Holy Cross Summer Reading

Use coupon code HOLY20CROSS23 at checkout!

Going into PreK

  • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
  • Owen by Kevin Henkes

Going into Kindergarten

  • There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books! by Lucille Colandro
  • National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh

Going into First Grade

  • Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
  • National Geographic Readers Seed to Plant by Kristin Baird Rattini

Going into Second Grade

  • Abe Lincoln's Hat by Martha Brenner
  • Henry & Mudge and the Forever Sea by Cynthia Rylant
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Drop the Ball by Cynthia Rylant

Going into Third Grade

  • Take a Hike, Teddy Roosevelt! by Frank Murphy
  • The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

Going into Fourth Grade

  • The Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies
  • The Secret of the Shamrock by Lisa M. Hendley
  • I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis

Going into Fifth Grade

  • Frindle by Andrew Clements
  • The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson

Going into Sixth Grade

  • Savvy by Ingrid Law (OR Word of Mouse)
  • Word of Mouse by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein (OR Savvy)
  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Going into Seventh Grade

  • Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
  • Heaven is for Read: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven & Back by Todd Burpo & Lynn Vincent

Going into Eighth Grade

  • Chasing Lincoln's Killer: The Search for John Wilkes Booth by James L. Swanson
  • Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams - not available from Towne Book Center, provided by HCRC

 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Chicka Chicka Book, A) By Bill Martin, Jr., John Archambault, Lois Ehlert (Illustrator) Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780689835681
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Beach Lane Books - August 1st, 2000

There is always enough room on your child’s bookshelf for this rollicking alphabet chant that has been a children’s favorite for over thirty years!

A told B,
and B told C,
“I’ll meet you at the
top of the coconut tree”


In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree.


Owen: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner By Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780688114497
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Greenwillow Books - September 15th, 1993

“Fuzzy goes where I go.”


There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books! By Lucille Colandro, Jared Lee (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Lucille Colandro, Jared Lee (Illustrator)
$6.99
ISBN: 9780545402873
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Cartwheel Books - July 1st, 2012

There was an old lady who's ready for school!

That lovely old lady has returned just in time for the first day of school. Now she's swallowing items to make the very best of her first day back. And just in time for the bus...


National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly By Laura Marsh Cover Image
$5.99
ISBN: 9781426309205
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: National Geographic Kids - April 10th, 2012

Butterflies are all around us. It's hard to believe these majestic insects with impressive wingspans and beautifully colored and patterned wings were once creepy crawly caterpillars. How in the world does this transformation happen? This Level 1 Reader gives kids an up-close look at exactly how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.


Chrysanthemum: A First Day of School Book for Kids By Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9780062983374
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Greenwillow Books - May 12th, 2020

Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance to share all year round. 


National Geographic Readers: Seed to Plant By Kristin Baird Rattini Cover Image
$5.99
ISBN: 9781426314704
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: National Geographic Kids - January 7th, 2014

Kids see plants, flowers, and trees around them every day. In this lively and educational reader, they'll learn how those plants grow. Kids will take this magical journey from seed pollination to plant growth, learning about what plants need to thrive and grow with the same careful text, brilliant photographs, and the fun approach National Geographic Readers are known for.


Abe Lincoln's Hat (Step into Reading) By Martha Brenner, Donald Cook (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Martha Brenner, Donald Cook (Illustrator)
$4.99
ISBN: 9780679849773
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - April 12th, 1994

How do you remember things? President Abraham Lincoln used a special trick -- he placed reminders under his top hat! Read all about it and more in this leveled reader perfect for President's Day and for anyone looking to discover fun facts about one of our nation's greatest presidents!


Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea: Ready-to-Read Level 2 (Henry & Mudge) By Cynthia Rylant, Suçie Stevenson (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Cynthia Rylant, Suçie Stevenson (Illustrator)
$4.99
ISBN: 9780689810176
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Simon Spotlight - July 1st, 1997

Henry and his dog Mudge share a fun-filled day at the beach in this sixth Ready-to-Read book of their adventures.

Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And they're ready for some sun and sand!


Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball By Cynthia Rylant, Arthur Howard (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Cynthia Rylant, Arthur Howard (Illustrator)
$5.99
ISBN: 9780544341159
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - November 18th, 2014

Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, love to take naps — too many naps. What they need is a sport! Luckily Mrs.Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke, know of a baseball team they can join. It's not long before Mr. Putter is ready to play ball, but will his creaky knees cooperate? And can Zeke avoid wreaking havoc on the field?

Win or lose, this baseball team will never be the same!


