Read Across America: 5 Book Recommendations for Each Grade Level
In honor of Read Across America Day on March 2, we’ve compiled a list of book recommendations for each grade level — early childhood, upper elementary, middle school, and high school. Some of these are considered classics, while others have taken the literary world by storm in recent years. And some of them are favorites of the students at Westminster Academy! Check out the books, along with brief descriptions, below.
Early Childhood (K-2)
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak: A young boy named Max traverses a jungle in his bedroom with monsters called The Wild Things. This picture book has been considered a classic since the 1960s.
Standing on Her Shoulders, Monica Clark-Robinson and Laura Freeman: A celebration of the world’s most influential women. This 2021 book has been praised for its message, which is intertwined with a compelling tale of a multigenerational family.
Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bridwell: A young girl named Emily Elizabeth shares the adventures she has with her giant red dog, Clifford. Another classic that sparked a decades-long book series.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter: The mischievous Peter Rabbit finds himself lost in Mr. McGregor’s garden after his mother warned him to stay away. This classic tale dates back to the early 1900s.
The Complete Works, Dr. Seuss: These fun stories are saturated with rhyming words and alliteration, making them the perfect books for early readers. Our younger students enjoy these entertaining reads.
Upper Elementary (3-5)
Warriors series, Erin Hunter: This adventure series follows clans of feral cats throughout White Hart Woods and Sanctuary Lake. With each generation, a new prophecy unfolds. This is a recommendation from the students at Westminster Academy!
Black Beauty, Anna Sewell: A horse named Black Beauty details his life, from his youth on a farm to his days working with cabs in London to his retirement. He encounters both cruelty and kindness, giving readers insight into animal welfare. Another Westminster Academy student-approved selection.
Nat Enough, Maria Scrivan: This graphic novel follows a young girl named Natalie who never feels good enough, even for her friends. However, as she learns to focus on her talents, she discovers her true and exceptional self.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Jeff Kinney: A classic book series that documents the diary entries of middle-schooler Greg Heffley. Greg’s stories have been featured in 16 books, as well as several spinoffs.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume: A 9-year old boy named Peter must navigate his relationship with his 2-year-old younger brother, Farley. An upper elementary essential!
Middle School (6-8)
Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling: A classic set of novels about a young wizard named Harry Potter and his life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is a favorite series for the middle school students at Westminster Academy.
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle: Siblings Meg and Charles and their classmate, Calvin O’Keefe, travel through space and time to find Meg and Charles’ father, a scientist who has been missing for years. Along the way, they encounter various supernatural beings, some without good intentions.
Restart, Gordon Korman: A young boy who had been known as a bully gets the chance to change his ways when he loses his memory in an accident. This book holds a great lesson in redemption, as well as the idea of nature versus nurture.
Holes, Louis Sachar: In this classic novel, Stanley Yelnat’s life is turned upside down when he’s falsely accused of theft and sent to a correctional camp. He and his fellow campers must dig holes every day to build character. However, Stanley’s time at the camp leads him to discover a valuable piece of his family history.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, Rick Riordan: This fantasy series follows a demigod named Percy Jackson, who must protect himself and those around him from dangerous Titans. He must complete various quests that can save the world — or destroy it.
High school (9-12)
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens: Published in 1837, this is the story of an orphan boy named Oliver Twist. The tale sheds light on poverty and crime in London. Students at Westminster Academy love this classic novel.
The Essential, T.S. Eliot: A collection of the most famous and influential poems by T.S. Eliot. This recommendation comes from Westminster Academy’s own founder and principal, Angelyn Dodson!
The Diary of Anne Frank: The classic story of a young girl and her family who go into hiding during the Nazi regime during World War II.
The Giver, Lois Lowry: A dystopian novel about a boy named Jonas, who lives in a futuristic world without crime or pain. At 12 years old, Jonas is assigned to become the Receiver of Memory — the person who holds all memories of the past and the emotions that come with them.
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak: Narrated by Death, this is the powerful story of a girl named Liesel Meminger, who steals books and learns to read in Germany during the war.
Happy reading!
