Children's Books for Parents and Teachers » 4th Grade (Age 9)

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:25:16 +0000

A huge sea monster has attacked and wrecked several ships from beneath the sea. Professor Arronax bravely joins a mission to hunt down the beast. He goes aboard the Nautilus, a secret submarine helmed by the mysterious Captain Nemo. At first, the mission is exciting, as Nemo takes Arronax on a voyage around the underwater world. But when things start to go wrong, Arronax finds there’s no escape from the Nautilus. He is now Captain Nemo’s captive 20,000 leagues under the sea!

26 Fairmount Avenue

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:27:39 +0000

In a striking debut, Tomie dePaola finds just the right voice for his first chapter book about his adventures during the year the family built their house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. It all began when the “Big Hurricane of 1938″ roared into town…then his first day of school took an unexpected turn…so did Mr. Disney’s Snow White, the movie everyone had been waiting to see. These are only a few of the stories that will have readers racing from one episode to the next. Tomie fans, young and old, will be delighted to find favorite characters from his picture books, such as Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, Tom and others. Funny, dramatic and memorable moments combined with lively illustrations throughout will make everyone wish they had grown up in the dePaola family.

A Book of Coupons

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:36:19 +0000

Monsieur Hubert Noël isn’t quite what his fifth-grade class expected. First, he gives all his students a book of coupons as a gift: one coupon for sleeping late, one for lost work, one for cheating, and more of the same. At first the students use them, but it’s not until they realize that Monsieur Noël is giving them more important gifts for free — books read aloud, a whole year of lessons, and out-of-the-ordinary field trips — that they stop clipping coupons. This book about a quirky teacher in an unconventional school will teach readers a lesson about one of life’s most precious gifts — the love of learning.

A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s Relaxation Book

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:20:47 +0000

Written for children, this book tells the story of a young boy who encounters a polar bear while they are both climbing a snow covered mountain. The boy and bear become friends and learn an important lesson. Young readers will enjoy the story and benefit from learning calming techniques to reduce stress, prepare for sleep, and improve self-confidence.

A Brand-New Me! (Hank Zipzer Series #17)

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:58:49 +0000

It’s graduation time for Hank and all his friends— time to move on from PS 87 to middle school. Trouble is, there are tests Hank has to pass to get into the same middle schools as his friends, and his learning differences might get in the way. Luckily, a life-altering audition at a performing arts middle school helps him find his true path.

A Christmas Memory

admin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:12:46 +0000

Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: “It’s fruitcake weather!” Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls–one young and one old–and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.

A Day for Vincent Chin and Me

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:49:10 +0000

Tommy is part of a posse, a group of six seventh-grade students who have been friends forever. He leads this posse in a neighborhood effort to slow down traffic on his street where a deaf girl lives. Meanwhile, Tommy’s mother leads a protest march called “A Day for Vincent Chin” in the state capitol. Chin, a Chinese man, was beaten to death by racist auto workers, who mistakenly assumed he was Japanese. Tommy, who more than anything wants to fit in, dislikes his mother’s leadership role because it draws attention to the fact that they are Japanese Americans. After the posse solves the speeding problem, Tommy comes to understand that, like himself, his mother is doing what she needs to do to improve the lives of others.

A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:31:05 +0000

Lynne Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser collaborated on America: A Patriotic Primer, which captured the imagination of American children and became a national best-seller. Now they turn their hands to A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women and bring the great women of American history to life. Filled to the brim with words and pictures that celebrate the remarkable (although often unmarked) achievements of American women, this is a book to relish and to read again and again.

A Little Princess

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:03:11 +0000

Ostracized by the envious and less-privileged girls at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies, seven-year-old Sara Crewe is devastated when her adored, indulgent father dies, leaving her penniless and alone in the world. The story of how Sara’s fortunes change again, and how she discovers the true meaning of family, is a tale that has delighted children since its initial publication in 1905.

A Long Way from Chicago

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:36:28 +0000

This year’s Newbery Honor book is a collection of stories about a very different kind of grandmother. Each August from 1929 through 1935, Joey and Mary Alice leave Chicago to spend a week with Grandma Dowdel in rural Illinois. The life and people there, especially Grandma, are very different from anything or anyone the children encounter in the big city. In seven funny stories, one for each summer, Grandma comes across as a tall-tale hero, surprising Joey and Mary Alice with her antics.

A Pair of Wings

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:29:00 +0000

Fairies and other storybook characters that fly make wings seem magical. So does Marilyn Singer, even though this book is pure nonfiction. Facts about wings are just truly remarkable. Dragonflies can zoom up to 60 miles per hour. Ordinary houseflies can take off backwards or sideways. And did you know that not all wings are used for flying? Kid-friendly illustrations, interspersed with scientific drawings, bring the winged world to life!

A Plump and Perky Turkey

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:28:28 +0000

Turkeys around Squawk Valley just don’t jump into pots anymore — they are way too smart for that. So the townspeople hatch a clever plan. They host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair and lure a vain bird into town by advertising for an artist’s model. Peter the Turkey, proud of his well-stuffed form, takes the bait but doesn’t fall for the trap.

