Best Summer Workbooks for 5th Grade (2026): Picks Compared

A 5th grader heading into the next school year often needs a few weeks of practice that feels lighter than class, so here are the best summer workbooks for 5th grade. We compared the listings by grade level, reading age, page count, edition and what each description says is inside, then ranked the picks on those facts.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Summer Bridge 4-5 by Summer Bridge	9.7/10	Buy
2	Summer Before Fifth by Gold Stars	9.7/10	Buy
3	5th Grade BIG Workbook by Gold Stars	9.7/10	Buy
4	Math Basics 5 by School Zone	9.4/10	Buy

1

Summer Bridge 4-5 by Summer Bridge

Summer Bridge Activities·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a child moving into 5th grade who wants 15-minute daily summer practice across subjects; skip it if you want a single-subject book.

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Pros

• Covers reading, writing, math, science and social studies, as the description lists
• The description describes the activities as 15-minute lessons
• The listing says a Skills Matrix and answer key help track progress

Cons

• Published January 25, 2015, the oldest date among the picks, so check the edition
• Grade level 4 to 5 means a strong fifth grader may find the early units familiar
• The reading age of 9 to 10 years is marked as from customers

2

Summer Before Fifth by Gold Stars

Gold Stars·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a child finishing 4th grade who wants a summer book built around the step into 5th grade; skip it if you want more pages.

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Pros

• The title states it is written for the summer between fourth and fifth grade
• The listing says it has more than 75 activities and an answer key at the back
• The description lists English and math topics such as fractions, geometry and phonics

Cons

• No grade level is stated on the listing, so check the description against your child
• The reading age of 10+ years is marked as from customers
• At 128 pages, it is shorter than the Summer Bridge and 5th Grade BIG listings

3

5th Grade BIG Workbook by Gold Stars

Gold Stars·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a 10 to 11 year old who wants all subjects in a single year-round book; skip it if you want a short summer-only plan.

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Pros

• The listing says it includes more than 220 activities covering reading, writing and math
• An answer key is included at the back of the book, according to the listing
• The listing says it conforms to Common Core standards

Cons

• The listing describes it as year-round rather than as a summer book
• The reading age of 10 to 11 years is marked as from customers
• At 320 pages, it is the longest pick and may feel heavy for a reluctant reader

4

Math Basics 5 by School Zone

School Zone·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a 5th grader who needs math practice only; skip it if you want reading, writing or science.

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Pros

• Focuses on fifth grade math: multiplication, division, measurement and estimation
• The listing states 60 activity pages and 4 answer key pages
• The listing says the pages are perforated, so sheets can be torn out

Cons

• Math only, so it does not cover reading, writing or science
• The feature table lists ages 3+ while the title says ages 10-11, so check the age before you buy
• The reading age of 9 to 11 years is marked as from customers, and the grade band of 4 to 6 is wide

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More picks to compare

• Reading Comprehension by ScholasticFor grade 5 readers building main idea, drawing conclusions and following directions skills.Check on Amazon
• Summer 4th to 5th by IXLGrade 4 to 5 summer workbook; the listing also says ages 7-9.Check on Amazon
• Reading Tests Grade 5 by ScholasticFor grade 5 readers who want practice tests on main idea and inferences.Check on Amazon
• Writing Grade 5 by ScholasticFor grade 5 readers building sentences, descriptive writing and story parts.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 16 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a 5th grader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. Every pick lists a reading age, and the Summer Bridge and School Zone listings also state a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best summer workbooks for 5th grade

Start with the grade the child is finishing

Summer Bridge Activities and the Summer Before Fifth Grade workbook are written for the move from fourth to fifth grade, so they suit a child who is just finishing fourth. The 5th Grade BIG Workbook covers all subjects year-round, while Math Basics 5 covers fifth grade math only. For more math practice, see our math workbooks for 5th grade list.

Check the edition and the reading level together

The Summer Bridge listing shows a January 25, 2015 publication date and a fourth edition, so check the date before you buy. Every pick marks its reading age as from customers, so compare that range with how your child reads. For reading practice, see our reading comprehension workbooks for 5th grade list.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date on the listing; the Summer Bridge listing shows January 25, 2015.
• Read the grade level and the reading age together, since the reading age on every pick is marked as from customers.
• Look for an answer key; each pick here states one in its listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which summer workbook fits a child finishing 4th grade?

Summer Bridge Activities lists grade level 4 to 5 and describes itself for a soon-to-be fifth grader. The Summer Before Fifth Grade workbook is also written for the move from fourth to fifth grade.

Do these workbooks include an answer key?

Each pick’s listing states that an answer key is included. The Summer Bridge listing pairs its answer key with a Skills Matrix, while the 5th Grade BIG Workbook and the Summer Before Fifth Grade workbook place theirs at the back of the book.

Which edition date should I check first?

Check the publication date on each listing. Summer Bridge shows January 25, 2015, while the Summer Before Fifth Grade workbook shows July 14, 2022.

Still deciding? Our top pickSummer Bridge 4-5 by Summer Bridge

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Related lists

See every Homeschool Curriculum list and all Workbooks and Homeschool lists.

More lists: summer workbooks for 4th grade, summer workbooks for 2nd grade and summer workbooks for kids.