Wondering what book to pick up for your third grader?<\/p>\n
As they develop more independence and the ability to read longer and more complex stories, the world of children\u2019s literature really opens up.<\/p>\n
These new and classic titles are perfect for all kinds of third-grade readers. They\u2019re also great for reading aloud, if that\u2019s more your child\u2019s speed. Or you can try alternating back and forth \u2014 they read a page, then you read a page \u2014 so they can practice their reading but not get so bogged down they lose sight of the story arc.<\/p>\n
No matter how you use these books, all 16 are winners.<\/p>\n
no no 9780593326497 Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman<\/i> by Diana L\u00f3pez <\/p>\n
In this enchanting adventure, the determined twelve-year-old daughter of La Llorona sets out to free her mother and undo the curses that have been afflicting the magical town of Tres Leches. With added help from the children of other monsters, they go on a charming adventure to break magical and metaphorical curses that have haunted their town for generations.<\/p>\n
9780440418702 The Tia Lola<\/i> Series by Julia Alvarez <\/p>\n
Young readers will love Tia Lola and want her as their own! She’s a magical aunt who lends her aid during every adventure and life lesson. Whether it’s a move, a summer rescue, or teaching Spanish at her niece and nephew’s school, Tia Lola proves she’s an unstoppable force!<\/p>\n
9781984837141 Pages & Co.<\/i> Series https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/PGC\/pages-and-co\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Anna James, illustrated by Paola Escobar <\/p>\n
Tilly Pages has an enviable ability: she\u2019s a bookwanderer, which means she can travel into any story she chooses. Tilly discovers her power at Pages & Co., her grandparents\u2019 bookshop, after meeting literary characters \u2014 like Anne of Green Gables \u2014 who bookwandered out of their own stories and into Tilly\u2019s life. With the help of a new friend, Oskar, Tilly solves all sorts of bookish mysteries, starting with what happened to her mother who disappeared. <\/p>\n
9780593372876 Meesh the Bad Demon<\/i> by Michelle Lam <\/p>\n
Follow the journey of Meesh as she navigates her way through the underworld, seeking her place. With the help of outcasts and even a bully, she learns to defy perceptions and discovers there’s more to being a demon than being “bad”. Perfect for third graders, this series teaches valuable lessons about embracing one’s flaws and finding strength in unlikely places.<\/p>\n
9780142410349 Fantastic Mr. Fox<\/i> http:\/\/www.penguin.com\/book\/fantastic-mr-fox-by-roald-dahl\/9780142410349?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake <\/p>\n
When is Roald Dahl not a good idea? This book is a quick read and hilariously funny. (There are also audio versions of Roald Dahl\u2019s books and this one<\/a> is particularly excellent if you have a child who would rather listen than read.) <\/p>\n 9780735231726 The Unicorn Rescue Society<\/i> Series https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/URS\/the-unicorn-rescue-society\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Adam Gidwitz <\/p>\n For third graders who can\u2019t read enough about mythological creatures, The Unicorn Rescue Society<\/i> series is a must. New kid at school Elliot Eisner and thrill-seeking Uchenna Devereaux are tapped to join an ultra-secret organization that\u2019s been protecting mythical animals \u2014 and keeping them hidden \u2014 for centuries. Their adventures take them around the world and face-to-face with fantastic creatures; the accompanying illustrations make a perfect crossover for newly independent readers. <\/p>\n 9780142400104 Cam Jansen<\/i> Series https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/DMV\/cam-jansen\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by David A. Adler <\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason this series has been a bestseller for over 30 years \u2014 and with over 30 books in the set, it will keep readers busy for a good while. You might think of Cam Jansen as a descendent of Nancy Drew<\/a>: there\u2019s no mystery Cam can\u2019t solve if she just puts her mind to it, especially with her best friend Eric at her side. It\u2019s a great transition for those just getting into chapter books. <\/p>\n 9780593109212 Planet Omar<\/i> Series https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/OMR\/planet-omar\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik <\/p>\n A wonderful #OwnVoices series, Planet Omar<\/i> centers a young Muslim boy as he nervously transfers to a new school. Omar is bighearted and wildly imaginative (he suspects his new teacher of being an alien, for starters), and though he\u2019s confronted with a bully and a feeling of otherness, he has his imagination, quirky family, and new best friend to help him find his footing. <\/p>\n 9781984892973 Clean Getaway <\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/605269\/clean-getaway-by-nic-stone\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Nic Stone <\/p>\n Scoob didn\u2019t count on a spring break like this one. He also didn\u2019t count on being majorly grounded, but his grandma had other ideas in mind, and she\u2019s whisked him away on an epic road trip \u2014 Green Book in hand \u2014 retracing the journey she and Scoob\u2019s grandpa took once upon a time. With his grandmother at the wheel, Scoob