Summer Reading Lists 2008
INCOMING 8th GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 8th Grade Assignment)
YOU ARE TO READ THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
Title: Dragonwings
Author: Lawrence Yep
Title: St. Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars
Authors: Brendan Larnen O.P. and Milton Lomask
Assignments:
1. For Dragonwings, you are to prepare and deliver a speech, 3-5 minutes in length, in which you become one of the main characters in the book. Elements which should be included are:
• A physical description of the character
• A description of the character's emotional state at different points throughout the book.
• The character's relationship with others in the book.
• A description of the character's place in society.
• Include the character's challenges, aspirations, difficulties and successes.
2. For St. Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars, you are to write a 2-3 page paper (typed and double-spaced) discussing the key events in St. Thomas's life. Also prepare a time line of the main events of St. Thomas's life and attach it to your report as an addendum. You may include more events on your time line than you include in your paper.
INCOMING 7th GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 7th Grade Assignment)
1. The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence OR The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
2. The Man Who Never Died (The Life and Adventures of St. Peter, the First Pope) by Rev. Gerald T. Brennan
Assignments
1. For The Wreckers or The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, you are to prepare and deliver a speech, 3-5 minutes in length, in which you become one of the main characters in your selected book. Elements which should be included are:
• A physical description of the character
• A description of the character's emotional state at different points throughout the book.
• The character's relationship with others in the book.
• A description of the character's place in society.
• Discuss the character's challenges, aspirations, difficulties and successes.
2. For the Man Who Never Died, write a 2-3 page paper (typed and double-spaced) discussing the main events in St. Peter's life. Also, prepare a time line of the key events in his life and attach it as an addendum to your paper. You may have more events on your time line than those you discuss in your paper.
INCOMING 6th GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 6th Grade Assignment)
Required Reading: Please select 1 book from each list and complete a Book Review as outlined below. The book reviews will be due Friday, August 29, 2008.
Selection One: Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis OR Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
Selection Two: The Little Flower by Mary Fabyan Windeatt OR St. Thomas More of London by Elizabeth M. Ince, Ignatius Press
Book Review
1. Introduction
• Open with a strong, attention-grabbing sentence
• List the title of the book & underline it
• Name the author of the book
• Give the publication date
2. Characters
• Identify the main characters in the book
• Describe a personality trait or two of the main character(s)
3. Setting
• Describe where the story takes place
• Explain when the story takes place
4. Plot/Theme
• Describe the problem or obstacle in the book
• Explain two or three main events in the book
• Explain the resolution in the book
5. Conclusion
• Give your opinion regarding your enjoyment of this book
• How would you rate the book on a scale of one to ten?
• To whom would you recommend this book?
* You should have five paragraphs:
* Proper use of grammar
* Proper spelling
* Proper punctuation/capitalization
* Indentation for paragraphs
INCOMING 5th GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 5th Grade Assignment)
Book Selections:
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Incredible Journey by Sheila Every Burnford
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
St Paul the Apostle by Windeatt
Pope by Walter Diethelm
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Snyder
Skinnybones by Barbara Park
Fifth grade students are required to select two books from the above summer reading list. They are to read them over the summer and complete the following activity:
Create an advertisement for a newspaper or magazine that features each of your books. For each advertisement, include a book review that consists of a summary of the book's plot, and a recommendation that would inspire other readers to get this book. Include a picture with each advertisement that illustrates an interesting or important message from your book. Also include a title or slogan for your advertisement that will catch a reader's attention, and a star rating (out of a possible 5 stars, how many would you give this book?). Use every ounce of creativity possible when creating your advertisements! Have fun with this!
Summer Reading Assignment will be due on Friday, August 29, 2008
INCOMING 4th GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 4th Grade Assignment)
Incoming fourth grade students are required to read Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. They are also required to read one other book from the list below. Students will be given an assignment the first week of school.
Book Selections:
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
INCOMING 3rd GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 3rd Grade Assignment)
Required Book: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Students will complete an activity in class the first week of school based on this book.
