Cranston Public Schools Summer Reading Suggestions
For Elementary Students
Presented by the Cranston Public School Libraries
in conjunction with The Cranston Public Library
2024 Kids Read Across RI 
The Lost Library
by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
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.
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 2025 Nominees list and past winners 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.
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. Books by these authors are perfect for family reading time.
Social Emotional Learning
Stories that help children understand their social and emotional well-being.
Todd Parr Peter Reynolds Susan Verde
Picture Books
Stories that range from funny to heartfelt with outstanding illustrations for enjoyable family reading.
Mac Barnett Jan Brett Monica Brown
Peter Brown Eve Bunting Eric Carle
Lauren Child Doreen Cronin Tomie DePaola
Ame Dyckman Lois Ehlert Ian Falconer
Denice Fleming Kevin Henkes Ezra Jack Keats
Grace Lin Leo Lionni Patricia McKissack
Robert Munsch Jerry Pinkney Christopher Raschka
Cynthia Rylant David Shannon Bob Shea
Chris Van Allsburg David Wiesner Mo Willems
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.
Realistic: Authors that write about everyday experiences with friends and family.
Judy Blume Andrew Clements Audrey Couloumbis
Sharon Creech Jack Gantos Lisa Graff
Carl Hiaasen Kate Klise Kate Messner
Jerry Spinelli Eileen Spinelli Rebecca Stead
Janet Tashjian Jaqueline Woodson
Fantasy: Authors that write stories with magical characters and mystical events.
John Bellairs Holly Black Kate DiCamillo
Gail Carson Levine Rick Riordan Emily Rodda
Louis Sachar Tui Sutherland Debra Wiles
Historical: Authors that write stories about events of the past.
Avi Christopher Paul Curtis Patricia Reilly Giff
Pam Munoz Ryan Deborah Wiles Rita-Williams-Garcia
Mystery & Scary: Authors that write stores that have a problem to solve; some are ghostly tales.
William Alexander Avi Blue Balliett
Poetry: Authors that write poetry for children about a variety of topics, funny to serious.
Douglas Florian Paul Janeczko Jack Prelutsky
Shel Silverstien Marilyn Singer
Sports & Adventures: Authors that write realistic and historic stories about sports and wild adventures.
Tim Green Gordon Korman Mike Lupica
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:
Biography Authors:
Don Brown Tracey Fern
Science Authors:
Jim Arnosky Jason Chin Maxwell Eaton
Gail Gibbons Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
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 ...?
Biography Authors:
Chris Barton Jessie Hartland Kathleen Krull
Doreen Rappaport Diane Stanley
Science Authors:
Nic Bishop Jason Chin David Macauley
Seymour Simon
Social Studies Authors:
Deborah Hopkinson Megan McCarthy
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 Recommended Reading List
Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
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
El Touro and Friends by Raul the Third
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 Recommended Reading List
Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
The Babysitters Club by Raina Telgemeier
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
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.
Early Readers
Stories with text designed for emergent readers.
Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems
Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Fox and Chick by Sergio Ruzzier
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Iris and Walter by Elissa Guest
King and Kayla by Dori Butler
Minnie and Moo by Denys Cazet
My First Fox by Corey Tabor
Penny by Kevin Henkes
Beginning Chapter Books
Stories for independent readers organized by genre.
Realistic: Stories that relate to everyday experiences.
Andy Shane by Jennifer Jacobson
Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott
Ready, Freddy! by Abby Klein
Fantasy: Stories with magical characters and mystical events.
Dragon Masters by Tracey West
Unicorn Diaries by Rebecca Elliot
Historical: Stories that tell tales of the past.
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Mystery: Stories that involve problem solving.
Cam Jansen by David Adler
Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat
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.
Realistic: Stories that relate to everyday experiences with friends and family.
Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
Judy Moody or Stink by Megan McDonald
Just Grace by Charise Harper
Fantasy: Stories with magical characters and mystical events.
Goddess Girls and Heroes in Training by Joan Holub
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi
Spirit Animals by Various Authors
The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths
Historical: Stories that imagine living in the past.
Dear America by Various Authors
I Survived ... by Lauren Tarshis
My Name is America by Various Authors
Mystery: Stories that involve problem solving.
The 39 Clues by Various Authors
A – Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
Diamond Brothers Mysteries by Anthony Horowitz
N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Peruse these lists prepared by other reputable organizations:
Common Sense Media Graphic Novels
All annotations courtesy of Follett.
The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program, 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 appropriate content for their child.