Favorite Books for Fourth-Graders

Our panel of children's book experts recommend these great books for your fourth-grader.

Classic Childhood Favorites

The Great Brain
by John D. Fitzgerald, illustrated by Mercer Mayer (Puffin, 2004).
Set in the early 1900s, Tom Fitzgerald, aka "The Great Brain," is of the "Tom Sawyer" ilk. He is a shrewd and wily kid with a keen ability to earn a penny. Nevertheless, his intelligence ends up saving the day when he and his younger brother get lost in Skeleton Cave. I challenge you to try to pry this out of the hands of your fourth-grade adventure lover. 175 pages. (Danielle Marshall and the Kids' Team at Powells.com)

Chronicles of Prydain #01: The Book of Three
by Lloyd Alexander (Henry Holt, 2006, originally published in 1964).
Ah, the fantasy series, how we love thee. For children today, there is no higher praise than to compare a book to the Harry Potter series. The Book of Three is the first of the fabulous Chronicles of Prydain series and has Taran and his Psychic pig, Henwyn, taking on the evil Horned King. This is a great "under the covers, past your bedtime, flashlight" read. Most highly recommended. 224 pages. (Danielle Marshall and the Kids' Team at Powells.com)

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
by Eleanor Coerr, illustrated by Ronald Himler (Putnam, 1999, originally published in 1977).

This is a book to teach your child about the horrors of war and illness, but most importantly about hope. Based on a true story set in World War II Japan, Sadako attempts to carry out the legend that the crafting of 1,000 paper cranes would heal her disease. Young readers learn indelible lessons that will stay with them for life. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is a stunning portrait of life, death and the power of courage. 80 pages. (Danielle Marshall and the Kids' Team at Powells.com)

Humor

Circle of Doom
by Tim Kennemore (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006).
The Sharp children live in Cleve Cottage at the end of Cleve Road. Lizzie, the eldest, is 13, Dan is 10, and Max is 7. When their only neighbors, the ancient Potwards, complain and ruin her birthday party, Lizzie decides to become a witch and cast a spell on them. When Lizzie agrees to let younger brother Max be the "witch's assistant," he is ecstatic to be playing with his sister instead of his imaginary friends. With coincidences piling up on top of spells, Lizzie begins to believe in her own power, Dan becomes uneasy and Max is absolutely positive that Lizzie can work magic and that magic runs in the family. This book is a wonderful combination - ludicrously funny and touching. 208 pages. (© Parents' Choice)

The Not-Just-Anybody Family
by Betsy Byars (Yearling, 1987).
The Blossoms are not an ordinary family. With a mother who is a rodeo trick rider, a grandfather who innocently manages to scare the local citizenry and get himself arrested, and a dog who wears a red bandana - not to mention a boy who thinks he can fly - it is not surprising that the Blossoms attract misadventures. 160 pages. (© Parents' Choice)

Sideways Stories from Wayside School
by Louis Sachar, illustrated by Julie Brinckloe (HarperTrophy, 2004).
On the 30th floor of the wacky Wayside School is Mrs. Jewl's class. Sharie falls asleep and rolls out the window. Joe counts all wrong and gets the right answer. Calvin is sent to the 19th floor to deliver a note, but there is no 19th floor - the builder forgot it. This nutty world is built on the sort of playful twists of logic that kids love. 128 pages. (© Parents' Choice)

Mysteries and Secret Codes

Edgar & Ellen Under Town
by Charles Ogden, illustrated by Rick Carton (Tricycle Press/Star Farm Productions, 2004).
The cover art on this book immediately draws children's attention. The concept of twins and the mystery of a prankster draw students into the story plot. 140 pages. (Children's Choices)

Boy of a Thousand Faces
by Brian Selznick (Harper, 2000).
Ten-year-old Alonzo King is an expert about monster movies. He spends hours with Scotch tape and makeup trying to master his beloved monster faces in the mirror. When a mysterious beast is rumored to be stomping on flower beds and scratching up cars, Alonzo is called on for his monster expertise. 48 pages. (Krisha Roach)

The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo: An Eco Mystery
by Jean Craighead George (Harper, 1992).
Liza and her mother are seeking refuge in Gumbo Limbo, a lush hammock of trees in the Florida Everglades. Also in residence is Dajun the alligator, caretaker of this precious ecosystem. When Dajun is seen as a threat to the nearby condos in development, he is ordered killed and Liza becomes determined to keep him safe at any cost. 144 pages. (Krisha Roach)

Jim Ugly
by Paul Fleischman (Harper, 1992).
The year is 1894. Jake Bannock and his father Sam are on the run and hiding out in Blowfly, Nevada. When Sam unexpectedly disappears and is presumed dead, it's up to Jake and Sam's dog, Jim Ugly, (who is part wolf and part dog) to get to the bottom of the mystery. 131 pages. (Krisha Roach)

Murder, My Tweet: A Chet Gecko Mystery
by Bruce Hale, illustrated by the author and Brad Weinman (Harcourt Children's Books, 2004).
Chet Gecko plunges into another troublesome case when his mockingbird sidekick, Natalie, is suspended for a crime she didn't commit. Bullying, blackmail, and tongue-in-cheek humor run rampant at Emerson Hickey Elementary in this 10th installment of these private-eye mysteries. 136 pages. (Children's Choices)

Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing
by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Jenna LaReau (Candlewick Press, 2004).
This book has everything a budding spy or cryptographer wants to know about creating codes, ciphers, and the methods of concealment. An answer key provides a great opportunity to practice new skills from pictographs to Igpay Atinlay. 144 pages. (Children's Choices)

Fun (Yes, Fun) Books About Math

How Much Is a Million?
written by David Schwartz and illustrated by Steven Kellogg (HarperTrophy, 2004).
David Schwartz offers the perfect read-aloud for the child who has difficulty conceptualizing a million. Join a magician who specializes in mathematics, as he reveals that it would take a fishbowl the size of a city's harbor to hold a million goldfish! Steven Kellogg's illustrations help readers visualize the enormity of this number in an entertaining way. This book will surely tickle your funny bone. 40 pages. (Jennifer Thompson)

Math Curse
written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith (Viking, 1995).
Jon Scieszka, a former teacher and a popular author for boys, presents a hilarious read for anyone who suffers from a math phobia. Imagine how you would feel if your math teacher told you, "You can think of everything as a math problem." Would your head immediately start hurting? Would your heart start to race? Spend the day with a girl who wakes up one morning to find that every event in her life has been reduced to some sort of math problem. Have fun solving the problems she encounters, and see if you agree that she has been cursed! 32 pages. (Jennifer Thompson)

The Best of Times: Math Strategies That Multiply
written by Gregory Tang and illustrated by Harry Briggs (Scholastic, 2002).
Does the thought of memorizing your multiplication facts drive you crazy? Are you tired of those pesky speed drills in math class? If you want a fun way to learn how to multiply, you must read this clever picture book. Tang uses simple rhymes and puzzles to help students understand the concept of multiplication. Today's kids are mesmerized by rap and rhyme, so this book is sure to motivate as well as encourage children to use different strategies to solve multiplication problems. 32 pages. (Jennifer Thompson)

Stories from Around the World

Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story
by Beverly Naidoo, illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Harper Trophy, 1988).
During the time of apartheid in South Africa, a brother and sister, Naledi and Tiro, travel from their small village to bring back their "Mma" from her job in the city because their baby sister is very ill. 96 pages. (Krisha Roach)

Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales
by Neil Philip, illustrated by Jacqueline Mair (Clarion Books, 2003).
Alternately funny, spooky, thought-provoking and magical, this is a vividly illustrated and accessible collection of Mexican folktales. 83 pages. (Krisha Roach)

Homesick
by Jean Fritz (Puffin, reissue edition, 2007).
Celebrated children's author Jean Fritz turns her eye on her own childhood. Born in China of American parents, young Jean feels torn between her homesickness for the America of her grandmother's letters and the devout love she feels for the Chinese people and their culture. 176 pages. (Krisha Roach)

Fantasy

The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters
by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Henrik Drescher (Candlewick Press, 2005).
How do you protect yourself from a sisiutl? Read this book to be safe! Based on monster folklore around the world, it shares a gruesomeness rating, description and survival tip for encounters with 63 monsters. Short passages will hook readers. 64 pages. (Children's Choices)

Bone #1: Out From Boneville
written and illustrated by Jeff Smith (Scholastic, 2005).
The first book of this humorous full-color graphic novel series describes the misadventures of the three Bone cousins as they explore a forested valley populated with frightening creatures. As the plot unfolds, the Bones meet strange characters and forces of evil. 138 pages. (Children's Choices)

Walter, the Story of a Rat
by Barbara Wersba, illustrated by Donna Diamond (Front Street Books, 2005).
Walter is a lonely but literate rat. He lives in the home of Miss Pomeroy, an elderly, reclusive children's book author. A quiet friendship develops between the writer and this furry reader as they pen notes back and forth. 64 pages. (Children's Choices)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Candlewick Press, 2006).
Parents need to know that this is a melancholy little story, in which there is cruelty and misery, including a little girl who dies of consumption. Most readers, child and adult, will cry while reading it, but some very sensitive kids might find it disturbing. Families who read this book could discuss the path of growth and understanding that Edward follows. What does he learn about love? Why does he try, for awhile, to avoid it? Why is it so important?
To read the complete Common Sense Media review click here. 198 pages. Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 8-12. Read Aloud: 7-10. Read Alone: 8. (Common Sense Media)

Realism

Prizefighter en mi Casa
by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo (Random House, 2006).
Chula Sanchez wished her parents hadn't decided against naming her Esperanza. "Cause Chula means pretty and there ain't nothing pretty 'bout me now." Pape was driving drunk when he and Chula crashed. With the head of the household now paralyzed and unable to work, and Chula scarred with a disfigured face and the onset of epilepsy, the Sanchez family is struggling to make ends meet. Humiliated but still determined, Pape is convinced that El Jefe, the most revered prizefighter in Mexico, is their ticket to financial salvation. ... As readers will learn, neither El Jefe, nor Chula are who or what they appear to be. 224 pages. (© Parents' Choice)

