LibGuides: Recommended Reads: Year 4

Susan Cooper

Over Sea, under Stone by Susan Cooper; David Wiesner (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F COO
ISBN: 9780689840357
Publication Date: 2000-11-01
On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that -- the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their very lives in peril. This is the first volume of Susan Cooper's brilliant and absorbing fantasy sequence known as The Dark Is Rising.

Over sea under stone is the first in the Dark is Rising series followed by:

The Dark is Rising (2)
Greenwitch (3)
The Grey King (4)
Silver on the Tree (5)

The Lost Land of Susan Cooper

Matthew J. Kirby

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
Call Number: EN F KIR
ISBN: 9780545274241
Publication Date: 2011-10-01
The author of The Clockwork Three deftly weaves a brand-new tale that leaves readers racing breathlessly to the end. Solveig, a princess, is trapped in a hidden fortress, tucked between towering mountains and a frozen fjord, with her siblings, her friend Raudi, and an army of restless soldiers, awaiting news of her father's victory at battle. As they wait for winter and the unending ice to break, acts of treachery soon make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst. First, the larder is emptied, then the men protecting Solveig and her siblings are poisoned. A malevolence seeps through the fortress walls, and a smothering claustrophobia slowly turns these prisoners of winter against one another. Those charged with protecting the king's children are all suspect, and the siblings must choose their allies wisely. But who can be trusted so far from their father's watchful eye and unchallenged authority? Can Solveig, her brother and sister, and Raudi survive the long winter months and expose the traitor before he (or she) succeeds in destroying a king, his empire, and his children?

Rose Kent

Kimchi and Calamari by Rose Kent
Call Number: EN F KEN
ISBN: 9780060837716
Publication Date: 2010-03-23
There are worse things in the world than being adopted. But right now Joseph can't think of one. Joseph Calderaro has a serious problem. His social studies teacher has given him an impossible assignment: an essay about ancestors. Ancestors, as in dead people you're related to. Joseph was adopted, but the only sure thing he knows about his birth family is that they shipped his diapered butt on a plane from Korea and he landed in New Jersey. How do you write about a family you've never known and at the same time manage all the other hassles that middle school mixes in the pot? What Joseph writes leads to a catastrophe messier than a table of shattered dishes--and self-discovery that will change his life recipe forever. . . .

Kate DiCamillo

Katrina Elizabeth "Kate" DiCamillo is an American writer of children's fiction for all reading levels, usually featuring animals. Her book Flora and Ulysses won the Newbery Award in 2014.

Flora and Ulysses - Newbery Award (2014)
Because of Winn Dixie
The Tale of Despereaux - Newbery Award (2004)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Available in the library - EN F DIC - Junior Library

Kate Hannigan

The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan
Call Number: EN F HAN
ISBN: 9780316403511
Publication Date: 2015-04-07
Based on the extraordinary true story of America's first-ever female detective, this fast-paced adventure recounts feats of daring and danger...including saving the life of Abraham Lincoln! Eleven-year-old Nell Warne arrives on her aunt's doorstep lugging a heavy sack of sorrows. If her Aunt Kate rejects her, it's the miserable Home for the Friendless. Luckily, canny Nell makes herself indispensable to Aunt Kate...and not just by helping out with household chores. For Kate Warne is the first-ever female detective employed by the legendary Pinkerton Detective Agency. And Nell has a knack for the kind of close listening and bold action that made Pinkerton detectives famous in Civil War-era America. With huge, nation-changing events simmering in the background, Nell uses skills new and old to uncover truths about her past and solve mysteries in the present.

Andy Griffiths - Treehouse series

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths; Terry Denton (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250026903
Publication Date: 2013-04-16
Andy and Terry live in a treehouse. But it's not just any old treehouse, it's the most amazing treehouse in the world! This treehouse has thirteen stories, a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a secret underground laboratory, and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you are hungry. Life would be perfect for Andy and Terry if it wasn't for the fact that they have to write their next book, which is almost impossible because there are just so many distractions, including thirteen flying cats, giant bananas, mermaids, a sea monsters pretending to be mermaids, enormous gorillas, and dangerous burp gas-bubblegum bubbles! Join the fun withThe 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. This title has Common Core connections.

