This document provides summaries of 3-sentence or less for various book series available in the school library. It includes popular chapter book series about characters like Clementine, Geronimo Stilton, Ivy and Bean, and Calvin Coconut. The document also summarizes classics like Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, and Little House in the Big Woods.

2. K, 1st, 2nd 4th, 5th, 6th
Current Book Award Clubs at HGS

3. K, 1st, 2nd 4th, 5th, 6th
3rd Grade!

4. WHY ARE WE DOING
THIS?

6. 26 Fairmount Avenue
by Tomie dePaola
Children's author-illustrator Tomie dePaola describes his experiences at home and in
school when he was a boy in the 1940’s.

7. 39 Clues
by various authors—shelved under 39 Fic
The 39 Clues is a series of adventure novels written by a collaboration of authors, including Rick
Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, Linda Sue Park,
Margaret Peterson Haddix, Roland Smith, and David Baldacci. The books chronicle the
adventures of two siblings, Amy and Dan Cahill, who discover that they belong to the Cahill
family, the most influential family in history. The main story follows Dan and Amy's quest to
find the 39 Clues, which are ingredients to a serum that can create the most powerful person
on Earth.
Steven Spielberg acquired film rights to the series in June 2008, and a film based on the books will be released in 2014. The series also originated tie-in
merchandise, including collectible cards and an interactive internet game

8. 43 Old Cemetery Road
by Kate Klise
What happens when an 11-year-old boy, a
cranky writer, and a ghost named Olive
try to spend the summer together in a
haunted house? Find out in this giggly
ghost story.
Meet Dick Tater. He's a little man with a big
plan: He wants to abolish Halloween.
What happens when your fan is a phantom?
Find out in the latest installment from
the spooky town of Ghastly, Illinois,
where phantom flu has settled in . . . and
it won't let go!
There once was a very rich man
Who decided he needed a plan
To make sense of his wealth
While still in good health
Now go find it all if you can!
Think how fun it would be if a millionaire
wrote his will in a series of limericks and
hid the poems all over town!

9. Shadow Children
by Margaret Petersen Haddix
Among the Hidden takes place in a society in which drastic measures have
been taken to quell overpopulation. In the first book, Luke Garner, a twelve-
year-old child, lives on a farm with his mother, father, and two brothers,
Matthew and Mark. As a third child (a Shadow Child), Luke and his parents
are in violation of the law. Luke, like all third children, must spend his days
hidden or away from public view.

10. Andrew Clements Collection
By Andrew Clements
Nick Allen, a fifth grader with a gift for creative ideas and
a taste for troublemaking, creates a new word for pen --
frindle. All he wanted to do was play a little trick on Mrs.
Granger, a legendary language arts teacher with a
passion for proper vocabulary. After all, she told him that
ordinary people determine which words end up in the
dictionary. But when his new word sweeps the nation,
Nick fears that he might have created a Monster.

11. Araminta Spookie
By Angie Sage
These funny books tell the story of
Araminta ‘Minty’ Spookie, who
lives in a haunted house, called
Spookie House, with her aunt
Tabby, her uncle Drac, and their
new inhabitants: the Wizzard
family who are trying to solve
secrets, mysteries, and all the
things that the Spookie House is
hiding from them!

12. Babymouse
Written & illustrated by Jennifer & Matthew Holm
The main character is Babymouse, a
grade school mouse who loves to
read and longs for some excitement
in her life, which usually comes in the
form of random creatures that reside
in her locker, or from an overactive
imagination. But either way,
Babymouse has some awesome
adventures. Her real life is pretty
funny too, especially when she has to
deal with Felicia Furrypaws, the
school bully, on a daily basis. At the
end of the day, Babymouse always
learns a life lesson, and realizes her
life isn't that bad.

13. Calendar Mysteries
By Ron Roy
Bradley has an easier time
convincing the others when Josh,
Ruth Rose, Dink, and the dog go
missing the next day. The kids
find a piece of paper about alien
abductions in Josh's printer tray
and receive two disturbing phone
calls from the suspected
abductees. Will they find out
what’s going on? Read it and see!
A mystery every month! In the first book, seven-year-old Bradley wakes up to see
strange lights in the backyard. He wakes his twin friends Nate and Lucy to
investigate the strange occurrence and is convinced that aliens have landed !

