Comprehension Toolkit Suggested Read Aloud Mentor Texts
Grade 4
Monitoring Comprehension
Train to Somewhere
By Eve Bunting
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme/Subject: Adoption,
Family, Empathy, Hope
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups
By David Wisniewski
Genre: Humorous Fiction
Themes/Subject: Family, Conflict
Resolution
Asking Questions
The Wall
By Eve Bunting
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Themes/Subjects: American
History/Vietnam War, Empathy
The Wreck of Zephyr
By Chris Van Allsburg
Genre: Fantasy
Theme/Subject:
The Lotus Seed
By Sherry Garland
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Themes/Subjects: Immigration,
Family
Joliet Public Schools District 86 (June 2014)
Activate and Connect
Baseball Saved Us
By Ken Mochizuki
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme/Subject: American
History/WWII, Tolerance, Cultural
Diversity
Mama Played Baseball
By David Adler
Genre: Historical Fiction
Themes/Subjects: American History,
Determination, Family
Infer and Visualize
The Sweetest Fig
By Chris Van Allsburg
Genre: Fantasy
Themes/Subjects: Character and
Values
A Symphony of Whales
By Steven Schuch
Genre: Fiction
Themes/Subjects: Environmental
Conservation, Preservation
Determining Importance
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop
By Margaree King Mitchell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Themes/Subjects: The Great
Depression, Perseverance,
Determination
Teammates
By Peter Goldenboch
Genre: Biography
Themes/Subjects: Courage,
Perseverance, Tolerance,
Friendship
Synthesize and Summarize
The Table Where Rich People Sit
By Byrd Baylor
Genre: Fiction
Themes/Subjects: Family, Cultural
Diversity
Testing the Ice
By Sharon Robinson
Genre: Biography
Theme/Subject: Overcoming Fear,
Courage
*Denotes this book is also in Spanish at the Joliet Public Library
**Some information provided by Scholastic Book Wizard, www.scholastic.com
Joliet Public Schools District 86 (June 2014)