Reading Lists

3rd-4th Grade Reading List: Clean Books w/ Free Printable

  Here is my reading list for grades 3-4.  I decided to put these lists together for two grade levels at a time.  Many kids do not read at the same level so this allows for some differences in ability.  You will see some overlap in my book lists.  This again is to accommodate multiple reading levels.  My plan is to eventually have a reading list for each grade level.  But until then, this will have to do.   I absolutely believe in reading to kids.  So you will find books for this.  Reading to your children helps develop listening, cognitive and verbal skills.  So don’t skip it! Clean Books Every book on this reading list is a clean book.  This means they are uplifting, wholesome, with no profanity, and no magic or violence (unless noted).  I have done my best to review these books.  However, should I miss something or you feel a book should be added to this list, please send me a comment in the box below. If you are looking for a reading list for K-2 you can read my post below: K-2 Reading List: Clean Books w/ Free Printable. In addition to a reading list, you will see notated books that have study guides available.  I use TCR Study Guides, Novel-Ties and Great Works Literature Guides when available.  Each of the guides is easy to use and can be adapted to Charlotte Mason style narration exercises if desired.  They are also secular in nature, so they should be usable by most, if not all, families. Parent Read Aloud to Children (Above Level) A Child’s History of the World by V.M. Hillyer-This is a book about history that is linear in how it’s put together.  Overall, it is a beautiful narrative of history.  The book is decidedly secular with several small references that have some Christian context at the beginning.  If you do not wish to include these in your lessons, just skip the first few chapters.  It won’t cause any issues.   Also, there is some violence in this book.  While it is fairly minimal, if you are concerned, you will want to pre-read the lessons. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett -Note:  This book does contain several references toward magic near the end of the book.  However, it is possible for parents to edit this completely out if you are doing a read aloud.  We chose to use it as a family discussion instead. TCR Unit Study Available A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Weiss Student Led Reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl Novel-Ties Unit Study Available Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White Novel-Ties Unit Study or Great Works Lit Guide  The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White Novel-Ties Study Guide Available Stuart Little by E.B. White TCR Unit Study Available The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary Novel-Ties Unit Study Available Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater TCR Unit Study Available Henry Huggins Series by Beverly Cleary Novel-Ties Unit Study Available Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder TCR Unit Study Available Heidi by Joanna Spyri Sara, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan Great Works Lit Guide or TCR Unit Study Available Classic Starts Series Books These are cleaned up, simplified favorites of classic books.  They are meant to be read from ages 7-10.  A good choice for parents looking for classics to read that have been edited to remove many objectionable parts or adult themes.  Some options are Journey to the Center of the Earth, Adventures of Robin Hood, Adventures of Shirlock Holmes, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Great Expectations, Little Women, A Little Princess and The Prince and the Pauper Parent Recommended Series-These are not books I have read yet, but they come highly recommended as clean reads from parents.  Please make sure to pre-read if you have any concerns. Little Britches Series By Ralph Moody. The recommendation by parents is to stop at book 5 as it is a harder read for children after that. Grandma’s Attic Series By Arleta Richardson All of a Kind Family By Sydney Taylor.  This book does have references to religious observances (Jewish). Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan Free Printable List To get your free printable copy of this reading list, click on the link here below: Free Printable 3rd-4th Grade Reading List

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K-2 Reading List: Clean Books w/ Free Printable

  Teaching your children to read is life changing.  It opens up a world of possibilities for them.  It offers them independent learning and so many opportunities.  If you could only teach them how to do one thing in your entire homeschool journey, this is it.  So today, we are going to discuss a reading list for grades K-2. It would be great if every kid was reading in Kindergarten.  However, different kids learn at different rates.  Some will pick up reading really fast.  Some will not.  My child hated reading but loved to be read to with huge novels.  So instead of forcing my child to read, we focused on us reading chapter books together.  So this reading list of books for grades K-2 are not necessarily ones your child will read themselves.  Some of these are books you will read to them.  Yes, some of them are big and long.  But reading books above grade level can do so much good for your child.  They learn big words and big ideas.  This in turn leads to big thinkers. Clean Books Every book on this reading list is a clean book.  This means they are uplifting, wholesome, with no profanity, and no magic or violence (unless noted).  I have done my best to review these books.  However, should I miss something or you feel a book should be added to this list, please send me a comment in the box below. If you are in need of an additional set of reading lists, you can find the 3rd-4th grade reading list below: 3rd-4th Grade Reading List: Clean Books w/ Free Printable Keep in mind that if you are using the Charlotte Mason approach to reading, several of these books would be referred to as “twaddle”.  However, I think that at this young of an age, any book that excites a child to want to read is okay.  Most of these books excite and encourage young readers, and many, while not being exactly Charlotte Mason, do provide good moral lessons.  Even the simple books such as “Press Here” and “Don’t Press the Button” are valuable in their kinesthetic abilities to teach hands on skills.  Study Guides In addition to this reading list, you will see notated books that have study guides available.  I use TCR Study Guides, Novel-Ties and Great Works Literature Guides depending on what’s available.  Each of the guides is easy to use and can be adapted to Charlotte Mason style narration exercises if desired.  They are also secular in nature, so they should be usable by most, if not all, families. Parent Read Aloud to Children (Above Level) A Child’s History of the World by V.M. Hillyer-This is a book about history that is linear in how it’s put together.  Overall, it is a beautiful narrative of history.  The book is decidedly secular with several small references that have some Christian context at the beginning.  If you do not wish to include these in your lessons, just skip the first few chapters.  It will not take away anything from the book.  Also, there is some violence in this book.  While it is fairly minimal, if you are concerned, you will want to pre-read the lessons Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl-This book is sooo much better than the movie.  A wonderful story with wonderful values. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White Stuart Little by E.B. White The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary-There are 3 books in this series. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater Henry Huggins Collection by Beverly Cleary-This is a 6 book set all about a little boy and his dog.  All the books are clean reads and make wonderful read a louds for younger kids. Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder-This has 9 books in all. Student Read Aloud Books (At Level) The Elephant & Piggy Series by Mo Williams-Every one of these books is great.  They are clean and funny.  Kids and adults alike will enjoy them. Don’t Let the Pigeon Series by Mo Williams-Another great series that will be enjoyed by all. Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin Don’t Push the Button by Bill Cotter Press Here by Herve Tullet Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey Caps for Sale by E. Slobodkina TCR Unit Study Available Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett The Little House Book by Virginia Lee Burton The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf If You Give…Series by Laura Numeroff Great Works Lit Guide or TCR Study Guide  The Man Who Didn’t Wash His Dishes by Phyllis-Krasilovsky-Note: This is an old book and does have a reference to smoking in it.  I used it as a teaching opportunity about smoking for my child.   Outside of this, it has an otherwise wonderful lesson about cleanliness. Step into Reading Level 1 These books are made to be read by smaller children as beginning readers.  There are many books in this series.  It is too numerous to list them all.  Please note that not all will be appropriate for all children, nor are they all educational.  Please make sure to pre-read these books if you have any concerns. Free Printable List To get your free printable copy of this reading list, click on the link here below: Free Printable K-2 Reading List  

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