Mystery books for third graders: 21 Must-Read Mystery Books for Kids

Опубликовано: March 7, 2023 в 4:25 am

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Mystery Book List for Upper Elementary

Are you looking for great literature to introduce your upper elementary students to mysteries? I’ve used many of these books in my classes during our mystery genre study. Although I loved to read mysteries in October around Halloween, these mysteries can be read any time of the year! Check them out for a quick summary and ideas for teaching different reading skills or strategies! All of these books have mystery elements strewn throughout the stories. They can be found on my Amazon list! Click HERE to browse.

Bunnicula

A rabbit-tale mystery by Deborah and James Howe (Grades 3-5)

The hilarious story is told from the perspective of a dog named Harold. It is centered around the Monroe family and their pets. The Monroes bring home a bunny found in a theater at a Dracula movie, so they name him Bunnicula. Chester, their cat, thinks Bunnicula is a vampire and tries to convince Harold to help him get rid of Bunnicula. Chester and Harold get in many predicaments that will leave you laughing and anticipating the next event.

This book has many opportunities to teach vivid word choice, figurative language, vocabulary, and inferences.

 

Ghost of Fossil Glen Series

A ghost story and murder mystery by Cynthia DeFelice (Grades 4-7)

Allie Nichols is an eleven-year-old girl who enjoys rock climbing. In one dangerous climb, she hears a ghostly voice that she trusts to help her off the rocks to safety. When the ghost follows her, she decides to investigate and found many clues with her friend Dub. They can’t believe what they discover! You will find this book very suspenseful, yet age-appropriate.

It is the perfect book for predictions before each chapter, teaching themes, synthesizing, and sequencing.

 

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

A puzzle-packed adventure by Chris Grabenstein (Grades 3-5)

This book features an eccentric billionaire who invites sixth grade students to an overnight stay in his library that not only has books, but a theater, electronics and interactive components. Kyle was excited to be one of the selected few since he loves games and admired Mr. Lemoncello for creating such a futuristic library. When morning comes, the doors remain locked. There is nonstop fun and adventure as they follow book-related clues and unravel secret puzzles to find an escape route to win a fabulous prize. One of the children, Kyle, loves games.

This book works well for teaching character traits, different perspectives, summarizing, and point of view.

 

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

An art-historical mystery by E.L. Kongigsburg (Grades 4-5)

A twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid decides to run away from her suburban living to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Since she doesn’t have enough money, she invites her younger brother, Jamie. He was quiet with a stash of money. The children take baths in the fountains and sleep in royal beds ignoring the restrictions at the museum. Their vacation turns into adventure when the museum purchased an angel statue by Michelangelo in auction. Wasn’t it worth millions? The children decide to investigate this mystery! Follow along their adventure and discover many mystery elements!

Great skills found in this book include point of view, foreshadowing, and inferences.

 

The 39 Clues Series

A series of adventure novels by Rick Riordan and various authors (Grades 5-7)

The 39 Clues books feature 14-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother Dan on a quest to discover their powerful family’s secret. 39 clues are hidden around the world. The clues will reveal the family’s secret. The two siblings compete with less honorable family members to win the family fortune by collecting 39 clues.  In the first book, they find two clues. They learn about their dead parents, each other, and world history. This book has plenty of plot twists, fun humor, and peeks into history!

There are opportunities to teach vocabulary, story elements, and writing skills such as ideas, organization, and voice.

 

The Name of this Book is Secret Series

The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch (Grades 3-7)

Cass and Max-Ernest are 11-year-old classmates who are nothing alike. They try to solve the mystery of a magician who disappeared. The real estate agent, Gloria Fortune, has items from the house. There are dozens of sparkling crystal vials, a Symphony of Smells, and messages in a notebook. The children come across wealthy and evil villains in their hair-raising, funny adventures. You must keep the BIG secret after your finish reading the book!

Lessons in this book can focus around plot, reasoning, and compare/contrast.

 

Sammy Keyes Series

A series of mystery novels by Wendelin Van Draanen (Grades 3-8)

Sammy is a seventh grader who seems to be a magnet for trouble. She is always in the wrong place at the wrong time and her curiosity gets the best of her. Throughout the series, she sniffs out clues, chases villains, and drives her friends nuts. Sammy’s mother is off trying to be a movie star, so Sammy lives with her grandmother in a SENIORS ONLY housing complex. In the first book, Sammy witnessed a burglary and the thief saw her. The thief is after her, she has to deal with a nosy neighbor, and the mean girl at her new school is making her life miserable. She gets suspended on her first day of school! Sammy perseveres! 

Teaching skills great for this book is character development, text evidence, and cause-effect.

 

Encyclopedia Brown Series

A mystery book series by Donald J. Soboln (Grades 3-5)

The series of books featuring the adventures of boy detective Leroy Brown, nicknamed “Encyclopedia” for his intelligence. Encyclopedia Brown, can solve any crime for just 25 cents a day (plus expenses), and usually before dinner time. Encyclopedia solves mysteries for neighborhood kids through his own detective agency with his knack for trivia. His dad is the chief of the Idaville police department, so Encyclopedia also helps him solve difficult cases around the dinner table each night.

The teaching skills that work well for this book are homonyms/synonyms, figurative language, antagonist/protagonist, and comparing characters.

 

Jigsaw Jones Series

Children’s detective fiction series by James Preller (Grades 2-4)

This series works best with lower-level students. It has simple sentences and the vocabulary is not challenging. Jigsaw Jones is an ace detective and Mila is his partner. He realizes that mysteries are like jigsaw puzzles–you have to look at all the pieces to solve the case! Jigsaw Jones has seen everything from missing hamsters and lost coins to stolen baseball cards and haunted houses. Jigsaw has an eye for detail and jots everything down in his top-secret detective journal. Jigsaw and Mila look forward to each new case!

