Books for Intermediate Readers
Aldrin, Buzz
The second astronaut to walk on the moon outlines the history of air and space travel and gives readers a glimpse of where future missions might lead.
Arnosky, Jim
Slither and Crawl: Eye to Eye with Reptiles
Snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators stare out from the pages of this eye-catching introduction to reptiles.
Ashman, Linda
Come to the Castle: A Visit to a Castle in Thirteenth-Century England
The Earl of Daftwood welcomes readers to join him in his lavish home as he prepares for an epic celebration you won’t want to miss!
Barrows, Annie
Best friends Ivy and Bean beg their parents for dance lessons at Madam Joy’s School for the Ballet but are unhappy with the parts they are assigned for the recital.
Bass, Hester.
The Secret World of Walter Anderson
Walter Anderson does not mind that there is no running water, warm bed, bathroom, or even kitchen on the island where he spends weeks at a time painting the natural world. To him, art is an adventure!
Beard, Darleen Bailey
Annie Glover Is Not a Tree Lover
Annie is initially embarrassed when her activist Grandma goes to great lengths to try and save an American elm, but later she and her classmates join the fight to preserve the old tree
Betancourt, Jeanne
When Ava begins to notice that the things she wishes for on the day of her eighth birthday come true, she begins to wonder if there are more powerful things she can wish for, like bringing her parents back.
Bishop, Nic
Author and photographer Nic Bishop gives you an eye- opening and close up view of the life cycle of these amazing flying insects.
Bond, Rebecca
In the Belly of an Ox: The Unexpected Photographic Adventures of Richard and Cherry Kearton
Two brothers in nineteenth-century England invent creative ways to photograph—but not disturb—native birds, eggs, and nests in their natural surroundings.
Bredsdorff, Bodi
After the birth of a son to her mother and stepfather, Eidi becomes restless in her Crow Cove home and sets out to gain a measure of independence.
Bryan, Ashley
A three-time Coretta Scott King award winner describes the range of his artistic inspirations, from growing up in New York City during the Great Depression to the little Maine island that he now calls home.
Chin, Jason
This imaginative, yet factual, book captures the spectacular beauty and size of the redwood forests.
Christensen, Bonnie
Rhythmic verses tell the remarkable story of a young Gypsy boy, born in Belgium in 1910, who is surrounded by music as a child, learning violin from his father and later moving on to guitar.
Chrustowski, Rick
Loop. Swoop. Spin. A mother bat teaches her baby to fly as they catch insects together in the dark.
Daly, Niki
Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club
Bettina loves her new art teacher almost as much as she loves art, but when a group of parents question Mr. Popart’s unique teaching style, she is forced to use her own creativity to save him from being kicked out of Bayside Preparatory School.
Durand, Hallie
Fans of Clementine and Junie B. Jones will enjoy getting to know Dessert, a spunky third grader who loves sweets before dinner and definitely “marches to her own drummer!”
Fleischman, Sid
Have you ever wondered where your dreams go, the ones that suddenly seem to disappear in the middle of the night? When eight-year-old Susana Cristobal finds out, she wants them back!
Friedman, Laurie
Mallory has planned the perfect New Year’s Eve reunion with her summer camp friends, but an unexpected trip to the hospital turns her into an impatient patient.
Gaiman, Neil
Younger Percy Jackson fans will enjoy this thoughtful and quietly humorous tale in which twelve-year-old Odd is taken on an adventure into Asgard, the land of the gods.
Gifford, Peggy
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano: But She Does Love Being in Recitals
With a list of nine things to do in preparation for tonight’s recital at the prestigious Killinger School for Piano and Bass, Moxy finds it’s going to be difficult to actually find time to practice her part of the duet.
Harley, Avis
African Acrostics: A Word In Edgeways
These cleverly crafted poems, accompanied by thrilling photographs, will have you looking at animals and poetry in a brand new way.
Harper, Charise Mericle
Quick chapters and numerous cartoon drawings describe Grace’s honest, and often humorous, efforts to recycle, conserve, and reuse.
Holt, Kimberly Willis
Piper Reed does not get just one job, she gets three–all at the same time–in her efforts to raise money for a Gypsy Club clubhouse.
Jenkins, Steve
Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
Dive down to the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean and discover some of the curious creatures we never get to see!
Kajikawa, Kimiko
The effect of a powerful tidal wave on a Japanese seaside village is dramatically portrayed in vibrant mixed media collages by renowned artist Ed Young.
Kelly, Katy
Ten-year-old Adam Melon’s brilliant plans sometimes get him into trouble, but it is his zany creation that wins Best in Show at the school reinvention convention.
