Elementary SBCUSD Reads - October
Theme of the Month
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Recommendations
Room on the Broom
A friendly witch, hungry dragon, and muddy monster learn about friendship, and readers will delight in the surprising (and not too scary) ending.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
The little old lady’s fearless attitude and her clever solution as to what to do with the lively shoes, pants, shirt and pumpkin head that are chasing her will enchant young audiences. The book contains brilliantly colored, detailed folk art illustrations.
2nd - 3rd Grade Recommendations
Flat Stanley and the Haunted House
Stanley and his brother Arthur attend a Halloween party at school, where they are initially disappointed by a not-so-scary haunted house. However, when a bully steals a friend's prize from the limbo contest, Stanley and Arthur devise a plan to scare the bully and retrieve the candy. They create a two-headed monster costume, and the bully, terrified, flees, dropping the candy. Stanley and Arthur return the prize to their friend.
The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale
This is the story of a brave young girl named Otilla who runs away from home and finds refuge in an old house inhabited by a polite, talking skull. The skull, haunted by a headless skeleton that comes for him every night, forms a sweet friendship with Otilla. Otilla helps the skull by vanquishing the skeleton, and they decide to live together in the house.
4th - 5th Grade Recommendations
The Westing Game
In The Westing Game, 16 strangers are named as potential heirs to Samuel W. Westing's fortune and are tasked with solving a mystery to inherit his wealth. The mystery involves deciphering clues given in Westing's will, which are designed to reveal the identity of the person who may have caused his death. As the heirs work in pairs, they form unlikely bonds, uncover hidden identities, and face personal transformations while navigating the complex puzzle. The game culminates in a surprising revelation about Westing's true identity and the nature of the game itself.
The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street
Tessa Woodward, who has recently moved to Chicago, discovers her new house is haunted and uncovers a century-old mystery. Strange occurrences like flickering lights, mysterious drawings, and a crying ventriloquist dummy lead her to investigate the house's past with the help of new friends. Together, they unravel a secret connected to a nearby cemetery and a past resident of their house.