3rd Grade Books

Looking to find a really good book your 3rd grader will love to read? There are thousand ands and thousands or books for third graders that fill your libraries shelves; it can be difficult to pick ones that are quality books, will expand your child’s world, and fun as well.  Here is an amazing collection of over 30 books your kids will love reading! Includes free printable  book list.

Third Grade Books

Some kids LOVE to read! Just as soon as they finish with a book they are looking for their next book. Others, are more reluctant readers. Perhaps some are struggling with reading or the vocabulary in books, but often times it is because the books themselves are not interesting to these children.

It is important to help kids find books that they want to read. Even if they are reading comic books, sports magazines, or other books that don’t seem like great literature. Once they have learned that reading CAN be fun, and improve their abilities to sound out words and read more quickly, fluently – then you can push them to read some better quality books.

So whether you child is an avid reader looking for more amazing 3rd grade books filled with wonderful characters, plot, conflict, and rich vocabulary or it’s time to push them to stretch what type of books they are reading – this is the 3rd grade book list you’ve been looking for!

Good Books for 3rd Graders

The main goal in regards to reading with grade 3 students is to:

1. Encourage them to read a lot (practice makes perfect)
2. Help them Learn to LOVE reading (by sharing captivating stories)
3. Learn rich vocabulary and expand their horizons

So to help you accomplish those three goals, here is our list of more than 30 fantastic 3rd grade books!

<< Don’t miss our hugely popular Monthly Stories for Kids <<

3rd Grade Reading Books

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass is a mystery following four kids who are chosen to create a delicious candy for a national competition. The story is told through the perspective of each contestant.

Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling tells the history of the Santa Fe Trail as things change over time around a cottonwood tree. The text is paired with detailed illustrations, highlighting important moments through time.

Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry shares the story of Justin Morgan, a poor school teacher who received a horse and her colt as payment, the young student who coaches the little colt through competitions and the love between a boy and a horse.

Swift Rivers by Cornelia Meigs follows eighteen year old Chris after his uncle kicks him out of his home, and he decides to harvest trees around his Grandfather’s cabin and move them down the Mississippi River to the logging mills in St. Louis.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes is a historical novel following the events leading up to the American Revolution through the eyes of fourteen year old Johnny Tremain.

Calico Bush by Rachel Field follows thirteen year old Marguerite Ledoux, an indentured servant traveling to Maine. This pioneer story shows how she faces hardship by using her strength and courage.

Carry On Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham shares the story of Nathaniel Bowditch, and how his fascination with sailing and his determination helped him to write The American Practical Navigator (or The Sailor’s Bible).

The Journeyman by Elizabeth Yates is a historical novel set in the early 1800s in New Hampshire. The story follows Jared Austin, an apprentice to a journeyman painter, as he travels with him and paints homes and farms, learning important lessons on the way.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl follows a young boy named James as he goes to live with his horrible aunts after the death of his parents. When James accidentally grows a gigantic peach, he makes friends with some oversized bugs and goes on a great adventure.

NOTE: This is a great story that our family enjoyed reading together, but if you use words like “stupid” sparingly, you may want to read it out loud to your child and skip those words.

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka is a memoir full of stories and tidbits from the life of Jon Scieszka and the things that shaped him.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder is an autobiographical story that shares the author’s memories from her childhood in a pioneer family in the late 1800s.

The Twits by Roald Dahl tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Twit who are small, terrible people who love to play nasty tricks on each other. But one day their caged monkeys decide they have had enough.

Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look follows Alvin, a second grader who is afraid of everything. But when he is at home, he is able to be a strong and brave superhero.

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is a story about a smart and sometimes wild little girl named Clementine who is having a terrible week. Can she find a way to turn it around?

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters An African Tale by John Steptoe is a retelling of Cinderella that is inspired by an African folktale. It tells the story of Mufaro and his two beautiful daughters, one of whom may become queen.

Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the Woof Society by Betsy Byars shares sweet and funny stories about twelve dogs throughout history and around the world.

Falling Up by Shel Silverstein is a hilarious collection of poems and illustrations. Kids will love the silly characters and situations paired with funny sketches.

The Mouse Family Robinson by Dick King-Smith follows the adventures of Beaumont Robinson and his family as they journey from home to find a safer place to live.

7 x 9 = Trouble! by Claudia Mills tells the story of Wilson Williams, a young boy who can’t seem to master times-table tests. Can he find a solution with the help of his loved ones?

Maybelle in the Soup by Katie Speck shares the big adventure of Maybelle the little cockroach, who decides to venture out in search of delicious food during a very important dinner.

Pippi Longstocking Series by Astrid Lindgren tells the story of Pippi, a young girl with crazy red pigtails, some interesting pets, and a habit of making everything into an adventure.

A Series of Unfortunate Events Series by Lemony Snicket is a series of books that follow the misadventures of the Baudelaire children as they are forced to live with the greedy Count Olaf.

A Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop shares the adventures of a young boy named William who receives a wooden model of a medieval castle and is drawn into a world of magic.

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Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis is a collection of rhyming riddles that use addition, subtraction and multiplication to calculate a variety of silly things.

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka follows the adventures of Lunch Lady, a lunch lady by day and sleuth by night, who tracks the disappearance of a teacher.

A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla shares the story of Amanda Freebold, a young girl who is left to care for her siblings after the death of their mother. The story follows the small family’s journey as they travel to the American colonies to find their father.

Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla is a biography sharing the life and legacy of Squanto, the Wampanoag Indian.

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine tells the dramatic story of Henry Brown, a slave who mails himself to the North to find freedom.

Landmark Book Meet George Washington by Joan Heilbroner is a biographical introduction to the first president of the United States and the events in his life leading up to his historical presidency.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan shares the story of Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, a woman who answers an ad from a widowed farmer looking for a wife, through the eyes of the farmer’s young children.

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh tells the story of Jonathan, a boy who is told over and over that there aren’t any bears on Hemlock Mountain. But one winter night, he finds out that people were wrong.

Landmark Book Meet Thomas Jefferson by Marvin Barrett is a biographical story that introduces readers to Thomas Jefferson’s life and the events in his life that shaped America.

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh is a retelling of the story of the First Thanksgiving told through the eyes of one family living in Plymouth Colony.7)

 

You’ve to got see our HUGE collection of 3rd grade worksheets and grade 3 worksheets. Plus, if you are looking for more great picks don’t miss our books lists by age!

3rd Grade Reading Books Printable

To make it easies to pick out books at the library I made a printable from this list. Just pick the style you like and print that page. Fold in half and laminate for a convenient bookmark. Use a dry erase markers to cross off books you finish.
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