Have you ever had trouble finding the best books for fourth graders in your classroom? Whether it’s a read-aloud, novel study, or independent reading, it can be challenging to find quality novels with engaging stories that support deep conversation and critical thinking about the text. That’s why I compiled this list of the 20 best books for fourth grade.
top 20 books for 4th graders
buy them for your classroom library. add them to your read-aloud list. turn them into new studios during her, or just use them for independent study. these 20 novels are awesome reads for your fourth grade readers.
You are reading: Books for fourth graders to read
To help you determine which books are best suited for your class, I’ve shared a brief plot summary. I also shared links to the triple novel study pack to help you save prep time. (read more about what a triple novel study is here).
I’ve included a variety of 4th grade level books for your advanced, early and lower level readers. I know your fourth graders will love these great stories and you’ll be ready to enjoy your year with a great fourth grade book list!
This post contains affiliate links. While it doesn’t cost you more to buy books through the links provided, I do earn a small commission on purchases.
1. island of the blue dolphins by scott o’dell
Of all the fourth grade level books on this list, this is my favorite. I still remember reading it as a kid, and it was just as good when I picked it up as an adult.
here’s a quick overview of the plot:
After being left behind when her community abandons her island village, a young woman named Karana must show courage and learn to survive on her own.
With lots of adventure, some heartbreak, and great descriptive language, this novel will capture your students’ imaginations. An added bonus is that the text is based on a true story, providing plenty of opportunity for discussion.
reading level:
- advanced
- dra: 50
- guided reading: v
buy the book: island of the blue dolphins
Get No Prep Novel Study: Blue Dolphin Island Novel Study
2. from the mixed files of mrs. basil e. frankweiler by e.l. königsburg
Another personal favorite when it comes to books for fourth graders dates back to my childhood, this novel is the adventure and independence every child wants without the dangers that come with it!
The students follow Claudia and her little brother as they decide to run away from home and live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Read how they carefully avoid detection by museum security, manage their daily existence (including budget), and even end up solving a mystery along the way!
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: s
buy the book: from mrs. basil e. frankweiler
get the study of the novel without preparation: from the mixed archives of mrs. basil e. frankweiler novel study
3. Gary Paulsen’s ax
In my experience, every student who reads this book ends up loving it. in fact, it’s consistently selected as a favorite book when we do our book show at the end of each year.
After surviving a plane crash in the rugged Canadian wilderness, Brian finds himself in the fight of his life. This story is the ultimate in survival fiction, as students follow Brian’s transformation from a frightened and insecure boy to a strong and independent survivor. to do
From lighting a fire to gathering food, Brian makes many mistakes in his quest to survive, and Paulsen’s writing captures readers’ imaginations by drawing them into Brian’s journey.
reading level:
- at
- dra level: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: axe
get novel study without preparation: ax novel study
4. wonder of r. J. palace
This is an amazing book for kids because it focuses on looking past our differences to see what’s really important…and we couldn’t use more of that in today’s world!
The story of a boy named Auggie who was born with a facial deformity, Wonder weaves a story of how he sees the world and the world sees him as he makes the transition to public school.
The author’s writing helps readers examine Auggie’s experiences from multiple points of view, and there are plenty of great opportunities to discuss respecting individual differences, kindness, and growth.
Recently made into a movie, this book has truly become an instant classic that your fourth graders will love reading.
reading level:
- advanced
- dra: 50
- guided reading: v
buy the book: wonder
Get No Prep Novel Study: Wonderful Novel Study
5. james & roald dahl’s giant peach
no fourth grade book list would be complete without at least one novel by dahl, and james & I’m sure you’ll like the giant peach.
Focused on the adventures of James Henry Trotter, this spectacular fantasy novel takes place on (and in) a giant peach as he travels across the countryside and beyond.
Featuring a host of supporting characters who are all insects with a variety of hilarious quirks, your students are sure to laugh at this silly story.
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: s
buy the book: james & the giant peach
get the novel study without preparation: james & the giant peach novel study
6. wayside school side stories by louis sachar
This is a slightly easier read than some of the others on this list, but when it comes to engaging readers, it should be #1. Each chapter shares the story from inside the classroom on the 30th floor. from wayside school.
With a host of quirky characters and a school that was built on its side (with a class on each floor), your students are sure to laugh at the crazy things that happen here.
While it’s not the deepest plot in the story, it’s a great opportunity to discuss character traits, make inferences, and many other important reading comprehension skills.