14. Calvin Coconut
By Graham Salisbury
Fourth-grader Calvin lives near the beach in Hawaii with his mom and little
sister. Mom likes to call Calvin her “Man of the house.” But Calvin’s not great at
being the man of the house, or taking care of his responsibilities. He’s too busy
bouncing around with his friends. The stories also include Stella, Calvin’s live-in
babysitter, and Ledward, his Mom’s new boyfriend. Come, spend some time in
the islands!

15. Classics Collection
By various authors
Stuart Little by E.B. White: a mouse is adopted as a son by a human family.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White: a spider spins words into her web to save the life of a pig.
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder: a young pioneer girl shares daily life on the prairies during the
1800s.
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski: Birdie Boyer belonged to a large "strawberry family," who lived on a flatwoods farm in
the lake section of Florida. They raised strawberries for a living. Through all the hazards of the uncertain crop --
battling against dry weather and grass fires, the roving hogs and cattle of their neighbors -- Birdie dreamed of an
education that would include playing the organ. 1946.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin: The Westing Game is about a group of people invited to the reading of Mr.
Westing’s will. Someone in the group could become very wealthy but that all depends on how they handle the
Westing game.

16. Clementine series
By Sarah Pennypacker
In the first book of the series, Clementine tries
to help out her friend Margaret, but ends up in
a lot of trouble for it. Things get worse each day
of the week, until finally she's worried that
Margaret is right: Clementine's parents might
consider her "the hard one" in the family.
They're up to something mysterious...are they
thinking they'd be better off if they only had her
little vegetable-named brother..."the easy one"?
Clementine has more adventures in
each book, often involving her friend
Margaret, her school, and her family.

17. Ellray Jakes
By Sally Warner
Is a Rock Star = a Third-grader's struggle to look cool gets him in trouble. Zippy, the
Walks the Plank = The classroom goldfish that EllRay was taking care of over spring
vacation ends up floating. What is EllRay going to tell the kids in his third-grade class?
Is NOT a Chicken = Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes is sick of getting picked on. But every time
he tries to defend himself against class bully Jared Matthews, EllRay is the one who
winds up in trouble. It's just not fair! Then his dad offers him a deal: If EllRay can stay out
of trouble for a week, they'll go to Disneyland! But being good for one whole week is not
so easy. . . .

18. Football—Barber
Brothers
By Tiki & Ronde Barber
Ronde = tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tiki = New York Giants
These exciting sports stories are based on the childhood of
National Football League superstars Ronde and Tiki Barber,.
They feature plenty of football action, but also are about the
values of family, hard work, and determination to have what
it takes to be a champion.

19. Geronimo Stilton series
By Geronimo Stilton
Geronimo Stilton is a talking
mouse who lives in New Mouse
City on Mouse Island. A best-
selling author, he works as a
journalist and editor for the
fictional newspaper The
Rodent's Gazette.
Geronimo is a nervous, mild-
mannered mouse who would
like nothing better than to live a
quiet life, but he keeps getting
involved in far-away adventures
with his relatives: Thea, Trap,
Benjamin, & Aunt Sweetfur.

20. Ivy & Bean series
By Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
Ivy (a quiet, intellectual child) and Bean (a
rambunctious child) become fast friends
despite their differences and their initial
reluctance to like each other. They are both
7 years old in the series, and live on a cul-
de-sac in a suburban environment on
Pancake Court. Now that the girls have
become friends, they have plenty of fun
together.

21. Jake Drake series
By Andrew Clements
In these books, Jake Drake deals with bullies, becomes a know-it-all so he can
win the school science fair, remembers the terrible days in third grade when
everybody thought he was the teachers' pet, and becomes a class clown so that
he can impress the new student teacher. It’s always something new with third
grader Jake Drake!

