Hot List Books
Many families ask about book recommendations for their fourth grade reader. I want to encourage families to start their children off with the highest quality writing in order to develop life long reading habits. In response, I’ve compiled a “Hotlist” of books for fourth grade students. They are listed in order by author reading level followed by AR points. An AR reading level is NOT a grade equivalent; it is a reading level. In addition, points are a direct reflection of the length of the book. Please check your child’s most current STAR reading test score to help find their independent reading level. To check a book’s reading level and points you can log on to http://www.arbookfind.com . Students in room 31 who complete one of the Hotlist books with an 80% or higher on their AR quiz will be given “Fire” Jolly Ranchers to have in class.
Happy Reading,
Ms. Berdahl
GRADE 4
Author Book Title (book level/AR points)
Alexander, Lloyd Prydain Chronicles (5.9/ 3.0)
Andersen, Hans Christian Fairy Tales (8.1/7.0)
Avi Poppy ( 4.5 / 4.0)
Babbitt, Natalie Tuck Everlasting ( 5.0 / 4.0)
Baum, L. Frank The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (7.0/ 7.0)
Birdsall, Jeanne The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (4.7/8.0)
Boston, L.M. The Children of Green Knowe (5.3/ 6.0)
Brooks, Gwendolyn & Faith Ringgold Bronzeville Boys and Girls ( 3.7/ 0.5)
Burnett, Frances Hodgson The Secret Garden (6.3 / 13.0)
Byars, Betsy The Summer of the Swans ( 4.9 / 4.0)
Carroll, Lewis Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ( 7.4 / 5.0)
Clements, Andrew Frindle ( 5.0 / 2.0)
Collins, Suzanne Gregor the Overlander ( 4.8 / 8.0)
Collodi, Carlo The Adventures of Pinocchio ( 5.3 / 6.0)
Cooper, Susan The Dark is Rising ( 6.2 / 13.0)
Creech, Sharon Bloomability ( 5.2/ 7.0)
Curtis, Christopher Paul Bud, Not Buddy (5.0 / 8.0)
Dahl, Roald Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ( 4.8 / 5.0)
DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn-Dixie ( 3.9/ 3.0)
Dowd, Siobhan The London Eye Mystery ( 4.1/ 7.0)
DuPrau, Jeanne The City of Ember ( 5.0 / 9.0)
Eager, Edward Half Magic ( 5.0 / 5.0)
Erdrich, Louise The Birchbark House ( 6.1 / 7.0)
Estes, Eleanor The Moffats ( 5.2 / 6.0)
Farley, Walter The Black Stallion ( 5.2 / 7.0)
Fitzhugh, Louise Harriet the Spy ( 4.5 / 8.0)
Gaiman, Neil Coraline ( 5.1/ 5.0)
Gantos, Jack Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key ( 4.9 / 5.0)
George, Jean Craighead My Side of the Mountain ( 5.2 / 6.0)
Grahame, Kenneth The Wind in the Willows (8.2 / 11.0)
Henry, Marguerite Misty of Chincoteague (
Hiaasen, Carl Hoot
Howe, Deborah Bunnicula
Hughes, Langston The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
Ibbotson, Eva and Sue Porter Secret of Platform 13
Irving, Washington Rip Van Winkle
Jansson, Tove Moominland Midwinter
Juster, Norton and Jules Feiffer The Phantom Tollbooth
Kipling, Rudyard The Jungle Book
Konigsburg, E.L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Lawson, Robert Ben and Me
Lenski, Lois Strawberry Girl
Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia
Lin, Grace Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Lindgren, Astrid Pippi Longstocking
Lofting, Hugh Doctor Dolittle
Lovelace, Maud Hart Betsy-Tacy
Lowry, Lois Number the Stars
Macaulay, David Castle
MacLachlan, Patricia Sarah, Plain and Tall
McCloskey, Robert Homer Price
Merrill, Jean The Pushcart War
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables
Murphy, Jim The Great Fire
Nesbit, E. The Railway Children
North, Sterling Rascal
Norton, Mary The Borrowers
O’Brien, Robert C. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Park, Linda Sue When My Name was Keoko
Paterson, Katherine Bridge to Terabithia
Pearce, Philippa Tom’s Midnight Garden
Perrault, Charles The Complete Fairy Tales
Reiss, Johanna The Upstairs Room
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Ryan, Pam Munoz Esperanza Rising
Sachar, Louis Holes
Selznick, Brian The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sewell, Anna Black Beauty
Sharp, Margery The Rescuers
Sperry, Armstrong Call It Courage
Spyri, Johanna Heidi
Stewart, Trenton Lee The Mysterious Benedict Society
Travers, P.L. Mary Poppins
Wilder, Laura Ingalls Little House on the Prairie
Woodson, Jacqueline Locomotion
Wyss, Johann Swiss Family Robinson
Many families ask about book recommendations for their fourth grade reader. I want to encourage families to start their children off with the highest quality writing in order to develop life long reading habits. In response, I’ve compiled a “Hotlist” of books for fourth grade students. They are listed in order by author reading level followed by AR points. An AR reading level is NOT a grade equivalent; it is a reading level. In addition, points are a direct reflection of the length of the book. Please check your child’s most current STAR reading test score to help find their independent reading level. To check a book’s reading level and points you can log on to http://www.arbookfind.com . Students in room 31 who complete one of the Hotlist books with an 80% or higher on their AR quiz will be given “Fire” Jolly Ranchers to have in class.
