I’m such a huge fan of reading and elementary books are doubly fun for me to read. If you’re looking for a great 3rd grade reading book list, you’ve come to the right place! These are some of the best books for 3rd graders to read that my kids and I found simply delicious!
Some I’ve heard of and read, while some I haven’t read but saw on Amazon Top 100 and thought it would be great! I also discovered some of the best chapter books from around a homeschool Facebook groups, some of which include awesome main characters or book series or even just graphic novels or stand alone books for young readers in elementary school.
Many of these chapter books have great story lines and are perfect for 3rd graders for homeschool or a road trip or summer vacation or just as independent readers. Then some are picture books and graphic novel series that are perfect for mid-upper elementary readers.
Whether you’re a homeschool mom looking for something to read to your child or you’re a teacher looking for new and delightful book ideas, or you need to find a few independent readers for your kiddo, this list is a good place to start and to be honest are perfect for children of all ages, not just elementary kids!
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What type of books should 3rd graders read?
At this age, kids are starting to become more independent readers and might start reading their first book by themselves this school year. They can handle longer books and they’re beginning to develop preferences for certain genres, like it including a best friend or meeting a new friend at school or bad guys within the pages. Or they prefer just a funny book or adventure stories! Any young girl and young boy will love a book that has a great storyline regardless if it’s a classic book, popular book, or mirrors real life.
That said, it’s still important to choose books that are appropriate for their age group or level, like second grade, third grade, or fourth grade levels. Maybe even a bit higher levels like fifth grade. Look for books with engaging storylines, relatable characters, and illustrations that help bring the story to life. Books like these will help keep your child interested in reading, and they’ll also help them develop their literacy skills.
All or most books aren’t just there for ONLY one grade level – they’re great for a range of ages and grades. So as some may seem like an easy read, it may not be. Same with others that seem like a more difficult read.
How well should a third grader read?
Most books for 3rd graders to read can read independently, but they may still need help with some words. It’s important to choose books that are at their reading level so that they can understand the story and follow along easily. Books like Amelia Bedelia are good, Diary of a Wimpy kid series, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Cam Jansen…books like these are good to start them off with.
If your 3rd grader is struggling with a particular book, don’t hesitate to look for a different book that may be a better fit. Let’s face it, not every book is going to be a winner. Just because a book is popular doesn’t mean it’s going to be the right fit for your child. And that’s okay!
It’s important to find books that your child enjoys reading because that’s what will encourage them to keep reading!! So if your child is struggling with a book, don’t force them to finish it. Instead, try finding a different book that may be a better fit. There are plenty of great books out there, so there’s no need to stick with one that isn’t working. Help your child find something that they love, and they’ll be well on their way to becoming a lifelong reader.
What level should Grade 3 be reading at?
When it comes to reading level, Grade 3 is a bit of a mixed bag. Some books for 3rd graders to read may even be at a first-grade level while others may be reading at a fifth-grade level. However, the majority of Grade 3 kids fall somewhere in the middle, reading at a third-grade level.
For example, my son’s is about 2 grades lower and my daughter’s always been a strong reader. It just depends on the kiddo, and each one is different. They each have their own pace when it comes to becoming readers or even transitioning from reluctant readers to lifelong-loving readers.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and some kids may surprise their parents by reading above or below their expected level. Ultimately, however, the best way to determine a child’s reading level is to have them take a standardized test.
This will provide you with an accurate assessment of each child’s abilities and help to ensure that all children are meeting their reading goals you set for them.
To see what reading level your child’s in, there are a few places online you can use. Several reading curriculums have placement tests on their site for free to see which level kids would belong to that also include reading levels.
65 of the Best Books for Third Graders
Here are 65 good books for 3rd graders that are perfect for this age group. These books are a mix of classics and contemporary favorites, so there’s something here for every reader.
