Elaine Jaltema’s Recommended Books
The following books have been popular reading material by many of grade 4-7 students. It is only a small portion
of the books I recommend as I seldom find time to update it. Details about more titles can be found in the
password-protected section of the pita website.
I am unaware of content that may be deemed offensive, except as noted. Those marked with * have been
especially popular with my students and I particularly like those marked with √ because of their educational
content and/or quality of the literature. Some are not yet marked with * because not many of my students have
yet discovered it.
Not all books available in libraries are suitable for students to use for classroom study. Teachers should feel
confident in using novels listed in the ERAC catalogue (www.bcerac.ca) as well as those supplied by their school
district resource centers. As ERAC cannot possibly evaluate all novels, teachers may want to consider using
novels not yet in the catalogue, especially those from known authors and those that have won awards. Teachers
should be careful in selecting novels that are not supplied by their District or listed in the ERAC catalogue to
avoid books with questionable content. This list is my own list of books that have been used by me for classroom
use or that I am familiar with because my students have read them for independent reading. Teachers are
encouraged to help keep this list up-to-date by sending messages to elainejaltema@gmail.com to suggest
additions or revisions.
Reading levels reflect my experience for independent reading. Books may be suitable for slightly younger
children for read-alouds and independent reading by very skilled readers. Numbers in brackets are given by
Scholastic.
RL
5+
5+
4-7
6+
5+
5+
6-9 (5.9)
5+
4+
3-5
6+
(5.6)
5+
4+
4-5 (4.2)
4-5 (4.2)
4-5 (4.9)
4-7
5+ (4.7)
5+
4-6 (4.7)
Author
Almond
Armstrong
*√Avi
Avi
√Avi
√Avi
Babbitt
Title
Skellig
Sounder
Poppy (series)
Crispin
Never Mind
Perloo the Bold
Tuck Everlasting
*Bailey, Linda Detective series
√Barkhouse
Pit Pony
√Bauer
A Bear Named Trouble
Bauer
Hope Was Here
√Bauer
On My Honor
*Berton
Secret World of Og
Blume
Blubber
*Blume
*Blume
*Blume
Butcher
*Choldenko
√Clark
Cleary
overcoming family challenges
historical fiction; Afro-American
standing up to bullies; mice and owls
Boy runs from Medieval landlord
Twins seeking own identity; humour
adventure-fantasy; teaches about government
family faces challenge of accidental immortality
mystery series; humour
historical – coal mining in Cape Breton
animal rights & safety
teens help get honest mayor elected in US
honesty; dealing with death & responsibility
humour; fantasy; overcoming prejudice
overweight girl gets teased (best used with teacher
guidance as the girls are really nasty bullies)
Superfudge & others in series
Humour/family
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Humour/family
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Humour/family
The Gramma War
importance of family history & empathy
Al Capone Does My Shirts
empathy towards autistic family member
Freedom Crossing
historical fiction; freeing American slaves
Dear Mr. Henshaw
writing letters to resolve personal problems
1
4-6
3-6
4-7
4-7 (4.8)
4-7
4-7
4-7
4-7 (5.0)
4-7
4-7 (4.7)
6.2
6+
6+ (7.1)
5+
5+
5+
5-7 (6.6)
6+
5-7 (4.5)
4-7 (4.9)
5-7
6+ (5.3)
5-7 (5.2)
5.5
6+
4-6 (5.8)
4+(5.2)
3-6
4+ (5.5)
3-5
4-6 (5.9)
5-7
5-7
4-7
Cleary
*Cleary
*√Clements
*√Clements
*√Clements
*√Clements
*√Clements
*√Clements
*√Clements
*Clements
*Colfer
√Colfer
√Cooper
*Coville
Coville
Coville
√Creech
*√Creech
*√Creech
*√Creech
Creech
√Creech
*√Curtis