Andy Griffiths - Treehouse series

13 Story-Treehouse
26 Story-Treehouse
39 Story-Treehouse
52 Story-Treehouse
65 Story-Treehouse
78 Story-Treehouse

Bear Grylls

Mission Survival: Gold of the Gods by Bear Grylls
Call Number: EN F GRY
ISBN: 9781862304796
Publication Date: 2008-10-01
Lost in the jungle! Bruno is on a trip to Colombia in his school holidays. His anthropologist uncle has taken him along on a visit to Don Rafael de Castillo, a descendent of a great explorer who is claimed to have discovered a lost City of Gold. But the secret of the city died with the explorer — until now. . . . A fast-paced, new adventure full of real survival details and tips.

There are 8 books in Bear Grylls Mission Survival series:

Gold of the Gods (1)
Way of the Wolf (2)
Sands of the Scorpion (3)
Tracks of the Tiger (4)
Claws of the Crocodile (5)
Strike of the Shark (6)
Rage of the Rhino (7)
Lair of the Leopard (8)

Kim Baker - PICKLE

Pickle by Kim Baker; Tim Probert (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250044273
Publication Date: 2014-05-06
This is the story of THE LEAGUE OF PICKLEMAKERS Ben: who began it all by sneaking in one night and filling homeroom with ball-pit balls. Frank: who figured out that an official club, say apickle-making club, could receive funding from the PTA. Oliver: Who once convinced half of the class that his real parents had found him and he was going to live in a submarine. Bean: Who wasn't exactly invited, but her parents own a costume shop, which comes in handy if you want to dress up like a giant squirrel and try to scare people at the zoo. TOGETHER, they are an unstoppable prank-pulling force, and Fountain Point Middle School will never be the same. Latino Interest.

Neil Patrick Harris

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris
Call Number: EN F HAR
ISBN: 9781405290333
Do you believe in magic? Carter doesn't. He knows magic tricks are just that - tricks. And as a street magician he's also pretty good at them. But then Carter runs away from his conman uncle and he finds himself alone and in danger from dastardly carnival ringleader, B.B. Bosso. He could really use some magic now. A chance encounter with the mysterious Mr Dante Vernon leads Carter to a magic shop, where he teams up with five other like-minded kids and the Magic Misfits are born! Can the gang use their magical talents to save the day and stop B.B. stealing a priceless diamond?

Laura Ellen Andreson

Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson
Call Number: EN F AND
ISBN: 9781405286725
Welcome to the world of Nocturnia, where darkness reigns supreme, glitter is terrifying, and unicorns are the stuff of nightmares! Amelia Fang would much rather hang out with her pet pumpkin Squashy and her friends Florence the yeti (DON'T CALL HER BEAST!) and Grimaldi the reaper than dance at her parents' annual Barbaric Ball.

And when the King’s spoiled son Tangine captures Squashy, Amelia and her friends must escape the party to plan a daring rescue! In their race against time, they begin to realise things in Nocturnia may not be quite what they seem . . .

Join Amelia on her very first adventure. She won't bite!

Jessica Lawson

Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson; Natalie Andrewson (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F LAW
ISBN: 9781481419215
Publication Date: 2015-06-02
Sweet, shy Tabitha Crum, the neglected only child of two parents straight out of a Roald Dahl book, doesn't have a friend in the world--except for her pet mouse, Pemberley, whom she loves dearly. But on the day she receives one of six invitations to the country estate of wealthy Countess Camilla DeMoss, her life changes forever. Upon the children's arrival at the sprawling, possibly haunted mansion, it turns out the countess has a very big secret--one that will change their lives forever. Then the children beginning disappearing, one by one. So Tabitha takes a cue from her favorite detective novels and, with Pemberley by her side, attempts to solve the case and rescue the other children...who just might be her first real friends.

Guy Bass

Secret Santa by Guy Bass
Call Number: EN F BAS
ISBN: 9781847151476
Santa and his little helper, newly qualified X.M.A.S. agent Jingle Bells, are on the trail of Dr Cumulus Nimbus, who's hell-bent on creating a new ice age - and Santa hates snow! Can they stop the evil plot before the world is snowed under?

