Are you looking for unique read alouds from a variety of genres for your 4th graders? This list is for YOU! I love reading to my 4th graders and have read many books with them over the years. These are my top picks for 4th grade read alouds:
1. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
I love to start the year with this book. It doesn’t focus a lot on the fourth grade in school, but the kids love the funny story of Peter and his annoying brother, Fudge. Another plus, after finishing the book, the students all want to check out the other books in the series.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Quickie
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Tear Factor: 0/5
Funny Factor: 5/5
Book Rating: 5/5
2. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This Newberry Award winning book is a sweet story of friendship during World War II. Annemarie and her family help their Jewish friends, the Rosens, hide from the Nazii soliders. Eventually, they even help them escape to Sweden. Annemarie has to find bravery within herself that she never knew she had. I always start with background information on World War II before reading this book.
Number the Stars Novel Study Quickie
Genre: Historical Fiction
Tear Factor: 3/5
Funny Factor: 0/5
Book Rating: 5/5
3. Because of Winn Dixie By Kate DiCamillo
If you’re looking for a short read aloud, this book is for you. This is the story of Opal, who just moved to a new town in Florida with her preacher father. She finds a dog and names him Winn Dixie. Everything that happens that summer is because of Winn Dixie . . .
Because of Winn Dixie Novel Study Quickie
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Tear Factor: 1/5
Funny Factor: 2/5
Book Rating: 4/5
4. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
This is the BEST book to use to introduce poetry to your 4th graders. The whole book is written in poem form by Jack, who is writing in his poetry journal in class. Jack slowly reveals information about his yellow dog, Sky. Be sure to refer to the poems included in the back of the book as they are discussed by Jack in the story. It is a quick read, and I always follow up with the sequel, Hate That Cat which dives into figurative language.
Love That Dog Novel Study Quickie
Genre: Poetry
Tear Factor: 4/5
Funny Factor: 2/5
Book Rating: 5/5
5. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet is an adventure filled book. My kids sit on the edge of their seats waiting for the next page. On his way to visit his dad in Canada, Brian’s plane crashes in the middle of nowhere. He only has the hatchet his mother gave him before he got on the plane. He has to use his own knowledge about nature to survive during that summer. It is such an exciting book. Many kids check out Gary Paulsen’s other books after I read Hatchet.
Genre: Adventure
Tear Factor: 0/5
Funny Factor: 0/5
Book Rating: 4/5
6. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is based on a true story of a little girl living in Japan in the 1950’s. She was just a baby when the Atom Bomb hit Hiroshima, but ends up with leukemia in her childhood. She is encouraged by her best friend to fold 1,000 paper cranes and never gives up hope on getting better. This is a quick read, and students love making paper cranes after reading the story.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Novel Study Quickie
Genre: Historical Fiction
Tear Factor: 4/5
Funny Factor: 0/5
Book Rating: 4/5
7. Ugly by Robert Hoge
Think of Wonder, but only a real life story. This story is told by Robert Hoge, who was born with not only facial deformities but unusable legs. Robert tells his life story from birth to adulthood. He includes his struggles, fears, and funny stories throughout the book This touching story invokes empathy in students as they learn the lesson to not judge people by their looks.
Genre: Autobiography
Tear Factor: 3/5
Funny Factor: 3/5
Book Rating: 4/5
8. Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats has been sent to Camp Green Lake as a punishment for stealing sneakers (which he didn’t really steal). At Camp Green Lake, the boys have to dig a hole everyday to build character. As we find out more and more about Stanley and his family, we also get the back story of the town of Green Lake 100 years ago. Although this book is on the long side, students enjoy every moment of it.
Genre: Fiction
Tear Factor: 0/5
Funny Factor: 3/5
Book Rating: 4/5
9. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Melody Brooks is in 5th grade, and she has never walked or talked in her whole life. She is extremely smart, but no one knows it until now. When she rolls into her regular classes, her classmates dismiss her and some are just downright rude. She is determined to show them that she is capable of anything. Told from her perspective, students get a huge wake up call about judging people based on how they look. My students absolutely LOVE this book, so I’m sure to read it every year!
Out of My Mind Novel Study Quickie
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Tear Factor: 5/5
Funny Factor: 3/5
Book Rating: 5/5
I hope this list has been helpful! Reading aloud to your upper elementary students definitely has its benefits! Check out those on my blogpost here: Benefits of Upper Elementary Read Alouds