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
- The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
- My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
- The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
- Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
- Ramona Quimby, Age Eight by Beverly Clear
| Books 1-20 | ||
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Top | Charlotte's Web | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Cat in the Hat | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Dragon Rider (Dragon Rider, 1) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Emerald Atlas (Books of Beginning) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Ivy and Bean: Book 1 | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | James and the Giant Peach | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Little House in the Big Woods (Little House on the Prairie Book 1) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Little House 4-Book Box Set: Little House in the Big Woods, Farmer Boy, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Matilda | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | My Father's Dragon | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Neverending Story | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Peter Pan | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Phantom Tollbooth | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Pippi Longstocking | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Ramona Quimby, Age 8 | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | If you end up getting the book, check out the Ramona Quimby, Age 8 LITERATURE KIT! | VIEW ON AMAZON |
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
- Slider by Pete Hautman
- Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
- Stuart Little by E.B. White
- Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
- The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
- Watership Down by Richard Adams-
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers (I Can Read Level 4)
- The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke
- The Unteachables by Gordan Korman
| Books 21-40 | ||
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Top | First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers (I Can Read Level 4) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Slider | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Swiss Family Robinson (Townsend Library Edition) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Secret Garden (HarperClassics) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Sign of the Beaver | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats(1995-09-01) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Stuart Little | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Trumpet of the Swan 50th Anniversary | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Watership Down A Novel | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Wolves Chronicles Series) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | Wonder | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Unadoptables: Five fantastic children on the adventure of a lifetime | VIEW ON AMAZON |
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Top | The Unteachables | VIEW ON AMAZON |
- Upside Down Magic: Dragon Overnight by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael RosenThe
- Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
- Wild Robot by Peter Brown
- Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
- Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
- The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
- You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang
- Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth
- Zip by Ingram Florrie
- Zombie Baseball Beatdown by Paolo Bacigalupi
- You’re Bacon Me Crazy by Jodi Meadows
- The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
- Worlds Apart by E. M. Tippetts
- Wrath of the Storm by Jennifer A. Nielsen
- Write This Down by Claudia Mills
- Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina by Rodman Philbrick
Top | Wolf Hollow | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | Wishtree | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | Write This Down | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | You Are Not Small | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | Dragon Overnight (Upside-Down Magic #4) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Classic Board Books) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | The Whipping Boy | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, 1) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | The World According to Humphrey | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | Zen Shorts (A Stillwater Book) (Caldecott Medal - Honors Winning Title(s)) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | Zombie Baseball Beatdown | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | The Wizards of Once | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Top | Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina | VIEW ON AMAZON |
- Hospital Soar: The Story of a White House Eagle by Melissa Castrillon
- Trapped In A Video Game by Dustin Brady Black
- My Sister Rosa by Yuyi Morales
- The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
- The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
- Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
- Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
- Percy Jackson and The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
- My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
- The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle by
- Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
| Books 61-75 | Buy | |
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 | The Rainbow Fish | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | A Videogame Stole My Sister (Metaverse Legends Book 1) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | The Lion & the Mouse | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Dragons Love Tacos | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Clifford the Big Red Dog (Classic Storybook) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | The Mouse and the Motorcycle | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall, 1) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Chrysanthemum: A First Day of School Book for Kids | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Harold and the Purple Crayon (Purple Crayon Books) | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 | Make Way for Ducklings | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Good Books for 3rd Graders If You Like Picture Books!
In addition to chapter books, there are also some amazing picture books that are perfect for 3rd graders.
Picture books for 3rd graders are a great way to get them interested in reading. They are short, easy to read, and often have beautiful illustrations.
I highly recommend The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, and Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. All three of these books are award-winning! And here are a few of my favorites:
- The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Make Believe Monsters by Mercer Mayer
- Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney.
| Author | |||
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| Top | The Lion & the Mouse | Pinkney, Jerry | VIEW ON AMAZON |
| Top | Chrysanthemum: A First Day of School Book for Kids | Henkes, Kevin | VIEW ON AMAZON |
| Top | Harold and the Purple Crayon (Purple Crayon Books) | Johnson, Crockett | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 Top | Dragonbreath #1 | Vernon, Ursula | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 Top | Corduroy | Freeman, Don | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 Top | Blueberries for Sal | McCloskey, Robert | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 Top | Where the Wild Things Are | Maurice Sendak | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 Top | Little Critter: 5-Minute Little Critter Stories: Includes 12 Classic Stories! | Mayer, Mercer | VIEW ON AMAZON |
 Top | Llama Llama Red Pajama | Anna Dewdney | VIEW ON AMAZON |
65 Super Awesome Books for 3rd Graders To Read
I hope you enjoy these 3rd grade reading list chapter books and picture books! For more recommendations, you can check out these:
21 Fabulous 4th Grade Books for Girls Who Are Reluctant Readers
4th Grade Recommended Reading List
38 of the Best 2nd Grade Books – Your Kids Will Love This List!
Do you have any favorite books that you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our other blog posts for more great reading recommendations!
