A reader was looking for examples of high-quality books for gifted/talented 4th and 5th graders, but she was constrained to a lexile range of 900-1000. I threw it out on Twitter and Facebook and got a ton of responses.
Have another rec in that range? Shoot it to me at @ianabyrd or email ian@byrdseed.com.
Repeated recommendations include: Chasing Vermeer, Phantom Tollbooth, and Out of My Mind.
- From Stephanie Hudson Tanner:
- The Mysterious Benedict Society books feature gifted kids and hover around the 850-950 range.
- Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
- The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P Figg by Rodman Philbrick
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
- And the Narnia books are all faves of my classes that fall in that range.
- Also, while not quite at 900…I’d recommend Brian Selznik’s books The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck (there’s another that I haven’t read yet but am hearing good things). There are so many rich experiences you could incorporate with these books…my students are always borrowing my copies. You could bring in higher lexiles with nonfiction accompaniments.
- Amy Cipolla Barnes says: Have them check out the state just of books. The 2016-2017 Tennessee list of books is awesome and offers a mix of fiction and non-fiction that has something for boys and girls. We use the list for Battle of the Books in middle.
- Shannon Vermeeren says: I have no idea what lexile range they are but:
- The War that Saved My Life and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon are stellar reads that our 4th and 5th grade Battle of the Books team reads.
- Out Of My Mind by Sharon Draper is also fantastic.
- JM Hardy says:
- The Phantom Tollbooth is a favorite,
- My TAG 4/5 kiddos love The Ranger’s Apprentice series and anything by Rick Riordan.
- Teresa Milligan recommends: Mr. Popper’s Penguins (910L), Ginger Pye (990 L), The Wind in the Willows (1140L), The Phantom Tollbooth (1000L), Ann of Green Gables (1020L), Rascal (1140L), Nim’s Island (1000L), Treasure Island (1010L), Stuart Little (920L) The Jungle Book (1080L) Island of the Blue Dolphins (930L) The Hobbit (1030L)
- She continues with: The Penderwicks (850L range), Frindle (830L), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (890L), Matilda (840L), Pippi Longstocking (870L), Bridge to Teribetha (810L), The Witch of Blackbird Pond (850L), The Cay (860L), Little House on the Prairie books.
- Stephanie Regur – You can also try http://www.elkhorn.lib.wi.us/…/2012/01/900-Lexiles.pdf.
- Ruth Lyons reccomends The Ability by M.M. Vaughan; Lexile is 920 The Wright 3 has an 870 lexile – great book, love Blue Balliett!
- Elizabeth Tipton‏ @tiptongandt – Several of the Dear America books are at that level, Gary Paulsen’s books!
- Lauren Wirth‏ @WirthGT – We use The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for our 5th GT in GrandPrairieISD. It’s phenomenal. Only 830L
- Christy Murphy‏ @MrsMurphyyyyy I’ll 2nd that recommendation (for Chasing Vermeer). Chasing Vermeer has so many layers for great extension projects, probably 800 level
- Beniy Waisanen‏ @clawhammer72 My Antonia is 1010L.
- Shannon Beaudette‏ @teachershannyb 950- Bud Not Buddy 780-Chains 790-Wonder 700- Out of my Mind. Lower #’s but MUCH deep thinking, symbolism, & epic stories! I also second some of Gary Paulsen. 1020- Hatchet is riveting!
- Jennifer Marten, PhD‏ @jenmarten @MrsMurphyyyyy Apparently Chasing Vermeer is 770?Read w/ GT 4th grdrs & it challenged them. #whyihatelexiles The Septimus Heap series is also in that range.
- Kim Ring And Malbert Smith‏ (@MetaMetrics_) both recommend https://lexile.com/fab/ Put in a lexile range, and it generates titles.
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