Take a Hike, Teddy Roosevelt! (Step into Reading) By Frank Murphy, Richard Walz (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Frank Murphy, Richard Walz (Illustrator)
$5.99
ISBN: 9780375869372
Availability: Backordered - Usually Ships in 14-90 days
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - December 22nd, 2015

A Step 3 Step into Reading Biography Reader about Theodore Roosevelt—America's 26th President—and his efforts to protect our environment and establish national parks. Roosevelt battled asthma all his life, and the list of things he shouldn’t do was long. But when people told him “you can’t,” he set about proving them wrong.


The Year of Billy Miller: A Newbery Honor Award Winner (A Miller Family Story) By Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9780062268143
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Greenwillow Books - May 26th, 2015

Newbery Honor Book and New York Times Bestseller!

Award-winning, nationally bestselling author Kevin Henkes introduces second-grader Billy Miller in this fast-paced and funny story about friendship, sibling rivalry, and elementary school.


The Lemonade Crime (The Lemonade War Series #2) By Jacqueline Davies Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780547722375
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - October 11th, 2022

Friends, justice, and . . . lemonade? Evan and Jessie are hot on the trail of the missing lemonade-stand money. Follow this brother-sister duo as they take justice into their own hands and explore the meaning of fairness, integrity, and repairing relationships on the playground and in business in this installment of the award-winning Lemonade War series.


The Secret of the Shamrock: Volume 1 (Chime Travelers #1) By Lisa M. Hendey, Jenn Bower (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Lisa M. Hendey, Jenn Bower (Illustrator)
$8.99
Email or call for pricing & availability
ISBN: 9781616368470
Published: Franciscan Media - July 21st, 2015

When Patrick has to work on his church's cleaning team on a Saturday, he thinks his weekend fun is ruined. But when the old church bells start chiming, Patrick and his pet frog, Francis, are suddenly taken back through time to ancient Ireland. Will the strange shepherd he meets be able to help him get home, or will Patrick be stuck taking care of sheep in the rain and mud forever?


I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived #1) By Lauren Tarshis, Scott Dawson (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Lauren Tarshis, Scott Dawson (Illustrator)
$4.99
ISBN: 9780545206945
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Paperbacks - June 1st, 2010

The most terrifying events in history are brought vividly to life in this New York Times-bestselling series!

Ten-year-old George Calder can't believe his luck -- he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy.


Frindle By Andrew Clements, Brian Selznick (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Andrew Clements, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9780689818769
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - February 1st, 1998

From bestselling and award-winning author Andrew Clements, a quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words that will have readers inventing their own words.

Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas.


The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship Between a Boy and a Baseball Legend By Sharon Robinson Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780545804523
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Paperbacks - August 29th, 2017

Based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson.

Stephen Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York, which means he only cares about one thing-the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio.


Savvy By Ingrid Law Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780142414330
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Puffin Books - March 23rd, 2010

A Newbery Honor Book


Word of Mouse By James Patterson, Joe Sutphin (Illustrator) Cover Image
By James Patterson, Joe Sutphin (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9780316414012
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: jimmy patterson - March 27th, 2018

A very special mouse escapes from a lab to find his missing family in this charming story of survival, determination, and the power of friendship.   What makes Isaiah so unique? First, his fur is as blue as the sky—a sky which until recently was something he'd never seen, but had read all about. That's right: Isaiah can read and write. He can also talk to humans . . .


The Wild Robot By Peter Brown Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780316382007
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - April 7th, 2020

Soon to be a DreamWorks movie, coming to theaters 9/20/24!

Wall-E meets Hatchet in this #1 New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown

Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote


Staff Pick Badge
Fever 1793 By Laurie Halse Anderson Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780689848919
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - March 1st, 2002

An epidemic of fever sweeps through the streets of 1793 Philadelphia in this novel from Laurie Halse Anderson where "the plot rages like the epidemic itself" (The New York Times Book Review).

During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather.


Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back By Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent (With) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780849946158
Availability: Not In Stock - Usually Available in 1-5 Days
Published: Thomas Nelson - October 31st, 2010

#1 New York Times bestseller with more than 11 million copies sold When 4-year-old Colton Burpo emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven, his family doesn't know what to believe. Heaven is For Real details what Colton saw and his family's journey towards accepting their young son had visited the afterlife.


Chasing Lincoln's Killer: The Search For John Wilkes Booth By James L. Swanson Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780439903547
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Press - February 1st, 2009

New York Times bestselling author James Swanson delivers a riveting account of the chase for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.

Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the manhunters, Chasing Lincoln's Killer is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase thr