Short Books for 4th Graders

Willow (Lolo) Weaver’s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn’t herself, and she’s given away her grandfather’s foster dog, Hank. Lolo’s mother is heavily pregnant, and Lolo is in summer school because she didn’t do too well in her last exams. On top of that, their lake town isn’t a lake town anymore because the lake’s been drained and smells awful now.

Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better, and she’s convinced that getting back her grandfather’s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop’s boat to steal Hank back—only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who’s the new dog owner).

This book is perfect for read-alouds, especially for kids in grades 3-5. Dog lovers and kids who like a good adventure with a sprinkle of mischief will love it too. 169 pages.

Suds is a new fourth grader and, according to their popular school chant, a Fourth Grade Rat! According to his friend Joey, fourth-graders are braver, say no to their moms, and fourth-grade boys definitely do not cry over heights or spiders. When Suds tries Joey’s tips, though, things don’t go right. I loved the narrative voice in this one and the way it manages to be funny while being an important story about what it means to be a man. It also has cute black-and-white illustrations to keep the story going. 99 pages.

280 pages (verse-ish novel with very short chapters)

Odder loves to play. She loves her home in the California waters and is unafraid to take risks–until she’s attacked by a great white shark. After the attack, Odder and her friend (a fellow otter) are taken in by some scientists who rehabilitate the animals. Soon, they make Odder a surprising offer that will change her life. Based on the real-life experiences of some otters, this book surprised me pleasantly. The audiobook is so delightful, with a full cast and sound effects. It’s perfect for this age group!

384 pages (super short chapters and illustrations)

Chance is a three-legged dog at the Dogtown shelter, where able-bodied dogs and robot dogs compete for attention. Thankfully, management has sort of adopted her as the house dog. When a new robot dog, Metal Head, comes to the pound, things start to change. First off, he’s determined to run away (return home). So he hatches a plan with Chance and her mouse best friend to help an older dog get adopted in exchange for helping him escape. 

But things do not go to plan, and Chance, her mouse friend, and Metal Head spend a night on the streets on an emotional adventure. As someone who isn’t into animal books, I’m shocked by how much I liked this one. It’s charming, beautifully plotted, and full of suspense, heartwarming characters, and plenty of heart. It also has sweet illustrations and very short chapters. The audiobook is fantastic, with a jingle to introduce each chapter.

122 pages.

Nick Allen becomes an unwitting local icon when he starts calling the pen a frindle. This is such a fun, fun book about the power of words and being creative! Great for introducing kids to chapter books and absolutely delightful!

76 pages.

Too Small Tola is a new chapter book from Atinuke featuring three stories about a girl living with her grandmother and siblings in Lagos, Nigeria. Everyone teases Tola — sometimes lovingly — for being so small. They think she can’t lift heavy loads or do other things because of her size. But Tola’s grandmother reassures her that you can be small, but mighty, and Tola proves that she is!

Readers who appreciate an international appeal and enjoy books about bullying and grandparent and sibling relationships will enjoy this one. Bonus points for fans of illustrated stories, as this one is well illustrated.

176 pages

Best friends Gabby Jordan, Priya Gupta, and Mindy Park share one big thing in common: they love animals, but neither of them can have pets for one reason or another. So they decide to start a dog walking business. Unfortunately, running a business and nurturing a three-way friendship isn’t as easy as they anticipated, and soon they start to bicker more than usual.

I truly loved this graphic novel. It feels true to kids (feels like something I would’ve LOVED as a child who adored The Babysitters’ Club), and I enjoyed seeing the ethnic diversity and the parental involvement in this story. If you have kids who love animals or have an entrepreneurial streak, this is the book for them. It’s also delightfully short, and this is a series I totally plan to keep up with since every book is from a different girl’s perspective.

193 pages

Ryan Hart and her family are moving to a new (old) house because her dad lost his post office job, and his new job doesn’t pay as much. Ryan is unhappy about the change for many reasons. Still, throughout this slice-of-life book, Ryan learns how to believe in herself, enjoy public speaking, be a bigger person, and love who she is. This is the first book in a charming series that’s perfect for kids who love Ramona Quimby.

112 pages

Twig and Turtle are two sisters whose parents have just moved into a tiny house! The family has done some major downsizing — the kids even had to choose just five toys they could keep, and now they have to clean up after playing with their toys. Both girls are also adjusting to a new neighborhood and new school.

Turtle, the younger girl, seems to be adjusting well at school, making friends, and having a good time. But for the older girl, Twig, things are a bit harder. She’s self-conscious about having few clothes in rotation and being new in general. Twig is also missing their Great Dane, Bo, whom they had to leave at their Grandma’s because of the tiny house. Twig decides that she will convince her mother to let Bo move in with them again.

176 pages

Stef Soto is a middle-schooler whose family owns a taco truck, Tia Perla. Like most kids her age would be, Stef finds Tia Perla embarrassing, especially as her once-best friend Julia won’t stop teasing her about smelling like tacos. When new food truck regulations threaten her family’s business, Stef realizes just how much Tia Perla means to her. She also learns to be proud of who she is and to appreciate the good friends in her life.

