Villa Heights Suggested Summer Reading List for Rising Third Graders-2011
The level of difficulty increases, as you move from column to column. Enjoy!
Frog and Toad Stories Marvin Redpost series Adventures of Molly Whuppie and
by Lobel by Sachar Other Applachian Folktales
by Shelby
Henry and Mudge The Geronimo Stilton series Shredderman
Stories by Rylant by Stilton by Van Draanen
Nate the Great series Mailing May Caring For Cheetahs:
by Sharmat by Tunnell My African Adventure
by Hansen
Cowgirl Kate and Only Emma Keep On!
Cocoa series by Warner The Story of Matthew Henson
by Silverman by Hopkinson
Ruby’s Wish Secrets of Droon series The Dragon in the Driveway
by Bridges by Abbot (Dragon Keepers series) by Klimo
The Bat Boy and His The World According to Humphrey Nana Cracks the Case!
Violin by Curtis by Birney by Lane
Bones series The Girl Who Helped Thunder….. The Year of the Dog
by Adler by Bruchac by Lin
Christian the Lion Lunch Money Punished!
by Bourke by Clements by Lubar
One Green Apple Blues Journey (poetry) Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
by Bunting by Myers by MacDonald
Math is CATegorical Talkin’ About Bessie Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Cleary by Grimes by MacLachlan
Diary of A Fly My Weird School Shiloh
by Cronin by Gutman by Naylor
Adventures of the Hip Hop Speaks to Children: Eleanor, Quiet No More:
Bailey School Kids A Celebration of Poetry The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt
by Dadey With a Beat by Rappaport
One Potato, Planting the Trees of Kenya Paula Bunyan
Two Potato by Nivola by Root
by DeFelice
Mercy Watson Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories Spaceheadz (series)
by DiCamillo of Adopted Strays by Scieszka
by Kehret
Dirt On My Shirt Go Fly A Kite (And Other Sayings When Is A Planet Not A Planet?
by Foxworthy We Don’t Really Mean) by Klingel The Story of Pluto by Scott
Babymouse Amazing Days of Abby Hayes The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich
by Holm by Mazer (series) by Trine
Abe Lincoln Crosses Magic Treehouse series The Ball Hogs
A Creek by Osborne by Wallace
by Hopkinson
Martin Bridge: Clementine The Magical Ms. Plum
Ready for Takeoff by Pennypacker by Becker
by Kerrin
Summer Reading Comprehension Activities
Reading Comprehension Activities (based on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences):
1. Book (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): Choose five significant scenes from your book. Create an
illustrated book that reveals the sequence of your book’s story line. Include written descriptions: What is
happening in this scene? Why is the scene important to you?
2. Bookmark (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): Create three different bookmarks. One will feature
your favorite character or the character you consider being most significant in your book. Be sure to include the
book title and author, as well as the character’s name and portrait or illustration. On the back of the bookmark,
explain why you selected your featured character. The second one will illustrate your favorite part of the book.
On the back of the bookmark, write a brief summary of your favorite part of the book. The third bookmark will
feature the main setting of the book. On the back of the bookmark, write the setting of the book. Remember to
include place and time period.
3. CD Cover (Visual-Spatial/Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence): Design both the front and back cover for a CD to
capture the theme or spirit of your book. Be sure the name of the book, plus the title of the hit single appears on
the front cover along with an appealing sketch or design. On the back, list the other songs from the CD, making
sure they relate to the book and the characters’ experiences.
4. Poster (Visual-Spatial Intelligence): After reading a book of poems, create a small colorful poster illustrating
your favorite poem.
5. Sports (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): After reading a non-fiction book about a sport or a
famous athlete, create a collage that illustrates the sport or the famous athlete.
6. Diary (Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence): Select a significant character in your book and write diary entries from his
or her point of view. Include the character’s thoughts, feelings, or insights.
7. Scrapbook (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): Create a scrapbook that includes your favorite
scenes or characters from your book. Include a written explanation for each page.
8. Song (Musical-Rhythmic/Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence) Write a song about your book. Record yourself singing
it. Submit the recording and a copy of the lyrics.
9. Riddle Character Book (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): Write and illustrate riddle poems about
the characters in your book. A “Who Am I?” poem is a good pattern to use for the book. You may want to hide
each character’s picture under a flap so that your audience can try to guess who the characters are.
10. Story Wheel (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): Make a story wheel that describes the key events
in your book. Decide how many parts to break the story into by selecting and sequencing the most important
events. Include an illustration and a sentence in each part of the wheel.
11. Letter (Verbal-Linguistic/Visual-Spatial Intelligence): Write a letter to your teacher about a book you read. In
your letter, tell what your book was about and tell your favorite part of the book. Draw and color a picture of
your favorite part on the back of the letter.