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reading level:
- down
- dra: 38
- guided reading: p
buy the book: wayside school stories
Get No Prep Novel Study: Roadside School Novel Study Side Stories
7. frindle by andrew clements
If you ask my students, this would be a must-have for any 4th grade book list!
After too much time working on the dictionary, Nick Allen decides to take matters into his own hands and invent a new word. Of course, his teacher doesn’t take this act of rebellion very well, and the students spend the book experiencing the tension that results from this conflict.
a great story that really helps students delve into conflict and the protagonist-antagonist relationship, frindle is a realistic fiction novel that you’ll love reading with your students.
just be prepared. By the time your students finish the text, you may hear them use “frindle” in your classroom.
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reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: frindle
get no prep novel study: frindle novel study
8. snow treasure by marie mcswigan
If you want to teach social studies through language arts, here’s a great historical fiction book to start discussing world history.
Based on a true story, this book is about the adventures of a group of children living in Norway during World War II.
Your students will love following the suspenseful adventures of Peter and his friends as they battle the Nazi regime to smuggle $9 million in gold right under their noses. this heroic tale is a great way to link social studies and reading.
See Also: How To Organize Books On Kindle? Best Full Guide [2022]
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: snow treasure
Get No Prep Novel Study: Snow Treasure Novel Study
9. save me a seat by ginaweeks & gita varadarajan
Featuring likeable characters and situations that could be happening in your own school or classroom, save me a seat sure to be a winner with your fourth graders.
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: s
buy the book: save me a seat
get no prep novel study: save me a seat novel study
10. Mr. popper’s penguins by richard & florence water
this story about mr. popper and his penguin troop is the funny story of an unusual man and his even more unusual pets. the story follows mr. popper like him
The story follows Mr. popper after his life is turned upside down when he receives a penguin from the south pole. From discovering how to care for a penguin to having your own traveling troop of penguin artists, this book is sure to entertain.
Lots of rich vocabulary along with opportunities to discuss reading comprehension skills such as cause and effect, inferences, and character traits make this book a winner for a winter study or read aloud.
See Also: How To Organize Books On Kindle? Best Full Guide [2022]
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: q
buy the book: sr. popper penguins
get the novel study without preparation: mr. study of the novel popper’s penguins
11. pippi longstocking by astrid lindgren
A classic tale about an unusual girl making her way in the world, Pippi Longstocking is one of my favorites that always catches the attention of my students.
When pippi moves into the old abandoned house next door to tommy and annika, they’re excited to have a playmate. little do they know the adventures that will soon unfold. With her monkey and horse by her side, Pippi turns life in her neighborhood (and community) upside down in this hilarious story.
By the end of the book, your students will be wishing they had a friend like Pippi and begging to read the rest of the series.
See Also: How To Organize Books On Kindle? Best Full Guide [2022]
reading level:
- low level
- dra: 34
- guided reading: o
buy the book: pippi longstocking
Get No Prep Novel Study: Pippi Longstocking Novel Study
12. the miraculous journey of edward tulane by kate dicamillo
This is the story of a much-loved porcelain bunny who from the beginning is quite proud of himself, but ends up in the adventure of a lifetime that changes him. Through these experiences, Edward becomes cynical and begins to doubt if love exists, and the students are guided through his inner thoughts as he gets lost or left behind over and over again.
Full of emotion and told from Edward’s point of view, the novel has many twists and turns, as well as some heartbreak. Throughout his many misadventures, students will have many opportunities to explore character change and relationships.
A beautifully written story that touches both the heart and the imagination, The Miraculous Voyage of Edward Tulane is a true star among novels for this age group.
reading level:
- advanced
- dra: 50
- guided reading: u
buy the book: the miraculous journey of edward tulane
get the no prep novel study: edward tulane’s miraculous journey novel study
13. peter brown’s wild robot
This is the story of Roz, a robot who accidentally ends up stranded on an uninhabited island. Over time, Roz begins to learn from the creatures around her and even becomes a surrogate mother for an orphaned gosling. however, it takes her quite a while for the natural world to accept her as one of their own.
The 2017 overall read-aloud selection, this story is an excellent science fiction selection for fourth graders. While it’s a relatively easy read with some illustrations, it’s a story that a lot of the guys I work with loved, and it can be a challenge to find at times.
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: the wild robot
Get No Prep Novel Study: Savage Robot Novel Study
14. Charlie & roald dahl’s chocolate factory
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A classic tale that brings every child’s fantasy to life, this is the story of Charlie Bucket. After winning a once-in-a-lifetime contest to tour the Willy Wonka Factory, Charlie is drawn into a world of wonder and imagination.