Happy Reading,
Ms. Berdahl
GRADE 4
Author Book Title (book level/AR points)
Alexander, Lloyd Prydain Chronicles (5.9/ 3.0)
Andersen, Hans Christian Fairy Tales (8.1/7.0)
Avi Poppy ( 4.5 / 4.0)
Babbitt, Natalie Tuck Everlasting ( 5.0 / 4.0)
Baum, L. Frank The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (7.0/ 7.0)
Birdsall, Jeanne The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (4.7/8.0)
Boston, L.M. The Children of Green Knowe (5.3/ 6.0)
Brooks, Gwendolyn & Faith Ringgold Bronzeville Boys and Girls ( 3.7/ 0.5)
Burnett, Frances Hodgson The Secret Garden (6.3 / 13.0)
Byars, Betsy The Summer of the Swans ( 4.9 / 4.0)
Carroll, Lewis Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ( 7.4 / 5.0)
Clements, Andrew Frindle ( 5.0 / 2.0)
Collins, Suzanne Gregor the Overlander ( 4.8 / 8.0)
Collodi, Carlo The Adventures of Pinocchio ( 5.3 / 6.0)
Cooper, Susan The Dark is Rising ( 6.2 / 13.0)
Creech, Sharon Bloomability ( 5.2/ 7.0)
Curtis, Christopher Paul Bud, Not Buddy (5.0 / 8.0)
Dahl, Roald Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ( 4.8 / 5.0)
DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn-Dixie ( 3.9/ 3.0)
Dowd, Siobhan The London Eye Mystery ( 4.1/ 7.0)
DuPrau, Jeanne The City of Ember ( 5.0 / 9.0)
Eager, Edward Half Magic ( 5.0 / 5.0)
Erdrich, Louise The Birchbark House ( 6.1 / 7.0)
Estes, Eleanor The Moffats ( 5.2 / 6.0)
Farley, Walter The Black Stallion ( 5.2 / 7.0)
Fitzhugh, Louise Harriet the Spy ( 4.5 / 8.0)
Gaiman, Neil Coraline ( 5.1/ 5.0)
Gantos, Jack Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key ( 4.9 / 5.0)
George, Jean Craighead My Side of the Mountain ( 5.2 / 6.0)
Grahame, Kenneth The Wind in the Willows (8.2 / 11.0)
Henry, Marguerite Misty of Chincoteague (
Hiaasen, Carl Hoot
Howe, Deborah Bunnicula
Hughes, Langston The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
Ibbotson, Eva and Sue Porter Secret of Platform 13
Irving, Washington Rip Van Winkle
Jansson, Tove Moominland Midwinter
Juster, Norton and Jules Feiffer The Phantom Tollbooth
Kipling, Rudyard The Jungle Book
Konigsburg, E.L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Lawson, Robert Ben and Me
Lenski, Lois Strawberry Girl
Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia
Lin, Grace Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Lindgren, Astrid Pippi Longstocking
Lofting, Hugh Doctor Dolittle
Lovelace, Maud Hart Betsy-Tacy
Lowry, Lois Number the Stars
Macaulay, David Castle
MacLachlan, Patricia Sarah, Plain and Tall
McCloskey, Robert Homer Price
Merrill, Jean The Pushcart War
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables
Murphy, Jim The Great Fire
Nesbit, E. The Railway Children
North, Sterling Rascal
Norton, Mary The Borrowers
O’Brien, Robert C. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Park, Linda Sue When My Name was Keoko
Paterson, Katherine Bridge to Terabithia
Pearce, Philippa Tom’s Midnight Garden
Perrault, Charles The Complete Fairy Tales
Reiss, Johanna The Upstairs Room
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Ryan, Pam Munoz Esperanza Rising
Sachar, Louis Holes
Selznick, Brian The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sewell, Anna Black Beauty
Sharp, Margery The Rescuers
Sperry, Armstrong Call It Courage
Spyri, Johanna Heidi
Stewart, Trenton Lee The Mysterious Benedict Society
Travers, P.L. Mary Poppins
Wilder, Laura Ingalls Little House on the Prairie
Woodson, Jacqueline Locomotion
Wyss, Johann Swiss Family Robinson