Teaching opportunities for this book are context clues, questioning, comparing characters and events, story elements, and sequencing.

 

The Sister’s Grimm- Fairy Tale Detectives

The first book of an on-going middle-grade fantasy series by Michael Buckley (Grades 5-6)

This series features two sisters, Sabrina and Daphne, who become orphans after the mysterious disappearance of their parents. This humorous mystery series has extraordinary circumstances. The girls are sent to live with their mysterious grandmother, Relda Grimm, who they thought was dead! Granny lives in a strange town in New York State, known for unexplained and unusual crimes. Granny tells the girls they have two famous ancestors, the Brothers Grimm, whose classic book of fairy tales is actually a collection of case files of magical mischief. The girls take on the family responsibility of being fairy tale detectives. In the first book, the girls have an adventure to stop a giant from destroying their hometown.

This book has opportunities to teach reading strategies such as visualizing, predicting, and connections.

 

Room One: A Mystery or Two

A fun mystery novel by Andrew Clements (Grades 3-5)

Ted Hammond is a fifth-grader in a one-room school in his small town of Plattsford, Nebraska. He loves a good mystery. He investigates an abandoned house when he sees a face in the window along his paper route. The school is shrinking and the town is dying. Ted gets his teacher to help him decide on what to do about the mystery. He learns that one mystery leads into another!

There are places in the story for discussing themes, foreshadowing, symbolism, and inferences.

 

The Boxcar Children Series

A classic children’s series by Gertrude Ann Warner (Grades 3-4)

This series tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest. They eventually meet their grandfather, who is a wealthy and kind man (although the children had believed him to be cruel). The children decide to live with him and the beloved boxcar was transferred to his backyard as a playhouse. The children encounter many adventures and mysteries in their neighborhood or places they visit with their grandfather. Learn how the children are inventive and resourceful.

Skills to teach in this story may be point of view, character traits, settings, plots and vocabulary.

 

Cam Jansen Series

A mystery series by David A. Adler (Grades 3-5)

This series is a collection of lighthearted mysteries for beginning readers who are making the transition to longer chapter books. Fifth-grader Cam and her friend Eric use the clues around them to detect, solve, and help people. Cam Jansen has a photographic memory and loves solving all the mysteries that come her way. The stories tell about how Cam uses her memory and all the fun along the way. The books are formulated with simple sentences without challenging vocabulary.

There are opportunities for connections, memory skills, cause and effect, and compare and contrast.

 

A-Z Mysteries

A popular mystery series for children by Ron Roy (Grades 3-5)

The A-Z Mysteries were a popular series among my kiddos! The books follow the adventures of three nine-year-old detectives who live in a small town, Green Lawn, Connecticut. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose live near each other and solve crimes and mysteries. The books challenge the reader to figure out “who did it” and often offer a twist in the end. Each story takes the reader through suspense as the characters unearth the truth. Read their adventures in alphabetical order or in any order you please!

Teaching skills may include sequencing, parts of speech, compare and contrast, and work work.

 

The Westing Game

A mystery book by Ellen Raskin (Grades 5 and up)

A mysterious realtor, Barney Northrup, is selling apartments to a selected group of tenants in a new building called Sunset Towers. It overlooks the abandoned mansion of Samuel Westing. Westing is a self-made millionaire who made his fortune in paper products. He was very patriotic and never smoked, drank, or gambled. When Sam Westing dies, he names most of the tenants as heirs in his will. The will is structured as a puzzle and claims that one of the tenants is the murderer. They are put in eight pairs, assigned seemingly at random. Each pair is given $10,000 cash and a different set of baffling clues. Whoever solves the mystery will inherit Westing’s entire $200 million fortune and control of his company. The ending is an unexpected twist!

This story is great for teaching imagery, context clues, summarizing, and critical thinking.

 

Please Note: All links are subject to change. If you come across one that is no longer available, you can email [email protected] and we will change it out or delete it!

My Amazon List of Mysteries:  LIST OF MYSTERIES

More Mentor Text blog posts:  MENTOR TEXT LISTS AND SUMMARIES

Are you looking for mystery activities to do in your classroom or homeschool? Students get so excited about mysteries that they don’t realize they are learning! This bundle covers reading, writing, and higher-level thinking. It has a fun detective tri-fold for mystery writing, chapter activities for Bunnicula, and a fun Nursery Rhyme Mystery project!




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Spectacular 3rd Grade Books: Comedy, Mystery, & History

What are the Best 3rd Grade Books?

There’s no doubt about it – 3rd grade books are when the literature gets meaty!  No more silly, whimsical short chapters!  In third grade, books begin to touch on challenging – and memorable – topics.   Stories often address difficult concepts such as bullying, fear, and adversity in kid-friendly ways that task a child with beginning to use their newfound abstract reasoning.

As the topics become heavier, the texts literally become more dense with more words per page and fewer or no illustrations.

In teacher lingo, 3rd grade books typically are represented by Fountas and Pinnell levels N-O-P, but there are a wide level of books that kids this age will enjoy. Most third graders are solid readers! However, not all chapter books are created equal, making it super important that parents know the reading level of their child so they can find good quality literature that will interest and challenge their kids each step of the way. If 3rd grade books seem too challenging, try some of these 2nd grade books. If the 2nd grade books are too frustrating for your 3rd grader, it might be time to consider dyslexia and get your child some specialized reading assistance. If 3rd grade books are too easy, level up to these 4th grade books.

