The Extensive Reading Programme (ERP) has been a mainstay of the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) since the 90s. It is a curated list of books (mainly fiction) to help students broaden their horizons and expose them to different writing styles.
Below is the list of P5 GEP ERP books, updated for 2023. The titles are grouped according to reading difficulty level, with Level 3 being the most challenging to read but also richer in language and themes.
Singapore Literature is marked [SingLit], for those looking for a more local flavour in their stories. Suggested modern film and television adaptations (some of which we have screened at Joyous Learning) are also included, to help students better understand and appreciate the stories through various media. To receive notifications on upcoming complimentary GEP ERP book movie screening and commentary events, subscribe to our newsletter.
Our GEP/Advanced English programme incorporates discussions, analyses and the writing of book reviews (required as part of the MOE GEP English syllabus) of selected important GEP ERP texts. Download the programme booklet to find out how else our enriched curriculum, which ties in with the MOE GEP English scheme of work, is meticulously designed to help your P5 GEP child do well in school.
Term 1: Mystery Stories
Level 1
- Alejandro, Jessica – Extraordinary Losers: The Lunchbox Thief [SingLit]
- A. J. Low – Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong [SingLit]
- Brezenoff, Steve – Museum Mysteries: The Case of the Stolen Sculpture
- Raskin, Ellen – The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues
Level 2
- Konigsburg, E.L. – From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basic E. Frankweiler (1995 film adaptation available on AppleTV)
- Puri, Radhika – The Fibonacci Revelation [SingLit]
- Read, Anthony – The Baker Street Boys: The Case of the Haunted Horrors
- Thomas, Donald – Sherlock Holmes and the Ghosts of Bly: And Other New Adventures of the Great Detective
- Thomson, June – The Secret Notebooks of Sherlock Holmes
Level 3
- Christie, Agatha – The A.B.C Murders (loose television adaptation available on BBC Player)
- Christie, Agatha – Murder on the Orient Express (2017 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Christie, Agatha – Elephants can Remember
- Christie, Agatha – The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
- Christie, Agatha – The Murder on the Links
- Collins, Wilkie – The Moonstone (2016 television adaptation available, but difficult source)
- Pullman, Philip – The Adventures of the New Cut Gang
Terms 2-4
Level 1
- Baum, L. Frank – The Wizard of Oz
- Lewis, C.S. – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia) (2005 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Lewis, C.S. – Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia) (2008 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Lewis, C.S. – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia) (2010 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Lewis, C.S. – The Silver Chair (The Chronicles of Narnia)
- Lewis, C.S. – The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia)
- Lewis, C.S. – The Horse and His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia)
- Lewis, C.S. – The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia)
- MacLachlan, Patricia – Journey
- Mahy, Margaret – The Haunting
- Paterson, Katherine – The Great Gilly Hopkins (2015 film adaptation available, but difficult to source)
- Pearce, Phillipa – Tom’s Midnight Garden (1999 film adaptation available, but difficult to source)
- Stevenson, Robert Louis – Treasure Island (many film adaptations available)
Level 2
- Alexander Lloyd – The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain)
- Alexander Lloyd – The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain) (1985 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Alexander Lloyd – The Castle of Lyr (The Chronicles of Prydain)
- Alexander Lloyd – Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain)
- Alexander Lloyd – The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain)
- Curtis, Christopher Paul – Bud, Not Buddy
- Fiske, Nicholas – Trillions
- Funke, Cornelia – Inkheart (2008 film adaptation available on Netflix)
- Funke, Cornelia – The Thief Lord (2006 film adaptation available, but difficult to source)
- Jones, Diana Wynne – Howl’s Moving Castle (loose 2004 film adaptation available on Netflix)
- Jones, Diana Wynne – Castle in the Air
- Laird, Elizabeth – The Garbage King
- L’Engle, Madeleine – A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- L’Engle, Madeleine – A Circle of Quiet
- London, Jack – The Call of the Wild (2020 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Lowry, Lois – Gathering Blue (The Giver Quartet)
- Lowry, Lois – Messenger (The Giver Quartet)
- Lowry, Lois – Son (The Giver Quartet)
- Sachar, Louis – Holes (2003 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Sperry, Armstrong – Call It Courage
- Stead, Rebecca – When You Reach Me
- Stewart, Trenton Lee – The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021 television adaptation available on Disney+)
- Warner, Gertrude Chandler – The Boxcar Children (2014 film adaptation available, but difficult to source)
- Winthrop, Elizabeth – The Castle in the Attic
- Yu, Olivia – The Mudskipper
Level 3
- Cooper, Susan – The Dark is Rising (2007 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- Washington, Irving – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949 film adaptation available on Disney+)
- LeGuin, Ursula – A Wizard of Earthsea
- Pullman, Philip – The Firework-Maker’s Daughter
- Selznick, Brian – The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2011 film adaptation available, but difficult to source)
- Serraillier, Ian – The Silver Sword
- Speare, Elizabeth George – The Witch of Blackbird Pond
- Speare, Elizabeth George – The Sign of the Beaver
Find out why Joyous Learning is the GEP enrichment specialist discerning parents choose!