Recommended Authors and Books

Authors and Books for Intermediate Students (Grades 3-6)

Arnold Adoff- Poet and anthologist who celebrates the mulitcultural nature of our world.

Eats: Poems

Sports Pages

Mitsumasa Anno- Japanese illustrator of international renown who plays with mathematics in exquisite paintings.

Anno's counting Book

Anno's Journey

Natalies Babbitt- A superb fantasy writer who grapples with universal concerns in poetic prose.

Tuck Everlasting

The Eyes of the Amaryllis

Judy Blume- Popular writer for pre-teens who captures in realistic language concerns about growing up.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Fudge-A-Mania

Ashley Bryan- Artist, poet, and storyteller who lets the melodies of spirituals ring through his retellings of folk stories.

The Dancing Granny

Beat The Story Drum, Pum Pum

Betsy Byars- Her novels capture both the humor and pathos of children facing problems as they grow up.

The Pinballs

The Cybil War

Beverly Cleary- Children's natural language and basic concerns ring true and with humor in her early chapter books.

Henry Huggins

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Pam Conrad- Engaging writer who captures strong images and vivid themes in historical and contemporary scenes.

Prairie Songs

My Daniel

Russell Freedman- impeccable research and intriguing writing draws interest to topics he treats in biographies and informational books.

The Wright Brothers

Lincoln: A Photobiography

Jean Fritz- This superb writer of historical fiction and biography became fascinated with American heroes when she was a child growing up in China with missionary parents.

And Then What Happened Paul Revere?

Homesick: My Own Journey

Jean Craighead George- The author grew up in a family of naturalists and her ecological concerns permeate both the novels and informational books she writes.

Julie Of The Wolves

My Side Of The Mountain

Lee Bennett Hopkins- Poet and anthologist whose generous spirit and enthusiasm for poetry inspires children and adults.

Dinosaurs

Good Books, Good Times

Johanna Hurwitz- Well-meaning but naive characters make simple mistakes and display child-like humor in short novels children read on their own.

Class Clown

The Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein

Myra Cohm Livingston- A first-rate poet and anthologist who established high standards of excellence in word and image.

I Like You If You Like Me

Celebration

Lois Lowry- Subtle humor or tender pathos permeate Lowry's stories of adolescents who grow up in suburbia or a war-torn city.

Number The Stars

Anastasia Has The Answers

David MacAulay- A spirited artist helps us to see stories, time, and the way things work in new ways.

The Way Things Work

Black and White

Patricia McKissack- Wonderful African-American storyteller who spins a yarn with drama and pizzazz. She also writes excellent informational books with husband Fredrick McKissack.

Flossie And The Fox

Sojourner Truth: Ain't I A Woman

Patricia Mac Lachlan- Captures strong human emotions as she weaves historical or contemporary stories.

Sarah, Plain And Tall

Skylark

Ann Martin- Popular series writer who conveys the real feelings and tribulations of 10-12 year old girls.

The Babysitter Club

Babysitter's Little Sister

Jack Prelutsky- Popular and prolific versifier and anthologist who writes and compiles humorous collections.

The Dragons Are Singing Tonight

Something Big Has Been Here

Cynthia Rylant- Everthing she writes sounds like poetry because the melody of her sentences ring in the ear.

When I Was Young In The Mountains

Missing May

Seymour Simon- An excellent informational science writer states what we know, what is theory, and how information changes.

Autumn Across America

Mars

Lane Smith/Jon Scieszka- Children get a kick out of the way this team spoofs fairy tales and the art of book-making.

The True Story of The Three Little Pigs!

The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales

William Steig- His sophisticated stories have several stories have several layers of meaning that delight adults who read to children.

Doctor DeSoto

Abel's Island