Other books by Guy Bass:

Secret Santa : Agent of Xmas
Atomic!
The Legend of Frog
Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things
Dinkin Dings and the double from dimension 9
Dinkin Dings and the curse of clawfingers
Dinkin Dings and the revenge of the fish men
Stitch Head

Alf Proysen

Mrs Pepperpot Stories by Alf Proysen
Call Number: EN F PRO
ISBN: 9780099411390
A fantastic collection of much-loved, classic stories for all the family! Mrs Pepperpot can't choose when she will shrink to the size of a pepperpot - it just happens! But whatever she encounters, whether it be a monstrous mousetrap, a crafty fox or a gigantic mountain of ice cream, little Mrs Pepperpot will always come out on top.

Louis Sachar

Louis Sachar is an American writer of children's books. He is best known for the Wayside School series and Holes.

Holes
Marvin Redpost
There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom
Wayside School series

Available in the library - EN F SAC - Junior Library

Louis Sachar author site

Deborah and James Howe

Bunnicula by Deborah Howe; James Howe; Alan Daniel (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781416928171
Publication Date: 2006-08-08
BEWARE THE HARE! Is he or isn't he a vampire? Before it's too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household -- a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits...and fangs!

Will Mabbitt

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt; Ross Collins (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F MAB
ISBN: 9780147514257
Publication Date: 2016-01-05
A funny fantasy-adventure series for fans of LEMONY SNICKET, NEIL GAIMAN, and CRESSIDA COWELL Have you ever picked your nose? Have you ever picked your nose and EATEN IT? Have you ever picked your nose, eaten it, and, by doing so, opened a portal to a world run by PIRATES? Mabel Jones has. Kidnapped, Mabel is forced to serve aboard The Feroshus Maggot with the strangest crew you'll ever meet. And the captain--an odious wolf named Idryss Ebenezer Split--won't let her go until she helps the pirates uncover the treasure they seek. Mabel's voyage takes her across the Greasy Pole of Certain Death, into the belly of a whale, and underground to a decrepit crypt. And she does it all...in pajamas! Read on if you dare. You are promised a most unlikely adventure. From the Hardcover edition.

Lynn Reid Banks

Lynne Reid Banks (born 31 July 1929) is a British author of books for children and adults. She has written forty-five books, including the best-selling children's novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and has been successfully adapted to film.

The Indian in the Cupboard
Return of the Indian
Secret of the Indian

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
ISBN: 9780375847530
Publication Date: 2010-02-09
Full of magic and appealing characters, this classic novel takes readers on a remarkable adventure. It's Omri's birthday, but all he gets from his best friend, Patrick, is a little plastic Indian brave. Trying to hide his disappointment, Omri puts the Indian in a metal cupboard and locks the door with a mysterious skeleton key that once belonged to his great-grandmother. Little does Omri know that by turning the key, he will transform his ordinary plastic Indian into a real live man from an altogether different time and place! Omri and the tiny warrior called Little Bear could hardly be more different, yet soon the two forge a very special friendship. Will Omri be able to keep Little Bear without anyone finding out and taking his precious Indian from him?

David Walliams

The World's Worst Children by David Walliams; Tony Ross (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F WAL
ISBN: 9780008197032
Publication Date: 2016-05-19
From the world's favourite author, David Walliams - ten cautionary tales and a delightfully dreadful cast of characters; all in a gorgeously gifty FULL COLOUR format! Are you ready to meet the World's Worst Children? Five beastly boys and five gruesome girls! * Like Sofia Sofa - a TV super-fan so stuck to the sofa that she's turning into one! * Or Dribbling Drew - a boy whose drool gets him into trouble on a school trip! * And not forgetting Blubbering Bertha - a girl who bawls and tells terrible tales! Also featuring a special appearance from fan-favourite Raj! From Number One bestselling author David Walliams comes this collection of wickedly funny, deliciously mischievous tales, illustrated in glorious colour by the artistic genius Tony Ross.

Other books by David Walliams:

Gangsta Granny
The Boy in the Dress
The Midnight Gang
Demon Dentist
Ratburger
Awful Auntie
Mr. Stink
Billionaire Boy

Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman; Dave McKean (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F GAI
ISBN: 9780060530945
Publication Date: 2010-09-28
Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place--he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings--such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Call Number: EN F GAI
ISBN: 9781408841754
When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous.

But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Coraline will have to fight with all her wit and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life.
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Call Number: EN F GAI
ISBN: 9780747598114
Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid. In his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear…and then Odd's destiny begins to change.

