Geneva Classical Academy
First and Second Grade
Summer Reading and Assignments
GenevaClassicalAcademy wishes to encourage all of its students to read over the summer months. This includes not only novels, but also biographies and historical fiction.
All students entering second-sixth grades in August 2016 have required summer reading. (First grade students have suggested reading for enrichment.) Students should choose books that they have not already read from the lists provided. The books on the suggested reading list are those recommended by teachers. Please encourage your children to immerse themselves in good books over the summer. The books included here are only the beginning of a list of good books. Most of the books listed are available at and/or your local bookstore or library.
Rising First Grade
Reading is a foundational skill for education. During a child’s first grade year at GenevaClassicalAcademy, he/she will be exposed to many different genre of quality literature. During the summer leading up to this year, we recommend that parents spend time reading aloud to their child. We would like to offer the following recommendations to assist you in developing the love of reading in your child.
Amelia Bedelia Seriesby Peggy Parish
The Biggest Bearby Lynd Kendall Ward
Blueberries for Salby Robert McCloskey
Bread and Jam for Frances (and others in the series) by Russell Hoban
Caps for Saleby Esphyr Slobodkina
A Chair for My Motherby Vera B. Williams
Corduroy Seriesby Don Freeman
Curious George Seriesby H.A. Rey
Doctor DeSotoby William Steig
The Emperor’s New Clothesby Hans Christian Anderson
Frog and Toad Seriesby Arnold Lobel
Harry the Dirty Dogby Gene Zion
Henry and Mudge Seriesby Cynthia Rylant
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie (and others in the series)by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Little Bear Seriesby Else Homelund Minarik
The Little Engine that Couldby Watty Piper
The Little Houseby Virginia Lee Burton
Lily’s Purple Plastic Purseby Kevin Henkes
Madeline Seriesby Ludwig Bemelmans
Magic Tree House Seriesby Mary Pope Osborne
The Magic Fishby Freya Littledale
Miss Nelson is Missingby Harry Allard
Mr. Putter and Tabby Seriesby Cynthia Rylant
Nate the Great Seriesby Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
A New Coat for Annaby Harriet Ziefert
The Original Mother Goose
Ox-Cart Manby Donald Hall
Stellalunaby Jan Cannon
Stone Soupby Marcia Brown
The Story of Pingby Marjorie Flack/Kurt Weise
The Velveteen Rabbitby Marjery Williams
The Tale of Peter Rabbitby Beatrix Potter
Rising Second Grade
Please encourage your children to immerse themselves in good books over the summer. We present this list to you as a guide, but please feel free to offer your children other books appropriate to their reading level. We realize that children entering second grade are at different reading levels. For this reason some of the books on the rising first grade list might also be appropriate to offer your children. Those books marked here with an asterisk (*) are of an easier reading level than those not marked.
*Any Tomie de Paola Book
*Birthday for Frances (or other in series)by Lillian Hoban
*George and Martha seriesby James Marshall
*Owl Moonby Jane Yolen
*A Brave Little Princessby Beatrice Masini
*The Runaway Rice Cakeby Ying Chang Compestine
*The Biggest Bearby Lynd Kendall Ward
*Blaze and the Lost Quarry (or others in series)by C.W. Anderson
*A Chair for My Motherby Vera B. Williams
*Doctor Desotoby William Steig
*Miss Nelson is Missing!by Harry Allard
The House At Pooh Cornerby A.A. Milne
The Boxcar Children’s Seriesby Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Encyclopedia Brown Seriesby Donald J. Sobol
The Magic Tree House Seriesby Mary Pope Osborne
Betsy-Tacy by Lois Lenski
Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bangby Ian Fleming
The Little Ridersby Margaretha Shemin
White Stallion of Lipizzaby Marguerite Henry
The SecretValleyby Clyde Robert Bulla
The Whipping Boyby Sid Fleischman
The Cam Jansen Mystery Seriesby David A. Adler
Clues in the Woodsby Peggy Parish
Mary Pope Osborne Series
Usborne Time Traveler Series
Any books on ancient Egypt
Second Grade Assignment: Help your child make a poster about his/her favorite book and prepare him/her to share this with the class the first week of second grade.