Lunch Money
by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Brian Selznick (Simon and Schuster, 2005).
Parents should know that this is exactly the kind of book you hope your kids will find and love — showing the best examples of kids and adults behaving in caring, intelligent and positive ways.
To read the complete Common Sense Media review click here.
222 pages. Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 8-12. Read Aloud: 8. Read Alone: 9. (Common Sense Media)

Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2003).
A terrific book for reluctant readers and discussion groups, it packs a load of emotional and intellectual depth into a very accessible package.
To read the complete Common Sense Media review click here. 95 pages. Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 8-12. Read Aloud: 8+. Read Alone: 8+. (Common Sense Media)

Historical Fiction

Day of Tears : A Novel in Dialogue
by Julius Lester (Hyperion Books for Children, 2006).
A prize-winning story of the biggest slave auction in history. Parents need to know that the way slaves are treated is disturbing - they are beaten into unconsciousness, treated like animals with no feelings and separated from their families. Readers will encounter the whipping of slaves, a forced fight in which a slave loses an eye, the death of a baby in a rainstorm and a suicide. Families who read this book could discuss the historical background of the American slave system. How could people who considered themselves to be good, decent people have treated others in this way? How could the slaves endure it? How could Sampson, a slave, come to identify so strongly with being a slave that he resisted freedom?
To read the complete Common Sense Media review click here.
177 pages. Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 9-12. Read Aloud: 9. Read Alone: 10+. (Common Sense Media)

The Shakespeare Stealer
by Gary Blackwood (Dutton Children's Books, 1998).
This book has found a ready audience among the upper-elementary and middle-school set. With a little luck, children may want to know more about the Shakespearean plays mentioned here, as well as the period. Also worth discussing is the ethical dilemma Widge is in: to risk his life or betray his new friends.
To read the complete Common Sense Media review click here.
216 pages. Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 9-12. Read Aloud: 9+. Read Alone: 10+. (Common Sense Media)

Nonfiction

Oh, Rats! The Story of Rats and People
by Albert Marrin (Dutton, 2006).
The life-like picture of a rat on the cover of this book will be enough to pique the interest of many kids. "Revolting, revealing, and riveting," says the book's back cover, and it's an apt description of the nine fact-filled chapters about these "champions of survival." The author provides information about rats' habits and intelligence, as well as their role as disease carriers, lab animals, predators, pests, pets and even as food. The gross-out factor alone will make this a must-read for many kids. 48 pages. Reading grade level: 5. Interest grade level: 5-8. (Ellen Phillips)

Natural Disasters
written by Claire Watts, illustrated by Trevor Day (DK Publishing, 2006).
With many natural disasters in the news recently, this book should answer questions that kids might have. Part of the Eyewitness Books series, it presents an overview of a wide variety of disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanoes, landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes and epidemics. Written in plain language and illustrated with spectacular photos, maps and diagrams, there is a wealth of valuable information contained here. The book includes a timeline of major disasters throughout history, a glossary of technical terms, an index and a "Find Out More" page that directs readers to useful Web sites and places to visit to learn more (in this case, natural history and science museums). There are more than 100 titles in this series, from Amphibian to World War II--something for every reader. 72 pages. Reading grade level: 6. Interest grade level: 3-8. (Ellen Phillips)

Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship
written by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff and Paula Kuhumbu, illustrated by Peter Greste (Scholastic Press, 2007).
This book tells the true story of the friendship that developed at a Kenyan wildlife sanctuary between Owen, a baby hippopotamus orphaned by the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, and Mzee, a 130-year-old giant Aldabra tortoise. The authors detail the animals' system of communication (nudges, nips and a special call), how they play together and how Owen acts more like a tortoise than a hippo. The text is clearly written and accompanied by full-color photos of this unique pair. 40 pages. Reading grade level: 6. Interest grade level: 3-6. (Ellen Phillips)

On Board the Titanic: What It Was Like When the Great Liner Sank
by Shelley Tanaka, illustrated by Ken Marschall (Disney Publishing, 1996).
One of the book's diagrams depicts the number of survivors according to their station on the boat. It's tragic - although no shock - that the higher one's class, the higher one's chance of survival. You may want to discuss the concept of class differences with your kids.
To read the complete Common Sense Media review click here.
48 pages. Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 9-12. Read Aloud: 9+. Read Alone: 9+. (Common Sense Media)

Adventure Stories

Pirateology
by Dugald A. Steer, illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Ian Andrew and Helen Ward (Candlewick Press, 2006).
... 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. ... 32 pages. (© Parents' Choice)

Folktales

Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters
by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by Andre Carrilho (Random House, 2006).
Pour the lemonade, climb aboard the porch swing and prepare to pass the time listening to these nine original stories hung on the bones of the "slicksters, tricksters and other wily characters" the author came to know and love as a child growing up in the rural south. The storytelling cadence is just right; the characters are a colorful mix of guile and gumption; and the lessons vary from laugh-out-loud funny to touching. ... A thoroughly engaging collection handsomely presented: what more can you ask? 160 pages. (© Parents' Choice)