SALEM SCHOOL DISTRICT

SUGGESTED READING LIST

ENTERING SECOND GRADE - 2008

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

Summer fun is just beginning for your family. As you begin to plan your child’s summer activities, we hope that you will continue to make reading a part of the fun. The Salem School District believes summer reading is a valuable experience for all students and an important extension of our educational programs. Reading is one of the most important factors in academic success, a skill that is basic to all areas of the curriculum - a skill that improves with practice. Summer reading is intended to be an enjoyable experience. While helping to keep students connected to learning during the summer vacation, it supports our objective that each student becomes a life-long reader and learner.

Below you will find some suggestions of books that we hope your child may enjoy. These books are available at Salem’s Kelley Library. Please note that these titles are only suggestions. There are many other wonderful books to be discovered by your child and you. Many of the suggested authors have written other books in addition to the book titles listed.

This summer, Kelley Library will once again be offering a summer reading program. Local bookstores may also have programs to support summer reading. We urge you to take advantage of these opportunities to maintain and enhance your child’s reading skills.

Wishing you a wonderful summer,

Diane Reynolds

Director of Literacy

Picture books

Buehner, Caralyn Snowmen at Night A child wonders why a snowman looks droopy the morning after it was made. This rhyming story reveals a wonderful wintertime secret—when we are sleeping, the snowmen are out playing

Bunting, Eve The Wednesday Surprise Grandma and Anna, who at seven has just learned to read, are planning a special surprise for Dad's birthday. This is a wonderful story about a proud granddaughter and her successful efforts to teach her grandmother to read.

Cannon, Janell Stellaluna Stellaluna, a baby fruit bat falls from the sky and lands in a nest occupied by three baby birds. After many unsuccessful tries to fit in, a very happy Stellaluna is reunited with her mother and learns proper bat behavior.

Cole, Joanna The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.

deGroat, Diane No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teachers Dirty Looks! Gilbert and his first-grade classmates are nervous about their performance on the last day of school, curious about the awards they will receive, sad to be leaving their teacher, and excited about summer vacation.

Lies, Brian Bats at the Beach This rhyming story is a real reversal of a sunny day at the beach. On a moonlit night, bats pack their moon-tan lotion and baskets of treats and fly off for a night of fun.

Scieszka, Jon The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Alexander T. Wolf tells his own version of what really happens during his encounter with the three pigs and offers innocent explanations for his bad behavior.

Stevens, Janet The Great Fuzz Frenzy Deep, deep down in their underground town, the prairie dogs live in harmony--until a tennis ball rolls down their hole. When the prairie dogs discover that they can pluck and pull the fuzz into fabulous fashions, their fear quickly turns to curiosity, then delight, then pure greed until the prairie dogs remember the true meaning of community.

Wilson, Karma Bear Snores On One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear's cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on! See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited guests -- all of them having a party without him!

Wood, Audrey The Bunyans You might have heard about Paul Bunyan but you might not know that he had a wife and two kids who helped him create Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains, Old Faithful, and more. The Bunyans are a family you’ll never forget… and that’s no tall tale!

Chapter Books

Barrows, Annie Ivy and Bean Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no part of her. Bean was sure that the new neighbor would not be any fun. But the day Bean pulls a trick that goes wrong and Ivy comes to her rescue, a friendship is born.

Danziger, Paula Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown Amber loves second grade-until her teacher announces a new rule that all students must keep their desks clean and explains that Deskarina, the desk fairy, will give out a Clean Desk Award to deserving children. Unfortunately, Amber finds that cleaning up is easier said than done.

Guest, Elissa Iris and Walter: True Friends Sometimes it takes a friend to help solve a problem. So when Iris announces that she really wants to ride Walter’s horse Rain, Walter comes up with the perfect plan to help her and in turn, Iris helps Walter deal with a problem at school.

Kenah, Katharine Best Seat in Second Grade Sam's favorite thing about second grade is the class pet, a hamster named George Washington, so when the class goes on a field trip to a science museum, Sam cannot resist bringing George along.

Kline, Suzy Horrible Harry and the Drop of Doom On the last day of second grade Song Lee invites the class to an end-of the-year party at the local amusement park. Harry is worried about having to go on the frightening new ride but once he admits his fears, Song Lee helps him overcome them.

Chapter Books - Series

Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge The stories of Henry and his enormous dog, Mudge, capture the excitement and wonder of ordinary childhood experiences from splashing in puddles to playing spies to taking a family trip to the country.

Adler, David Young Cam Jansen These stories tell the adventures of a child detective named Jennifer “Cam” Jansen. Nicknamed “the Camera” for her photographic memory, Cam closes her eyes and says "click" and memorizes a scene in front of her. She later recalls these scenes to help her solve mysteries.

Parks, Barbara Junie B. Jones Junie B. Jones just can't help herself! No matter how hard she tries, she keeps getting into all kinds of scrapes. But no matter how much trouble she gets into, Junie B. will make you laugh as you follow her adventures through kindergarten and first grade.

Sharmat, Marjorie Nate the Great There isn't a case too great for the one and only Nate. With help from his friends, his trusty dog Sludge and a few pancake pick-me-ups along the way, Nate the Great uses his brain to solve the elementary school mysteries.

Nonfiction

Cowley, Joy Red-eyed Tree Frog In a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators.

Gaganti, Paul Each Orange had 8 Slices If each orange has 8 slices and each slice has 2 seeds, how many seeds are there in all? You'll have fun whether you multiply, add or count your way through the math puzzles hiding in the world all around you.

Hutchins, Hazel A Second is a Hiccup: A Child’s Book of Time For any child who wonders, "How long will that take?", here's a book that explains and celebrates all the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years of life!

Jenkins, Steve Prehistoric Actual Size Look at the prehistoric world in "actual size". Illustrations of creatures that lived between 3 million and 550 million years ago show what each animal may have looked like.

Prelutsky, Jack Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: And Other Poems Explore a wilderness of puns and rhymes where birds, beasts, vegetables, flowers, and other inanimate objects have been mysteriously scrambled together to create creatures you've never seen before.