Grade 3 reading books
Recommended reading books for elementary school children in Third Grade ages 8-9
Help your third grader dive deeper into the world of reading with this carefully curated list of recommended books designed to captivate their growing curiosity and expanding reading skills. At this stage, children are ready for more complex narratives, richer characters, and stories that challenge their critical thinking and emotional understanding. These selections aim to spark a love for independent reading while encouraging exploration of new themes, genres, and ideas.
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Parental and adult guidance remains critical during third grade. Many children begin to develop independent reading habits but in actually remain dependent on adults for provocative discussion and enforcement of daily reading.
Magic Tree House: Merlin Missions - Eve of the Emperor Penguin
Mary Pope Osborne
The Magic Tree House: Merlin Missions series is the continuation of the original Magic Tree House books, written for one grade level higher readers ready for more complex stories. In the Merlin Missions books, the sibling duo Jack and Annie travel again to historical time periods and places to tackle their next adventure. The books are longer with more advanced language, character development and plots, making them a gentle transition to more immersive stories
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The series begins with Christmas in Camelot with many of the later books including Eve of the Emperor Penguin pairing with corresponding non-fiction companions.
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Adventure, History, STEM
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Magic Tree House: A Nonfiction Companion to Eve of the Emperor Penguin
Mary Pope Osborne, Will Osborne
The Magic Tree House: A Nonfiction Companion series, also known as the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers, is a collection of nonfiction books designed to complement the fictional adventures of Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House series. Each Fact Tracker dives deeper into the historical time periods, events, or subjects that Jack and Annie encounter in their journeys, providing young readers with accurate, engaging, and well-researched information.
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These books are written at comparable level as the Merlin Missions, though some children may still benefit from discussion with an adult to enhance their comprehension of the content.
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History, STEM, Illustrations
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Smart Girl's Guide: Friendship Troubles
Patti Kelley Criswell
The Smart Girl's Guide series, published by American Girl, is a thoughtful collection of empowering, informative books designed to help children and tween girls navigate the challenges and changes they encounter as they grow up.
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Not every child will will need such guides during their elementary school years, but we include this title in the third grade section in case some parents may wish to become familiar with the many topics this series addresses. Parents may also find that having open interpersonal discussions in earlier years may help ease into inevitable conversations in later pre-teen years.
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Friendship, Relationships, Relatable, Positive Behaviors
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The Puppets of Spelhorst
Kate DiCamillo
The Puppets of Spelhorst is a whimsical and enchanting tale told from the perspectives of five puppets—a king, a wolf, a boy, a girl, and an owl—each believing they are destined for a greater purpose. The author brilliantly weaves hope with melancholy—as well as touches of well-timed humor—and vividly brings to life the group of puppets and the human characters they meet along the way.
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This book is a thoroughly mesmerizing tale filled with opportunities for rich discussion. Perfect for middle grade classrooms, and parents looking for a read-aloud at the third grade level.
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Endearing, Descriptive Writing
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition
J.K. Rowling
with over 600 million copies sold, the Harry Potter book series is considered to be the top selling book franchise of all time. From the moment Harry arrives at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, your child will be swept up in a world of magic, peril, and friendships.
Although the writing level of The Sorcerer's Stone is closer to books on our Fourth Grade reading list (Harry Potter is age 11 when we first meet him) many younger students have found it difficult to resist diving into the Harry Potter series sooner. If this is your child, we wholeheartedly recommend this illustrated edition as a read-aloud selection for younger readers.
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Adventure, Imagination, Friendships, Print Quality
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