Choosing High Quality 3rd Grade Books

Third graders are just beginning to be able to think in an abstract manner. While younger children tend to think in a concrete way, third graders can draw conclusions and consider ramifications in ways that open up to them the world of possibilities.

High quality 3rd grade books challenge strong readers to take this new-found capability and learn to think critically.  At this age, children benefit from being exposed to a wide variety of genres such as mysteries, non-fiction texts, realistic fiction, and historical books.

Many of the books that made the list teach virtues such as courage, resilience, empathy, compassion, or contentment. They help children begin to explore human nature so they can understand themselves and the world around them. 

READ: The Most Amazing 2nd Grade Books

Time for Something Challenging

Other great 3rd grade books investigate historical people or events. They even open a child’s eyes to tragedies and adversity that a child may have never considered. Some of the books were chosen because they gently introduce children to cultures or time periods different than their own, challenging students to consider the value of diversity in humanity.

Although some parents shy away from introducing children to some of the harsher realities of the past, 3rd grade is a perfect time to help young readers begin to contemplate their own blessings and comfort in light of some of the difficulties that people of the past have endured – and who often have made us who we are today as a people. Several of the books chosen explore some pretty tough historical themes that gently open a child’s eyes to difficult realities.

More than anything, a good book opens the minds of readers and challenges them at a heart level to grow and respond!

Key Features of 3

rd Grade Books

  • Longer chapters
  • Smaller or no illustrations
  • Vocabulary is unexplained
  • Reader must draw conclusions
  • Multiple points of view
  • Students must use prior knowledge
  • Subtopics of a larger topic
  • Diverse cultures represented
  • Unfamiliar settings
  • Challenging themes and ideas
  • Dense layout of text

READ: Classic 1st Grade Books for a New Generation

Each book featured in the list is linked to Amazon where I can earn a small affiliate commission if you make a qualifying purchase through my link. It’s no additional cost for you, but helps me and my family. I only promote books and products that I have used myself and truly believe in. So, thanks for helping us out!

My Favorite 3

rd Grade Books (levels N-O-P)

Chocolate Fever by Robert Smith

Calling all chocolate lovers! Henry loves chocolate and wants more and more of it until he begins to develop chocolate spots and is diagnosed as the first kid ever with chocolate fever! Join Henry on a wild adventure full of thrills as he learns the powerful lesson of moderation – that you can’t always have everything you want.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

It is highly likely that you remember reading this classic 3rd grade book when you were a kid! Ramona is a hilarious 8-year-old, trying super hard to be good while getting into all sorts of scrapes. This Newberry award winning book is well-loved for personifying the ordinary concerns of elementary age children in a way that is funny yet relatable. Ramona faces teasing, shows courage, and deals with difficult people, all while feeling the pressure of being strong for her family as they go through a time of change. Sure to bring a chuckle and a sense of normalcy! Must-read!

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew by Carolyn Keene

A spin-off of the original Nancy Drew series, in these adventure books young Nancy is just 8 years old and already eager to solve mysteries with her fellow sleuth friends, George and Bess. In these toned-down books, there is nothing too scary or edgy, making them a great introduction to this genre of books. A good choice for kids who love intrigue! The original 1930s series is better suited for older, junior high readers.

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling

Yum! Another great book about chocolate! This story is a modern-day spin off of the famous Greek legend of King Midas where anything he touches turns into gold, except with John, everything he touches becomes chocolate! At first, this seems wonderful until there are some unfortunate consequences. A fast-paced, fun story exploring the idea of unintended repercussions.

Pompeii Buried Alive by Edith Kunhardt

This 3rd grade book introduces young readers to one of the great tragedies of the past – the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius 2000 years ago that buried alive an entire town. Despite the challenging subject matter, this non-fiction reader presents the facts in a simple way that can lead to great conversations about natural disasters that can and do occur. This is a good one for parents and children to read together as an introduction to the Roman empire and archaeology. It will challenge your child and inspire some interesting dialogue!

The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla

As lonely Gregory turns 9 years old he is in a new neighborhood and a new school. He is unsure how to face all the changes in his life until he discovers a burned-out factory nearby where he can express himself in chalk drawings. A charming story about embracing your creativity and learning to be who you want to be.

My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada

This is a heartwarming story about young Maria Isabel from Puerto Rico. When she arrives at school in America, the teacher wants to change her name to Mary because there are already two Marias in the class. This beautiful story about embracing your heritage will challenge young readers to grapple with themes of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty by Cathy East

The treasured classic, Black Beauty, is retold in this lovely version for younger readers. The Penguin Young Readers series includes many wonderful classics and quality books, and this one is one of my favorite 3rd grade books! In this beloved story, a beautiful black stallion changes hands among several owners, both good and bad, facing many adventures until he finally finds a place of rest and contentment. A great book for horse lovers and anyone who appreciates the classics!

The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

10-year-old Frederika isn’t sure the new teacher of her one-room schoolhouse in Alaska is cut out for the job, but she’s never met anyone before like Miss Agnes – a true teacher at heart! This is a charming award-winning book set in the years following World War 2 with lovable characters and delightful plot twists. Some of the language used reflects oral dialect and may be a bit challenging for some readers. Watch out! By the end of the book, you will have fallen in love!

Little Pear by Eleanor Lattimore

Little Pear is an adventurous, fun-loving little boy in a small Chinese village who gets himself into all kinds of trouble in the fashion of little boys everywhere. A sweet, timeless story full of wholesome innocence and delight. This 3rd grade book is a gentle introduction into reading about diverse cultures and time periods. This one makes a great read-aloud for parents and children!

