Books for 4th Graders That Our Kids Loved Most

Kelly R. said:  

A 10-year-old boy with an extraordinary appearance enters 5th grade for his first year in a traditional school. It's a powerful book that teaches empathy, acceptance, and to look beyond outward appearances. My kids especially loved that it's told from the perspective of a variety of different characters.

The Chronicles of Narnia are among C.S. Lewis' best known works and are absolute classics for kids. Set in the magical world of Narnia, children from the real world are transported to a world of magic, mythical beasts and talking animals.

Vanessa M. said:  This series is a collaborative effort from favorite young adult authors (like Rick Riordan and Gordon Korman). The adventure fiction books star siblings that traverse across the globe searching for clues to piece together their family's mystery. This is a great book series for fourth graders to sink their teeth into as it will keep them engaged and reading for a long time!

Beth Wood said:  This series about a brother and sister and their competition to have the best lemonade stand is one of my daughter's all-time favorite reads! It talks a lot about math, business and marketing ideas that kids will understand and is filled with lots of laughs along the way!

Kelly R. said:  Stanley Yelnats finds himself wrongly sent to a juvenile detention camp, where the boys spend their days digging 5-foot holes. But what are they looking for? This one hooked my fourth grade boy, and he read it twice in a row!

Tim Ponisciak said:  These are popular books for 4th graders about cats and the clans they live with and the battles they take on against other clans. There are a lot of books.

Kristy Pepping said:  This is a great book for fourth graders and comes with a message of accepting people for who they are. Aven was born without arms and when she gets stares from strangers, she makes up silly stories as to how she lost them. But she doesn't let this stop her from doing anything. Aven moves to Arizona with her family and meets Connor who also has a disability. They learn despite their disabilities, they can do great things together and are capable of a lot more than they thought they were.

Kristy Pepping said:  This fun graphic novel was a favorite of my fourth grade girl as the main character is super relatable and a Girl Scout just like she is. Raina, a 6th grader, falls and knocks two teeth out. This is followed by needing braces all while navigating the joys of middle school like boys and issues with friends.

christadiserio said:  Matilda written by famous British author Roald Dahl is a classic book read by millions of children everywhere. It's about a sweet and very bright young girl who was born to some very disengaged parents. They sent Matilda to school run by a horrible principal who cannot stand children. Matilda never imagined the life outcome this school would provide for her, like meeting her incredible teacher Miss Honey, who ultimately shows Matilda a new world she never knew existed.

Kelly R. said:  This is a fun book for 4th graders that inspires thought about how familiar words come to be, when a kid decides to make up a new word for the ordinary pen - and it catches on!

Kelly R. said:  My kids loved this one in fourth and fifth grade. A famous game maker designs a town's new library and opening night is celebrated with an escape room-style challenge.

Kelly R. said:  These are great books for 4th graders about globe-trotting siblings hunting for treasure. Highly recommended by my book-loving son, but I think they'd be equally great for reluctant readers.

Alexandra F. said:  We are all huge fans of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, so we were excited to read this, her debut five book children's series, for our family book club. It's a great fantasy adventure story about a tween boy from NYC who falls down a mysterious chute in his apartment's laundry room into a fantastical land under the ground populated by gigantic mice, cockroaches, bats and other creatures, including a race of humans who have been there for centuries. Of course, he encounters many conflicts and adventures while he's down there - it's a fun read, and we enjoyed the whole series.

Kelly R. said:  My son and daughter both loved this book in 4th grade, a unique technology-meets-nature story with fantastic illustrations. When a robot finds herself stranded on a remote island, she must adapt and learn to live with the native animals in order to survive.

Kelly R. said:  This was the first Roald Dahl book that my daughter read all on her own, in the summer before fourth grade.

Kelly R. said:  Told from the perspective of a fourth grade boy frustrated with the antics of his troublemaking little brother. The name alone makes it a must-read book for fourth grade, but this really is the perfect age for enjoying the quick and funny read!

Kelly R. said:  A lonely ten-year-old girl finds a dog in the grocery store and has her summer transformed (a great pick for summer reading!). Winn Dixie the dog inspires her to make friends and seek answers to some tough questions about her life. There is a lot of depth in this book for fourth grade kids, with lessons about friendship, acceptance and loss.

Kelly R. said:  This was a quirky and fun read my 4th grade daughter loved. A middle school girl meets a teenage boy who happens to be her grandfather, a scientist who has discovered a fountain of youth substance.

Kelly R. said:  A fun writing style and interesting characters make this an appealing book for 4th graders - my daughter really enjoyed it. It's told from the perspective of a couple of neighborhood kids whose stories intersect when one of them is trapped in a well with his guinea pig.

Kelly R. said:  This story about a girl who makes the best out of tough situations was a favorite of my 4th grade girl, and she's excited to continue the series.

Mommyx3 (Monique H) said:  This series was actually one of my favs growing up and now my 4th grader absolutely loves the books as well. Junie B is your average 6 year old little girl, known for her sassiness, horrible but comical grammar, and adventurous stories about her overall life from school to home. This series will definitely keep you laughing and wanting to read more.

Kelly R. said:  This Star Wars-themed series is set in middle school, with funny and relatable storylines centering around friendship and school. The first book introduces sixth grader Dwight, who dishes out wise advice through a handmade origami finger puppet Yoda. Subsequent books add Darth Paper, Fortune Wookiee, and other clever characters. There are origami tutorials included in each book.

Shila said:  If your children love history, there are many books in this series of narrative biographies to delight their interest! Each book introduces and gives detail to the lives behind some of America's greatest historical figures (Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, JFK, Amelia Earhart, Babe Ruth, Hellen Keller, etc.). The content is intriguing, yet brief and digestible for young readers.

Kristy Pepping said:  My fourth grader really likes the American Girl doll books. They all have themes of encouragement and empowerment for girls.