Kirby, Pamela F
Would you like to have bluebirds in your backyard? The amazing photographs and helpful information in this book could make that possible!
McDonald, Megan
Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
Judy and her brother Stink have a real pirate adventure when they go on a family vacation to Ocracoke Island.
McDonough, Yona Zeldis
When an embargo placed on German-made goods during World War I makes it nearly impossible for her father to get the doll parts he needs, it is up to nine-year-old Anna to come up with a way to save her family’s beloved shop.
McGinty, Alice B
Captivating and beautifully illustrated, this biography presents much of Charles Darwin’s experiences as a scientist through many of his own words.
Medina, Tony
Reggae master Bob Marley grew up in the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, and his lively and inspirational music reflects the diversity of his island home.
Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal
Bass Reeves rides tall in the saddle and excels at shooting, tracking, and every other skill required of a man representing the law in the vast American frontier known as Indian Territory in the late 1800’s.
O’Connor, Barbara
The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis
Two boys who meet by chance one summer are determined to find out who is making the Yoo-hoo carton boats with the intriguing messages inside and sending them down the creek.
Paulsen, Gary
An out-of-control crayfish experiment, a psychic library parrot, an elusive gerbil, and sixty-five missing erasers keep life exciting for 12-year-old Lyle and his classmates.
Petersen, P. J
When his older brother is injured in the rapids during a kayak trip, Tanner must use all his skills–even those acquired during video gaming–to save him.
Roberts, Ken
To Thumb and his best friend Susan’s great surprise, something suspicious is going on in their once sleepy and remote fishing village in New Auckland, British Columbia.
Robinson, Sharon
Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson’s daughter shares a story about her legendary father’s courage and character in this book handsomely illustrated by Caldecott Honor Book artist Kadir Nelson.
Roeder, Annette
13 Buildings Children Should Know
This book offers inspiring introductions to thirteen of the world’s greatest architectural achievements.
Root, Phyllis
Paul Bunyan’s younger sister is as tall as a pine tree, keeps company with a black bear, teaches wolves to sing, and outsmarts the lumberjacks who are destroying her North Woods home.
Rosen, Michael J
The Cuckoo’s Haiku: And Other Birding Poems
Here are some of the most common American birds described in spare and graceful words and portrayed in detailed watercolor and pencil artwork.
Ruddell, Deborah
A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems
Whimsical poems celebrate beavers, woodpeckers, snails, skunks, and other animals of the forest as they go about their playful tasks.
Salisbury, Graham
Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet
For fourth grader Calvin, who lives on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, getting into trouble at home and in school is easy–it’s getting out of it that requires some skill!
Schertle, Alice
Sweatshirts, costumes, hats and galoshes express their unique personalities in an amusing collection of clever verse and colorful illustrations.
Swinburne, Stephen R.
Armadillo Trail: The Northward Journey of the Armadillo
Filled with beautifully rendered illustrations of Texas and its breathtaking landscapes, this story trails a mother armadillo and her four pups in their dangerous northward journey.
Tellegen, Toon
The Squirrel’s Birthday and Other Parties
Friendship, dancing, yummy treats, and having fun are the themes of the nine animal stories in this whimsical collection.
Thompson, Kate
A young street beggar in 18th-century England crosses paths with a mysterious visitor and his horse. Could it really be the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin and his beautiful mare, Black Bess?
Trueit, Trudi
Fourth grader Scab McNally is willing to do almost anything in order to get a dog, even if it means trading his twin sister for one.
Van Draanen, Wendelin
The Gecko & Sticky: Villain’s Lair
Until Sticky, a Spanish-speaking gecko, entered Dave’s life he was just a normal boy, in a normal family, going to a normal school.
Vernon, Ursula
Comic book-style cartoons tell a humorous tale of a dragon that cannot breathe fire and fails to impress his teachers yet remains fearless when it comes to dangerous adventure.
Wight, Eric
Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom
In this adventure, Frankie decides that he is prepared to face the consequences of never cleaning his room; when his dog Argyle will not even enter, Frankie begins to think that things may have gone too far.
Wing, Natasha
An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers
Excited by the endless possibilities of color, Josef Albers’ lifetime of work changed the way we see and use it.
Winter, Jeanette
Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan
Nasreen falls into a deep, sad silence after her parents’ disappearance until her grandmother takes her to a secret school for girls in war-torn Afghanistan.
Yee, Lisa
Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)
Bobby and Holly are best friends, but when the disagreement they have develops into a boys vs. girls war involving their entire fourth grade class, Bobby begins to wonder how he got himself into this mess in the first place.