A Ring of Tricksters: Animal Tales From America, the West Indies, and Africa

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:35:08 +0000

Many tales handed down from one generation to the next are about “tricksters,” characters who get into trouble and rely on their wits to save themselves. This collection features some of the most popular trickster stories.

A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles

cindy — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:41:24 +0000

How do you speak up when you’re afraid of hurting your friend’s feelings? What do you do after a really big fight? What if your friend leaves you for the popular crowd? Inside you’ll find tips, quizzes, and real-life stories that can help solve a girl’s most common friendship troubles. When your friendship’s in trouble, you need help — fast. Here’s the advice you need to get through the tough times and help you decide how to deal with friendship dilemmas

Abduction!

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:38:38 +0000

Matt is missing. Bonnie’s brother left his classroom to use the bathroom –and disappeared. A police dog traces his scent to the curb, where he apparently got into a vehicle. But why would Matt go anywhere with a stranger? Overwhelmed with fear, Bonnie discovers that her dog is gone, too. Was Pookie used as a lure for Matt? Bonnie makes one big mistake in her attempt to find her brother. In a chilling climax on a Washington State ferry, Bonnie and Matt must outsmart their abductor or pay with their lives.

Abe Lincoln Remembers

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:41:10 +0000

From his humble beginnings in a small log cabin, young Abe Lincoln knew “that being tall is not enough to make your way in this world.” He worked hard on a flatboat, in a general store, and then studying to become a lawyer, eventually making his way into politics. Along the way he married and had three boisterous sons: “They were like balls bounding down a road, and people said they had no manners or discipline. I thought happiness more important than manners, though I didn’t like it when Tad drove his cart and goats down the White House hall.” Deeply relieved when the Civil War is over, Abe Lincoln is finally ready to be happy on the fateful night that he sets out to Ford’s Theater to see a play with his wife.

The focus of this simple picture book is not on Lincoln’s death–the book concludes before Abe and Mary even leave the White House–but rather on the admirable life he led. Although many are well acquainted with the legendary story of young Abe’s rough upbringing in Kentucky and his unquenchable thirst for learning, Ann Turner’s fictionalized biography, told in a fresh and immediate first-person point of view, adds a sweet note of poignancy and humanity to one of America’s greatest heroes. With his historically accurate paintings, award-winning illustrator Wendell Minor captures the expressions and experiences of a man who, at the conclusion of the war, sees “how sorrow has dug lines in my cheeks.” –Emilie Coulter

Adventures of Tom Sawyer

admin — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:04:22 +0000

He got out his worldly wealth and examined it — bits of toys, marble, and trash; enough to buy an exchange of work maybe, but not enough to buy as much as half an hour of pure freedom”. One of those most irrepressible and exuberant characters in the history of literature, Tom Sawyer explodes onto the page in a whirl of bad behavior and incredible adventures. Whether he is heaving clods of earth at his brother, faking a gangrenous toe, or trying to convince the world that he is dead, Tom’s infectious energy and good-humor shine through. The Adventures of Tom sawyer is Mark Twain’s joyful and nostalgic recollection of tall tales from his own boyhood by the Mississippi some “thirty or forty years ago”. It was an instant success on its first publication in 1876, and has continued to delight children of all ages ever since.

Aesop’s Fables

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:41:17 +0000

Here’s a picture book version of Aesop’s fables that should be in every classroom. Pinkney’s watercolor creatures illustrate more than 60 tales that end with one of Aesop’s moral lessons. Try it as a crowd-pleasing read-aloud for younger grades and as a wonderful resource for older children.

Airborn

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:03:13 +0000

Sailing toward dawn, and I was perched atop the crow’s nest, being the ship’s eyes. We were two nights out of Sydney, and there’d been no weather to speak of so far. I was keeping watch on a dark stack of nimbus clouds off to the northwest, but we were leaving it far behind, and it looked to be smooth going all the way back to Lionsgate City. Like riding a cloud. . . .

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt’s always wanted; convinced he’s lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies. It is only after Matt meets the balloonist’s granddaughter that he realizes that the man’s ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious.

In a swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Kenneth Oppel, author of the best-selling Silverwing trilogy, creates an imagined world in which the air is populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates, and beings never before dreamed of by the humans who sail the skies.

