The City Of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
For 3rd Grade and Up

Fantasy is great for engaging students. The City of Ember is a great way to "hook" students into reading fantasy!! Kids are introduced to predicting and connecting to the story, and it offers great discussion topics. Some themes are similar to the very popular Hunger Games.
~ Recommended by Jaime Tan

The Witches by Roald Dahl
For 2nd through 5th Grades

Roald Dahl has a way with words that captivates children by relating their own experiences with fictitious situations. He begins with a warning about the possibility of witches all around and even tells the children to check out their own teacher! Its a narrative that keeps the children guessing, laughing, inferring, and questioning all the while adding good word choice and building vocabulary
~ Recommended by Heather Clark

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
For 4th to 6th Grade

This a great book for readers who like a challenge. Despereaux Tilling is a small and scrawny mouse who goes on a wild adventure and proves that even the littlest heroes can make a huge impact. This book is perfect for readers studying Fantasy and is great for both boys and girls.
~ Recommended by Katy Buckner

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
For 3rd and 4th Grade

Charlotte's Web is the classic story about the unusual friendship between a pig, Wilbur, and the spider, Charlotte, who sets out to save Wilbur's life from a farmer's ax. Charlotte begins to write messages in her web about Wilbur, which gets the public thinking that he is a special pig. Their friendship is truly special and wonderful!
~ Recommended by Judith Eastman

Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith
For 3rd through 5th Grade

Chocolate Fever is the story of a young boy who eats chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner yet it never harms him. At least not until one day when strange things start happening. It’s a good book for "text to life" discussions. It provides lots of lead in to "What would you do?"
~ Recommended by Diane Patterson