Reading Recommendations:  Ages 6-11

The following list of books was compiled by the ALSC Quicklists Committee for Reading Is Fundamental.

*These titles are appropriate for a child who is first learning to reading independently.

Adler, David
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones
ISBN 0-1403-8715-3
Cam (short for "Camera") Jansen has a photographic memory--which comes in handy when she notices something wrong at a museum exhibit.

Atwater, Richard
Mr. Popper's Penguins
ISBN 0-3160-5843-2
Mr. Popper's life is changed forever when he receives an unexpected delivery of an Antarctic penguin.

Butterworth, Oliver
The Enormous Egg
ISBN 0-3161-1920-2
Nate discovers a gigantic egg laid by one of the family's hens. However, Nate is unprepared for what hatches out. A triceratops?!!

Cleary, Beverly
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
ISBN 0-3807-0956-2
Ramona enters third grade with humorous results.

Dahl, Roald
James and the Giant Peach
ISBN 0-1403-7424-8
An old man gives James a bag of dark green crystals with a promise. Unfortunately, James accidentally drops them near the peach tree, which grows to the size of a house. When he crawls inside, a magical adventure begins to take place changing his life forever.

Dahl, Roald
Matilda
ISBN 0-1403-7985-1
Matilda overcomes the woes of idiot parents and a menacing school headmistress to help her wonderful teacher, Miss Honey.

Erickson, John R.
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
ISBN 0-1413-0377-8
Hank is a scruffy, smart-alecky super sleuth with a nose for danger and an eye for the ladies.

Fitzhugh, Louise
Harriet the Spy
ISBN 0-0644-0331-9
A story about an intensely curious and intelligent girl, named Harriet, who loves to spy on people, keeping her observations in a secret notebook. When Harriet's classmates discover it and begin reading her candid comments about them, she soon finds her world turned upside down.

Gardiner, John Reynolds
Stone Fox
ISBN 0-0644-0132-4
A 10-year-old boy is pitted against an Indian with a formidable reputation in a Rocky Mountain dogsled race. An emotional and exciting book.

Heide, Florence Parry
The Day of Ahmed's Secret
ISBN 0-6881-4023-8
Young Ahmed goes through his day in the crowded city of Cairo, all the while treasuring a special secret that he will share with his family that night.

Henkes, Kevin
*Chrysanthemum
ISBN 0-6881-4732-1
Chrysanthemum hates her long, unusual name--until her teacher makes her see how special it is.

Howe, Deborah
Bunnicula
ISBN 0-6898-0659-0
When a baby rabbit comes into the family, Chester the cat decides it is a vampire and tries to warn his family.

Howe, James
*Pinky & Rex
ISBN 0-3807-1190-7
Best friends, Pinky and Rex, visit the museum with Pinky's pesky little sister, Amanda.

Hurwitz, Johanna
Aldo Applesauce
ISBN 0-1403-4083-1
Aldo moves to a new school and learns how to make new friends.

Lawson, Robert
Ben and Me: a New and Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin as Written by His Good Mouse Amos
ISBN 0-3165-1730-5
In this humorous tale, readers will discover that while Ben Franklin received considerable credit for many inventions, it was really Amos, a less-than-humble rodent, who originated these discoveries.

Lowry, Lois
Anastasia Krupnik
ISBN 0-4404-0852-0
Anastasia experiences an eventful 10th year.

MacDonald, Betty B.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
ISBN 0-0644-0148-0
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's cures continue to delight children.

Marshall, James
*Fox in Love
ISBN 0-1403-6843-4
Fox falls in love (several times) and enters a dance contest.

MacLachlan, Patricia
Sarah, Plain and Tall
ISBN 0-0644-0205-3
A warm and beautiful pioneer story.

Minarik, Elsa
*A Kiss for Little Bear
ISBN 0-0644-4050-8
The animals in the forest carry a thank-you kiss to Little Bear from his Grandmother.

Lobel, Arnold
*Frog and Toad are Friends
ISBN 0-0644-4020-6
Frog and Toad share adventures of stories, lost buttons, and letters.

O'Brien, Robert C.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
ISBN 0-6898-2966-3
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four young children, is faced with a monumental decision - how to move her children safely from their summer quarters immediately or be faced with certain death. Her youngest son is ill and must not be moved. She consults the Rats of NIMH, who devise a brilliant plan of action.

Palatini, Margie
*Piggie Pie
ISBN 0-3958-6618-9
A romp through Old MacDonald's farm as Greedy Witch tries to capture some piggies to make Piggie Pie, her favorite dish. Outrageously disguised as other farm animals, the pigs outwit her. Greedy Witch and the wolf leave together to console each other; each imagining the other as a nice delectable sandwich.

Parish, Peggy
*Amelia Bedelia
ISBN 0-3807-2860-5
The results are hilarious when Amelia Bedelia follows directions and takes literal-minded action.

Parish, Peggy
*Amelia Bedelia & the Baby
ISBN 0-3807-2795-1
Amelia Bedelia baby-sits with hilarious results.

Polacco, Patricia
Mrs. Katz and Tush
ISBN 0-4404-0936-5
Ms. Polaco uses a skillful blend of multi-ethnic cultures and plot to tell about the kitten Mrs. Katz and Larnel care for together.

Polacco, Patricia
Just Plain Fancy
ISBN 0-4404-0937-3
The Amish live a plain life and do not hold with anything fancy. When Naomi's chickens hatch a "fancy" chick from an abandoned egg, she is concerned that the chick is "too fancy" to be Amish.

Pilkey, Dav
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
ISBN 0-5908-4628-0
Humorous fast paced adventure featuring an unusual super hero.

Ringgold, Faith
Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky
ISBN 0-5178-8543-3
In a blend of fantasy and fact, a young girl follows Harriet Tubman and an escaping band of slaves on a remarkable journey along the Underground Railroad.

Rylant, Cynthia
*Henry and Mudge: the First Book of Their Adventures
ISBN -06898-1005-9
Part of an easy-to-read series, Henry, feeling lonely on a street without any other children, finds companionship and love in a big lovable 180 pound dog named Mudge.

Waber, Bernard
*Ira Sleeps Over
ISBN 0-395-20503-4
When Ira sleeps at his best friend's house, he is reluctant to let his friend know about his teddy bear, but he discovers his friend has a bear of his own.

White, E.B.
Charlotte's Web
ISBN 0-8712-9258-0
Wilbur the pig is saved because of Charlotte's care in this heart-warming fantasy.

Scieszka, Jon
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs as told by A. Wolf
ISBN 0-6897-1881-0
The story of the three little pigs told from the wolf's viewpoint

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