22. Just Grace series
by Charise Mericle Harper
This series is about a third grader, Grace Stewart. We learn that she likes to draw
comics and that she has a “teeny tiny superpower” that sometimes gets her into
trouble. The superpower is empathy and the desire to help those in need, even when
she probably should hold back. Grace thinks that both her drawing and her
superpower are “boy things” and because of that she tries to keep them to herself.

23. Keepers of the School
By Andrew Clements
Believing that the school needs protection from developers who bought the property,
Mr. Keane, a custodian, gives Ben a coin that dates back to the school 's 1783
founding. Now Ben and his friend Jill must unravel the school 's mysteries and outwit
a new janitor, who, they suspect, is a spy for the development company.
Each book is a new mystery or adventure for the kids in Benjamin Pratt’s class.

24. Kickers
By Rich Wallace
This series follows Ben and his co-ed soccer team, The Kickers as
they compete through the season and try to get to the playoffs.
Each book brings a different personal challenge at home or school
for the players as well as plenty of on-the-pitch sports action.

25. Mason Dixon
By Claudia Mills
In the first book . Mason Dixon survived the school choir. In the second, he
survived adopting his now-beloved dog named, uh, Dog. But in the third he faces
his biggest challenge yet: joining the local basketball team. Not by choice, of
course. Now, with his best pal Brody and a team of misfits even worse at
basketball than him (if that's possible), Mason must try to rally to beat his arch-
rival, the school bully Dunk. Just another day-in-the-life of a disaster-prone fourth
grader.

26. Moxy Maxwell
By Peggy Gibson
syn
On the last day before fourth grade, Moxy Maxwell, usually an avid
reader, finds multiple reasons to continue avoiding her assigned
summer reading book.
It isn't as though Moxy isn’t grateful for her Christmas presents. She
is. She’s just not thrilled that she has to write a thank-you note for
each one by tomorrow . . . or she will not be allowed to fly to
Hollywood to attend a star-studded Hollywood bash with the father
she hasn’t seen in three years.
Moxy Maxwell is set to make her Piano Debut, playing a duet of
“Heart and Soul” with her little sister, Pansy. It’s too bad she has
no time to practice. Between costume fittings, trying on her
crown, warming up her voice, and putting on her stage makeup,
Moxy can’t possibly worry about the actual performance!

27. My Weird School Daze
By Dan Gutman
The weirdness never stops! It’s a new school year at
Ella Mentry School—and guess what? Well, I’m not
going to tell you! Okay, okay, I’ll tell you! The weird high
jinks follow A.J. and his friends to third grade! The
weirdest school stories in the world are back with a
dozen more books filled with crazy and out-of-control
stories.

28. Nathaniel Fludd
Beastologist
By R.L. LaFever
Nathaniel Fludd's life has taken a turn for the worse. With his parents lost at sea, he
lands on the doorstep of a distant cousin-the world's last remaining beastologist.
Soon Nate is whisked off on expeditions with his Cousin Phil to deal with unusual
beasts like phoenix birds, basilisks, unicorns, and dragons!

29. Spiderwick
By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
These books follow the adventures of the Grace
children, twins Simon and Jared and their older
sister Mallory, after they move into Spiderwick
Estate and discover a world of faeries that they
never knew existed.

30. Stink
By Megan MacDonald
Stink has two passions in life. The second grader loves to read volumes of the
encyclopedia and his pets His older sister, Judy Moody, thinks he is weird. His Mom and
Dad are patient with their son. Our hero is not only about stinky items. The Stink Moody
books show how younger siblings can survive bossy older ones. Also, you can learn that
people with unique qualities have something to contribute to the world. Not many people
sit and read volumes of the encyclopedia or have a nose that sniffs out the most peculiar
odors. Nevertheless, one-of-a-kind Stink can use his knowledge and talent to help others,
and Stink has a very good time while he does it.

