Read This! Book Recommendations
Get a jumpstart on summer reading with these student favorites. Series titles such as The Land of Stories, Amulet, and The Maze Runner top the list, among others. Starting a new series or continuing one you love is a great way to keep reading all summer! All of the books listed received a 4-5 star rating on a 5-star scale.
Sign up for the Santa Clara County Public Library Summer Reading Program (June 1st-July 31st) to log reading and related activities and earn badges and prizes. Free events will take place at library branches all summer. The Campbell location has a summer reading kick-off event for kids on June 14th at 3:30 p.m.
The Princess in Black series by Shannon Hale
— Carly, incoming Kindergartener
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
“It is really funny! Yes!!! I love this book!” — Lilah, Kindergarten)
Waiting Is Not Easy! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems
“Gerald and Piggie are best of friends. They are funny and make me laugh.” — Kai, Kindergarten
The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
“The books are set in old times and I like to read about the past.” — Zara, 1st grade
The Great Lollipop Caper by Dan Krall
“It is soooo funny!” — Aya, 2nd grade
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine
“Melvin Beederman is a kid who graduated from Superhero Academy and has his first assignment. He’s not the best flyer but he saves the day with the help of his sidekick Candace.” — Jack, 2nd grade
Sea Monsters (Magic Tree House Research Guide): A Nonfiction Companion to Dark Day in the Deep Sea by Mary Pope Osborne
“It has really cool facts about deep sea creatures and prehistoric sea creatures. It also has sea monster tales!” — Gigi, 2nd grade
The Power of Poppy Pendle (Poppy Pendle Series) by Natasha Lowe
“It teaches people to follow their dreams.” — Ciena, 3rd grade
The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mable (Poppy Pendle Series) by Natasha Lowe
“It is a good book for being yourself.” — Ciena, 3rd grade
The Return (Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts, Book 3) by Varian Johnson
“It is about teenagers who save the world and go on adventures.” — Leila, 3rd grade
The Mystery at Lilac Inn (Nancy Drew, Book 4) by Carolyn Keene
“It is Mysterious.” — Leila, 3rd grade
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg (Realistic Fiction)
“It is about a girl in the Depression who moved to Alaska (she talks a little about Laura Ingalls Wilder) and she loves to read. I really liked this book. It really showed what parts of Alaska were like.” — Amanda, 4th grade
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary (Realistic Fiction, also a series)
“Most people who read this book can really relate to Ramona. She’s very fearless, gets a little too angry and scowls a lot. I think Ramona the Brave is a good book because it teaches you lessons. She has a growth mindset, never gives up, has a great perspective and always keeps trying, and tries her best. So read Ramona the Brave today.” — Sohum, 4th grade
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler (Adventure/Fantasy)
“This book is about a girl named Emily Windsnap and she is half human half mermaid. She becomes friends with a real mermaid. I loved this book wa lot because it is fun to read and adventurous and about a kind girl who lives on a boat with her mom.” — Keira, 4th grade
Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer (Fantasy)
“There are sad parts and death, also beware that there are sudden cliffhangers at the end of some of the books. They are amazing and show a great point of view on where fairytales come from.” — Amanda, 4th grade
“It is a very exciting series, with a bunch of characters and animals. It has two main characters, a boy and a girl. They are twins. It is a very exciting story with many adventures to come. It is very funny, caring, and a kind story. The sixth book is coming out this summer. You should give it a try.” — Layla, 4th grade
“Alex and Conner are twins from the modern world (the “other-world”) but their dad and grandma are from the Fairy Tale world. Their grandma is the Fairy Godmother. The twins are born linking the worlds together. It is a great series. It’s very interesting and has a little bit of humor in it. The Land of Stories is the best series ever! I never want it to end.” — Sienna, 5th grade
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi (Fantasy)
“If you like fantasy I recommend the Amulet series. It’s mysterious and it makes you want to keep reading. When I read the first pages of Amulet, I instantly loved it.” — Jacques, 4th grade
“Amulet is good, it’s like a future past because they have huge necks and robots but they wear clothes from the 1800’s. It is good and very interesting and cool.” — Wes, 4th grade 4th
The Maze Runner series by James Dashner (Action/Adventure)
“The Maze Runner is an interesting and intense book. Also it has many twists. It was always interesting and never got boring.” — Shane, 5th grade
The Maze Runner is very exciting and unpredictable. It is awesome and very interesting.” — Luke, 5th grade
“If you like action/adventure, I strongly recommend this series. With all the action this book is hard to stop reading. It is the best series I have read in my life. The Maze Runner series keeps you reading unless your mom makes you stop so you can have dinner or something.” — Sawyer, 5th grade
The Hound of Rowan: Book One of the Tapestry by Henry H. Neff (Fantasy)
“Based in modern times then in the Middle Ages. The book’s complex but awesome. The next books get more complex. They are awesome, amazing and interesting and the author needs to keep writing the series.” — Sean, 5th grade
4th/5th Grade Lists of “The Best I’ve Read This Year”
Emma, 4th grade
Best Series: Land of Stories by Chris Colfer; Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows; The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner; Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
Best Authors: Chris Colfer (Land of Stories), Rachel Renée Russell (Dork Diaries), Ruth Owen (various nonfiction titles)
Jamie, 4th grade
Best Series: Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Best Realistic Fiction: Auggie and Me; Wonder; and 365 Days of Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Jacques, 4th grade
Best Series: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi; Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney; Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce; Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson; Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey; Bone series by Jeff Smith
Best Authors: Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Jeff Smith (Bone)
Wes, 4th grade
Best Series: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi; Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Spy School by Stuart Gibbs, FunJungle by Stuart Gibbs
Best Authors: Stuart Gibbs (Spy School and FunJungle), Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet)
Maria, 4th grade
Best Series: Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
Best Author: Rachel Renée Russell
Carter, 4th grade
Best Series: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Best Author: J.K. Rowling
Keira, 4th grade
Best Series: Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler, “Who Was…series” (nonfiction)
Best Nonfiction: America’s Tea Parties: Not One but Four! By Marissa Moss
Best Fantasy: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
Best Adventure Books: Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler; Ship of Dolls by Shirley Parenteau; Bailey’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron; A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
Best Authors: Kiki Thorpe (The Never Girls series), J.K. Rowling; Joan Holub (“Who was…” series)
Sawyer, 5th grade
Best Series: The Maze Runner by James Dashner; Fablehaven by Brandon Mull; Spy School by Stuart Gibbs; FunJungle by Stuart Gibbs; The Menagerie series by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari H. Sutherland
Best Fantasy Books: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull; The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari H. Sutherland; The Zoo at the Edge of the World by Eric Kahn Gale
Shane, 5th grade
Best Series: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Best Fantasy: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Best Authors: James Dashner (The Maze Runner), Rick Riordan (multiple series), J.K. Rowling