learns important truths about both his family and America\u2019s history. <\/p>\n 9781524740818 Confessions of a Dork Lord <\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/557054\/confessions-of-a-dork-lord-by-mike-johnston-illustrated-by-marta-altes\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Mike Johnston, illustrated by Marta Alt\u00e9s <\/p>\n Meet Azrael Bal Gorath the Wicked, Son of the Dark Lord Who Vanished, and Heir to the Throne of Black and Broken Glass. His friends call him Wick. Everyone else at Middle Ages School calls him the Dork Lord. It\u2019s hard living up to your famous father, especially when your heart\u2019s not in it (and you\u2019re still in Remedial Spell Casting). Buckle up for this hilarious and irreverent new series. <\/p>\n 9780394815008 The Phantom Tollbooth<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/89124\/the-phantom-tollbooth-by-norton-juster-illustrated-by-jules-feiffer\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer <\/p>\n Third grade is the perfect age to experience the wonder of The Phantom Tollbooth<\/i>. Milo\u2019s mysterious journey to the Island of Conclusions and his burgeoning friendship with Tock the ticking watchdog will reinvigorate imaginations \u2014 including yours! Why not revisit this classic with a family-wide read aloud? Your kids will be clamoring to read the next page. <\/p>\n 9780553523546 Jake the Fake<\/i> Series https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/JTF\/jake-the-fake?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach, illustrated by Keith Knight <\/p>\n Jake managed to fake his way into the Music and Art Academy for the gifted and talented, but he\u2019s not so sure where to go from there. He\u2019s certainly no musician or artist. Really, all he\u2019s ever been able to do is make people laugh. Co-authored by actor and comedian Craig Robinson and best-selling author Adam Mansbach \u2014 and accompanied with pitch-perfect illustrations from Keith Knight \u2014 this new series is primed to become a fan favorite.<\/p>\n 9780142408810 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/286551\/tales-of-a-fourth-grade-nothing-by-judy-blume\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Judy Blume <\/p>\n Every third grader needs a dose of Judy Blume in their life \u2014 and every young reader who\u2019s lived through the woes of sibling rivalry will appreciate this tale of Peter and his little brother, Fudge, who\u2019s hogging all the attention. The kid\u2019s trouble in Peter\u2019s opinion, though all anyone seems to care about is his so-called cuteness. After your child devours this one, they can turn to Superfudge<\/a><\/i> and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n 9780142415559 A Dyamonde Daniel Book<\/i> Series https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/DNZ\/a-dyamonde-daniel-book\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie <\/p>\n Dyamonde Daniel is the sort of literary role model parents dream of for their kids. The third grader with \u201cwild-crazy hair\u201d is here to make friends, reconsider what she really needs in life, and question the narratives she\u2019s hearing at school. Author Nikki Grimes is so talented at weaving difficult conversations (about things like privilege and body image) into the daily life of Dyamonde, a sparkling, smart, and kind heroine. <\/p>\n 9780425290422 The First Rule of Punk <\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/553179\/the-first-rule-of-punk-by-celia-c-perez\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Celia C. P\u00e9rez <\/p>\n Creative preteen Mal\u00fa is just trying to be herself \u2014 after all, as her father taught her, that\u2019s the first rule of punk. At school, Mal\u00fa and her new bandmates defend their right to express themselves against a school administration that pushes conformity; at home, Mal\u00fa\u2019s mother wants her to learn more about her Mexican heritage, which Mal\u00fa, who\u2019s biracial, has complicated feelings about. You\u2019ll cheer for this thoughtful, bold young narrator. <\/p>\n 9780142425305 The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/310695\/the-mouse-with-the-question-mark-tail-by-richard-peck\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Richard Peck <\/p>\n What child hasn\u2019t been charmed by miniature, hidden worlds? Enchanted fairies, tiny \u201cborrowers\u201d who live in the walls, and now a pipsqueak of a mouse who doesn\u2019t know his own name. But that won\u2019t stop him from setting off for Buckingham Palace to seek an audience with Queen Victoria and find out who he really is. Whimsical and clever, this one\u2019s sure to charm your young reader. <\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2023.<\/i><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As third graders develop more independence and the ability to read longer and more complex stories, the world of children\u2019s literature really opens up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":16847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[60,67,71,83,123,207,393,764,954,1167],"coauthors":[25],"class_list":["post-1739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-humor","tag-mystery","tag-chapter-books","tag-classic-characters","tag-series","tag-third-graders","tag-school","tag-chapter-book-champions","tag-educators","tag-beloved-characters-and-classics","ages_stages-growing-reader","ages_stages-tween"],"yoast_head":"\n