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner

This award winning book is the first in a series of over 100 books! The first one relates the adventures of four orphaned siblings, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. All alone, they determine to make a home for themselves in an abandoned train boxcar in the forest. They face many challenges together and eventually find their grandfather! Your kids will fall in love with these four relatable kids and want to read more and more! A wonderful 3rd grade series they won’t be able to put down!

Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe

This off-the-beaten-path book is hilarious and refreshingly different! The story is narrated by the family’s dog and the cat who are convinced the new pet bunny is secretly a vampire. They can’t figure out why the fluffy new-comer sleeps all day. Why are all the vegetables disappearing? Full of suspicion, this quirky little mystery is a laugh-out-loud comedy!

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Clementine is a bright, spunky little 3rd grader having a very horrible week. She is sent to the principal’s office and faces an ongoing litany of woes. Boy and girls alike will enjoy the smart, energetic, cheerful Clementine as she talks her way through each challenge! She is a fun-loving, loyal gal with a lot of energy but thankfully minus the sass and rudeness that ruin some book characters. This is a very enjoyable first book in a series of seven that are full of fun and surprises!

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

Just when the ordinary Henry complains that nothing exciting ever happens, a sweet puppy shows up and turns his world upside down! Henry and Ribsy become the best of friends – until Ribsy’s previous owner shows up to claim him. Oh, no! In this delightful book, each chapter contains a separate short story about Henry and his dog. You might have to explain what a type-writer is, but this laugh-out-loud page-turner will be sure to enthrall young readers! A good, old-fashioned, clean book especially right for boys. For another fun book by the same author, check out The Mouse and the Motorcycle.

The King’s Equal by Katherine Paterson

Set in a time and place probably unfamiliar to most 3rd graders, this unique book will provide something fresh with a historical spin. A dying king demands that his son locate a princess to marry that is his equal in beauty, intelligence, and wealth. Find out what happens when the arrogant prince meets the lovely Rosamund. A good book that demonstrates humility, hard-work, and proven character in an easy-to-read, engaging fable-type format.

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

In this beautifully written Newberry honor book based on a true story, young Sarah, 8 years old, learns the meaning of bravery and courage as she travels with her father through the wilderness to build a new home for their family. This story is sure to spark valuable dialogue about Native Americans and early settlers during the colonial era. A good, wholesome read and gentle introduction to a period of time with very different views than our own.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Longren

In this beloved childhood classic, Pippi is a rollicking, hysterical girl with bright red hair who lives all alone without adults on the edge of the neighborhood! She has great fun with her horse, her monkey, and her unconventional ways. This playful, laugh-out-loud book makes a great read-aloud, especially as some of the dated language may be unfamiliar to young students, making it a wonderful book for dialogue. Kids will be sure to relate to Pippi and decide she’s the best kind of friend to take along on adventures! This is the first book in a series of three.

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

This 3rd grade book is a hilarious, big-smile read about a funny little woman, Mrs. Piggle -Wiggle who seems to know everything about children and always has cookies in her kitchen. She knows just what to do to cure Mary’s back-talking or Hubert who has so many toys he is trapped in his room. Mrs. Piggle – Wiggle is able to cure selfish Dick who doesn’t want to share and stubborn Patsy who refuses to take a bath and gets so dirty she begins to grow radishes on her skin. This funny book will engage your child’s problem solving skills and elicit a chuckle as they inevitably see themselves in some of the silly stories. First book in a series of five.

American Girl series by various authors

While there are many books in the American Girl series, I love the original stories as an introduction to the genre of historical fiction. Especially for girls who love the dolls that correspond to the books, these stories make for a great way to get them interested in reading! Each character has a set of between 3 to 15 books – so pick a doll or time period that interests your child and start from there!

  • Kaya – 1764, a Native American girl whose sister and horse were captured by the enemy
  • Felicity – 1774, right on the cusp on the American Revolution in Virginia
  • Caroline – 1812, her papa is arrested by the British right as the War of 1812 begins
  • Josefina – 1824, a girl with Latina roots, growing up on a ranch in sunny Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • Cecile & Marie Grace -1853, two New Orleans girls who love to sing and learn to be friends
  • Kirsten – 1854, a pioneer girl whose family recently immigrated to Minnesota from Sweden
  • Addy – 1864, set during the Civil War, her family decides to escape from slavery
  • Samantha – 1904, this orphaned girl is raised by a Victorian-era grandmother in New York
  • Rebecca – 1914, the Jewish daughter of Russian immigrants learns to fit into mainstream America
  • Kit – Ohio, 1932, her family faces adversity and big changes during the Great Depression
  • Nanea – 1941, explores the attacks on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the beginning of World War 2
  • Molly – 1944, life growing up during World War 2
  • Maryellen – 1954, having recovered from polio, she grows up in a large family in the 50s
  • Melody – 1963, set during the era of the Civil Rights Movement in Detroit
  • Julie – 1975, explores changing perspectives during the Nixon and Vietnam eras (note: this one also introduces topics such as divorce and women’s rights)

The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon

Brothers Frank and Joe have been solving mysteries for decades (since the 1920s!) but still capture the attention of kids everywhere with their sleuthing and problem solving skills! These vintage mysteries are chock full of novel vocabulary and lots of fun! My son adores these and there are so many in the series that they keep active boys hooked & reading for days!

