September Books for Upper Elementary

September is one of my favorite months of the year, and I love the transition into the autumn weather and the excitement of pumpkin latte season.  September is also a great time to start making a plan to bring novels into your classroom. As you get get acquainted with your new class and start to think about read alouds or book groups to challenge your new learners, here are a few great selections for September.

September Books: Easy Reads

• The Boxcar Children – I love to start my year by reading books from a series.  The Boxcar Children is so good that I know that many of my students will continue reading to find out what happens through the series throughout the year. With very little effort, I’ve now caught their attention and engaged them in a book series. With Grandparents Day coming up, it is the perfect book to read with your class.
• Magic Tree House Pirates Past Noon – Y’arrr, matey! September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Like I mentioned earlier, I often like to start my book groups with books from a series. This is another easy read that would be perfect for a book group to enjoy. You could also bring in some nonfiction reading strategies with the companion book!
• Ready Freddy! Apple Orchard Race – The apple harvest takes place in September, and those of us lucky enough to live in the Midwest may have the luxury of taking our students to the orchard to see this process in action. This book is a fun story about Freddy’s class on a trip to the apple orchard. Perfect for 2nd grade or lower readers in 3rd or 4th!
• Sideways Stories from Wayside School – This wacky set of stories from Louis Sachar is sure to delight in the new school year. When you start looking for an easy read that still teaches comprehension skills, this is it! This story is perfect for character discussions and engages students through humor. I know it will leave your class giggling. (I personally read this one each year for the first week-and-a-half during the gaps in our day.)

September Books: Mid-Level to Advanced Reads

• Who Was Johnny Appleseed? – For many younger students, September lessons include lots of great apple activities. However, there is little time and few resources for this in the later grades. Why not bring a biography into your classroom and let your students learn about an American legend? Johnny Appleseed is considered the father of the many apple orchards throughout the Midwest. This book is a perfect way introduce this larger-than-life historical figure to your students. Combine social studies with reading comprehension for your on-level to more advanced readers with this great biography.
• Walk Two Moons – Looking for a book to challenge your strong readers? This is it! This is a series of stories inside a story all told through the eyes of the main character and narrator. It contains adventure, excitement, and tragedy all rolled into one.  Walk Two Moons is sure to engage your readers in great discussion.
• Esperanza Rising – Did you know September is Hispanic Heritage Month? Esperanza Rising is the story of a well-off girl who is suddenly forced into a life of challenge and hardship during the Great Depression. A historical fiction novel sure to capture your readers’ interest, Esperanza Rising has strong themes, opportunities for great discussion, and chances to work in comprehension skills. When you read this book, you will understand why it has received so many accolades.
• Wonder – Building classroom community? Wonder is perfect for reminding students that, while we might all be different, we all want to feel accepted. Perfect for teaching those beginning-of-year lessons on kindness. Wonder is a must-read for any upper grade classroom.  It’s perfect for having those deep discussions about interpersonal relationships and acceptance of differences.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed with all there is to do for the new school year? Take planning for your high readers off your already overflowing plate and give them a challenge. Click the titles above to be taken to a ready-made novel study unit complete with vocabulary, daily objectives, and foldables!

Let’s chat about novels you love!

What do you love to read in September? Have any recommendations not on my list? Share them in the comments below.