Biographies are one option for non-fiction reading lists. Tonya Bolden’s biography, “George Washington Carver,” recounts the life of Carver, an American teacher of agronomy and botanical researcher whose work helped shape Southern agriculture. Students can study the life of an historical circus showman in author Candace Fleming’s “The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum.” Her book engages readers with old photographs, museum flyers and circus posters.
Works of historical fiction can help convey important histories while adhering to a sixth-grade reading level. Set in 1943, Lois Lowry’s “Number the Stars” takes place during the German occupation of Denmark and describes one girl’s courage as she helps shelter Jewish friends from the Nazis. Written as entries from a diary, “Letters From Rifka” by Karen Hesse chronicles one Jewish family’s journey from Russia to America in 1919, and a young girl’s experience when she is forced to remain in Belgium as others emigrate.
Classic works offer timeless selections due to their impact on both new and old generations. Released in 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables” is a title still found on many reading lists. Anne, an orphan, is mistakenly sent to live with an older brother and sister on a farm on Prince Edward Island, where she makes an unforgettable impression on the people she meets. Anna Sewell’s “Black Beauty” is written from the perspective of a horse and his experiences with the various masters he encounters.
J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is often regarded as one of the great works of fantasy and is accessible for sixth-grade level readers. The prequel to the author’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit” recalls the many adventures of Bilbo Baggins, from those as a thief with a band of dwarves, to his encounter with a dragon and a ring that contains special powers. “The Indian In the Cupboard” by Lynne Reid Banks is the first in a series of the same name. In it, a young boy is given a plastic Indian, a cupboard and a miniature key for his birthday. When the Indian comes to life and befriends him, the boy begins a series of adventures.