Camps Bay Primary in Cape Town, has recommended that Grade 4 learners read at least four of the following books during the year. This list should give parents a good indication of what is suitable reading for this age group.

 

This is the delightful story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named Wilbur and of Wilbur's dear friend, Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful, large grey spider who lived with Wilbur in the barn. With the help of Templeton the rat, who never did anything for anybody unless there was something in it for him, and a wonderfully clever plan of her own, Charlotte saves the life of Wilbur, who by this time had grown up to be quite a pig. Published over fifty years ago, Charlotte's Web has become an all-time favourite children's story.

 

Every night, when the world is sleeping, big gruesome giants guzzle up whoppsy-whiffling human beans. And there's only one giant who can stop them – the BFG or Big Friendly Giant, one of Dahl’s most beloved characters. He's the kindest giant there is and, with his friend Sophie in his top pocket, he sets out to rid the world of the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater and all their rotsome friends, forever. The well-loved story of a big friendly giant celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and Puffin Books will be releasing a brand-new edition with a new cover by Quentin Blake.

 

Penny, Mark and Marigold are bitterly unhappy at Nitshill Road School. Penny is rather plump, Mark is compared to a Martian and Marigold struggles to talk to anyone. The culprit is Barry Hunter, a nasty boy who is bullying these three relentlessly. The whole school is aware of it and nobody is doing anything about it. Then Celeste arrives and things start changing. Barry is becoming less of a threat and Penny, Mark and Marigold learn that they are unique. When Celeste eventually leaves the school, even the teacher realises that he too was silent about what was going on.

 

After surviving a summer with the legendary ninja librarian Spud Murphy, not much can scare brothers Will and Marty Woodman. Until, that is, they travel with their family to the small seaside town famous for its resident ghost. Legend has it that when the sea glows at night, pirate Captain Crow haunts the shore searching for a new cabin boy. Of course, nine-year-old Will knows this can't be true. But one night, he is out late, and the sea is lit with an eerie glow… and, is that a ghostly voice calling his name? This humorous book comes highly recommended.

 

Omri receives two presents for his birthday: a plastic miniature Indian toy and, oddly, an old medicine chest from his brother. Omri is not that impressed with this weird cupboard, but when he throws the toy Indian into it, the magic starts happening. If he turns the key once the toy, called Little Bear, comes alive and if he turns the key twice, it turns into a toy again. This book is all about the importance of friendship and love and responsibility when Omri stands before the decision to send Little Bear back to his own world or keep him.   

 

Rowena Batts is always in trouble. It probably has something do with her quick temper; stuffing a frog into bully-boy Darryn Peck's mouth wasn't the best idea; neither was stealing his crazy cockatoo. But Rowena has a bigger problem: her dad. Somehow she has to tell him that his revolting shirts and his horrific habit of bursting into song in public has disastrous effects. And it's not easy talking your way out of trouble when you were born unable to speak... Rowena and her dad rock from one batty but bittersweet scenario to the next, across all three books.

 

When Farmer Hogget wins Babe, the little orphaned piglet, at a fair, Fly, the kind-hearted sheep dog, adopts him. Babe is determined to learn everything he can from Fly. He knows he can't be a sheep dog, but maybe, just maybe, he might be a sheep-pig. Most of us have seen the film Babe, which was inspired by this book, and know the ending to this enduring tale that was published in 1983. The book won the Guardian Children’s Fiction prize and the film was nominated for several Academy Awards. The author passed away in January last year.

 

 

The evacuation of Jews from Nazi-held Denmark is one of the untold stories of World War II. On September 29, 1943, word got out in Denmark that Jews were to be detained and sent to the death camps. Within hours the Danish resistance, population and police arranged a small flotilla to herd 7 000 Jews to Sweden. Lowry brings the experience to life through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johannesen, whose family harbours her best friend, Ellen Rosen, on the eve of the round up and helps smuggle Ellen's family out of the country. The book won the 1990 Newbery Medal.

 

One summer day, Opal goes into a supermarket and comes out with a scraggly dog that she names Winn-Dixie. At first her preacher dad is reluctant to take the dog in, but because of Winn-Dixie, her father finally tells her ten things about her absentee mother, and Opal makes lots of unusual friends in her new town. And because of Winn-Dixie, Opal grows to learn that friendship, and forgiveness, can sneak up on you like a sudden storm. This Newbery Honor-winning book inspired the film with the same name, starring AnnaSophia Robb as Opal and Jeff Daniels as her dad.

 

If only Mma was here, Naledi wished over and over, but Mma lives and works in Johannesburg, far from the village thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother, Tiro, call home. When their baby sister suddenly becomes very sick, Naledi and Tiro know, deep down, that only one person can save her. Bravely, and alone, they set off on a journey to find Mma and bring her back home. It isn't until they reach the city that they come to understand the dangers of their country, and the painful struggle for freedom and dignity that is taking place all around them.

 

In this briskly-told tale of high adventure, taut with suspense and rich with colourful characters, orphaned Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when the arrogant and spiteful Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, the whipping boy and Prince Brat must at last confront and trust each other.

 

This is a lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a white lion. Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African veld. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but it is the butterfly lion that ensures that their friendship will never be forgotten. In pure Morpurgo style, children will be fascinated by another unique and clever tale by a master storyteller.

 

Everyone will recognise the familiar sayings and events of the classroom, the never-ending projects, tests, quarrels, friendships and excuses in this witty collection of poems about primary school life. The poem, Please Mrs Butler, deals with an annoying classmate, part of which goes: Please Mrs Butler, This boy Derek Drew, Keeps copying my work, Miss, What shall I do? Go and sit in the hall, dear. Go and sit in the sink. Take your books on the roof, my lamb. Do whatever you think. Please Mrs Butler, This boy Derek Drew, Keeps taking my rubber, Miss. What shall I do?