Third grade in particular can offer a real challenge when figuring out a bookish gift. The two main things to keep in mind when picking books for 3rd graders are 1) the wide range of reading capabilities for 3rd graders, 2) that reading needs to be fun for kids who are developing their relationship with reading. Third graders reading abilities can vary widely. In 3rd grade, 7- and 8-year-olds might read a couple of grade levels in either direction, meaning kids could be reading anywhere from what’s considered average for a 1st grader to what’s average for a 5th grader. And that’s fine. Reading takes practice, so helping kids find books that will give them confidence and help them practice is key. One of the biggest things for kids at this age is getting books they’ll enjoy reading. Reading skills are developed through reading practice, but if reading isn’t fun, it’s so hard to practice. When picking out a book for your 3rd grader, picking out something fun is just as important as picking out something that is good quality. We want to lay down a foundation of good experiences with books!
Graphic Novels For 3rd Graders
Graphic novels are ideal for building up fun reading experiences for kids. The art provides context for words and draws in readers who may find a page full of words intimidating. Though they are ideal for any reader who likes good stories!
Cucumber Quest by Gigi D.G.
Join Cucumber bunny as he’s forced onto a quest to save the Dreamside kingdoms from the Nightmare Knight, even though all he wants to do is leave the adventuring to his sword-wielding sister Almond and go to magic school.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
The zombie apocalypse has happened and as usual the adults are useless, so it’s up to a group of kids to rescue their friend June. For anyone who like monsters, emotional intelligence, and gross-out humor!
Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neill
Princess Amira, astride a unicorn and sporting a mohawk and military jacket, helps Princess Sadie decide to leave behind her tower and her self-doubts about her big body as they go off on adventures, encountering flustered princes, difficult older sisters, and, finally, a happily ever after.
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Adapted from the popular Wings of Fire fantasy series, the five dragonets of The Dragonet Prophecy have been hidden underground for their whole lives and emerge to find their world overrun with violence and treachery. Plug your dragon-lover in here.
Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Ever popular with kids who have a taste for things that are slightly dark and creepy, this graphic novel series follows siblings Emily and Navin as they set out to rescue their mom from a world below the ground filled with freaky monsters and strange allies.
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
If you are looking for a book with Calvin and Hobbs vibes, look no further! Whimsical Phoebe and her snarky unicorn bff, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils make everyday experiences charming and silly in a clean and colorful art-style.
Princeless: Save Yourself by Jeremy Whitley
Similar to Princess Princess Ever After, but with a longer story arc and deeper exploration of the characters. Princess Adrienne gets tired of being in her tower so she runs off with the dragon guarding her to rescue her sisters locked away in their own towers. A great example of how many ways one idea can be explored!
Real Friends by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Navigating friendships is hard and no one captures it quite like Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. Hale tells the story of her own struggles to find a healthy friendship throughout elementary school, taking us from her first day of Kindergarten through to Sixth Grade. Pham’s art is beautiful as ever and parents may want a hankie while reading.
Zita, Space Girl by Ben Hatke
Your graphic novel reader will be charmed by self-assured Zita, who accidentally transports herself and her diffident best friend Joseph to a planet in turmoil.
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Cat and her sister Maya move with their family to Northern California because of Maya’s poor health. Everything gets more interesting when they find out there are ghosts in their new town, and Cat finds that the ghosts can be more than just outside of you. Wildly popular Telgemeier is always a hit with kids.
Avatar, The Last Airbender: Graphic Novel by Gene Luen Yang
Nickelodeon’s fantastic cartoon series serves as the jumping off point for these comic which continue the adventures of Aang and Co. after the end of the series. Kids who love Aang and Korra will gobble these books up!
Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke
Master storyteller Hatke gives a twist to Jack and the Beanstalk. This Jack, his sister Maddy, and his friend Lilly grow a magical garden, battling to keep it under control, all while his mom works two jobs.
Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang
Stately Academy is rife with mysteries and coding puzzles with Hopper and Eni finding sidewalk cleaning robots and bully-neutralizing inventions. Readers will learn the basics of coding through thoughtful illustrations and bright art.
Starting Chapter Books For 3rd Graders
Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin
Ling and Ting are twin sisters, but they are not exactly the same. Quick stories told in a few pages, Ling and Ting enjoy gentle silliness, each story ending with a little twist.