√Curtis
Cushman
*Dahl
*Dahl
*Dahl
Dahl
Dahl
Dahl
Dahl
*√D’Aadamo
√DeFelice
4-7 (4.1)
*√Dicamillo
*√Dicamillo
4-7 (4.8)
5-7 (5.4)
5+ (5.1)
*√Dicamillo
*D’Lacey
√Dowd
*√DuPrau
4-7
6+
6+
*√Ellis
*√Farmer
Farmer
4-6
Mouse & Motorcycle series
Ramona series
Landry News
Frindle
Janitor’s Boy
Last Holiday Concert
Lost and Found
Report Card
Room One
School Story
Artemis Fowl (series)
Half-Moon Investigations
Dark is Rising (series)
humour; adventures of a mouse
Humour; family relationships
kids take action for justice; newspaper
kids are powerful; understanding dictionary; humour
boy learns to be proud of his father
Kids learn how to create a concert, working together
identical twins fool school; humour
girl hides fact she’s a genius; organizes against tests
Empathy – helping others on their own terms
girl author finds way to get her novel published
fantasy; adventure; humour
Detective story with humour; Irish
fantasy; adventure; mystery
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
fantasy; boy raises dragon
The Monster’s Ring
Fantasy; boy stands up to bullies with help of magic
Skull of Truth
Boy stands up to bullies; learns value of truth
Walk Two Moons
relationships; empathy; mystery
Absolutely Normal Chaos
relationships; empathy; mystery
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
Relationships between blind boy, girl &grandmother
Love That Dog
boy uses poetry to deal with dog’s death
Bloomability
girl coming of age & overcoming family challenges
The Wanderer
girl & boy write from diff. perspectives; sea voyage
Bud, Not Buddy
depression story of Afro-American boy
The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963 social justice; black history
Midwife’s Apprentice
inner strength; medieval
BFG
humour; big friendly giant
Matilda
humour
The Twits
hmour
Witches
Humour
James & The Giant Peach
Humour
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Humour
Danny, the Champion of the World
humour; relationships; adventure
Iqbal
child labour; based on true story
Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker historical fiction; during tb pandemic, germs
and hygiene were discovered
Because of Winn-Dixie
dog brings new relationships to lonely child
Miraculous Journey of Edward
Character learns humility and patience
Tulane
Tale of Despereaux
fairy tale genre; adventure & humour
Ice Fire & sequels
fantasy; dragons & magic with modern family
Ring of Tall Trees
forest protection; aboriginal connection
City of Ember & sequels
Resilience; social responsibility; peace; nuclear war
forces the creation of a city underground
Breadwinner & sequels
rights of women in modern Afghanistan
House of Scorpion
adventure; cloning
The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm futuristic Zimbabwe; adventure
2
4-7
5-7
4-6 (4.0)
5-7
4-7(4.9)
4-7 (4.9)
5-7 (4.9)
4-7
3-6
6+ (5.6)
4-7
3-5
4-7
4-7
5-7 (5.6)
5-8(5.5)
5-8
6+
4+
6+
5+
6+
6+ (5.1)
6+
6+
5-7
5+
4-6
5-7
5-7
4-6
3-5
3-5
4-7 (5.3)
5-7
5-7
5-7
6-8
5-7
4-5
6+
*√Fletcher
√Fletcher
Fleischman
*Friesen
*Funke
√*Funke
*Funke
*√Gantos
√Gardiner
√George
√George
*Godfrey
*√Gutman
*√Gutman
*√Haddix
*√Haddix
*√Hale
Spider Boy
Flying Solo
The Whipping Boy
Janey’s Girl
Dragon Rider
Inkheart & InkSpell (Ink Death
is quite violent for elementary)
Thief Lord
Joey Pigza (series)
Stone Fox
Julie of the Wolves
There’s an Owl in the Shower
Welcome to the Club
Homework Machine
Million Dollar Shot
Just Ella
Among the Hidden (& sequels)
Princess Academy
Friendships and spider facts
kids’ empowerment; relationships
prince-pauper reversal; humour; adventure
ethical dilemma; relationships
adventure; fantasy
Adventure; fantasy ( caution: rude words appear