The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole

With their detailed pictures, it might seem unusual that these books without chapters make the list for best 3rd grade books. However, this series is chock full of science facts and details just right for 3rd grade learners! The original series has 12 books ranging from topics about human anatomy to planet Earth, the solar system, the ocean, and electricity. Written in a narrative format with the fantastic Mrs. Frizzle, these science books will capture the imagination and teach valuable STEAM concepts at the same time!

Tut Tut: The Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka

Who can resist a book with action, adventure, history, mystery, and comedy all wrapped up in one? This book is one in a laughable series of funny historical books that will transport kids back in time to new “old” realms of adventure. In particular, Tut, Tut will introduce readers to the mysteries of Egypt and the famed King Tut – while making you laugh at the same time!

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

I love this Newberry honor classic! This is a beautifully told tale of quiet Wanda, who is teased for wearing the same blue dress to school everyday but claims she has 100 dresses. A lovely story exploring the ideas of bullying, by-standers, kindness, and standing up for what is right. This is a fabulous teaching book that every kid should read!

The Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds

Another Newberry award winner! In this heart-warming adventure tale, a young Dutch boy is left to defend his colonial home in the 1750s against raids from the French and the Indians. He’s not sure he can handle the big matchlock gun that is double his body size, but it looks like he may have to try. This historical fiction provides a plausible portrayal of the French and Indian War era that some may find challenging for young readers, but is overall a wholesome read about family, faith, and bravery.

A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla

In this intriguing story, Amanda is determined to take her younger siblings across the ocean to join their father, who left three years ago for Jamestown and has not been heard from since. This historical fiction book is a timeless American immigration tale about determination, faith, and courage during the earliest days of colonial history.

Herbie Jones” target=”_blank”> by Suzy Kline

Herbie Jones is in the third grade, too, but he and his best friend, Raymond, are stuck in the lowest reading group. Join him at school and at home as he faces all sorts of true-to-life third grade trials – and overcomes! This typical kid makes some bad choices, some unusual choices, and some really great choices, too, as he learns to navigate his own up-and-down moods and circumstances. A laugh-out-loud, upbeat book with strong themes of loyalty and friendship.

Dive into Some Great 3rd Grade Books!

A good book can be many things. Sometimes, it is just a welcome laugh and a short break from reality! Other times, books transport us to new eras and expose us to challenging topics or wild, new ideas. Books teach us and make us think!

Of utmost importance, we want children who can learn to think critically and develop strong character. Whether for fun, inspiration, or education, you are sure to find some wholesome, fabulous 3rd grade books for your child on this list!

What about you?

What were your favorite books in 3rd grade? Which book caught your interest? Leave me a comment below!

RELATED POSTS:

  • 1st Grade Books List
  • 2nd Grade Books List
  • 4th Grade Books List
  • 5th Grade Books List
  • 6th Grade Books List
  • 100 Must-read Classic Books for Kids: The Complete Elementary Reading List

Amanda Wilson

Hi, there!  I’m a former public-school teacher turned homeschool mom of four and author of, “Heading into Homeschool”. I create products to inspire teachers everywhere and blog about how teaching and mothering come together in a Christian home. Happy teaching!

20 contemporary children’s books worth reading

Literature section publications

A.P. Gaidara presented the catalog “100 Best New Books for Children and Teens”. Many of the publications included in it were published in Russian for the first time. We have selected 20 of the most fascinating books from this list. Choose your favorite reading: a panorama book about tyrannosaurs, the history of the exploration of Antarctica, or “Beastly Tales” about forest dwellers. nine0006

Valentin Serov. Sasha Serov (detail). 1897. Private collection

Non-fiction

Sophie Blackall. If You Come to Earth

Image: ozon.ru

The book If You Come to Earth was created by American artist and illustrator Sophie Blackall. She was inspired by the children she met when she traveled to the Republic of the Congo, India, Rwanda and Bhutan in support of UNICEF and Save the Children. The publication with pictures is a guide to the Earth for an alien from outer space. Sophie Blackall talks about water, weather, birds, clothes, feelings and more. She calls to remember that people on our planet are one family with a common home. nine0003


Dougal Dixon. “Tyrannosaurus Rex. Interactive Panorama Book

Image: mann-ivanov-ferber.ru

Dougal Dixon is a British writer and world-famous expert on dinosaurs. He advised the authors of programs and films about prehistoric creatures in America, Great Britain and Japan. His interactive panorama book “Tyrannosaurus Rex” helps to study the structure and lifestyle of one of the largest land predators in the entire history of the Earth. The illustrations for the publication were drawn by the American artist Rachel Caldwell, and it was translated into Russian by Konstantin Rybakov. nine0003


Mikhail Savinov. “How Antarctica was discovered”

Image: labirint.ru

In the book “How Antarctica was discovered”, historian and writer Mikhail Savinov spoke about the First Russian Antarctic Expedition. In 1819, 190 people set off on a journey through the waters of the Southern Ocean on two sloops – Vostok and Mirny. Their main goal was to find out whether the mysterious sixth continent of the Earth actually exists near the South Pole. The expedition was led by two famous Russian admirals – Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev. nine0003


Andrey Dubrovsky. “We live in Ancient Greece. Encyclopedia for Children”

Image: labirint.ru

Historian and writer Andrei Dubrovsky compiled an encyclopedia about the “cradle of Western civilization” — Ancient Greece. The book is divided into chapters that introduce readers to the geography of city-states, Greek gods, mythical heroes and the life of local residents. The encyclopedia also includes stories about the ancient Greek alphabet, the Olympic Games, and great conquerors. nine0003


Eugenia Günter. “I am a princess!”