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman
Kate and her talking horse Cocoa look out for each other in this sweet early chapter book paired with beautiful watercolor art.
Frog and Toad/Owl at Home/Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel
Arnold Lobel knows how to create the perfect little story for young readers. They are sweet and silly and affirming, with a twist that delights adults as well as children. Easy to read and rewarding to finish.
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
What do you get when you combine a princess and a superhero? The Princess in Black, a superhero working hard to save the goats from the monsters who want to eat them AND to keep her alter-ego, Princess Marigold, meeting all the social conventions a princess is expected to meet!
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
Mercy Watson is a pig who lives with her doting owners, Mr. and Mrs. Watson. She loves hot buttered toast and finds herself in silly situations. Prep your own hot buttered toast before reading!
Mermaid Tales by Debbie Dadey
Mermaid best friends Shelly, Echo, Kiki, and Pearl take the familiar friendship stories of elementary school readers undersea. The friends learn social skills like inclusion and how to get along with friends and siblings, which is just want young elementary kids love to read about. Also everyone is a mermaid, so the fish puns will catch you!
Saving the Team: The Kicks by Alex Morgan
Written by an Olympic soccer player with a gold medal, The Kicks series starts off with ten-year-old Devin moving to Kentville, California, and trying to settle into her new soccer team—who really need some direction!
Geronimo Stilton and Thea Stilton
Geronimo is a mouse journalist who wants a quiet life, but himself on wild adventures in far off lands, sometimes accompanied by his sister, Thea, a detective who has her own spinoff series. This wildly popular series was translated from Italian and offers a multitude of books for kids who get obsessed with the series.
Myth-o-mania by Kate McMullan
Spin traditional Greek myths on their heads! Zeus made it all up! It’s all lies! Hades sets things straight while introducing kids to fractured versions of Ancient Greek mythology.
A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
Considered some of the best early chapter books for kids reading on their own, the A–Z Mysteries start off with three kid-detectives solving a case for every letter of the alphabet. Firmly in the cozy mystery sphere, rather than scary mysteries, early chapter book readers love this series.
Lola Levine Is Not Mean by Monica Brown
Lola Levine is a soccer-obsessed, word-loving second-grader who has a loving family, a believably affectionate/antagonist relationship with her younger brother, and not as many friends as she’d like. Lola embraces both sides of her Peruvian/white Jewish family and grows and changes in her own lovable way!
My Weird School by Dan Gutman
Hilarity and wordplay are the themes running through A.J.’s account of his time at his school, Ella Mentry School, where the staff are wacky and the kids have got things figured out.
The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin
J.J. is a retired search-and-rescue dog who now spends his days looking after a group of four baby chicks who get themselves into all sorts of trouble, despite his best efforts. Farmyard hilarity!
Eerie Elementary/The Dragon Masters/Owl Diaries
Scholastic Branches is a collection of books targeted at kids moving between leveled readers and longer chapter books. With illustrations on most pages and six-page chapter, new readers can build up their skills following the stories of a boy who finds that his school is actually a building with malicious intent, a good-natured boy who gets chosen to befriend a dragon, and the diary of an owl girl who has a life very similar to most elementary school kids.
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
Anna Hibiscus lives in amazing Africa with her extended family and her white Canadian mother. Anna longs to see snow, while having quiet adventures with her family.
No. 1 Car Spotter by Atinuke
Switching from Anna Hibiscus’s privileged world to Oluwalese (or No. 1) who lives in a small village in Nigeria, Atinuke shows another face of childhood. No. 1’s story has the same gentle humor and interconnected storytelling as Anna Hibiscus, as he helps out his family and engages in his favorite pastime, spotting cars that drive by.
Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro
Zoey and her cat Sassafras discover they can see the magical creatures who come to their barn for help. Zoey uses her “Thinking Goggles” and her adherence to scientific method to solve the magical mysteries of what is making the plants and animals sick.