Airman

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:52:40 +0000

Airman is set in the 1890′s on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. It is the story of Conor Broekhart, a young Saltee Islander whose father, Declan, is the King’s bodyguard. When Conor discovers that the power hungry Marshall Hugo Bonvilain is organizing a military coup, the king is murdered and Conor is blamed for the crime and thrown into prison. In prison, Conor passes the solitary months by scratching designs for flying machines into the walls. This has always been his dream, to win the race for flight. After two years, Conor now sixteen, plans and executes a daring escape to the mainland. Initially he plans to return home, but realizes that this would put his entire family in danger, so instead he builds a glider to fly to the prison island and reclaim the diamonds he buried there from the prison mine. Eight bags of diamonds, means eight trips. Conor’s father is beginning to question Bonvilain’s rule, and so the marshall decides to use his son to blackmail him. This is when he realizes that Conor has escaped. He also finds Conor’s drawings and realizes that he is the mysterious Airman who has been flying around the prison island. Bonvilain arrests Conor’s whole family to trap him. To save them, Conor will have to build the flying machine that he has been dreaming of all these years.

Alex Rider Collection

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:07:03 +0000

The first three thrilling Alex Rider adventures, packaged together in a deluxe box set! Anthony Horowitz’s New York Times bestselling series is the gold standard for modern action-adventure novels, and these first three edge-of-your-seat novels- Stormbreaker, Point Blank, and Skeleton Key-are must-haves for every Alex Rider fan!

Alison’s Zinnia

admin — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:31:10 +0000

“Alison acquired an Amaryllis for Beryl. Beryl bought a Begonia for Crystal. Crystal cut a Chrysanthemum for Dawn.” See a pattern? And so goes this alphabetical flower alliteration book. The full-page floral paintings and the clever girl-verb-flower text link one page to the next and keep interest blooming. This book is a vocabulary stretcher, guessing game, and flower primer all in one!

Alphabet from Z to A (with Much Confusion Along the Way)

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:33:45 +0000

There is lots of confusion in the English language. Some words sound alike but are not spelled alike. Some letters have no sound at all. This vocabulary builder reminds us that humor can be found even in an English lesson!

Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart: The Story of Amber and Essie Told Here in Poems and Pictures

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:38:43 +0000

Amber and Essie are sisters. Amber was brave. She wasn’t afraid of climbing up into high places. Essie was smart. She could read very hard library books. Together they make a good team. Their father is in prison, their mother works long hours, and there is little money to pay the bills. Through a series of interconnected poems, Williams presents Amber and Essie’s sad, funny, and moving tale. Full-color portraits of the girls precede the story, and an album of dramatic moments closes the book. Black-and-white pencil drawings are interspersed among the poems.

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:47:14 +0000

Imagine Amelia Earhart flying Eleanor Roosevelt over Washington D.C. in an airplane! This fictional account of their historic “night flight” shows two maverick women defying the conventions of their day, and taking off! Their exciting journey — from the White House to the starry skies above the Capitol — is illustrated with stunning black-and-white drawings.

Americana Adventure

cindy — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:30:23 +0000

Celebrate the Fourth of July in a vibrant seek-and-find adventure. This fun-filled ode to America brims with patriotic spirit and more than 200 hidden objects to find. Tommy awakes on July Fourth to find a note from his eccentric Aunt Jeanne, promising a spectacular surprise if he unravels clues she has hidden for him. Tommy’s clues lead him on a magical cross-country trip through America’s great places and iconic traditions. From Times Square to Mount Rushmore, from a Mississippi riverboat to the Golden Gate Bridge.

And Nobody Got Hurt!: The World’s Weirdest, Wackiest, True Sports Stories

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:21:31 +0000

Sportscaster Len Berman collects a plethora of true tales about minor leaguers, high school athletes and the majors in the paperback And Nobody Got Hurt!: The World’s Weirdest, Wackiest True Sports Stories. Organized by sport, the anecdotes range from the May 1993 home run hit by the Cleveland Indians’ Carlos Martinez, off the head of Texas Ranger right fielder Jose Canseco; to Natasha Zvereva’s 1993 Wimbledon match which quite literally brought her to her knees, from where she made not one, but two returns while playing with doubles partner Gigi Fernandez. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:01:56 +0000

Inside a mysterious jar there is some water. Turn the page and the water becomes the sea. In that sea, there is an island and on that island there are two countries, and so on until the reader has counted to over three million. Mitsumasa Anno’s books use detailed watercolors to show mathematical concepts. Text and pictures combined give a memorable lesson on factorials.

Antics! An Alphabetical Anthology

admin — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:31:46 +0000

Here is a flippant slant on the typical ABC book. Ant characters pose to illustrate words from A to Z that contain the letters “ant.” In a rocking chair on the front porch sits an ancient “ant ique.” A “Brilliant” scientist mixes chemicals. The art is enchant ing, and observant students will come up with their own words to add to this ant hology.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:06:06 +0000

No one ever told Margaret Simon that eleven-going-on- twelve would be such a hard age. When her family moves to New Jersey, she has to adjust to life in the suburbs, a different school, and a whole new group of friends. Margaret knows she needs someone to talk to about growing up-and it’s not long before she’s found a solution. Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. I can’t wait until two o’clock God. That’s when our dance starts. Do you think I’ll get Philip Leroy for a partner? It’s not so much that I like him as a person God, but as a boy he’s very handsome. And I’d love to dance with him… just once or twice. Thank you God.