Image: ozon.ru

In the book “I’m a princess!” The writer Eugenia Gunther spoke about 12 fictional princesses from different countries and eras. At the same time, she described with historical accuracy the life of young titled persons from Ancient India, France, Great Britain, the Russian Empire, North Africa and other states. Readers will find out what daily routine the princesses obeyed, what outfits they wore, how their subjects addressed them, and what the future awaited them. nine0003


Lubov Novickas. The Decembrists

Image: labirint.ru

Lyubov Novickas collected historical documents, memoirs, essays and excerpts from letters related to the Russian Decembrist movement in the early 19th century in the book The Decembrists. The illustrations for the interactive edition were made by the artists Anna Novoselova-Changa and Anastasia Bezgubova. Each spread is dedicated to a separate event or person associated with the Decembrist uprising. The book has retractable elements and three-dimensional drawings, and it also comes with a board game. nine0003


Ksenia Remezova. “The Avangard Train Is Rushing

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Art historian and educator Ksenia Remezova wrote the book The Avangard Train Rushing Together with illustrator Olesya Gonserovskaya. Memoirs, manifestos, contemporaries’ diaries and critics’ reviews of Russian art at the beginning of the 20th century became the basis. The main characters of the book are the artists Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, Natalia Goncharova, Vladimir Tatlin. According to Remizova, the impetus for working on the publication was “experiment, search for a language, innovation – everything that accelerated the artistic thought and actions of Russian avant-garde artists” .


Petr Vorotyntsev. “On the stage. The History of the Theatre”

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The book “On Stage. The history of the theater” begins with a story about what a game is in people’s lives in general and how the theater was born in antiquity. The author consistently introduces readers to the main stages in the development of theatrical art and the main world playwrights – William Shakespeare, Jean-Baptiste Moliere and Pierre Corneille. Separate chapters of the publication are devoted to opera, ballet and children’s theaters. The text of the teacher of the history of theater and cinema Pyotr Vorotyntsev is supplemented by illustrations by the artist Alisa Yufa. nine0003


Anastasia Strokina. “Chaikovsky. Triumph of Light”

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Children’s writer and translator Anastasia Strokina for her book “Tchaikovsky. Triumph of Light” processed and outlined the biography of the composer. The author spoke in detail about Tchaikovsky’s childhood and the key moments of his life. Separately, she described how the composer created his works. For example, in his last, Sixth Symphony, he “shared the memory of his own life, of the beginning, of doubts and hopes, of success and disappointment, of love and loneliness, of strength and fear, of light and endless darkness. You just need to listen carefully, take your time, trust the music – and it will tell everything so honestly, so truthfully, like no one else can” .


Dina Artyomkina. “Stanislavsky. The first Russian director”

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The author of the biography of the famous theater director Konstantin Stanislavsky was the writer Dina Artyomkina. She explained to readers what theater and performance are, told how young Konstantin Alekseev, who later took the pseudonym Stanislavsky, developed a love for this art form. From this book, children will learn about the first works of Stanislavsky and how, thanks to him, a director’s theater appeared in Russia at the end of the 19th century. nine0003


Fiction

Bjorn Rörvik. “Shark Enemy of the Radish and Other Stories about the Fox and the Piglet”

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Norwegian author Bjorn Rørvik has been writing stories about the friendship and adventures of the Fox and the Piglet since 1996. This series received an award from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and has been translated into several languages. Roervik’s heroes are often compared to the characters in Alan Milne’s Winnie the Pooh tale.

The book “The Shark Enemy of the Radish and Other Stories of the Fox and the Piglet” consists of five hilarious stories about finding the cuckoo, riding the royal spit, saving the radish crop, looking for foxes and piglets, and extracting melon yogurt. In Russia, it was translated by Olga Drobot with the support of the NORLA Foundation (Norwegian Literature Abroad). nine0003


Konstantin Arbenin. “How I made friends with summer. From the diary of a storyteller”

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The book of the poet, prose writer and musician Konstantin Arbenin “How I made friends with summer. From the storyteller’s diary” consists of 30 stories about miracles that happened to the main character when he arrived at the old village house. The author endows inanimate things with characters, gives plants and weather phenomena their own voices. And colorful illustrations by Olga Kolyadina help to revive the magical world of the writer. nine0003


Anna Starobinets.

“Beastly Tales”

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In “Beastly Tales” Anna Starobinets tells the backstory of the characters in her “Beastly Detective” series. The book consists of legends, fairy tales, poems and songs that animals in different forests of the world tell and sing to their cubs before going to bed. Here, readers will meet with little Badger Cat, puppy Mukhtarchik, owl brothers Ug and Chuck and other heroes. The stories are intended for children of primary and secondary school age. nine0003


Miriam Daman, Nicolas Digard. “The Secret of the Wolf”

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“Far, far away in the north stood a forest, dense and forgotten by everyone” – this is how the book “The Secret of the Wolf” by French writers Miriam Daman and Nicolas Digarde begins. They beat the plot of the famous fairy tale about Little Red Riding Hood in a new way. The story runs in parallel: the authors of the book tell the story of the Wolf, and the artist Giulia Sarda shows the life of the heroine, a young woman who takes care of her sick father. When creating illustrations, Sarda was inspired by the work of the Russian artist Ivan Bilibin. nine0003


Anna Dyer. “Let’s go to Unalashka”

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The main character of Anna Dyer’s book “Let’s go to Unalashka” is a boy named Mark, nicknamed Morkovkin. He starts his own detective investigation to find out everything about his grandfather. The writer Lyudmila Ulitskaya recommended this work as follows: “Finally, the first modern children’s book of the 21st century has appeared in Russia. Not a fairy tale, not a detective, but a wonderful story of today’s boy. It’s impossible to get away from her!” nine0006


Jakob Wegelius. “Esperanza”

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Readers are familiar with the work of the Swedish author Jakob Vegelius based on the book about the adventures of the talking monkey “The Truth About Sally Jones”. For it, the writer was awarded the August Strindberg Prize. The book “Esperanza” was written and illustrated by Vegelius in 1999, but it was published in Russia only in 2020.

