Lunchtime Book Club
General Information
Students
Do you love reading? Are you always excited to share new books and new experiences with your friends? If so, the Saint Mary’s Book Club may be for you! This school year, we’ll read a variety of books including fiction, nonfiction, short stories, graphic novels, and more!
At each meeting, we may do arts and crafts, play games and of course discuss the book of the month.
Parents
Books are posted below with meeting dates and recommended ages. This age range is given as a guidance only; all students who have completed the book are welcome to join the meeting.
Students must RSVP to each Book Club meeting.
If you cannot obtain a copy of the books listed, please check with Mrs. Valdepenas; there may be some free copies to pass around the school, as needed. Book club will be held in the library during lunch.
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by James and Deborah Howe
October 31, 2024
Recommended grades: 1-3
Before it's too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household -- a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits...and fangs!
I Survived The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 by Lauren Tarshis
November 21, 2024
Recommended grades: 3-5
Ten-year-old Leo loves being a newsboy in San Francisco -- not only does he get to make some money to help his family, he's free to explore the amazing, hilly city as it changes and grows with the new century. Horse-drawn carriages share the streets with shiny new automobiles, new businesses and families move in every day from everywhere, and anything seems possible.But early one spring morning, everything changes. Leo's world is shaken -- literally -- and he finds himself stranded in the middle of San Francisco as it crumbles and burns to the ground. Does Leo have what it takes to survive this devastating disaster?The I SURVIVED series continues with another thrilling story of a boy caught in one of history's most terrifying disasters!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
December 19, 2024
Recommended grades: 1-3
It follows the Grinch, a cranky, solitary creature who attempts to thwart the public's Christmas plans by stealing Christmas gifts and decorations from the homes of the nearby town of Whoville on Christmas Eve. Miraculously, the Grinch realizes that Christmas is not all about money and presents.
No Talking by Andrew Clements
January 30, 2025
Recommended grades: 4-5
It’s boys vs. girls when the noisiest, most talkative, and most competitive fifth graders in history challenge one another to see who can go longer without talking. Teachers and school administrators are in an uproar, until an innovative teacher sees how the kids’ experiment can provide a terrific and unique lesson in communication. In No Talking, Andrew Clements portrays a battle of wills between some spunky kids and a creative teacher with the perfect pitch for elementary school life that made Frindle an instant classic.
How to Code a Sand Castle by Josh Funk
February 27, 2025
Recommended grades: 1-2
All summer, Pearl has been trying to build the perfect sandcastle, but out-of-control Frisbees and mischievous puppies keep getting in the way! Pearl and her robot friend Pascal have one last chance, and this time, they’re going to use code to get the job done. Using fundamental computer coding concepts like sequences and loops, Pearl and Pascal are able to break down their sandcastle problem into small, manageable steps. If they can create working code, this could turn out to be the best beach day ever!
Chasing Veermer by Blue Balliett
March 27, 2025
Recommended grades: 4-5
When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay together, strange things start to happen: seemingly unrelated events connect, an eccentric old woman seeks their company, and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one — neighbors, parents, teachers — is spared from suspicion. As Petra and Calder are drawn clue by clue into a mysterious labyrinth, they must draw on their powers of intuition, their problem-solving skills, and their knowledge of Vermeer. Can they decipher a crime that has left even the FBI baffled?
Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang
April 15, 2025
Recommended grades: 2-4
Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes!
