Cathedral's Summer Reading for Students and More...

School librarian, Alli Decker, tells us about why summer reading is important and provides us some good summer reads...

With the school year drawing to a close, I’m thinking ahead to summer reading and next year in the library. But first, I wanted to thank the library volunteers for their ongoing support throughout the year. The library is a special place and our volunteers not only assist in daily maintenance, but they add to that welcoming feeling our boys experience each time they visit. That being said, we always could use more library help and I encourage new parents to consider joining our team this fall. If you would like to help out, please contact me.
 
At Cathedral, we like to think of ourselves as a community of readers. Parents and faculty alike value reading and support the notion that being “well-read” is an asset in academics and in life. We also know that “summer slide” is real. Summer reading is essential for literacy skills. Reading 30 minutes a day will establish routine and ensure that your son maintains confidence and stamina. We encourage you to make reading a meaningful and regular part of your summer experience. Furthermore, one of the strongest indicators of a child’s interest in reading is their parents’ habits. So commit to your summer reading goals today and make sure your children “catch you” in the act!
 
Along those lines, in the Lower School, we’d like to introduce (and experiment with) the idea of a whole school summer book read. The title we’ve chosen is, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. It’s a wonderful story of ingenuity and hope against all odds. Not only is it available as a beautiful picture book, there is a young reader’s edition and more adult version as well. Families can read it together or boys can read the appropriate leveled book on their own. I will be discussing it with students in the library upon our return from summer break. If parents want to participate in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind conversation, there will be additional opportunities available. I can’t wait to reflect on this inspirational story with boys this fall and you! 
 
Below you will find a list of my recommended titles for summer reading. For a wider range of book lists, explore these amazing online resources:

 
Additionally, don’t forget to explore the amazing services at your local public library. This year San Francisco’s summer reading campaign is appropriately called “Summer Stride.”  Not only do they offer reading incentives, but extensive book lists and other reading-related activities as well. 
 
Have a wonderful summer, and happy reading! 
 
CSB Librarian
* = favorite resource

Summmer Reading Lists:

1st Grade
 
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book.
 
Big Bug Surprise - Julia Gran
 
A Cool Drink of Water - Barbara Kerly
 
Is a Worry Worrying You? - Frieda Wolff
 
The Big Fat Cat That Went Kapow - Andy Griffith
 
The Cat on the Mat is Flat - Andy Griffith
 
Baby Monkey Private Eye - Brian Selznick
 
Fly Guy Presents: Snakes  (Series) - Ted Arnold
 
I Am a Frog! (Series) - Mo Willems
 
Triangle (Square) - Mac Barnett
 
2nd Grade
 
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book.
 
Hello, LightHouse - Sophie Blackall
 
Unforgotten Coat - Frank Cotrell Boyce
 
Meet Yasmin (Series) - Saadia Faruqui
 
Keena Ford (Series) - Melissa Thomason
 
Captain Awesome (Series) - Stan Kirby
 
Leroy Ninker (Series) - Kate DiCamillo
 
Dogman (Series) - Dav Pilkey
 
Polly Diamond (Series) - Alice Kupiers
 
The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle - Alison Inches
 
3rd Grade
 
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book or young reader’s edition.
 
Go Mo’! Mo’ne Davis: The Girl Who Changed Baseball History - Joseph Bubar
 
Evangeline Mudd (Series) - David Elliot
 
Baby Mouse (Series) - Jennifer Holm
 
Animal Planet Adventures (Series)
 
Time Warp Trio - Jon Scieszka
 
Terrible Two - Mac Barnett
 
Could You, Would You? - Trudy White
 
Bad Guys (Series) - Aaron Blabey
 
Thank You, Omu - Oge Mora
 
Mr. George Baker - Amy Hest
 
Catwings  - Ursula K. Le Guin
 
4th Grade
 
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book or young reader’s edition.
 
Belly Up - Stuart Gibbs
 
Last Kids on Earth - Max Brailler
 
Big Nate - Lincoln Pierce
 
Myth - O -Mania (Series) - Kate McMullen
 
Fortunately the Milk - Neil Gaiman
 
Sideways Stories at Wayside School - Louis Sachar
 
I Survived Hurricane Katrina (Series) - Lauren Tarshis
 
The Lemonade War - Jaqueline Davie
 
13th Story Treehouse - Andy Griffiths
 
Stef Soto, Taco Queen  - Jennifer Torres
 
5th Grade
 
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (Series)  - Karina Van Glaser
 
Crenshaw - Katherine Applegate 
 
Echo - Pam Munoz Ryan
 
The Brixton Brothers - Mac Barnett
 
Hoot (Flush, Scat, Squirm) - Carl Hiassen
 
Fuzzy Mud - Louis Sachar
 
Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper
 
Wolf Hollow  - Lauren Wolk
 
How They Choked (How They Croaked) - Georgia Bragg
 
Gangster Granny - David Walliams
 
6th Grade
 
Merci Suarez Changes Gears - Meg Medina
 
I Am Malala (Young Reader’s edition) - Malala Yousef
 
The Fourteenth Goldfish (The Third Mushroom) Jennifer Holm Pax
 
Ghost (SunnyPatina)  - Jason Rynolds
 
The War That Saved My Life (The War I Finally Won) - Kimberly Brusker Bradley
 
 Chains  (ForgeAshes) - Laurie Halse Anderson
 
The Wild Robot - Peter Brown
 
The Story Thieves (The Stolen ChapterThe Secret Origins ) - James Riley
 
Amal Unbound - Aisha Saeed
 
Ms. Williams’ Summer Suggestions:
 
Where the Red Fern Grows  - Wilson Rawls
 
The Earth Sea Trilogy - Ursula K. Le Guin 
 
 
The Golden Compass -  Phillip Pullman
 
7th Grade
 
The Hate You Give - Angie Thomas
 
Ghost Boys - Jewell Parker Rhodes
 
Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson
 
Booked (CrossoverRebound) - Kwame Alexander
 
Legend  (ProdigyChampion) Marie Lu
 
Warcross - Marie Lu
 
Bomb - Steve Sheinkin
 
Mars One - Jonathan Maberry
 
Refugee - Alan Gratz
 
Mr. Corrigan’s Summer Suggestions:
 
The Princess Bride -  William Goldman
 
Call of the Wild - Jack London
 
Shane - Jack Schaefer
 
8th Grade
 
The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon
 
A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park
 
The House of the Scorpion - Nancy Farmer
 
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyn
 
Ready, Player One - Ernest Cline 
 
The Martian - Andy Weir
 
Born a Crime (Young Reader’s edition) - Trevor Noah 
 
Fallen Angels - Walter Dean Myers
 
The Girl in the Blue Coat - Monica Hesse
 
Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys 
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Cathedral School for Boys

Located in San Francisco, California, Cathedral School for Boys is an independent elementary school for boys in Kindergarten – Grade 8. Our mission is to provide an excellent education through intellectual inquiry and rigor that is centered in the Episcopal tradition and is respectful of and welcoming to people of all religious traditions and beliefs.