500 Books Before Middle School: August 2026Like this list

20 items

• June's Wild Flight

  Brallier, Max,

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  June becomes separated from her monster-slaying friends in her postapocalyptic world.

• It's My Bird-day!

  Willems, Mo,

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  Pigeon is excited for his bird-day until he discovers that he shares his bird-day with several others. After a small meltdown that is helped by the reader, the Pigeon leaves to celebrate with his new friends.

• Swing It, Sunny!

  Holm, Jennifer L,

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  Sunny Lewin is back, facing the prospect of middle school, and dealing with the problems of her somewhat dysfunctional family.

• Big Boy 4014 and the Steam Team

  the World's Largest Steam Engine Roars Back to Life!

  Arnold, Marsha Diane,

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  A picture book celebrating the true story of Big Boy 4014, the world's largest-ever steam locomotive, and how it was brought out of retirement to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

• The Legend of the Last Library

  Cole, Frank, 1977-

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  After a devastating Blight killed off all the trees, paper became an extremely rare commodity and libraries became relics of the past.

• I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011

  Ball, Georgia,

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  While Ben is visiting his father's hometown in Japan, a massive earthquake and tsunami level the town and separate him from his family. Left alone in a foreign nation, Ben must find a way to stay alive and get back to his loved ones.

• Never Let a Dinosaur Scribble

  Alber, Diane,

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  A young boy gets a pet dinosaur and wonders why everyone tells him to never let a dinosaur scribble. He gives the dinosaur one crayon, which leads to paint, painting boulders, and some terrific stone art.

• Time of the Turtle King

  Osborne, Mary Pope,

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  After seeing a giant albatross flying above their home, Jack and Annie travel to the Magic Treehouse, which takes them to the Galapagos Islands, where they work to save a giant tortoise from an erupting volcano.

• Spy School Goes Wild

  Gibbs, Stuart, 1969-

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  On another harrowing mission, survival training comes in handy when Ben Ripley is stranded in the wilderness with his nemesis, Murray Hill.

• The Stonekeeper's Curse

  Kibuishi, Kazu, 1978-

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  With their mother in a poison-induced coma, Emily and Navin look for help in the city of Kanalis. Enemies pursue them while new friends may prove even more dangerous.

• Big Bike, Little Bike

  Gillis, Kellie DuBay,

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  A free bike becomes the catalyst for adventure and fun as a series of animals try it out one by one.

• A Perfect Mistake

  Conklin, Melanie,

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  After sneaking out with friends Will and Joey to see an old railway roundhouse deep in the woods, 11-year-old sixth grader Max wakes the next day to learn that Will is in the hospital in a coma, and he doesn't remember what happened.

• Front Desk

  Yang, Kelly,

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  Mia Tang and her immigrant parents are not exactly living the American dream since moving here from China — they live in the Calivista Motel, and Mia must tend to its guests.

• Mercy Watson Fights Crime

  DiCamillo, Kate

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  Lured to the kitchen in the middle of the night by suspicious sounds, Mercy the pet pig happens upon a thief dressed like a cowboy who is trying to steal the toaster — source of the delicious buttered toast that Mercy loves so much.

• The Crayons' Book of Manners

  Daywalt, Drew,

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  The Crayons are learning their manners, including by not interrupting, saying please and thank you, and not budging in line.

• Rattlesnake Vs. Secretary Bird

  Pallotta, Jerry,

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  Studies the physical traits and behaviors of rattlesnakes and secretary birds and theorizes which would win in a fight between the two animals.

• The Bad Guys in the Serpent and the Beast

  Blabey, Aaron,

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  The Bad Guys have finally gotten to the end of their quest. This time, a serpent and a beast get involved, threatening the Bad Guys' good deeds.

• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

  Blume, Judy

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  Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a 12-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God.

• Tree of Dreams

  Resau, Laura,

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  Twelve-year-old Coco Hidden lives in a small Colorado town and works in her mother's chocolate shop along with her former best friend Leo de la Cueva.

• 500 Books Before Middle School

  View on jeffcolibrary.org

  Inspire a deep and lifelong love of reading with JCPL's 500 Books Before Middle School, a literacy program for elementary-aged students.…