Education Matters—Sanford School's Private School Blog

Give the Gift of Reading

Written by Authored Collaboratively by Sanford Teachers and Faculty | December 13, 2019 at 5:00 PM

What better gift than to give a child the gift of meeting new people and experiencing new places? Even better, there is no assembly required! Books are an investment in a child’s academic future and can be enjoyed over and over again.

Teachers at Sanford School were asked what are must-reads for children and below are some of their recommendations. Sharing the love of reading is an important part of how our teachers provide the best learning for our students. Click on the title of the book to access a link to the summary.

Preschool through 4th Grade MuST-Read Fiction books

Book Title Author Suggested Interest Grade Level
All The Places to Love Patricia MacLachlan Preschool-2
Bunnicula Deborah and James Howe 3-5
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type Doreen Cronin Preschool-2
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are Dr. Seuss Preschool-2
The Dot Peter Reynolds 1-5
Frog and Toad Are Friends Arnold Lobel PreK-2
I Am Enough Grace Byers Preschool-3
I Love You Purplest Barbara M. Joose Preschool-2
Koala Lou Mem Fox Preschool-2
Matilda Roald Dahl 3-8
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Rick Riordan 4-8
Wordy Bird Tammi Sauer Preschool-2

 

Fifth Through Eighth grade must-Read Fiction books

Book Title Author Suggested Interest Grade Level
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret Judy Blume  5-8
The Candymakers Wendy Mass 5
From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. E. Basil Frankweiler E.L. Konigsburg 5
Gracefully Grayson Ami Polonsky 5-8
Hatchet Gary Paulsen 5-8
Holes Louis Sachar 6-8
I Will Always Write Back Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, &  Liz Welch 6-8
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey Trenton Lee Stewart 6-8
Do The Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra Wendy Lichtman 5-8
Turtles All The Way Down John Green 7-8
Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood Trevor Noah 5-8

 

Ninth through twelfth grade Must-Read Fiction Books

Book Title Author Suggested Interest Grade Level
Boys In The Boat: Nine Americans And Their Epic Quest For Gold At The 1936 Berlin Olympics Daniel James Brown 10-12
Brave New World  Aldous Huxley 9-12
Catch 22 Joseph Heller 10-12
The Complete Persepolis Mariane Satrapi 9-12
Contact: A Novel Carl Sagan 9-12
East of Eden John Steinback 9-12
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Douglas Adams 9-12
The Minimalist Home Joshua Baker 10-12
The Nightingale Kristin Hannah 10-12
Rocket Boys (October Sky) Homer Hickam 10-12
Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck 10-12
Player Piano Kurt Vonnegut 10-12
Slaughterhouse Five Kurt Vonnegut 10-12
The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller 10-12
The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien 10-12

 

When selecting a book, consider a child’s interest, age and reading ability. Take time to read the first few pages. Did the story pique your interest? If there are pictures, do the details enhance the story? If the answer is yes, then you have probably selected the perfect gift! Not sure what interests a child, a gift card to a local or chain bookstore is always appreciated.

At Sanford, we foster the love of reading in our libraries and in the classroom. Many times our faculty and Upper School students will do a guest reading of a favorite book.