Best 4th Grade Books List for Teachers & Parents

Hello 4^th grade books! What a power-house group of children’s literature!

These 4^th grade books are bursting with new and challenging themes, rich language, and novel vocabulary! Children’s books at this age explore abstract concepts and require some interpretation on the part of the reader, making them fantastic fodder for rich conversation in the classroom or in the home. Plus, as parents, we want books that are wholesome and clean, too. You’ll find it all in this list!

Fourth grade books typically cover Fountas & Pinnell levels Q-R-S and Lexile levels 700-800 as well as DRA levels 38-40. Giving a child a book that is too difficult often back-fires by only causing frustration. That’s why it is vital to know a child’ reading level and provide engaging books on the appropriate level that will capture their interests! It is common for students in any grade span to continue to read and enjoy books a bit too easy as well, so also check out this list of 3rd grade books. If you think you’re student needs to be more challenged, level up to 5th grade books, instead!

RELATED: Guided Reading Levels Comparison Chart

Key Features of 4^th Grade Books

Challenging subjects
Figurative language
Abstract themes
Technical language
Explore problems common to humanity
Intricate plots
Complex characters
Long dialogue
Text requires interpretation
Use of rare words
Complex ideas

The Best 4^th Grade Books (levels Q-R-S)

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The Cricket in Times Square - 4th Grade Books

I Survived the American Revolution - 4th Grade Books

Justin Morgan Had a Horse - 4th Grade Books

Little House on the Prairie - 4th Grade Books

The Wheel on the School - 4th Grade Books

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4th Grade Books Reading List

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Phoebe the Spy by Judith Griffin
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I Survived the Revolutionary War by Lauren Tarshis
Pocahontas: An American Princess by Joyce Milton
Listening to Crickets by Candice Ransom
Pollyanna by Elanor Porter
The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
Pedro’s Journal: A Voyage with Christipher Columbus by Pam Conrad
Junior Classics such as Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, A Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables, Moby Dick, Frankenstein

Breaking Down the 4th Grade Books List

Wow! There are a ton of Newbery Award winning books on this list! You know what that means – a great read!

By this age, many students have chosen a favorite genre of books and may need some urging to try other styles of literature. This is a fabulous age to help kids wrestle with big ideas, explore unfamiliar historical eras, and learn to appreciate cultures different than their own.

Here are the books listed above grouped by genre:

4th Grade Books – Historical Intrigue

Many of my students’ favorite 4^th grade books are in the historical fiction genre. There are old favorites such as the Little House on the Prairie series as well as Sarah, Plain and Tall that are always big hits! Then, there are some historical fiction books that may be less familiar. Caddie Wood lawn is a spunky adventurer whose pioneer story is based on the author’s grandmother. Phoebe the Spy is another fast-paced intrigue book, but this one takes places in the middle of the American Revolution where a young house-girl turned spy is trying to save George Washington.

Other historical fiction books on the list include The Cabin Faced West, and I Survived the Revolutionary War. The latter is part of a series of fantastic historical books that might just hook your reader into loving history!

Mixing these historical fiction books into your child’s school reading list is a fun and educational way to deepen their studies about specific historical eras! These books make the people and time periods come alive!

4th Grade Books – Biographies

Listening to Crickets is the biography of Rachel Carson, a young environmental scientist. One of the first female pioneers of higher education for women, Rachel went on to write a highly controversial book about the dangers of pesticides that resulted in laws banning the use of DDT in the United States. Her story is an informative and inspirational read about the contributions of females in science and the influence one person can have on the world!

Pocahontas an American Princess tells the true, accurate story of this brave Native American woman and the early Jamestown settlers. Pedro’s Journal: A Voyage with Christopher Columbus is actually a historical fiction but is written like a diary kept by the young ship boy aboard the Santa Maria. Although the boy is fictional, the book reads like a refreshing memoir of Christopher Columbus from the unique perspective of a child.

4th Grade Books – Unforgettable Stories

Some 4^th grade books teach valuable lessons such as Charlotte’s Web. This beloved classic is well-known for its compelling illustration of true friendship, sacrifice, and love. Pollyanna provides an eloquent lesson on the power of positive thinking and putting others before yourself even in the face of adversity.

The Wheel on the School is another engaging classic! This story transports us back in time to a small Dutch village where the school children work together against incredible odds to accomplish an amazing task.

The most surprising book on the 4th grade books list may just be Winnie the Pooh. Wait! Isn’t that for toddlers? Actually, no! It was written on a 4^th grade reading level and makes a wonderful read-aloud for families but it’s also a fun independent read. It is a wholesome, whimsical story with so many unforgettable moments. No wonder Disney built an empire out of the Silly Old Bear!

4th Grade Books – Laugh-out-Loud Comedies

Some 4th grade books are just plain fun! My kids love Homer Price and Mr. Popper’s Penguins for their light-hearted laugh-out-loud silliness. Both of these books offer funny, light reading for a lovely escape into a happy safe place.

The Whipping Boy and Detectives in Togas are fantastic options for reluctant readers or kids who think they hate history because they combine history and comedy in surprising ways! They are both hysterical history-mysteries and sure to entice even the most reluctant of readers!

Another humorous read is From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler about some badly-behaved children who decide to run away! This one is a fun read-aloud adventure as it makes for some great discussions about what not to do! If your kids read it independently, you might want to dialogue about the lessons on morality along the way,

4th Grade Books – High Adventure

The story of Hatchet touches on some challenging themes such as divorce, grief, tragedy, and loss. This thrilling page-turner tells the story of a young boy who must survive alone in the Canadian wilderness after a traumatic plane crash. The Cricket in Times Square is an unlikely adventure story of a different kind that happens in the subway beneath Times Square. In this joyful classic, a cricket, a mouse, a cat, and a boy form some astonishing but enduring friendships!

Another wonderful treasure of 4th grade books are the Junior Classics for Young Readers, published in 2012. They include the best of classic literature but are rewritten for a younger audience. What I love about them is that they retain the rich vocabulary and style of each original work while being condensed for this age level. You can sometimes find them at Dollar Tree stores! Score! These Junior Classics include familiar titles such as Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, A Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables, Moby Dick, Frankenstein, and other beloved classics. Can’t go wrong with those! Oh, how I love the classics!

4th Grade Books – Books for Pet-Lovers

If your child is a pet-lover, there are several popular 4^th grade books about our furry friends! Because of Winn-Dixie is a moving story about a stray puppy who changes the life of the girl who adopts her. Shiloh is the tale of an abused beagle and an 11-year old boy who wants to rescue him. Justin Morgan Had a Horse is based on the captivating true story of the beginnings of the famous Morgan horse breed.

Which of the 4th grade books will you start with first?

Reading shapes our minds so choosing a wholesome, beautiful book that impacts your child in a positive way is vitally important! Through reading, we gain wisdom, insight, and strength. We learn to see ourselves differently and view humanity more compassionately.

As Frank Serafini said, “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” So, put the right book – a wonderful book – in your child’s hands today and help him fall in love with reading!

“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.”
Lloyd Alexander