The eagle, bear, and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giant who has conquered Asgard, the city of the gods. Now our hero must reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods…
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman; Skottie Young (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F GAI
ISBN: 9780062224071
Publication Date: 2013-09-17
"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: t h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road." "Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."

Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
ISBN: 9781784870249
When her father dies, Pollyanna is sent to live with her stern Aunt Polly. She is poor, orphaned and alone but Pollyanna just feels lucky to have an aunt at all. The truth is that her dear father, before he died, taught her a trick for life – the 'Glad Game' – the aim of which is to find the good in every bad situation. Before long, Pollyanna’s sunny outlook has brightened up the whole town. But when a horrible accident occurs can the Game save Pollyanna?

Gillian Cross

The Demon Headmaster by Cross, Gillian
Call Number: EN F CRO
ISBN: 9780192755827
On Dinah's first day at school she senses something is wrong. The kids work even during playtime, and are neat and behave well but what is the secret of the Headmaster's control over them, and why are they afraid?

Demon Headmaster series:

The Demon Headmaster (1)
The Prime Minister's Brain (2)
The Revenge of the Demon Headmaster (3)
The Demon Headmaster Strikes Again (4)
The Demon Headmaster Takes Over (5)
Facing the Demon Headmaster (6)
Total Control (7)

Joy Cowley

The Wild West Gang by Cowley, Joy
Call Number: EN F COW
ISBN: 9780006755388
Hilarious family stories featuring two very different families, from this well-known Australian author.

For Michael, his West cousins are wonderful. He has no brothers or sisters to play with, and his parents are very proper, so life is much more interesting when the West cousins are around and he gets involved in all their crazy adventures – things that he’s just never allowed to do at home.
There are the twins, Johnnie and Jeannie – Jeannie can swallow air and do huge belches… and Royce who loves collecting junk, any old junk, and selling it to anyone he can fool into buying it… and finally the baby, Honey – who once tried to wash her dirty pants in the goldfish bowl…
There’s just never a dull moment with the Wild West Gang.

Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler. Snicket is the author of several children's books, also serving as the narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events (his best-known work) and a character within it and All the Wrong Questions.

Series of Unfortunate Events (books 1-13)
All the Wrong Questions series (4 books)

Series of Unfortunate Events : The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
Call Number: EN F SNI
ISBN: 9781405249539
Are you made fainthearted by death? Does fire unnerve you? Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours? Are you thrilled by nefarious plots? Is cold porridge upsetting to you? Vicious threats? Hooks? Uncomfortable clothing?

It is likely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use. A librarian, bookseller, or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament. But to the rarest of readers we say, "Proceed, but cautiously."
Who could that be at this hour? by Lemony Snicket
Call Number: EN F SNI
ISBN: 9781405268844
In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He began asking questions that shouldn’t have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn’t be read. This is the first volume.

Jo Cotterill

Electric Girl by Jo Cotterill
ISBN: 9780192743558
Holly Sparkes is just your average 12-year-old, that is, until she's hit by a bolt of lightning. Now Holly is EXTRAordinary. Like a human battery Holly can generate a massive amount of electricity in seconds, which could come in handy if she's ever going to solve the mystery of her best friend's disappearance. Because when you're dealing with the likes of Professor Macavity and her mysterious CyberSky corporation, you need all the help you can get! This exciting story includes black and white graphic novel style illustrations.

Astrid Lindgren - Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
ISBN: 9780192793799
Publication Date: 2013-07-11
Tommy and Annika have a new neighbor: red-haired, freckle-faced Pippi Longstocking, who has upside-down braids and no parents to tell her what to do. The three children have the most rollicking adventures on their own, with horses and monkeys, the circus, and more!

Mary Norton

Bed-Knob and Broomstick by Mary Norton; Erik Blegvad (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F NOR
ISBN: 9780152024567
Publication Date: 2000-09-01
The Magic Bed-Knob andBonfires and Broomsticks in one volume. These are the exploits of the three Wilson children; Miss Price, the apprentice witch; and the flying bed. A tale of a witch-in-training and trouble of the most unforgettable kind.
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Call Number: EN F NOR
ISBN: 9780141354866
The Borrowers live in the secret places of quiet old houses; behind the mantelpiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock. They own nothing, borrow everything, and think that human beings were invented just to do the dirty work. Arrietty's father, Pod, was an expert Borrower. He could scale curtains using a hatpin, and bring back a doll's teacup without breaking it. Girls weren't supposed to go borrowing but as Arrietty was an only child her father broke the rule, and then something happened which changed their lives. She made friends with the human boy living in the house...

