Suggested Optional Summer Reading
Students Entering Grade 3
The following list of books will help you select reading material that has been highly rated by reviewers, librarians, and children. Hopefully, they will provide alternatives for reading pleasure.
Kindergarten through Third Grade
2015 -2016
Selections from the Best of the Best
PA School Librarians Association
AuthorTitleGrade Level
Anderson, AnnmarieWhen I Grow Up Abraham LincolnK - 3
Barton, BethanyI’m Trying to Love SpidersK - 3
Bissonette, AimeeNorth Woods GirlK - 3
Brown, DonThe Most Famous Duel inK - 3
American History: Aron & Alexander
Elliott, RebeccaEva’s Treetop FestivalK - 3
Hall, MichaelRed: A Crayon’s StoryK - 3
Hart, CarylThe Princess and the GiantK – 3
Henkes, KevinWaitingK – 3
Mattick, LindsayFinding Winnie: The Story of theK – 3
World’s Most Famous Bear
McElligote, MatthewMad Scientist Academy: TheK -3
Dinosaur Disaster
Miyares, DanielFloatK - 3
O’Brien, Annie SibleyI’m New HereK - 3
Rockliff, MaraGingerbread for LibertyK - 3
Vernon, UrsulaHamster Princess: HarrietK - 3
The Invincible
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program
Master List for 2016--2017
Kindergarten to Grade 3
Andrews, Troy & BryanCollier / Trombone ShortyBarton, Bethany / I’m Trying to Love Spiders
de la Peña, Matt & Christian Robinson / Last Stop on Market Street
Dutcher, Jim & Jamie Dutcher / A Friend for Lakota: The Incredible True Story
of a Wolf Who Braved Bullying
Himmelman, John / Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny
Mattick, Lindsay & Sophie Blackall / Finding Winnie: The True Story
of the World’s Most Famous Bear
Petty, Dev & Mike Boldt / I Don’t Want to Be a Frog
Regan, Dian Curtis & Robert Neubecker / Space Boy and His Dog
Rocco, John / Blizzard
Sarcone-Roach, Julia / The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
Sayre, April Pulley / Raindrops Roll
Shea, Bob / Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret
Sis, Peter / Ice Cream Summer
Willems, Mo & Tony DiTerlizzi / The Story of Diva and Flea
Winick, Judd / Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
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Caldecott Medal Winners
2016 & Previous Ten Years
Medal Year AuthorTitle
2016Mattick, LindsayFinding Winnie: The True Story of the
World’s Most Famous Bear
2015Santat, DanThe Adventures of Beekle: The
Unimaginary Friend
2014Floca, BrianLocomotive
2013Klassen, JonThis Is Not My Hat
2012Raschka, ChrisA Ball for Daisy
2011Stead, Philip C.A Sick Day for Amos McGee
2010Pinkney, JerryThe Lion & the Mouse
2009Swanson, Susan MarieThe House in the Night
2008Selznick, BrianThe Invention of Hugo Cabret
2007Wiesner, DavidFlotsam
2006Jester, NortonThe Hello, Goodbye Window
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Winners
2016 & Previous Ten Years
K-3
YearAuthorTitle
2015-2016Bloom, C.P.The Monkey Goes Bananas
2014-2015Rubin, AdamDragons Love Tacos
2013-2014Reynolds, AaronCreepy Carrots
2012-2013Scillian, DevinMemoirs of a Goldfish
2011-2012Barton, ChrisShark vs Train
2010-2011Watt, MelanieChester
2009-2010Watt, MelanieScaredy Squirrel
Levine, EllenHenry’s Freedom Box
2008-2009Stevens, Janet & SusanThe Great Fuzz Frenzy
Stevens Crummel
2007-2008Gottfried, MayaGood Dog
McCarthy, MeghanAliens Are Coming
2007-2006Schachner, JudySkippyjon Jones
2005-2006Buehner, CaralynSuper Dog: the Heart of a Hero
2004-2005Johnson, DougSubstitute Teacher Plan
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Recommendations from the GMA Library
Chapter Books/Series:
Abbott, TonyThe Secrets of Droonseries
AviRagweed
Banscherus, J.Kloozseries
Benton, JimFranny K. Stein series
Blume, JudyFreckle Juice (challenging)
Barrows, AnnieIvy and Bean series
BlumeFudge series
Byars, BetsyThe Summer of the Swans (challenging)
Cleary, BeverlyThe Mouse and the Motorcycle & Ramona the Brave series
Dahl, RoaldThe Twits (also, James and the Giant Peach & Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
DiCamillo, KateMercy Watson series
DiTerlizzi, Tony & Holly BlackThe Spiderwick Chronicles series
Duffey, BetsyHow to be Cool in Third Grade (series)
Durand, HallieDessert First
Eager, EdwardHalf Magic
Erickson, John R.Hank the Cowdog (series)
Fleischman, PaulThe Dunderheads
Fleischman, SidThe Whipping Boy
Gardiner, John R.Stone Fox
Greenburg, DanThe Zack Filesseries
Hale, BruceChet Gecko Mystery series
Hurwitz, JohannaAldo Applesauce (series, challenging)
King-Smith, DickA Mouse Called Wolf
Kline, SuzyHorrible Harry Moves up to Third Grade (series)
Kurlik, NancyKatie Kazoo, Switcheroo series
George Brown, Class Clown series
Look, LenoreRuby Lu series
Lowry, LoisGooney Bird Greene (challenging)
Maddox, JakeFree Throw(other Jake Maddox series)
McDonald, MeganJudy Moody series (challenging)
Pilkey, DavRicky Ricotta series
Rockwell, ThomasHow to Eat Fried Worms
Sachar, LouisMarvin Redpostseries
Scieszka, JonTime Warp Trio series
Snicket, LemonyA Series of Unfortunate Events series
Stilton, GeronimoGeronimo Stilton series