31. Time Warp Trio
By Jon Scieszka
For his tenth birthday, Joe receives a mysterious blue book (known only as The Book)
from his magician uncle and namesake, "Joe the Magnificent." Using an often
unpredictable number of voice and print cues, The Book transports Joe and his friends,
Fred and Sam, to a variety of different times
and places, from Camelot's medieval court of
knights and dragons to the year 2095, where
they meet their own great-granddaughters.
The only way they are able to return to
present-day Brooklyn, New York is to find The
Book again within whatever time period they
are in. Plenty of snappy dialogue and laughs!

32. Troll Troubles
By Alan MacDonald
Ulrik is desperate
to be on his
school's soccer
team, but he
doesn't really
understand the
rules.
It's summer and all of
Ulrik's school friends
seem to be going on
something called
“vacation,” so Mr.
and Mrs. Troll decide
to investigate.
When a family of Trolls
moves into the quiet
suburb of Biddlesden,
it's likely that things
are going to get ugly
(and possibly hairy
and smelly) very soon,
since trolls like to roar
as loudly as possible
and stomp their hairy
feet.
Grumpa comes
for Trollmas
holiday, but
where will they
get a goat for the
holiday meal?

34. A Boy Named
Beckoning
By Gina Capaldi
This is the true story of a Native
American boy named Wassaja, or
"Beckoning," who was kidnapped from
his tribe and sold as a slave. Adopted
by an Italian photographer in 1871 and
renamed Carlos Montezuma, the
young boy traveled throughout the Old
West, bearing witness to the prejudice
against and poor treatment of Native
Americans. Carlos eventually became a
doctor and leader for his people,
calling out for their rights.

35. All Stations! Distress!
By Don Brown
THE "UNSINKABLE" MEETS THE
UNTHINKABLE -- A gripping account of the ill-
fated maiden voyage of the Titanic.

36. Any Presidential biography
921 xxx

37. Bad news for Outlaws
By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Sitting tall in the saddle, Bass Reeves seemed
bigger than life. As a U.S. Marshal - and former
slave who escaped to freedom in the Indian
Territories - Bass was cunning and fearless. For
three decades, Bass was the most feared and
respected lawman in the territories. He made
more than 3,000 arrests, and though he was a
crack shot and a quick draw, he only killed
fourteen men in the line of duty. Bad News for
Outlaws reveals the story of a remarkable
African American hero of the Old West.

38. Helen Keller: Her Life
in Pictures
By George Sullivan
Rare photographs and informative text tell
the story of Helen Keller's life from the iconic
moment at the pump through her career as
goodwill delegate to the world.

39. If the Walls Could Talk: Family Life at
the White House
By Jane O’Connor
In case you've ever wondered, the
walls at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
have eyes and ears -- and, what's
more, they don't miss a thing. Now,
listen up because the walls have a
thing or two to tell you! Hear funny,
surprising stories and more about the
most famous home in America and
the extraordinary families who have
lived in it.

40. The Name Game
By Donna M. Jackson
Did you ever wish your initials spelled
something? (Or didn’t?) Do you know if
you have a Googlegänger? Can your
name influence the kind of person you
are? or what you do? When it comes to
names, everyone has an opinion, so
explore this fascinating subject of
names.

41. Ultimate 10 Sports
Series
By various authors
This exciting series gives readers a
front-row seat for the very best from the
world of sports—the greatest games,
the toughest competitors, and the
fiercest rivalries! Bring all the action
into sharp focus for both the casual and
diehard fan. Books are divided into
user-friendly sections filled with
dramatic photos, sidebars, stats, and
classic quotes from key players.

42. VIP Pass series
By Clay Latimer
Baseball stadiums might seem like calm and relaxed
places. But come game day, people who work at
stadiums are ready to swing into action. Many fans
don't get to see what happens as stats are updated,
coaches adjust game plans, and production crews
entertain the crowd. Get ready to visit a Major League
Baseball game and learn what happens behind the
scenes.

43. Weapons, Gear, &
Uniforms
Author
Learn all about the powerful weapons, unique gear, and
uniforms used by U.S. and opposing forces in various battles
and historical time periods like the American Revolution, the
Civil War, World Wars I & II, Vietnam, & Iraq.

