story to discuss realistic fiction and dive into the author’s use of figurative language and imagery.

This Caldecott Honor book is about a young boy named CJ who questions why he and his grandmother must take the bus, why he doesn’t have other material items like the other boys, and why they exit the bus in the dirty part of town. His grandmother has a good answer to every question and shows CJ that beauty can be found anywhere. This story can spark discussions on gratitude, privilege, diversity and community.

Browse our collection of social-emotional learning resources to enhance your post-reading activities!

Twilight Comes Twice by Ralph Fletcher

Twilight Comes Twice is a free-verse text describing the transition from day to night and night to day. This book would be good addition to your poetry unit or to look at the use of  descriptive language.  Fletcher’s book is also a good review of personification, metaphors, onomatopoeia , and alliteration.

Read this story to your class a couple of times. Read the story once through without showing your students the illustrations so they can focus on the language and even draw what they hear simultaneously. Show them the pictures during the second read-through and discuss any differences they might have noticed. This book can also serve as a good warm-up before the class writes their own description of a special place they like, a sunset or even their own version of the transition from day to night.

Explore our poetry collection for additional exercises and activities!

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson

Another great social-emotional learning text is The Other Side. Two little girls live on either side of a fence in a small, unspecified rural town. One side is where Clover and Black people live, and the other is where Annie and white people reside. Despite Clover’s mother’s warnings about crossing the fence, Clover and Annie become friends by sitting on top of the fence. They don’t agree with the segregating ideas of the adults in their world.

Race, segregation  and friendship are just a few of the themes your students can learn about and discuss with this story. Here are some discussion questions you can use after reading:

• What’s the symbol of the fence mean to you in this story?
• Have you ever been told to follow rules you thought were wrong?
• Why do adults have a hard time changing “the way things have always been?”

Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman

A blend of science and poetry, Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold offers an artistic appreciation of how animals survive in winter. This book is filled with beautiful illustrations that bring the words to life. Even if you don’t live in a state with snow or below-freezing temperatures, this book will give you and your students a look at life in different geographic locations.

Use this book as a mentor text for nonfiction poetry or learning about the seasons .

Looking for 5th-grade worksheets, reading passages and more to supplement your read-alouds? Explore our entire 5th-grade section !

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