4 times in Ink Spell)
adventure; mystery; relationships
living with ADHD: humour; relationships
boy & dog act heroically; aboriginal connection
Inuit world; girl survives on her own; wolves
family is caught in forestry vs owl conflict
Humour; friendship; acceptance
Kids learn value of learning rather than cheating
basketball; advertising; ethical dilemma; humour
Cinderella flees shallow castle life to aid refugees
suspense; human rights & overpopulation
Exposes foolishness of emphasis on shallow
“princess qualities” & myth of female fragility
Immigration; Canadian history; Halifax fire
√HaworthAttard
√Hesse
√Hiassen
√*Hiassen
√Hiassen
Hinton
Irish Chain
Hobbs
Holm
Horvath
Houston
*Howe
*Kehret
*√Kehret
*√Kimmel
Smith
*King Smith
√King Smith
*Kinney
*Korman
*Korman
Korman
*√Korman
√Lawson
LeGuin
L’Engle
Far North
I am David
Everything on a Waffle
Frozen Fire (& sequel)
Bunnicula (& sequels)
Don’t Tell Anyone
Stolen Children
War with Grandpa
human rights; relationships; dolphins
Kids catch someone flushing sewage into ocean
Moral dilemma; owl protection;relationships
Mystery with ecological overtones & humour
shows the inner sides of tough “greaser” youth;
best used with teacher because of gang violence
boys’ survival; aboriginal connection
boy escapes concentration camp; inner strength
Humour; folksy small town life
boys’ survival; aboriginal connection
humour
adventure; mystery; care of animals (cats)
Kidnapping; suspense; adventure
relationships; humour; dilemma
A Mouse Called Wolf
Babe
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
No More Dead Dogs
Not This Time
Radio Fifth Grade
Schooled
White Jade Tiger
Catwings
Wrinkle in Time
humour
overcoming prejudice; empathy for animals
humour; full of cartoons
humour; courage to be yourself
humour; mystery
humour; standing up to bullies
“hippy” boy tries to fit in; similar to Stargirl
historical fiction; Chinese immigration; mystery
fantasy; overcoming prejudice
science fiction; good vs evil
Music of the Dolphin
Flush
Hoot
Scat
The Outsiders
3
4-7 (5.1)
5+ (6.1)
6+ (5.9)
*Levine
Lewis
*√Lowry
4-7 (5.2)
4-5
6+ (6.3)
*√Lowry
Lowry
*MacGregor
Maguire
√Mikaelsen
*Miller
*Miller
*Mowat
Mowat
√Naidoo
*√Naylor
North
√Nowak
√O’Brien
*Oppel
*Oppel
*Paolini
*√Park
√Park
*√Park
*√Paterson
*√Paterson
*Paulsen
*√Pearson
Pearson
Peck
√Philbrick
6+
6+
4-6
Raskin
Richardson
Richler
5-8 (4.7)
5-7 (5.6)
*Riordan
Ritter
*√Rowling
√Rylant
*Sachar
*√Sachar
*√Sachar
*√Sachar
*√Sachar
6+
4-7
5-7
6+ (5.4)
4+ (5.5)
4+
4-7 (5.9)
6+
6+
4-7 (5.7)
7+ (7.1)
6+
5+
6+
6+
6+ (7.8)
4-7
5-7
4-7
5+(6.1)
5+(5.3)
5+ (6.2)
5-7
5-7
6+
5+ (5.2)
6-9
5+ (5.5)
5-7
5-7
Ella Enchanted
Narnia series
The Giver & sequels Gathering
Blue and The Messenger
Number the Stars
Stay
Screech Owl series
Seven Spiders Spinning
Touching Spirit Bear
You Be the Jury
You Be The Detective
Owls in the Family
Lost in the Barrens
The Other Side of Truth
Shiloh (& sequels)
Rascal
Old Brown Suitcase
Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of Nihm
Silverwing (& sequels)
Airborn & sequels
Eragon & sequel Eldest
Kid in the Red Jacket
Single Shard
Mick Harte Was Here
Bridge to Terabithia
Great Gilly Hopkins
Hatchet (& sequels)
Awake & Dreaming
Handful of Time
A Long Way From Chicago
Freak the Mighty
Westing Game
After Hamelin
Jacob Two-Two & the Hooded
Fang
Lightning Thief & sequels
Boy Who Loved Baseball
Harry Potter (series)
Missing May
Holes
Small Steps
There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom
Someday Angeline
Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes
adventure
adventure; good v evil
what is the value of individuality and choice?