Kevin Sylvester

Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders by Kevin Sylvester (Illustrator)
Call Number: EN F SYL
ISBN: 9781442446045
Publication Date: 2012-01-03
A delicious blend of mystery, history, and top-notch cuisine. Neil Flambe; may be fourteen years old, but he's also a world-renowned chef. Patrons pay top dollar and wait months for reservations at his tiny boutique restaurant. But Neil is more than a fantastic cook--he solves crime too. Ever since he used his kitchen know-how and keen sense of smell to acquit a man of murder, he's been helping Police Inspector Sean Nakamura crack case after case But when some of the best chefs in town turn up dead, the crime scenes turn culinary. Police are stumped, and the only clues are the scents of mysterious spices and a journal that may have belonged to...Marco Polo? Neil must find a way to connect the past with the present and solve the murders--or he could end up as the prime suspect!

Ian Fleming

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming; Joe Berger (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763666668
Publication Date: 2013-03-12
Ian Fleming's beloved original text newly illustrated by Joe Berger! "Crackpot" is what everybody calls the Pott family. So when they go to buy a new car and come back with a wreck, nobody is surprised. Except for the Potts themselves. First, the car has a name. And she tells them what it is. Then they find out that she can fly. And swim. . . . Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a car on a mission to stop a criminal gang in its tracks ; and she is taking the Potts with her! Jump into the world's most loved magical car for her first adventure.

Beverly Cleary

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary; Louis Darling (Illustrator); Tracy Dockray (Illustrator); Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0380709244
Publication Date: 2016-01-26
In this imaginative adventure from Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary, a young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of excitement when a boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check in to the Mountain View Inn. This timeless classic now features a foreword written by New York Times bestselling author Kate DiCamillo, as well as an exclusive interview with Beverly Cleary herself. When the ever-curious Ralph spots Keith's red toy motorcycle, he vows to ride it. So when Keith leaves the bike unattended in his room one day, Ralph makes his move. But with all this freedom (and speed!) come a lot of obstacles. Whether dodging a rowdy terrier or keeping his nosy cousins away from his new wheels, Ralph has a lot going on! And with a pal like Keith always looking out for him, there's nothing this little mouse can't handle. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

Grace Lin

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Call Number: EN F LIN
ISBN: 9780316060028
Publication Date: 2007-05-01
When Pacy's mom tells her that this is a good year for friends, family, and "finding herself," Pacy begins searching right away. As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, deals with disappointment, makes a new best friend, and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all.
The Year of the Rat by Grace Lin
Call Number: EN F LIN
ISBN: 9780316531344
Publication Date: 2019-03-19
In this sequel to Year of the Dog, Pacy has another big year in store for her. The Year of the Dog was a very lucky year: she met her best friend Melody and discovered her true talents. However, the Year of the Rat brings big changes: Pacy must deal with Melody moving to California, find the courage to forge on with her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator, and learn to face some of her own flaws. Pacy encounters prejudice, struggles with acceptance, and must find the beauty in change. Based on the author's childhood adventures, Year of the Rat, features the whimsical black and white illustrations and the hilarious and touching anecdotes that helped Year of the Dog earn rave reviews and satisfied readers.

Recommended Reads: Year 4

Intro

Susan Cooper

Matthew J. Kirby

Rose Kent

Kate DiCamillo

Kate Hannigan

Andy Griffiths - Treehouse series

Bear Grylls

Kim Baker - PICKLE

Neil Patrick Harris

Laura Ellen Andreson

Jessica Lawson

Guy Bass

Alf Proysen

Louis Sachar

Deborah and James Howe

Will Mabbitt

Lynn Reid Banks

David Walliams

Neil Gaiman

Eleanor H. Porter

Gillian Cross

Joy Cowley

Lemony Snicket

Jo Cotterill

Astrid Lindgren - Pippi Longstocking

Mary Norton

Kevin Sylvester

Ian Fleming

Beverly Cleary

Grace Lin