Fifth Grade-Level Literature: Elementary Education Book List

How 5th Grade Book Lists Can Help Your Child at Home

A lot of fifth grade reading falls in line with very specific school curriculums. Chances are, your child's English/language arts curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards for reading. These standards indicate that, by the end of the fifth grade, your child will need to be able to compare and contrast, interpret literary themes, quote texts accurately and think analytically about novels, poems, plays and short stories. He or she will also learn to recognize literary devices, like metaphors and similes, decipher word meanings from context clues and recognize textual structure.

When helping your child pick out a book, select challenging texts that will help your child build these skills. Then, work with your child while he or she is reading by asking comprehension questions and discussing the themes.

If you're wondering where to find a book list for your child, first talk to his or her reading teacher. There's a fair chance that they'll be able to provide you with a list or point you in the right direction. The Internet, your local library, book stores and learning centers also offer book-finding resources.

Book Lists for Your Fifth Grader

1. A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

An aspiring young pianist, 10-year-old Zoe Elias aspires to perform in front of a large crowd. But what she gets instead is an old organ and her only practice material are the theme songs to old TV shows! Your 5th grader can follow Zoe's adventures as she enters an organ competition and learns that being a little 'crooked' is kind of perfect.

2. The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

Evan Treski is just about as different as he can be from his sister, Jessie. Evan knows how to talk to people; Jessie knows how to do math. When the two siblings face off against one another in a lemonade war, it's a test to see which skills come out on top.

3. How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor

This is a realistic story about Georgina Hayes, whose family has been living in their car ever since being evicted from their apartment. So, when Georgina sees a 'missing dog' poster, with a $500 reward, she knows it's her best chance of helping her family out.

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series is a common gateway to reading for kids. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth novel in the series; the adventures and tribulations that Harry and his friends face will engage and intrigue fifth grade readers.

5. Holes by Louis Sachar

Holes is a humorous and dark tale of a boy sent to a terrible juvenile detention center in the middle of a desert.

6. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Anne Frank's diary can be a great way for your child to learn about World War II and the trails that the Jewish people went through at the hands of the Nazi regime.