10 Books for Middle Grade Summer Reading

This week I would like to share 10 books we have enjoyed reading for the middle grade years.  Each of these books we have enjoyed so much that we have purchased them to read over again.  Click on any of the titles below for more information found on this blog. 

When I first started home educating I really struggled to find excellent twaddle free literature for my children to enjoy.  Over the years I have collected  some wonderful book resource lists and have shared them here: Book List Resources.

These books are not from one particular genre but rather a wide variety.  For more information on the different types of genre available in the book world read these posts: Genre and Sub Genre.

As much as it's delightful seeing your children enjoy a particular series a wise homeschool Mom once encouraged me to keep the variety coming so as not to stall my children's growth.  Reading only one type of book becomes a little like only eating one particular food source and creates an unhealthy environment in the mind.

When choosing books for your students to enjoy be sure to choose books of all levels.  It's always good to allow the brain to rest after wading through a difficult book by reading something light and easy.  This allows the brain to regroup and prepare for the next book.

10 Books for Middle Grade

Follow my Leader

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140364854
• ISBN-13: 978-0140364859

Toad Heaven

• Format: Paper back / Hardback
• Number of Pages: 192
• Publication Date: 
• ISBN 10:0141314826
• ISBN 13:9780141314822
• Author Morris Gleitzman

Dewey the Library Cat

• Format: Paper back / Hardback / Audio
• Number of Disks:Four
• ISBN 10:1441885471
• ISBN 13:9781441885470
• Author Vicki Myron,
• Performed by: Laura Hamilton, With Bret Witter

 The Apple & The Arrow

• Format: Paper back
• Number of Pages: 80 pages 
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) 
• Publication Date: 
• ISBN 10: 0618128093 
• ISBN 13: 9780618128099 
• Author  Mary & Conrad Buff

The Chalk Box Kid

• Format: Paper back
• Number of Pages: 65 pages 
• Publisher:Random House USA Inc 
• Publication Date:12 September 1987 
• ISBN 10:0394891023 
• ISBN 13:9780394891026 
• Author Clyde Robert Bulla 
• Illustrator:Thomas B. Allen 

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

• Format: Paper back
• Number of Pages:256 
• Publisher:Dover Publications 
• Publication Date:2003 
• ISBN 10:0-486-42840-0 
• ISBN 13:978-0-486-42840-6 
• Author Thornton W.Burgess 
• Illustrator:Louis Agassiz Fuertes 

Billy and Blaze

• Format: Paperback
• Number of Pages:56
• Vendor: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Publication Date:
• ISBN:0689716087
• ISBN 13:9780689716089
• Author: Clarence William Anderson (1891 – 1971)
• Illustrator: C.W. Anderson

Puzzle Journey Under the Sea

• Format: Paper back / Hardback
• Number of Pages: 32
• Vendor:  Usborne Publishing Ltd
• Publication Date: 28 August 1998
• ISBN:9780746026854
• Author L. Sims
• Illustrator: S. Stitt

Tales of WORDISHURE Book II

• Format: Paper back
• Number of Pages:130
• Publisher:Mick Art Productions
• ISBN 10:0982700059
• ISBN 13:9780982700051
• Author Mick McArt
• Illustrator: Mariah Sue Anderson

The Young Reader's Shakespeare

• Format: Hardback
• Number of Pages:96 pages
• Series:  The Young Reader's Shakespeare
• ISBN 10:1402711166
• ISBN 13:9781402711169  
• Author William Shakespeare
• Retold By:Adam McKeown,
• Illustrator:Lynne Cannoy

For more wonderful ideas on great twaddle free literature be sure to see what others are sharing on the Crew blog.