I loved Stef Soto, Taco Queen, and would highly recommend it to food lovers, readers who enjoy books about the immigrant experience, and anyone whose parents have worked hard so they can pursue their dreams. Stef Soto, Taco Queen is an engaging, heartfelt, and delicious middle-grade novel.

160 pages

Andie Gladman is just trying to make it through elementary school in her small town while avoiding the class bully. She likes poetry but hasn’t felt brave enough to write hers. Until one day, a man named Hans Christian Andersen moves in next door. Andie is convinced he is THE Hans Christian Andersen.

She’s suddenly inspired to write poetry inspired by his fairy tales and shares them with him, and her world starts to brighten, but when she brings him to school for show and tell, she’s in for a rude awakening. This book was so funny. Andie is a bit odd and awkward, but readers will empathize with her desire to connect with something bigger. It’s super short and maybe not for everyone, but kids who like to write or enjoy clever, funny books will like it.

202 pages

Ruby is an 11-year-old future entomologist who loves studying insects and playing video games with her neighborhood friends. When she sees a strange bug in her bedroom and shares a picture of it on social media, suspicious agents appear at her door to re-capture the now missing insect.

Soon, all the metal in her neighborhood begins to disappear as Ruby and her friends realize there’s more to the strange bug. This was a lot of fun and will appeal to fans of STEM stories and books about robots.

96 pages

Dyamonde Daniel may be new in town, but that doesn’t stop her from making a place for herself in a jiffy. With her can-do attitude and awesome brain power, she takes the whole neighborhood by storm. The only thing puzzling her is the other new kid in her class. He’s awfully grouchy – but Dyamonde’s determined to get to the bottom of his frowning attitude and make a friend. Dyamonde is quite outspoken (not rude, just very forward), so if you don’t like sassy characters, you might not love this one.

199 pages.

Isaiah’s father has died, leaving behind Isaiah, his mom, and his younger sister, Charlie. Isaiah’s mom is so depressed she’s lost her job — and started drinking too many bottles of wine. Isaiah realizes that they need money if they’ll ever move out of the motel where they’ve had to live since being unable to pay for their home.

Thankfully, Isaiah has his father’s books of poems (even if his own words won’t come anymore), his best friend Sneaky who sells candy at school (and lets Isaiah be his business partner), and the kind people who look out for him once they realize he’s in need. In the end, will Isaiah be the hero of his story?

144 pages

Annabella Donatello has many interests, but her top two are playing softball and acting! And now, she’s getting to act in her school’s rendition of The Lion King. But her coach says that Annabella must prioritize her team over other interests or lose her place on the team, so when a softball team meeting coincides with the school play, Annabella is in a fix.

This is the second book in a fun sports series for younger readers, and it’s a great depiction of overloaded kids and schedule wrangling. There’s also some friendship drama and a narrative arc about being honest. It’s very light-hearted and feel-good with a delightful omnipresent narrator.

Published:  November 9, 2021

144 pages.

Austin’s mom keeps moving them whenever life gets hard, but now he’s in a new school with a nice teacher and a welcoming new friend. Unfortunately, Austin has a secret: he can’t read. He wants to become a part of the Safety Squad in his school, but he’ll need to read the manual to qualify. This is a bit of a quirky read but heartwarming book. I wish some plotlines were properly resolved at the end, but I think most kids will enjoy it regardless.

Published:  July 13, 2021

224 pages.

Maya and the Robot is Eve L. Ewing’s debut middle grade book. It centers a young Black girl, Maya, who’s entering the fifth grade. She’s disappointed when she’s placed in a different class than her two best friends, Jada and MJ. Quickly, it seems like they’re forming a new friend group and barely spending time with her, especially since they don’t even have the same lunch period. But things begin to look up when Maya finds a broken-down robot in the neighborhood store where she helps out. After setting the robot up to work, Maya suddenly has a new best friend, but how long will this last? And what happens when the robot, Ralph, malfunctions?

Readers should know that this book mentions a racially motivated shooting, although the scene is not depicted on the page.

Published: January 9, 2018

224 pages.

Miles is devastated to be moving from his town to another one called Yawnee Valley. He loved his town, had good friends, and, most importantly, was well-known as the best prankster around. When he arrives in Yawnee Valley, he immediately discovers that there’s already a superb prankster there — with a secret identity no less. When Miles gets out-pranked by the Yawnee Valley prankster, it starts a prank war between both kids until they decide to join forces.

Published:  March 2, 2021

240 pages.

At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with getting ready for a new baby, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world. Maggie loves animals and thinks a new puppy to call her own is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She’s severely allergic to anything with fur!

Can Maggie outsmart her allergies and find the perfect pet? With illustrations by Michelle Mee Nutter, Megan Wagner Lloyd uses inspiration from her own experiences with allergies to tell a heartfelt story of family, friendship, and finding a place to belong.