Third Grade Suggested Reading

Note: All books are located in the children’s fiction section unless otherwise noted.

Adler, David. CAM JANSEN AND THE CHOCOLATE FUDGE MYSTERY

When Cam uncovers a mystery while selling fudge door to door to raise money for the library, she uses her photographic memory to foil a crime. One in a series.

Amato, Mary. SNARF ATTACK, UNDERFOODLE, AND THE SECRET OF LIFE: THE RIOT BROTHERS TELL ALL

Mischievous brothers Orville and Wilbur Riot make an adventure out of the silliest things.

Auch, Mary Jane. I WAS A THIRD GRADE SCIENCE PROJECT

While trying to hypnotize his dog for the 3rd grade science fair, Brian accidentally makes his best friend think he’s a cat.

Blume, Judy. FRECKLE JUICE

Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys his friend’s freckle recipe for fifty cents.

Byars, Betsy Cromer. THE SOS FILE

The students in Mr. Magro’s class submit stories for the SOS file about their biggest emergencies, and then they read them aloud for extra credit. Also BEANS ON THE ROOF.

Catling, Patrick Skene. THE CHOCOLATE TOUCH

A boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate.

Cleary, Beverly. MUGGIE MAGGIE

Maggie resists learning cursive writing in 3rd grade, until she discovers that reading and writing cursive promises to open up a new world for her. And others by this author.

Colfer, Eoin. THE LEGEND OF SPUD MURPHY

Ordered to spend their entire summer in the library under the watchful eye of librarian Spud Murphy, siblings Will and Marty try to find a way to stay out of trouble.

Dahl, Roald. THE TWITS

The misadventures of two terrible old people who enjoy playing nasty tricks and are outwitted by a family of monkeys. Also CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

Danziger, Paula. AMBER BROWN IS NOT A CRAYON

Amber finds 3rd grade hard when her best friend Justin moves away. One in a series.

DeLaCroix, Alice. THE HERO OF THIRD GRADE

Randall changes to a new school where he pretends to be an anonymous hero until he finds that being himself is good enough.

Delton, Kitty. KITTY FROM THE START

Kitty moves to a new neighborhood and makes a successful transition into the 3rd grade. One in a series.

Durrell, Gerald. THE FANTASTIC DINOSAUR ADVENTURE

Two children and their great uncle travel back in time to rescue baby dinosaurs from evil villains. Also THE FANTASTIC FLYING JOURNEY.

Estes, Eleanor. THE HUNDRED DRESSES

When ragged Wanda brags that she has one hundred dresses at home, the other girls in her class don’t believe her.

Friedman, Laurie B. MALLORY ON THE MOVE

After moving to a new town, eight-year-old Mallory remains torn between old and new best friends. Also BACK TO SCHOOL, MALLORY.

Gerstein, Mordicai. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS (X793.1 Gerstein)

Aerialist Philippe Petit takes a historic tightrope walk between the World Trade Center Towers in 1974.

Greene, Stephanie. OWEN FOOTE, SOCCER STAR

When eight-year-old Owen and his best friend join a soccer league, they not only test their game skills but also their friendship. One in a series.

Howe, James. IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE BED!: TALES FROM THE HOUSE OF BUNNICULA

Howie the wire-haired dachshund writes a story in which he saves the world from a science experiment gone awry. First in a series.

Hurwitz, Johanna. CLASS CLOWN

Lucas Cott finds it very hard to turn over a new leaf when he decides to become the perfect student. Also CLASS PRESIDENT.

Keller, Holly. ANGELA’S TOP SECRET COMPUTER CLUB

Angela and her friends discover who is causing all of the problems with the school’s computer.

Kline, Suzy. HERBIE JONES

Herbie’s experiences in 3rd grade include finding bones in the boy’s bathroom and being promoted to a higher reading group. First in a series.

LeGuin, Ursula. CATWINGS

Looking for a safe place to live, four young cats with wings leave the city slums and meet two kind children. First in a series.

McDonald, Megan. JUDY MOODY GETS FAMOUS!

When a 3rd grade classmate gets her picture in the paper for winning a spelling bee, Judy is determined to find a way to become famous herself. One in a series.

Scieszka, Jon. MATH CURSE (XXF Scieszka)

When the teacher tells her class that they can think of almost everything as a math problem, one student acquires a math anxiety which becomes a real curse.

Soto, Gary. THE CAT’S MEOW

Eight-year-old Graciela, who is half Mexican, is amazed when her cat Pip starts speaking Spanish.

June 2005 (smj)