family saves Jews during holocaust
a dog’s story from the dog’s perspective
hockey team has adventures and solves mysteries
parody of horror genre
juvenile delinquent sent on own to find inner spirit
mysteries
mysteries
animals; humour
survival; aboriginal connection
corruption in Nigeria forces family to flee
rescuing dog from abuse; moral dilemmas
true story of pet raccoon at the end of WW1
family of polish Jews immigrants in Canada
adventure; moral dilemmas; mice and rats
adventure; bats
adventure
adventure; dragon
humour; friendship; empathy
Korea (historical); inner strength
brother killed riding a bike without helmet
inner strength; relationships; death
inner strength; family relationships; empathy
survival
inner strength; family relationships; empathy
relationships; time travel
Great Depression; humour; colourful grandma
powerful; boy’s friendship with a friend who is
very disabled; also action & suspense; teacher
guidance suggested because of some violence
mystery
adventure; fantasy; follow-up to Pied Piper
humour
mythology, popular culture, responsibility
sports
fantasy; adventure
relationship; adjustment to death
adventure
sequel to Holes; good for teaching reading strategies
relationships; bully is transformed
friendship; accepting differences
friendship; accepting differences; humour
4
5-7
*√Salisbury
Under the Blood Red Sun
4-7
Schwartz
3-6
4-7
5+
3-6
3-6
*Scieszka
*√Scrimger
*Sleator
*√Smith
√Smith
*√Snyder
*√Spencer
*Spinelli
Starshine & Fanged Vampire
Spider
Time Warp Trio (series)
Nose from Jupiter (& sequels)
Boxes
War with Grandpa
Taste of Blackberries
The Egypt Game
This Means War
Eggs
5-8
5-7
4-8
4-7 (5.4)
5+ (5.5)
5+
4-7 (5.5)
5-7
5+ (6.1)
5+ (5.2)
6-8
6+ (5.5)
4+
4+
5-8
3+
5+
5+
5+
5-7 (5.0)
4-9
5-9
5-9
6-7
4-6 (4.9)
4-6 (5.1)
5+
5+
5+
*√Spinelli
*√Spinelli
√Spinelli
*√Spinelli
*√Spinelli
*√Spinelli
*√Spinelli
Taylor
Tolan
*√Van Draanen
*√Walsh
√Walsh
*√Walters
*√Walters
*Walters
*Walters
Walters
*√Walters
Walters
*√Walters
Walters
Whelan
*√White
White
Wilson
Wilson
*Wright
Maniac Magee
Wringer
Library Card
Loser
Crash
Stargirl & sequel
Milkweed
Trouble with Tuck
Surviving the Applewhites
Flipped
Moses, Me and Murder
Shabash
Safe as Houses
Three on Three & other books
in the basketball series
Camp X & sequels
Ricky
Hydrofoil Mystery
Elixer
Voyageur
War of the Eagles & sequel
Caged Eagles
We All Fall Down
Listening for Lions
Charlotte’s Web
Trumpet of the Swan
Murder on the Canadian
Inuk Mountie Adventure
Dollhouse Murders
during ww2, family of Japanese-Americans
living in Hawaii; friendship between boys
kid power; girl rallies friends to change
spiders’ reputation
humour; low-reading level with high interest
standing up to bullies; humour; relationships
suspense; science fiction
empathy; humour; relationships
friend dies; relationships
Mystery; suspense; lots of Egyptology
Kid power; saving an apartment by working together
Friendship helps 2 students deal with boy’s grief &
girl’s dysfunctional family
racial desegregation; tall tale genre
boy finds voice to stand against cruelty
4 short stories of lives transformed by reading
cheerful nerd, rejected by peers, finds acceptance
tough jock torments then befriends kind nerd
reactions of teens to non-conformist girl
Holocaust
Dog goes blind
humour; eccentric family
humour; story told from 2 different perspectives
historical fiction; Barkerville
Sikh boy’s struggle for inclusion in minor hockey
Historical kids survive flood by quick-thinking
basketball; friendships between genders and
confronting stereotypes of kids who are poor
ww2 – spy camps in Canada; historical fiction
kid power; animal rights; standing up to bullies
Canadian historical fiction; adventure
testing on animals to discover insulin
Trudeau rescues a canoeing family; historical fiction
During WWII – internment of Japanese; hero of
War of the Eagles is part aboriginal
Historical fiction – 9/11 World Trade Centre crisis
ethical dilemma; Kenya in 1919
animals’ perspective
animal; humour
mystery (Tom Austen detective series)
mystery (Tom Austin detective series)
suspense; relationships
5