The following books are suggested to enhance your child's reading performance:
1. "Adam Joshua" - Series by Janice Lee Smith
2. A Child's Book of Play in Art by Lucy Micklethwaite
3. A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky
4. A Toad for Tuesday by Russell E. Erickson
5. Ahoy, Ahoy! Are You There? A Story of Alexander Graham Bell by Robert Quackenbush
6. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
7. Amelia's Road by Linda Altman
8. An Alphabet of Dinosaurs by Peter Dodson
9. An Octopus Is Amazing by Patricia Lauber
10. Archaeologists Dig for Clues by Kate Duke
11. As I was Crossing Boston Common by Norma Farber
12. Ben Franklin's Glass Harmonica by Byrna Stevens
13. Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema`
14. Brother Rabbit: A Cambodian Tale by Minfong Ho and Saphan Ros
15. Charles Lindbergh: Hero Pilot by David R. Collins
16. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
17. Columbus by Ingrid D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
18. Dinosaur Dinner: (with a Slice of Alligator Pie) by Dennis Lee
19. Friday Night Is Papa Night by Ruth A. Sonneborn
20. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
21. From Seed to Salad by Hannah Lyons Johnson
22. Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson
23. How Much is a Millon by David M. Schwartz
24. How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis & Clark by Rosalyn Schanzer
25. I Want a Dog by Dayal Kaur Khalsa
26. In the Forest by Marie Hall Ets
27. Jokes and More Jokes by Sandra Ziegler
28. Lionel in the Fall by Stephen Krensky
29. Little Bear's Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik
30. Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man by David A. Adler
31. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
32. Me & Nessie by Eloise Greenfield
33. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
34. Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel
35. My Island Grandma by Kathryn Lasky
36. Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola
37. One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi
38. Owl Moon by Jane Moon
39. Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle
40. Punia and the King of Sharks: A Hawaiian Folktale by Lee Wardlaw
41. Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
42. Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley
43. Say Hola to Spanish by Susan Middleton Elya
44. The Church Mouse by Graham Oakley
45. The Columbus Story by Alice Dalgliesh
46. The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
47. The Gingerbread Boy by Richard Egielski
48. The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne
49. The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
50. The Little Wooden Farmer by Alice Dalgliesh
51. The Smallest Cow in the World by Katherine Paterson
52. Tommy at the Grocery Store by Bill Grossman
53. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? by Steve Jenkins
54. Where In The World Do You Live by Al Hine and John Akorn
55. Wiley and the Hairy Man by Judy Sierra
56. Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became The World's Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull
57. Mr. Grigg's Work by Cynthia Rylant
INCOMING 2nd GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 2nd Grade Assignment)
(Click Here to download a copy of the 2nd Grade Book Report Form)
Students are required to read the following seven books. Students are to choose 3 of the books and write a book report on the form provided. Book reports are due by Friday, August 29, 2008.
1. A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
2. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
3. You Are Special by Max Lucado
4. Verdi by Janell Cannon
5. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
6. The Treasure by Uri Shulevitz
7. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judith Barrett
Please encourage your child to read any of the following books:
1. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
2. Frog and Toad (any book in this series) by Arnold Lobel
3. Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel
4. George and Martha (any book in this series) by James Marshall
5. One of Three by Angela Johnson
6. Benjamin by Anne Matheson
7. City Kids (Series) by Lorraine Wilson
8. Tom by Tomie de Paola
9. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
10. Little Bill (any book in this series) by Bill Cosby
11. The Magic Tree House (any book in this series) by Mary Pope Osborne
12. Sarah's Unicorn by Bruce Coville
13. Zinnia and Dot by Lisa Campbell Ernst
14. Keep Your Socks On, Albert by Linda Glaser
15. Nate the Great (series) by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
16. The Best Bug To Be by Dolores Johnson
17. No Mirrors in My Nana's House by Ysaye M. Barnwell
18. The Worst Team Ever by Leonard Kessler
19. Binky Brothers and the Fearless Four by James Lawrence
20. Miss Happ in the Dog Food Caper by Joan M. Lexau
21. I Want To Be Somebody New! by Robert Lopshire
22. Too Many Balloons by Catherine Matthias
23. Mo To the Rescue by Mary P. Osborne
24. Amelia Bedelia and the Baby (any book in this series) by Peggy Parish
25. Helpful Hattie by Janet Harkin-Quin
26. Henry and Mudge in the Green Time by Cynthia Rylant
27. All Of Our Noses Are Here & Other Noodle Tales by Alvin Schwartz
28. Our Soccer League by Chuck Solomon
29. Which One is Whitney? by James Stevenson
30. Oliver And Amanda's Halloween by Jean Van Leeuwen
31. Stella Luna by Janell Cannon
32. The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
33. Shoes from Grandpa by Mem Fox
34. Morris And Boris at the Circus By B. Wiseman
INCOMING 1st GRADE
(Click Here to download a copy of the 1st Grade Assignment)
Help your child choose his/her favorite book from the titles listed below. Ask your child to choose a favorite part of the book and draw a picture to go with it. The picture will be due in class on Friday, August 29, 2008.
1. Curious George by H.A. Rey
2. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
3. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
4. Little Bear by Else Holelund Minarik
5. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
6. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelman
7. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky
8. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
9. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
10. Mysterious Tadpole by Steve Kellogg
11. Olivia by Ian Falconer
12. Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
13. Sam, Bangs and Moonshine by Evaline Ness
14. Snowman by Raymond Briggs
15. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
16. Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
17. Story of Ping by Marjorie Flack
18. Swimmy by Leo Lionni
19. Tale of Peter Rabbit — Commemorative Edition
20. The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Marcia Brown
21. Thunder Cake Patricia Polacco
22. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
23. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
24. William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