44. Graphic Histories
Using bold, full-color graphic illustrations, Graphic Histories portrays critical
chapters in American history in a way that readers will find immediately
interesting. Simple, exciting text and vivid drawings work together to
explain critical events- from battles to boycotts to triumphs of human
courage and technology- that shaped the course of American history.

45. Extreme! Series
By various authors

46. Secret American People
Secret American Places
Secret American History
America is filled with mysterious places, and you can’t find them all on a map.
Did aliens crash in Roswell, New Mexico? Does the government have a secret
hiding place in times of disaster? Learn about the answers to these questions
and more in Secret American Places.

47. Horse Power series
(CC)
Various authors
Learn about the wide variety of jobs that horses have
done in our society.

48. Sitting Bull Remembers
By Ann Turner
Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux Nation was a
warrior, a visionary, a horseman and hunter,
and a man who had a deep affinity with
nature. Above all, he is remembered as an
extraordinary leader who fought for the
freedom of his people and helped to
preserve their spirit, even in a time of great
tragedy.

49. Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a
Marine, and a Miracle
By Major Brian Dennis
Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home
or a person of his own. He was the leader of
a pack of wild dogs living off the land and
barely surviving. But Nubs's life changed
when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. The
two formed a fast friendship. Nubs became
part of Dennis's human "pack" until duty
required the Marines to relocate a full 70
miles away--without him. Nubs had no way of
knowing that Marines were not allowed to
have pets.

50. Knut
By Juliana, Isabella, and Craig Hatkoff
When Knut was born, the first polar
bear cub at the Berlin Zoo in more
than thirty years, he was no bigger
than a snowball and unable to care
for himself. His mother, a rescued
East German circus bear, didn't
know how to take care of Knut and
rejected him. Knut would have died
if it weren't for Thomas Dorflein, a
zookeeper who nurtured Knut,
feeding him, sleeping with him, and
giving him the love and attention
Knut needed to thrive.

51. Winter’s Tale
By Juliana, Isabella, & Craig Hatkoff
When Winter was a baby, she
was rescued from a crab trap, her
tail seriously damaged, and
rushed to Clearwater Marine
Aquarium. Winter survived, but
eventually her tail fell off. Then
Winter received a prosthetic tail.
It was very challenging but now
Winter is thriving and using her
new tail with great skill.

52. Leo the Snow Leopard
Owen & Mzee
When Leo was less than seven weeks old, he
became orphaned in the snowy Himalayan
mountains in Pakistan. Snow leopards need
their mothers during the first two years of
their lives, but Leo was all alone.
The amazing true story of the orphaned baby
hippo and 130-year-old giant turtle whose
remarkable friendship touched millions
around the world

53. I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat
By Carlyn Beccia
It wasn’t too long ago that people tried
all sorts of things to help sick people
feel better. They tried wild things like
drinking a glass full of millipedes or
putting some mustard on one's
head. Some of the cures worked, and
some of them…well, let’s just say that
some were downright weird!
Takes a colorful and funny medical
mystery tour to discover that while times
may have changed, many of today’s
most reliable cure-alls have their roots in
some very peculiar practices.

54. Languages of the World series
These books provides an introduction to the
language, showing where it is spoken and who
speaks it, differences and similarities between that
language and English, and introduces some key basic
vocabulary and phrases.
Including: Italian, German, French, Spanish, Polish,
Hindi, Urdu, and Mandarin Chinese.

55. What Stinks?
By Marilyn Singer
Information about the ways various
animals and plants use stinky
substances, ranging from excrement
and musk to vomit, to mark their
territory, frighten their enemies,
attract their mates, and more.
Fantastic!

56. Off Like the Wind
By Michael Spradlin
In 1860, the first Pony Express rider
set out on a trail from Missouri to
California. With him, he carried a
special delivery-- the first mail ever
carried by hand to the West. Over
the next eleven days, he and many
other riders would endure harsh
weather, dangerous animals, and
more, but nothing would diminish
their unflagging determination and
courage.

57. Bones: Skeletons and
How They Work
By Steve Jenkins
Learn all about the bones in humans and
other creature. This book is the definitive
nonfiction title about human and animal
bones, delivered with in-your-face accuracy
and intrigue!

