Unearth a Story: Independent Reader

Our 2026 Bookworm Summer Reading Theme is Unearth a Story. Dig into these exciting reads to get you started!

Updated April 6, 2026
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Dinosaur! : dinosaurs and other amazing prehistoric creatures as you've never seen them before
Woodward, John
Paper Book
Created in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution and packed with fun facts on fossils, amphibians, sea creatures, woolly mammoths, Neanderthals, insects and more, Dinosaur! will intrigue readers and provide an experience that will redefine natural history for kids. The lost world of...
How do dinosaurs get well soon?
Yolen, Jane.
Paper Book
The bestselling, award-winning team of Yolen and Teague are back with another playful dinosaur tale--this time about a sick dinosaur child who catches the flu and must go to the doctor.What if a dinosaur catches the flu?Does he whimper and whine between each "At-choo"?Does he drop dirty tissues all...
The last apple tree
Mills, Claudia
Paper Book
When feuding neighbors Sonnet and Zeke are paired up for a class project, they unearth a secret that could uproot Sonnet's family--or allow it to finally heal and grow. Twelve-year-old Sonnet's family has just moved across the country to live with her grandfather after her nana...
Lost Time
Mukanik, Tas.
Paper Book
Jurassic World meets How to Train Your Dragon in this gorgeously drawn, adventure-packed middle grade graphic novel about a girl who gets trapped 65 million years in the past and must learn to survive with only her wits...and the pterosaur she befriends. Twelve-year...
Lessons from our ancestors
Dave, Raksha?bahena Pra.
Paper Book
Join archaeologist Raksha Dave on an unforgettable journey back through time as she explores ancient cultures that built sustainable cities, established public hospitals, supported gender equality, and more in Lessons from Our Ancestors: Uncovering Ancient World Wisdom, featuring...
Dinosaurs before dark
Osborne, Mary Pope.
Paper Book
Where did the magic tree house come from? Before Jack and Anie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now can they do it before dark... or will they become a dinosaur's dinner?
The talking T. Rex
Roy, Ron
Paper Book
Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! Kids love collecting the entire alphabet and super editions! With over 8 million copies in print, the A to Z Mysteries have been hooking chapter book readers on mysteries and reading for years. Now this classic kid...
Valley of the giant skeletons
Stilton, Geronimo.
Paper Book
Enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will love.Tuslaarai! Tuslaarai! That's Mongolian for "Help!" and holey cheese did I need some! I was lost in...
The Mystery of the Stolen Dinosaur Bones. Boxcar children
Warner, Gertrude Chandler
Digital file
The Boxcar Children are trying to track down a dinosaur bone thief! But another set of tracks in a cave leads to a whole new mystery...
The raptor rescue
Warner, Gertrude Chandler
Paper Book
The Raptor Rehab Center's reputation is at stake! Can the Aldens figure out who's responsible for the bad press before the center gets shut down for good? Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are excited to learn more about raptors when they volunteer at a rehab center for wild...

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