The purpose of the PWCS Summer Reading Program is to encourage students to enjoy quality literature and to continue developing their independent reading skills. Student participation in the program is voluntary. Students who choose to participate in the program are required to complete a minimum of three books.

Students in Fourth Grade who participate will complete a list of books read. The documentation is to include the name of the author, the title of the book, and a parent or guardian statement that the student has completed the reading.

Fourth Grade students who participate in Prince William County Public Library's Summer Reading Program, the Public Library documentation will apply. Students will receive an extra “A” (100) for each book completed, for a total of three. The summer reading documentation will be submitted by the student by the end of the first week of school.

 

 

To help in choosing books that can promote reading growth, this year each child’s 2013 English SOL score will include a Lexile Level. The Lexile Level is based on a student’s SOL score on the English portion of the SOL and approximates his/her reading level. This means a child should be able to read and understand books in a Lexile range of approximately 100 points below to 50 points above the designated score.

 

Knowing a child’s Lexile range can help to locate books that he/she might enjoy reading. Student interest and motivation for reading books that are age appropriate are critical factors to consider as book choices are made. Remember that nothing replaces conversation with the student, his teachers, and librarians in making great choices.

 

It is important to note that the Lexile measure does not address the content or quality of the book. Many other factors affect the relationship between a reader and a book, including its content, the age and interests of the reader, and the design of the actual book. The Lexile measure is a good starting point in the book-selection process, but parents should always consider these other factors when making a decision about which book to choose.

 

Author	Book Title	Lexile Score	Annotation
Byars, Betsy	Dog Diaries: Secret Writes of the WOOF Society	610	At the first annual meeting of WOOF--Words of Our Friends-assorted dogs preserve their heritage by sharing tales of canines throughout history, including Abu, who ruled all of Egypt except for one pesky cat, and Zippy, who simply must find the squeaky toy.
Creech, Sharon	Hate that Cat	NP	Jack is studying poetry again in school, and he continues to write poems reflecting his understanding of famous works and how they relate to his life.
Coville, Bruce	My Teacher is an Alien	650	After Susan sees Mr. Smith the substitute teacher peel off his face, she know he’s an alien and only Peter believes her; together they work to save the class from Mr. Smith’s horrible plans.
Prelutsky, Jack	It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles	1090	A collection of humorous poems such as “The Dancing Hippootami,” “You Can’t Make Me Eat That,” “My Father’s Name is Sasquatch,” and “Dear Wumbledeedumble.”
DiTerlizzi, Tony and Black, Holly	The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1: The Field Guide	600	The Grace children discover a field guide to fairies in their Great Aunt Lucinda’s old vicotorian house that sends them on a fantastic journey into a world of elves, dwarves, and trolls.
Blume, Judy	Superfudge	560	Peter describes the highs and lows of life with his younger brother Fudge
Levy, Elizabeth	If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution	810	Explains the developments leading up to the writing of the Constitution, what the Constitution is, and what happened during the Constitutional Convention.
McDondanld, Megan	Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid	480	The shortest kid in the second grade, James Moody, also known as the Stink, learns all about the shortest.
Scieszka, Jon	Summer Reading is Killing Me!	610	At the beginning of summer vacation Joe, Sam, and Fred find themselves trapped inside their summer reading list, involved in a battle between good and evil characters from well-known children’s books.
Van Allsburg, Chris	The Sweetest Fig	530	After being given two magical figs that make his dreams come true, Monsieur Bibot sees his plans for future wealth upset by his long-suffering dog.
Urban, Linda	A crooked kind of perfect	730	"Sandpiper." Ten-year-old Zoe Elias, who longs to play the piano but must resign herself to learning the organ, instead, finds that her musicianship has a positive impact on her workaholic mother, her jittery father, and her school social life.
Uhlberg, Myron	Dad, Jackie, and me	610	In Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, a boy learns about discrimination and tolerance as he and his deaf father share their enthusiasm over baseball and the Dodgers' first baseman, Jackie Robinson
Giff, Patricia Reilly	Eleven	600	When Sam, who can barely read, discovers an old newspaper clipping just before his eleventh birthday, it brings forth memories from his past, and, with the help of a new friend at school and the castle they are building for a school project, his questions are eventually answered
Jonell, Lynne	Emmy and the incredible shrinking rat	780	When Emmy discovers that she and her formerly loving parents are being drugged by their evil nanny with rodent potions that can change people in frightening ways, she and some new friends must try everything possible to return things to normal
St. George, Judith	The ghost, the White House, and me	800	Shortly after their mother takes the office of president, KayKay Granger and her sister begin to suspect that Abraham Lincoln's ghost is haunting the White House and begin to investigate
Davies, Jacqueline	The lemonade war	630	"Sandpiper." Evan and his younger sister, Jesse, react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth grade and as the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn 100 dollars. Includes mathematical calculations and tips for running a successful lemonade stand
Friedman, Laurie B.	Mallory vs. Max	NF	Eight-year-old Mallory feels left out when her older brother, Max, gets a dog that becomes the center of attention.
Clements, Andrew	No talking	820	The noisy fifth grade boys of Laketon Elementary School challenge the equally loud fifth grade girls to a "no talking" contest.
Fitzgerald, Dawn	Vinnie and Abraham	NF	Includes bibliographical references. Tells the story of Vinnie Ream, an aspiring artist living in Washington D.C. during the Civil War, who gained a reputation as a sculptor and succeeded in persuading President Abraham Lincoln to sit for her--an honor that led to her winning a government commission to create a statue of Lincoln after his assassination.
Frazier, Sundee Tucker,	Brendan Buckley's universe and everything in it	630	"A Yearling book." Brendan Buckley, a biracial ten-year-old, applies his scientific problem-solving ability and newfound interest in rocks and minerals to connect with his white grandfather, the president of Puyallup Rock Club, and to learn why he and Brendan's mother are estranged
DiCamillo, Kate	Because of Winn-Dixie	610	Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.
Lord, Cynthia.	Rules	780	Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with an young paraplegic.
DiCamillo, Kate	The tale of Despereaux : being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread	670	The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin
White, E. B.	Charlotte’s Web	670	Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him.
Creech, Sharon	Love That Dog	1010	A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem

Students in Grade 4 will receive an “A” (100) for each book completed, for a total of three. Please include the name of the author, the title of the book, and a parent or guardian signature stating that the student has completed the reading. 

 

 

Book Title	Author
1.
2.
3.

 

My student has read the above list of books.

 

 

 

Parent or Guardian signature

 

 

**Please note students may also participate in the Prince William County Public Library Summer Quest Program, and the Public Library documentation will apply.  

 

 

 

Student’s Name

Classroom Teacher