The main character, street juggler Khalidon, is looking for his missing friend Captain. Throughout the story, he does not lose hope (this is how the title of the book is translated from Spanish). nine0003


Alexey Oleinikov. You Can’t Stay to Run

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You Can’t Stay to Run is a collection of stories about refugee teenagers and their families, all based on real events. The text was prepared by the writer Alexey Oleinikov, and the illustrations were made by students of the Higher School of Economics. The book tells about the difficulties that forced migrants had to face, and contains a reminder on how to help those who find themselves in a similar situation.


Evgenia Dvoskina. “Will Sasha come out?” Soviet childhood in stories and pictures”

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Evgenia Dvoskina is a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and the International Federation of Artists. Since the 1980s, she has illustrated publications by Astrid Lindgren, Nikolai Nosov, Yuri Koval, Ksenia Dragunskaya and many others. For the book “Will Sasha come out?” Soviet childhood in stories and pictures” Dvoskina drew 110 pictures with commentary stories. In the life of its heroes there are leggings and a biting sweater, filmstrips and horror stories, nets and pioneer ties, boiled condensed milk and Vzlyotnye sweets. The book will introduce modern children to what surrounded their parents and older relatives in the past. nine0003


Wilson Rawls. “Where the fern is red”

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The world circulation of the book by the American writer Wilson Rawls “Where the fern is red” amounted to more than 14 million copies. This is a classic coming-of-age novel set in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It tells about the adventures of the boy Bill Colman and his two hunting dogs – Little Ann and Old Dan. The book was filmed twice – in 1974 and in 2003. And two monuments were erected to her heroes in the USA. nine0003


Daria Polukarova. Call Me Jean Miller

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Daria Polukarova wrote the book Call Me Jean Miller in the genre of a school story. Her main character, ninth grader Zhenya Vysotskaya, considers herself a person without interests, escapes from problems with music and series, and she is also sure that “real life happens only to others” . But one day Vysotskaya becomes a witness to mysterious events, and then a participant in a school investigation. nine0003


Author: Inna Dokuchaeva

Tags:

Children’s booksLiterature selectionBooksFor childrenLiteratureLiterature section publications
“Fixies. Adventures of Basya and the twins. Photo: shop.kp.ru

We present to your attention 10 book novelties designed for children. On our list: “Fixies. The Adventures of Basya and the Twins”, “The Theater of Invisible Children” by Marcin Szczygelski, “Chukl” by Alexandra Sazonova, Gao Hongbo’s series about Joey the Pig, “Eh! A story about a little cheetah who couldn’t run” Olya Vasilkova and Lena Repetur and 5 more books in 2022.

1. Fixies. The Adventures of Basya and the Twins

  • Age: 0+
  • Publisher: Komsomolskaya Pravda

In this book, new adventures await your favorite characters, which will not only entertain and amuse, but also allow you to learn a lot of new things. The main character is a fixie grandmother named Basya. She was born at the dawn of the technological revolution and many important inventions took place right before her eyes. And Basya herself participated in the creation of the robot, although at that time they hadn’t even come up with such a word. Basya met an amazingly talented person, whom everyone called the Master, and thanks to him she went on a journey around the planet. Incredible discoveries awaited her, and it was thanks to Basya that two new twin fixies appeared! How did it happen? The book will reveal the secret. nine0003

Cover of the book “Fixies. The Adventures of Basya and the Twins»

After these incredible stories, it’s time to start the quick wit tasks – they are waiting for readers in the second part of the book. The children will have to determine the highest tower, decipher the message, assemble an image of a famous statue from puzzles and help Basya get out of the tangled maze. Math lovers will surely enjoy solving examples that will give the key to a very important riddle. There are 27 tasks in the book that train attention, logic, and develop thinking. All these puzzles, tasks and mazes can be solved by the whole family: they are interesting for both children and their parents. nine0003

2. Marcin Szczygielski The Theater of Invisible Children

  • Age: 12+
  • Publisher: Belaya Vorona

Children from orphanages rarely become heroes of books. Because these children are supposedly “invisible” to society. They seem to exist, but very few people really care about their fate. Polish writer Marcin Szczygielski tells how the orphans lived in Poland in the early 1980s. At this time, political changes are taking place in the country and children live through these difficult events, growing up and overcoming their personal difficulties. nine0003

Cover of the book “The Theater of Invisible Children”, Marcin Szczygielski

One day a new baby is brought to a very unusual Polish orphanage, she declares right from the door that her name should not be as written in the documents. The girl turns out to be a born actress, head over heels in love with the theater. With her obsession with the stage, she infects everyone around, and now her own amateur theater appears in the orphanage. The premiere of the first production coincides with the most dramatic events in the country. And then the guys decide to show it on the main square of the city, not even suspecting what their idea will lead to. nine0003

3. Alexandra Sozonova “Chuklya”

  • Age: 6+
  • Publisher: “ROSMEN”