Ruby Lu: Brave and True by Lenore Look
Bubbly Ruby Lu loves her life, which she lives at full volume. She gets herself into a few scrapes along the way that Ramona Quimby fans will enjoy, such as introducing herself as a frog when she starts Chinese school, and when her baby brother learns to talk and spills her best magic show secret.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
Second grader Alvin is upfront about his anxiety, which leaves him in situations that, while not scary, the book is matter-of-fact about his difficulties. Alvin has a loving family who help him as he suffers through moments of anxiety, and Alvin himself has a strong, endearing character voice. The book doesn’t give him any magical solutions, but he does learn to deal with some of his worries.
The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s First Case by Alexander McCall Smith
Spinning off of his adult series about Botswana’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Smith takes us back to Precious’s childhood with her father when she first develops a taste for solving-mysteries.
EllRay Jakes is Not A Chicken by Sally Warner
Third grader EllRay finds himself on the receiving end of bullying and doesn’t quite know what to do about it. A relevant topic for kids, this book offers solutions without being saccharine about them.
Bookmarks Are People Too by Henry Winkler
While it’s not stated in the first book in the series, our hero Hank deals with learning disabilities, including dyslexia. Regardless, he does his best to get along in second grade and finds his own way to make his mark. The typeface is specifically designed to help readers with dyslexia, one way this book puts its money where its mouth is.
Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic by Whoopie Goldberg, Deborah Underwood
Friendship and ballerinas take the lead in this book about Alexandrea, who moves to a new ballet school in Harlem and somehow lands the leading part in the recital, even though she’s not the best dancer.
The Kingdom of Wrenly: The Lost Stone by Jordan Quinn
Gentle fantasy adventures ensue as Prince Lucas and his friend Clara, the seamstress’s daughter, strike up a friendship and help the kingdom with any troubles that arise.
Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet by Graham Salisbury
At home in Oahu, Calvin scares up delightful mischief, especially when a live-in nanny comes to stay and takes over his room.
Nikki and Deja by Karen English
Nikki and Deja are best friends, until a new girl on their street who is also in their class changes their dynamic, which puts their friendship to the test.
Longer Chapterbooks For 3rd Graders
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Ten-year-old Jackson can see another period of homelessness and living in the van coming up for his family. He can also see Crenshaw, a giant talking cat he hasn’t seen in several years…since the last time his family was homeless. Crenshaw helps Jackson deal with the difficult time in his life, and humanizing homelessness.
One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Based on a real gorilla, Ivan, who lived at a mall in Tacoma, Washington, this Newbery Award–winning book imagines being inside Ivan’s head and explores the complex humanity of animals.
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III
Marshall explores the ideas of what it means to be Indian, as well as what it means to be a hero, through the stories Grandpa Nyles tells Jimmy on their road trip following Crazy Horse’s life story.
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Re-imagine “The Snow Queen” with Hazel, who accidentally hits her friend Jack in the eye with a snowball, and then he is taken away by the Snow Queen. Hazel has to journey through the snowy woods to rescue her friend, who may not even want her rescue.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
A robot, Roz, washes up on deserted island and discovers the wonders of nature as she figures out how to live and to survive.
Henry Huggins/Ramona the Pest/Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary is much-beloved classic children’s book author (and librarian!) for a reason. Her books dig into how being a kid can lead to misunderstanding and mishap, into the humor of the mundanity of being a kid, and how mundanity is still great.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Another children’s classic stuffed with puns and word play. Bored Milo finds himself in a fantastical world on the search for the missing princesses of Rhyme and Reason, balancing the two fighting brothers of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis, and getting into all sorts of interesting scrapes with his new watchdog friend, Tock.
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Bean is a lively girl with nerves to match; Ivy is a dreamy sort of girl with plenty of know-how about other worlds. Of course they are the best of friends, with Ivy coming up with creative activities and Bean having the gumption to pull them off.
Forest of Wonders by Linda Sue Park
Magical apothecary Raffa finds that boundaries might be in place for a reason and that pushing passed them might unfold unforeseen tragedies.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Described by the author in her TED Talk as a sort of Chinese Wizard of Oz, our heroine Minli sets out to find fortune for her struggling family and community, encountering a dragon, a magic goldfish, a king, and a green tiger. Lin is a genius and everyone should read this book.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A magical story about families and love, the way that sorrow can be amplified when ignored, and how power can be corrupted by the wielder. This book is engrossing and thoroughly magical!
