Check out some of our educator reviewers' recent reads for grades 3-5!
Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians
Book Details
Title: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians (Greeking Out #2)
Author: Kenny Curtis
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
ISBN: 1426376278
Reviews
This sequel is just as awesome as the first book. Greeking Out, the podcast, is the favorite of my students and many of them were very excited to see the new book. Once again the Oracle is the favorite and her comments throughout are hilarious! If you enjoy the podcast you will love this book, it has the same humor and style. Even if you have never heard the podcast you will love this book. The illustrations are amazing, colorful, and bring the characters to life!
– Mrs. S., Teacher, Arizona
One of my favorite units in ELA as a student was learning about Greek Mythology. This fun-to-read National Geographic Kids collection of short Greek Mythology stories took me back to my youth. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories and remembering them from my childhood studies. The colorful and engaging illustrations add to the reader’s understanding of the short stories.
The short “this story features …” callouts before each story were an accurate and interesting synopsis of the preceding story and made the reader want to read it to find out what happens. The moral of the story after each story gives further insight into the lesson the reader can learn from the story. I enjoyed the book so much that I bought the first in the series and started listening to the Greeking Out Podcast! This book would be a perfect introduction to Greek Mythology for grades 5+ and I plan to use this for a unit in Greek Mythology in my library curriculum!”
– Mrs. I., Librarian
Kid Olympians: Summer: True Tales of Childhood from Champions and Game Changers
Book Details
Title: Kid Olympian: Summer: True Tales of Childhood from Champions and Game Changers (Kid Legends)
Author: Robin Stevenson
Publisher: Quirk Books
ISBN: 168369371X
Reviews
This collection of short stories about Kid Olympians who overcame enormous obstacles to become Medal-Winning Olympians is a testament to perseverance. These stories prove that anyone can overcome any hardship and become something great. It takes heart, determination, and a lot of work, and these stories of brave children who did just that will inspire readers of all ages. This book is fun to read and full of history-making Olympians, and is perfect for Upper Elementary and Middle School-age students.
– Brooke Ingram, Librarian
From the very first page of Kid Olympians: Summer, you will find yourself giggling, surprised, and quickly flipping pages to find out more about your favorite Olympic athletes. You will love all of the fun facts about how each Olympian grew up, got interested in their sport, and worked hard to become the very best. I am certain you will relate to many of the athletes, as many faced big challenges in their lives, many had way too much energy, many got in trouble at school and at home, and many had to make sacrifices to become the best in their sport.
Not only will you learn so much about different athletes, but I guarantee you will be inspired to dream big and follow your own dreams too! This is the perfect book for kids who already love sports, kids who are interested in learning about other kids, kids who are excited about the upcoming Summer Olympics, and kids who love fast-paced fun books about incredible people!
– Megan, Educator
Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind
Book Details
Title: Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind
Author: Misa Sugiura
Publisher: Labyrinth Road
ISBN: 978-0593564097
Reviews
Have you ever disobeyed your mother and found yourself on the adventure of a lifetime? Come meet Momo Arashima and go with her on adventure after adventure through a dangerous and exciting world of gods and monsters. The Glossary is not to be missed as it gives a ton of information on Japanese mythology that helps you enjoy the story at a deeper level. I recommend Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind and the rest of the series to fans of all fantasy and especially mythology.
– Kristine, Educator
Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind is an outstanding, fast-paced read that will easily resonate with middle school students. Author Misa Sugiura excels in this novel which is filled with relatable school incidents of bullying and the “cool crowd” to magical Japanese folklore characters and Momo experiences it all. Most notable is the very human nature of all the characters including their humor, follies, courage and determination. With the discovery that her ailing mother is actually a Shinto goddess, Momo has no choice but to step up and face down demons, unravel ancient secrets in a quest to find a magical sword and save her mother from death.
The book is filled with a wealth of knowledge about Japanese folklore with a convenient glossary at the back. Readers will be fascinated with the kami, yokai and many legendary creatures. The vivid descriptions transport the reader into enchanted forests and hidden shrines to a world where nature and magic coexist. As Momo sets off on her journey with her once best friend Daniel and Niko, a fox in clothing, she learns valuable lessons about friendship, courage and standing up for what is right. This is new for Momo who always resented being different and was constantly bullied for her belief in her mother’s strange stories. The author successfully blends the magical world with the real world making for a fascinating read.
– Oriane, Educator
Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why the World Isn't Fair
Book Details
Title: Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why the World Isn’t Fair
Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Publisher: Bright Matter Books
ISBN: 0593711521
Reviews
Kids who enjoy history between the ages of 8-12 would probably enjoy the facts and seeing the evolution of the human species over time. The book had potential and I did like the way it viewed our evolutions as a society. I enjoyed the full color pages and pictures and definitely think a child would appreciate that aspect as well. I think one of the opening quotes “why did some humans become kings and queens while others had to clean their palaces and do their laundry” was a great way to hook young readers. My 8 year old is often asking about the inequality of the world and this reminded me of how he thinks.
– Marisa P., Educator
This book would be an excellent nonfiction read-aloud for 5th or 6th-grade social studies. Children learn about events in human history, such as when wild wolves became domesticated dogs, the creation of the first big cities, writing invented in Sumer, and slavery. Looking at life through a historian’s lens, Yuval Noah Harari explains how progress for civilizations led to wealth and power for some people but suffering and hardship for others. He uses dialog with fictional characters to present complicated concepts in an entertaining and accessible way for upper elementary students. The information is organized in short sections with interesting illustrations and graphics. Teachers should read the book before sharing it with their classes since the sections about modern times can be controversial. Those sections help students understand how current events also exemplify human struggle.
– Mary, Educator
The Secret Language of Birds
Book Details
Title: The Secret Language of Birds
Author: Lynne Kelly
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 1524770272
Reviews
This book is about friendship. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? How about joining a group called the Oddballs? Do you like to read enough to go to the Detention room just to be in a quiet place? Read this book and you will find characters that you like while learning a lot about what it means to be a friend. I think it is a great read for grades 4-6.
– Kristine, Educator
The Secret Language of Birds is a feel-good story about a young girl, Nina, who goes to summer camp and discovers something very rare while there. She is a shy, and emotional girl who feels very deeply about nature, herself, and her relationships with people. She does not have many friends and has lost one that was really important to her. Throughout her time at camp, she makes new friends and reconnects with her lost friend as well, while making an extraordinary and once-in-a-lifetime discovery of a rare bird. This book is definitely worth the time to read, and it is appropriate for middle school-age students, especially those who are struggling to find their place in the world and matter.
– Brooke, Educator