Fourth Grade Reading List

Core

1. The Bible · Anonymous · grades K–12Continued Bible history and memory work.
2. The Heroes; or, Greek Fairy Tales for My Children · Charles Kingsley · grades 4–8Kingsley's retellings of Perseus, the Argonauts and Theseus for children.
3. Tanglewood Tales · Nathaniel Hawthorne · grades 3–5More Greek myths retold by Hawthorne, a bridge to the ancient world.
4. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood · Howard Pyle · grades 3–5Howard Pyle's lively version of the English outlaw legends.
5. The Door in the Wall · Marguerite de Angeli · grades 3–5A boy in medieval England learns patience and courage after illness.
6. Prince Caspian · C. S. Lewis · grades 3–5The second Narnia adventure, about faithfulness when others doubt.
7. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader · C. S. Lewis · grades 3–5A Narnia voyage in which a selfish boy is changed by Aslan.
8. Heidi · Johanna Spyri · grades 3–5A Swiss orphan's story of joy, forgiveness and faith.
9. Black Beauty · Anna Sewell · grades 3–5A horse's own story, which teaches kindness to animals.
10. Paul Revere's Ride · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · grades 4–8Longfellow's narrative poem, a favorite for recitation.

Stretch

For strong readers or extra time.

• The Wind in the Willows · Kenneth Grahame · grades 3–5Grahame's rich prose about friendship along the river.
• The Princess and Curdie · George MacDonald · grades 3–5MacDonald's sequel about courage and discernment.
• The Jungle Book · Rudyard Kipling · grades 3–5Kipling's stories of Mowgli and the law of the jungle.
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland · Lewis Carroll · grades 3–5Carroll's word play and logic puzzles for sharp young minds.