With vivid descriptions and silliness that only Dahl can bring to a children’s novel, this story is one of his favorites. there are so many great opportunities to analyze character traits and practice visualization, inference, and more.
While the text has challenging vocabulary and invented words (like almost all dahl books), the plot draws readers in and encourages them to overcome these challenges because the story is that good.
See Also: How To Organize Books On Kindle? Best Full Guide [2022]
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: charlie & the chocolate factory
get the novel study without preparation: charlie & novel study the chocolate factory
15. sarah, simple & tall by patricia maclachlan
a historical fiction novel detailing life on the plains, sarah plain & tall is a great novel for making cross-curricular connections with social studies and discussing westward expansion.
is the story of sarah, a woman who answers an ad for a widower looking for a wife, and how she acclimatizes to life on the plains and two children. It is also the story of how her family adjusts to her after losing her mother.
This is really a sweet story and gives the students a lot to talk about. I highly recommend it for your fourth graders. (Just a word of warning: If you decide to show the movie after reading this one, it has a pretty intense birth scene near the end. Preview it to make sure you feel it’s appropriate before showing it to your class.)
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: sarah, plain & tall
get the novel study without preparation: sarah, simple & high novel study
16. charlotte’s web by e.b. white
Another classic that is definitely a must for your classroom library and makes for an amazing novel study is Charlotte’s Web.
This is the story of a dwarf pig, named Wilbur, and his strange friendship with a spider that eventually saves him from slaughter.
With opportunities to discuss character traits and relationships, visualization, and many more important reading comprehension skills, this book is a winner for both students and all the essential standards it needs to cover!
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: charlotte’s web
Get No Prep Novel Study: Charlotte Web Novel Study
17. Jacqueline Davies’ Lemonade War
Another book for fourth graders that I would find easier to read is a story set in the context of sibling rivalry. With a theme so many students can relate to, this realistic fiction is highly engaging for fourth graders.
The Lemonade War is the first book in this series. Students will love following the juicy drama between Evan and Jessie as they try to prove who is the best at running a lemonade stand. With lots of ups and downs and lots of opportunities for higher level reading comprehension skills like inference, this novel is always a favorite in my classroom.
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: s
buy the book: the lemonade war
get the no prep novel study: the lemonade war novel study
18. shiloh by phyllis reynolds naylor
shiloh is the story of a boy and his dog…well, technically it’s not his dog, but the students find out for themselves as they read.
After seeing his neighbor abuse a dog, Marty finds out the puppy has run away and decides to keep it. When her stern father finds out he has the dog, things go from bad to worse and lead Marty down troubled paths in search of her to protect her new best friend.
Along the way, he learns a lot about life and how things are never as simple as they seem.
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: r
buy the book: shiloh
get no prep novel study: shiloh novel study
19. tales of a fourth grade nothing by judy blume
Who could write a list of great fourth grade novels and not include at least one book by Judy Blume?
Seriously, she is a fabulous writer and has some great realistic fiction that is perfect for her students.
This is the story of Peter Hatcher and his little brother, Fudge. Even though everyone else finds Fudge lovable, Peter isn’t in love with his antics…especially when Fudge eats his pet turtle!
reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: q
buy the book: stories from a fourth of elementary school nothing
get the novel study without preparation: tales of a fourth grade study nothing new
20. the only ivan by k.a. apple pie
great books for fourth graders offer opportunities to discuss unique points of view and engage in stories with more detailed plots. The Single Ivan is a great option if you are looking to develop a deeper understanding of these skills in your students.
The story of a gorilla who lives in a shopping mall and arcade on the side of the road, Ivan has gotten used to life behind glass. instead, ivan spends his time thinking about the tv, his friends stella & his; bob (an elephant and a dog), and art. Everything changes for Ivan with the arrival of a new baby elephant, Ruby. As a result, Ivan’s perspective on his world is reversed.
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reading level:
- at level
- dra: 40
- guided reading: s
buy the book: the incomparable ivan
Get No Prep Novel Study: Ivan’s one and only Novel Study
are you ready to plan your fourth grade novels unit?
I hope this list has generated some ideas for books you can add to your class library and your next novel unit.
While you’re here, grab your favorite books for fourth graders and my free novel study planning roadmap for step-by-step support in planning a high-quality literature unit for his fourth grade. grade students, whether you’re in the classroom or at home. Whether you’re planning your first novel study or just looking for new ideas, you’ll love this great tool.
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