Cranston Public Schools Summer Reading Suggestions
For Elementary Students
Presented by the Cranston Public School Libraries
in conjunction with The Cranston Public Library
2022 Kids Read Across RI 
How to Win a Slime War
by Mae Respicio
Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI), Rhode Island's One Book, One State community read program for kids, is offered by OLIS in partnership with the Rhode Island Center for the Book (RICB). The book is selected to appeal to kids in grades 4-6 and that contains themes aligned with the Summer Reading Program theme.
RI Children’s Book AwardEvery year Rhode Island students in grades 3-5 vote on a favorite book from a pre-selected list of twenty books. Young readers will surely enjoy any past RICBA winner or current nominee. Students who read three or more of the nominees will be eligible to vote for the next winner. The 2023 Nominees list is available at this link or at the Cranston Public Library.
ALA Award Winners
Every year the American Library Association presents several awards for outstanding fiction and nonfiction books for young readers. Any winner, past or present, is highly recommended.
Caldecott Medal: The Best Picture Books
Theodore Seuss Geisel Award: The Best Early Readers
John Newbery Medal: The Best American Literature for Children
Coretta Scott King Award: The Best African-American Book
Pura Belpré Award: The Best Latino Author
Sibert Informational Medal: The Best Informational Book
ALA Notable Books: The most notable books of the year.
Graphic Novel Series for the Primary Grades
Graphic novels combine text and pictures in a comic format to tell a story. This genre offers appealing reading options to reluctant and advanced readers alike.
ALA Graphic Novel Grades K-2 Recommended Reading List
Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm
Bean Dog and Nugget by Charise Mericle Harper
Benny & Penny by Geoffrey Hayes
Benjamin Bear by Philippe Coudray
Binky Adventures by Ashley Spires
The Flying Beaver Brothers by Maxwell Eaton III
Pet Shop Private Eye by Colleen A.F. Venable
Squish by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
Graphic Novel Series for the Intermediate Grades
Graphic novels combine text and pictures in a comic format to tell a story. This genre offers appealing reading options to reluctant and advanced readers alike.
ALA Graphic Novel Grade 3-5 Recommended Reading List
Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Bigfoot Boy by J. Torres
Bird & Squirrel by James Burks
Cleopatra in Space by Mike Maihack
Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosoczka
Max and MidKnights by Lincoln Pierce
The Olympians by George O’Connor
Sardine in Outer Space by Emmanuel Guibert
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Nonfiction for the Primary Grades
Award winning nonfiction books are available at this link: Sibert Informational Medal.
Books by these nonfiction authors provide excellent, kid-friendly readings of informational text:
Jim Arnosky (Science)
Don Brown (Biographies)
Jason Chin (Science: Biology)
Maxwell Eaton (Science: Animals)
Tracey Fern (Biographies)
Gail Gibbons (Variety of subjects)
Steve Jenkins & Robin Page (Science: Animals)
Nonfiction for the Intermediate Grades
Award winning nonfiction books are available at this link: Sibert Informational Medal.
Books by these nonfiction authors provide excellent, kid-friendly readings of informational text:
Series:
Scientists in the Field
Who was...? Who is...? What was ...?
Authors:
Chris Barton (Biographies)
Nic Bishop (Science: Animals)
Jason Chin (Science: Biology)
Jessie Hartland (Biographies)
Deborah Hopkinson (Social Studies)
Kathleen Krull (Biographies)
David Macauley (Science)
Megan McCarthy (Science & Social Studies: Inventions, Biographies)
Mary Pope Osborne (Social Studies: Magic Treehouse nonfiction companions)
Doreen Rappaport (Biographies)
Seymour Simon (Science: Space, Animals, Weather, Earth)
Diane Stanley (Biographies)
Series for the Primary Grades
Reading multiple books in a series provides students with a sense of accomplishment and the momentum to read more. The familiarity of characters and plot reinforces reading skills and comprehension.
Andy Shane by Jennifer Jacobson
Dragon Masters by Tracey West
Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems
Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Fox and Chick by Sergio Ruzzier
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton
Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry
Iris and Walter by Elissa Guest
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
King and Kayla by Dori Butler
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Minnie and Moo by Denys Cazet
My First Fox by Corey Tabor
Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat
Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott
Penny by Kevin Henkes
Ready, Freddy! by Abby Klein
Series for the Intermediate Grades
Reading multiple books in a series provides students with a sense of accomplishment and the momentum to read more. The familiarity of characters and plot reinforces reading skills and comprehension.
The 39 Clues by Various Authors
A – Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
Dear America by Various Authors
Diamond Brothers Mysteries by Anthony Horowitz
Goddess Girls and Heroes in Training by Joan Holub
I Survived ... by Lauren Tarshis
Judy Moody or Stink by Megan McDonald
Just Grace by Charise Harper
My Name is America by Various Authors
N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi
Spirit Animals by Various Authors
The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths
The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
Authors for the Primary Grades
From time-honored classics to current day sensations, books written by these authors entice children into the world of reading.
Mac Barnett Lois Ehlert Christopher Raschka
Jan Brett Ian Falconer Cynthia Ryalant
Monica Brown Denise Fleming David Shannon
Peter Brown Kevin Henkes Bob Shea
Eve Bunting Ezra Jack Keats Chris Van Allsburg
Eric Carle Grace Lin David Wiesner
Lauren Child Leo Lionni Mo Willems
Doreen Cronin Patricia McKissack
Tomie DePaola Robert Munsch
Ame Dyckman Jerry Pinkney
Authors for the Intermediate Grades
From time-honored classics to current day sensations, books written by these authors entice children into the world of reading.
William Alexander Patricia Riley Giff Kate Messner
Avi Lisa Graff Rick Riordan
John Bellairs Tim Green Emily Rodda
Holly Black Dan Gutman Pam Munoz Ryan
Judy Blume Mary Downing Hahn Louis Sachar
Ancrew Clements Carl Hiaasen Jerry Spinelli
Audrey Couloumbis Kate Klise Eileen Spinelli
Sharon Creech Gordon Kormon Rebecca Stead
Kate DiCamillo Gail Carson Levine Tui Sutherland
Jack Gantos Mike Lupica Janet Tashjian
Deborah Wiles
Wendelin Van Draanen
Peruse these lists prepared by other reputable organizations:
All annotations courtesy of Follett.
The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program, Read Beyond the Beaten Path, is supported by the RI Office of Library and Information Services, with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Rhode Island Children's Book Award titles are chosen by a statewide committee of teachers and librarians. Please note that not all books are suitable for all readers; parents should assist in choosing age appropriate content for their child.