Top 15 Books For 3rd Graders Updated 04 /2024

You're not sure which book to buy for your third-grade child.

They become more independent and can read longer and more complicated stories as they get older. This opens up the world of children's literature to a whole new level!

These new and old books are great for third-graders of all kinds. if your child likes to read aloud. When they read a page, you read a page, so they can practice their reading but not get so bogged down that they lose sight of the story arc.

It doesn't matter how you use these books. All 16 of them are winner

Pages & Co. Series

by Anna James, illustrated by Paola Escobar

Tilly Pages is a bookwanderer, which means she can travel into any story she wants. During her grandparents' book shop, Tilly meets literary characters like Anne of Green Gables who walked out of their own stories and into Tilly's life. As a new friend, Oskar, helps Tilly solve all kinds of book-related mysteries, starting with what happened to her mother when she went on a book tour.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake

When does Roald Dahl not work out? This book is easy to read and very funny. (There are also audio versions of Roald Dahl's books, and this one is great if you have a child who prefers to listen than read.)

The Unicorn Rescue Society Series

by Adam Gidwitz

It's important for third-graders who can't read enough about mythical animals to read The Unicorn Rescue Society. Uchenna Devereaux, a thrill-seeking new student, and Elliot Eisner, a new boy at school, have been chosen to join an ultra-secret group that has been protecting mythical animals and keeping them hidden for centuries. Their adventures take them all over the world, and they come face-to-face with some very strange animals. The illustrations that go with the book are a great match for people who are just starting to read on their own.

Cam Jansen Series

by David A. Adler

People have been reading this series for more than 30 years, and with over 30 books in the set, they'll be busy for a long time. There isn't a mystery that Cam Jansen can't solve if she has her best friend Eric by her side. If you're new to chapter books, it's a great way for you to move on.

Planet Omar Series

by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik

Planet Omar is a great #OwnVoices series that follows a young Muslim boy as he moves to a new school and is afraid. Omar has a big heart and is very imaginative. He thinks his new teacher is an alien for the first time, but he has his imagination, quirky family, and new best friend to help him get back on his feet.

The Fantastic Frame Series

by Lin Oliver, illustrated by Samantha Kallis

If you like art history and action, then this show is for you. Tiger Brooks, 10, and his neighbor Luna have to dive into famous paintings by artists like Georges Seurat and Georgia O'Keefe in order to find a missing person, but they have to do it in a very real way. The black-and-white line art changes to full color when the two people enter the frame, like Dorothy going from Kansas to Oz. The two must get out quickly or they could be stuck in the paintings for ever.

Clean Getaway

by Nic Stone

Scoob didn't think this spring break would happen. This is not the first time that his grandma has taken him on a road trip with Green Book in hand. She and Scoob's grandfather took the same journey once before. Scoob learns important things about both his family and the history of the United States when his grandmother drives.

Confessions of a Dork Lord

by Mike Johnston, illustrated by Marta Altés

Azrael Bal Gorath the Wicked is the son of the Dark Lord who went away and the heir to the Throne of Black and Broken Glass. He's also wicked. Wick is what his friends call him. At Middle Ages School, everyone else calls him the Dork Lord. In Remedial Spell Casting, you're still trying to live up to your famous dad. It's hard when your heart isn't in it and you don't want to. This new show is going to be very funny and very irreverent.

The Phantom Tollbooth

by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer

The Phantom Tollbooth is a great book to read when you're in third grade. Milo's journey to the Island of Conclusions and his friendship with Tock, the ticking watchdog, will make people's imaginations come alive again. Why not read this book together as a family? Your kids will want to read the next page.

Jake the Fake Series

by Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach, illustrated by Keith Knight

For some reason, Jake got in to the Music and Art Academy for people who are talented and gifted. He doesn't know where to go from there, but he was able to get in. A musician or an artist won't be able to tell him apart from the rest of them. He's been able to make people laugh all his life. Adam Mansbach and Craig Robinson wrote this new book series together, and the illustrations by Keith Knight are perfect. It's sure to be a big hit with kids.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

by Judy Blume

Third graders need Judy Blume in their lives. Every young reader who's been through the pain of sibling rivalry will love this story about Peter and his little brother, Fudge, who's taking all the attention. Peter thinks the kid is having a hard time, but everyone else only cares about how cute he is. After your child eats this one, they can move on to Superfudge and Also Known as Sheila the Great.

A Dyamonde Daniel Book Series

by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Dyamonde Daniel is the kind of person parents want their kids to look up to when they read. "Wild-crazy hair" is what the third grader has. She wants to make friends, think about what she needs in life, and question the stories she's hearing at school. Writer Nikki Grimes is so good at making hard conversations about things like privilege and body image a part of Dyamonde's everyday life. She does this by making them a part of her story.

The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Pérez

To be honest, Mali is just trying to be herself, which is the first rule of punk. At school, Mali and her new bandmates fight against a school administration that wants everyone to be the same. At home, Mali's mother wants her to learn more about her Mexican heritage, which Mali, who is biracial, has mixed feelings about. You'll cheer for this smart and brave young narrator.

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