7 Children’s Books to Get Your Kid Excited About the Fourth Grade

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume
There’s just no way you can tackle a reading list about the fourth grade without the Judy Blume classic Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Peter is a fourth grader living in a New York apartment with his mother and younger brother, Fudge. Like a lot of Blume books, the focus is on the sibling relationship between Peter and Fudge, but his life as a fourth grader will leave your own children in stitches. It’s a more subtle way to get them excited about being in the fourth grade, but they’ll be asking to read this book the whole year.

Amber Brown Goes Fourth, by Paula Danziger
Amber Brown is one of my favorite children’s book characters—she is so spunky and fun. But in Amber Brown Goes Fourth, she’s feeling a little worried and anxious about the fourth grade. She’s as prepared as she can be, but missing her best friend in class, and really wants to make a new one. This is perfect for any fourth grader who might be feeling a little unease at the new grade.

Fourth Grade Rats, by Jerry Spinelli
Fourth grade is a great year, but it can also be full of peer pressure and trying-to-fit-in as illustrated by Fourth Grade Rats. When Suds’s friend Joey wants to take being a fourth grader to the next level by pushing kids off swings, saying no to their mothers, and refusing to carry “babyish” lunch boxes, Suds isn’t sure of how to react. This is a great starting point for standing up for what you believe in and fighting off the peer pressure that plagues so many fourth graders.

The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School, by Candace Fleming
A cute and funny collection of stories, The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School will leave your kids super excited about and ready for fourth grade. They will be introduced to a sweet class and their teacher, Mr. Jupiter, and learn tons of important lessons, such as how to be prepared for the fourth grade, and how to take your time before jumping in headfirst.

Rosie Swanson: Fourth Grade Geek for President, by Barbara Park
Rosie Swanson can be a bit of a tattletale, but that’s not going to stop her from running for fourth grade class president in Rosie Swanson: Fourth Grade Geek for President. She’s determined to beat the popular crowd and your kids will root for her the whole way through (and maybe develop their own fourth grade political aspirations).

Fourth-Grade Fuss, by Johanna Hurwitz
Fourth-Grade Fuss will really show your kid what it means to be in the fourth grade. It’s full of fun things like birthday parties and class projects, but it also includes huge, standardized tests that make everybody nervous. In this story, Julio and Lucas are two best friends determined to pass the big test using every superstition they can think of so they can end fourth grade on a high note. Perfect for a kid who likes to know all the facts before diving into a new school year.

Fourth-Grade Fairy, by Eileen Cook
The first book in a series, Fourth-Grade Fairy is a delightful story about Willow Doyle, a girl who comes from a long line of fairy godmothers. She just wants to be normal, but that’s next to impossible with her bloodline. When Willow gets the chance to be a fourth grader for a few weeks and she’s determined to fit in, no matter what it takes. While your kid’s probably not a fairy, every rising fourth grader can relate to wanting to fit in and be the person they think everyone wants them to be.
What books would you recommend to burgeoning fourth graders?