58. Underwear: What We Wear
Under There
By Ruth Freeman Swaim
Underwear. It can be practical, it can
be lucky, it can be just plain bizarre.
And just one mention of the word can
make you giggle or blush. But if you
really want to laugh out loud, take a
step back in time and check out what
people in past centuries used to cover
up "down there."

59. Henry Aaron’s Dream
By Matt Tavares
Before he was Hammerin’ Hank, Henry Aaron
was a young boy grow ing up in Mobile,
Alabama, with what seemed like a foolhardy
dream: to be a big-league baseball player. He
didn’t have a bat. He didn’t have a ball. And
there wasn’t a single black ball player in the
major leagues. But none of this could stop
Henry Aaron.

60. Give a Goat
By Jan West Schrock
How can reading a picture book in one
country make a difference to a family in need
living thousands of miles away? And what
does a goat have to do with it, anyway?
When Mrs. Rowell's class is inspired by a
rainy-day book to reach out with helping
hands, wonderful things happen. Not the
least of these wonderful things is a
combined, enthusiastic effort by the entire
class to reach a common goal.

61. Boys of Steel
By Marc Tyler Nobleman
JERRY SIEGEL AND Joe Shuster, two
misfit teens in Depression-era
Cleveland, were more like Clark Kent—
meek, mild, and myopic—than his
secret identity, Superman. Jerry wrote
stories, and Joe illustrated them. In
1934, they created a superhero who
was everything they were not. It was
four more years before they convinced
a publisher to take a chance on their
Man of Steel in a new format—the
comic book.

62. All Nic Bishop Books
With breathtaking full-page, close-up images, photographer
Nic Bishop introduces the terrifying and beautiful world of
snakes, butterflies, spiders, frogs, marsupials, and lizards.
The text presents both basic information and captivating
details about the appearance, habits, and remarkable
abilities of these amazing creatures. An index and glossary
are included, along with an author's note detailing his
research and the fun stories behind the photographs.

63. Stand Straight, Ella Kate!
By Kate Klise
Ella Kate Ewing was born in 1872. She
started out small, but she just kept on
growing. Soon she was too tall for her desk at
school, too tall for her bed at home, too tall to
fit anywhere. Ella Kate was a real-life giant,
but she refused to hide herself away. Instead,
she used her unusual height to achieve her
equally large dreams.

64. Pop: The Invention of Bubble Gum
By Megan McCarthy
Gum. It’s been around for centuries—from the
ancient Greeks to the American Indians,
everyone’s chewed it. But the best kind of
gum—bubble gum!—wasn’t invented until
1928, when an enterprising young
accountant at Fleer Gum and Candy used his
spare time to experiment with different
recipes. Bubble-blowing kids everywhere will
be delighted with Megan McCarthy’s
entertaining pictures and engaging fun facts
as they learn the history behind the pink
perfection of Dubble Bubble.

65. The Vermeer Interviews
By Bob Raczka
In this innovative look at seven paintings by
Jan Vermeer, author Bob Raczka takes on the
role of interviewer and the people in the
paintings become his willing subjects. From
The Milkmaid to The Geographer, Raczka
teases out fascinating details about these
gorgeous works of art and their mysterious
creator. As you might imagine, after more
than three hundred years of silence, the
characters inside these paintings have much
to share.

66. Vinnie & Abraham
By Dawn Fitzgerald
Vinnie and Abraham tells the
true story of Vinnie Ream, the
self-taught teenage sculptor
who won the commission to
create the full-size statue of
Abraham Lincoln that now
stands in the rotunda of the
U.S. Capitol.

67. Swish! The Quest for
Basketball’s Perfect Shot
By Mark Stewart and Mike Kennedy
From three-pointers to slam dunks,
this book goes beyond the record
books and explores all aspects of
making a basket. Featuring amazing
shots, player profiles, and tons of
trivia, the authors cover basketball
from the late 1800s to modern
times, showcasing top male and
female players both at the college
level and in the pros.