Spirit Week: The Magnificent Mya Tibbs by Crystal Allen
Mya thinks that she’s going to be partnered with her best friend for Spirit Week, but instead gets Mean Connie for her partner. Mya learns the true depths of people, even when you think you already know them, and Allen offers up friendships of all kinds for readers to learn the many ways to be a good friend.
Dara Palmer’s Major Drama by Emma Shevah
Dara finds herself prevented from playing the perfect part in the school play…because she was adopted from Cambodia as a baby, so doesn’t apparently look the part. Struggling with her identity and place in her family and community, Dara explores her history and her present to figure out her future.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia Williams
Delphine and her two younger sisters go to spend the summer with their distant mother in Oakland, California. Since it’s the summer of 196-, the girls meet the Black Panthers and untangle some family secrets.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old Irish master criminal looking for his parents when he gets caught up with the fairies who live underground in a bunker. With humor designed to appeal to kids, and a hero powered by his incredible brain for future Sherlock fans, this series deserves the love it gets.
Stella By Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
A white-supremacist attack brings turmoil to Stella’s North Carolina community during the Depression. Draper allows readers to experience the Jim Crow South through a safe and confident narrator.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
This novel in verse follows Kim Ha as her family flees Vietnam in 1975 for Alabama, where there aren’t many other refugees or Vietnamese people. Poignant, but Lai also allows readers to laugh with Kim as she learns a new culture and language.
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
Infused with Haitian folklore, Corinne’s story finds her followed by the ghost of her aunt, who wants to take over the whole island. Baptiste explores themes of colonization and of family with deliciously spooky ghosts!
It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
Set in 1970s America, against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution, Cindy works to fit in to her new school in California at the same time that her parents worry over friends and family left in Iran during the revolution.
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Mildred Hubble is the worst witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy. Her spells go wrong and Ms. Hardbroom is always unhappy with her, but Mildred has a solid group of friends to fall back on. Published well before Harry Potter, Mildred is an endearing, if clumsy, heroine that you can’t help but root for.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
The first in Reynold’s Track quartet, Ghost’s difficulties at home translate to difficulties at school until he finds his way to the track team. Now Ghost just has to figure out how to be on the team.
As Brave As You Are by Jason Reynolds
City kid Genie spends a slow summer at his grandparents’ house in the country, forging a relationship with them and dealing with his anxiety through his notebook of questions.
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Rife with jokes, two friends hypnotize their principal into believing he’s Captain Underpants, out to save the world from bad guys with Wedgie Power. While frequently on lists of banned books, Captain Underpants never fails to thrill kids with toilet humor. (Comedy is all about taboos.)
George by Alex Gino
In this sweet story, Melissa really wants to play Charlotte in her 4th grade class’s upcoming performance of Charlotte’s Web. Unfortunately, her teacher, classmates, and family all think that Melissa is a boy.
Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee
Maddie must overcome her nerves as she fills in for Romeo in the class play, because her crush is playing Juliet opposite her.
Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon
If you’ve never read a book with a hamster princess, then meet Harriet. She’s unrestrained and feminist in her princessing, so she take her evil fairy’s curse as a chance to do good deeds before returning home to foil her own curse.
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
Exuberant Danny Dragonbreath (sans fire breathing) drags his reticent iguana friend Wendell off to meet sea serpents for a class assignment for their reptile and amphibian school.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Peter lives on the edge of 1970s Central Park with his parents and his two year old brother Fudge. Fudge is an adorable terror and for Peter, 4th grade is hard enough without a little brother.
President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston
Political ethics start young when Brianna wants to be president of her 5th grade class, despite knowing a secret that could devastate her opponent.
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru accidentally wakes up the Destroyer and has to join up with her spirit sister, Mini, to travel through spheres of Hindu mythology in order to save the world.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Potter-mad parents can want to introduce their kids to Harry, Ron, and Hermione asap, but kids’ readiness for the books might not manifest until close to 9 or 10. Upper elementary is a pretty good time for kids to start the books, especially as the books get darker as Harry gets older. If you’re looking for more recommended books for 3rd graders and other elementary school kids check here and here and here and here! What recommendations do you have for appropriate books for 3rd graders? Thank you to Ms. Kathleen at John Stanford International Elementary School for her input!
