It’s that time of year again – time to give the gift of reading. The Wallowa fifth graders taught by Jennifer Gibbs have suggestions for some great books that would make wonderful gifts. Also don’t forget non-fiction and resource books when shopping for your favorite student. Happy holidays and happy reading!

I recommend “Where the Red Fern Grows.” It is where this kid wants some dogs so he works for money. When he has enough money he has to go get them. Does he get his dogs? Does he come back? I think “Where the Red Fern Grows” is a great book.

By Dustin McDaniel

If you have a dog lover in your family you should buy “Because of Winn-Dixie,” a very good book. It’s about a girl that loves her dog so much she searches for her dog in the rain for hours. She moves to Naomi, Florida before she finds the dog. She makes a lot of new friends too. The dog would have gone to the pound if it wasn’t for Opal. Opal is a quick thinker and thought of a name for the dog before he would have gone to the pound. His name was Winn-Dixie. I think Kate Dicamillo is a great author. That’s why I recommend Because of Winn-Dixie.

By Shawna Chrisman

Do you like horse books? You should read the first of the “Heartland Series” by Lauren Brooks. This is a story of a girl named Amy. She lives in the hills of Virginia at a place, called Heartland. One day Amy and her friend found a stolen horse, named Sparton. They went back and got Amy’s mom, Marion. It was a stormy night. Marion and Amy decided to go get Sparton. Marion and Amy were driving on the slick roads when a huge Sycamore tree tipped over and landed on Marion.

Will Marion survive? I think you should read this book!

By Skylar Waters

If you want a good read for you and your family I recommend you read “Reef of Death” by Paul Jendel. First, two divers go diving and they start to go up and get in the boat and suddenly CHOMP! One diver gets eaten by a huge monster. Then two years later some scientists go looking for the vicious monster. To find out what happens next buy the book.

By Chris Wilks

If you want a series of books to snuggle up with then you would like the “Little House in the Big Woods” series. It’s about a family that lives in the big woods then they move to the country. It is like you are there, the author Laura Ingalls Wilder describes it so well. I guarantee that you will love these books.

By Kaylee Neal

“Walk Two Moons” is a great book. It is surprising and exciting. It is about a girl named Salamanca Tree Hiddle, Sal for short. She lives in Bybanks, Kentucky. She has to move to Euclid, Kentucky. She has flash backs of her mom because her mom left Sal and Sal’s dad. Her mom moved to Lewiston, Idaho. When she moves to Euclid she meets Phoebe, who later becomes her best friend. Phoebe is the prissy, cholesteral watching, Muesli, type of girl. Phoebe’s prissiness makes her hilarious. In Phoebe’s story her mother “disappears”- but does she? To find out read this book.

By Naomi Manley

I recommend you buy “A Christmas Sonata.” In the beginning you get a good picture of the main characters. Something really funny happens but you have to buy it to find out what happens. There is also a really sad part for the girl. At the end of the book that sad part will make you cry. The part is… wait a minute, I will not tell you what happens! You will have to read the book.

By Justin Gladden

If you are looking for a Christmas present then I recommend the “Wayside School” series series by Louis Sachar. This series is very exciting. It is about a very mixed-up school that was supposed to be 30 rooms long and one story high. But instead the builder made it 30 stories high and one story long! He said he was sorry.

In this book you will meet kids from the 30th floor and their problems. This is a very funny series that your family will enjoy together.

By Bekah Jamerson

Are you a horse lover? Well if you are then I highly recommend the “Heartland Series” by Loren Brooke. These wonderful books are about a teenager, named Amy that grows up on a farm with no mother. Her mother had died in a car wreck while trying to save a beautiful horse named Sparten. Now Amy has to save all the horses that come to Heartland without her mom. Soon Amy’s family runs into a problem, money. They’re practically bankrupt and they still have to feed all the horses everyday. Then Lou, her sister had a great idea. To find out what Lou’s idea is and if it’s so great, and to find out if they go bankrupt read the Heartland series. They’re great books and I know you’ll love them.

By Breanna Wallace

I recommend “Holes,” it is a great book and makes you want to keep reading on and on. I recommend this book for people 7 and up. Holes” is about a boy who has bad luck and has to dig holes to make up for it. That is why I think “Holes” is a great book and you should read it.

By Zach Cherry

Do you like funny books? Well, then “Calvin and Hobbes” are the books for you. There is a whole series of these books by Bill Watterson. It’s a little boy (named Calvin and a stuffed tiger named Hobbes). Together they play, get in trouble, take baths, and much more. With their colorful vocabulary and their playfulness, they’re ready for the world.

By Glen Spang

The “Spiderwick Series” is a good series. If you like to read books with monsters in them read the Spiderwick Series. It is about three kids who live in their uncle Arthur’s house. They discover that there are a lot of things they must accomplish, so if you want to find out what they have to accomplish read these books.

By Casey James Marino

If you are looking for an adventurous and funny book then read the “Little House In The Big Woods.” I recommend this book because the author describes everything very well so it feels like you are there. There is a little girl named Laura, her ma, pa, her older sister Mary, and her little sister Cary that all live back in the woods. They have a small little farm with cows, but one year they had to move and on the way they had some slight issues. So in order to find out their troubles read this great series of books, “The Little House In The Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

By Baylee Lynn Shelton

I recommend the book “Swear to Howdy.” It is about two boys having fun, but their fun ends badly. The author, Wendelin Van Draanen, really expresses the boys’ feelings. I held my breath turning the page to see what happens next. You will never want to stop reading. So buy the book “Swear to Howdy.” You won’t regret it.

By Sara Chrisman

I suggest the “Series of Unfortunate Events.” I give you warning, though, if you are timorous, scared of the very Unfortunate Events happening to young people, I suggest you erase your mind of what you just read and read more pleasant books. The author even says on the back of every book “Don’t Read!” The book is about the same villain dressing-up and saying he’s not Count Olaff. Sometimes you just want to drop the book, get in a corner, and start sucking your thumb. Other times you want to read on to see what’s going to happen to the three orphans in the story. There is a baby, Sunny, who is very good at biting. Her older brother, Klaus, and the oldest sibling Violet, who is good at building. There is too much peril! Forget what I said earlier, don’t read it!

By Katelynn Burns

I recommend the “Spiderwick” series because of all the funny creatures, nice reading level. And the way stuff happens. For example they’re talking about fairies and goblins and then they find a griffin. There are elves, goblins, moving trees, brownies and small fairies. If you are an adventurous reader then “Spiderwick” is for you.

By Jeff Tarvin I recommend the “Harry Potter” series. In this series Harry, Ron and Hermione are trying to defeat Lord Voldermort. Voldermort killed Harry’s parents. He tried to kill Harry too, but Harry lived. This book has great details and is very exciting. To figure out if Harry and the gang beat Voldermort read the Harry Potter series!

By Derek Shike

“Naya Nuki” is about a Shoshone Indian trying to find her way to her tribe that has been captured by prairie Indians. On this long frightful journey Naya Nuki has many troubles. She encounters a bear, runs into other Indians and gets caught in a blizzard. The writer has great details and sensitivity. I recommend this book to people who have a reason to believe that something is wrong or right. I enjoyed reading this book. I hope you get to enjoy this book over the holidays!

By Justine English