Cover of the book “Chuklya”, Alexandra Sozonova

Alexandra Sozonova , winner of the XI season of the New Children’s Book contest, created an unusual story in which reality intertwines with fantasy, dreams with reality, and traditions with modernity. The protagonist of the story is a boy, Alyosha, who lives in a distant northern city. He is in the hospital with a disease that is not very clear to the doctors. That is why he was placed not in a children’s hospital, but in an adult one. Everyday life in the infirmary drags on in an endless gray string, until Alyosha makes acquaintance with the nanny with the strange nickname Chuklya. However, the nanny herself is also very strange. She smells of forest and freshness, she has tame animals, and how many mysterious stories Chuklya knows! And yet, it turns out that she was once the wife of Leshy. The thing happened not in an ordinary city, but in a forest kingdom. Intrigued Alyoshka, tired of the same days, by all means wants to be there. nine0003

4. Gao Hongbo: Joey the Piglet in three books

  • Age: 0+
  • Publisher: Ripol detstvo

Author of short stories teacher and psychologist Gao Hongbo in China has the title of “The First Man in Chinese Literature”. And, it seems, not in vain! His pig named Joey jokingly won the hearts of all Chinese children, and went to conquer the world. Now charming Joey has reached Russia, and he has every chance to become a children’s favorite here too. Joey, like a child, learns the world (for sure, many children recognize themselves in it). He finds himself in a variety of situations – frightening, unexpected, funny. Joey loses his baby tooth for the first time, sees snow for the first time, and also invents his own style of swimming – piggy. nine0003

Cover of the book “Joey and the Baby Tooth”, Gao Hongbo

Joey’s experience will help the young reader to cope with their doubts, fears and learn to overcome some situations. A separate pleasure in this book is the illustrations made in a watercolor manner. They are funny and it seems as if they were drawn by the child himself. At the end of the book, the reader will find a small interesting game that you can play together with mom and dad. nine0003

5. Olya Vasilkova, Lena Repetur “Oh! The story of a little cheetah who couldn’t run

  • Age: 0+
  • Publisher: Belaya Vorona

Cover of the book “Eh! A story about a little cheetah who couldn’t run»

Amazing and sometimes very strange things happen in the world. Well, take at least a cheetah named Eh! Everyone knows that cheetahs are the fastest runners. But Eh! – exception to the rule. He’s a cheetah that couldn’t run. That is why it got such a name. Everyone who saw his fiasco said: Eh! So it stuck to him, and yet at birth he was named Edmund the Fleet! And no matter who tried to teach him to run, nothing worked: the kid got confused in his legs and fell. Everything was changed by a night meeting with a terrible mousetail beast. Usually everyone ran away at the sight of him, but Eh!, as we remember, he could not run. Meanwhile, Mousetail proved to be an excellent but very restless storyteller. His story changed the life of a cheetah. nine0003

6. Julia Linde “Mishangel”

  • Age: 6+
  • Publisher: “ROSMEN”

Can you imagine that one fine (or not so) moment you will grow angel wings? Such full-size, which can be seen from behind. Which do not fit into a T-shirt and generally do not fit anywhere and cause a lot of inconvenience.

Julia Linde “Mishangel”. Photo: rosman.ru

This is exactly what happened to the boy Misha. At first he thought that it was someone’s joke that the wings were glued to him with powerful glue. But no, everything turned out to be real, and it also turned out that the wings were flying. Thanks to them, you can fly around the area and hang out with pigeons. But how to live with such a “gift of fate”? Of course, Misha instantly became a celebrity, and his family decided that the wings needed to be cut off. And again the difficulties: no doctor in the world has ever done such operations! nine0003

Cool pictures for this absolutely amazing story were drawn by the artist Alisa Yufa.

7. Hendrik Lambertus “Midnight School”

  • Age: 7+
  • Publisher: “ROSMEN”

Hendrik Lambertus “Midnight School”. Photo: litres.ru

One day the boy Milan receives a strange letter. It says that he is invited to study at a certain school located in Mogilny Lane. Does it remind you of something? Perhaps, but then the similarity with Harry Potter ends. nine0003

In an unusual school, the director gathers a variety of students. Next to Milan was a real gremlin, a foggy maiden, Tristan-living armor (a boy who has a void under this armor), a brownie and a werewolf. In a word, undead. There were no ordinary people in this school. By the way, as it turned out, Milan himself is a shishiga. His name is Milan Shishiga. When the boy was asked to talk about his unusual abilities, he admitted that he could ride a bike, bake pancakes, swim and play water polo. And everyone around was envious, it turned out that not every undead is capable of this. nine0003

Once Milan found a magazine in the closet with the inscription “Top-secret experiment #37a. Object M. Shishiga. Milan is sure that he is being watched! And this is done by a specially trained moth. How can you not go crazy? Together with his new unusual friends, he intends to get to the bottom of the truth.

8. Sebastian Perez, Benjamin Lacombe “Sherlock Cat. Attack on the Samurai»

  • Age: 6+
  • Publisher: AST

Sherlock the Cat does not need much introduction. Fans of funny detective stories know this furry detective, who travels through different eras to expose villains and unravel any intrigue. And now a new adventure. This time, Sherlock finds himself in Tokyo 2020. nine0003

Sebastian Perez, Benjamin Lacombe “Sherlock Cat. Attack on the Samurai. Photo: ast.ru

And in the capital of Japan there was a real catastrophe! They say that someone sent a special curse that turns all cats into Maneki-neko figurines, bringing good luck to its owner. Of course, our tailed detective starts the investigation. He needs to find out all the nuances and save the cats of Japan. Sherlock and his team of friends are serious. They are even ready to meet with a band of terrible samurai! nine0003

The book creates a complete immersion effect in this intricate story. However, this is not surprising, because the illustrations for the book were created by the famous artist Benjamin Lacombe, the star of modern illustration, whose work is successfully exhibited all over the world.

9. Narine Abgaryan “The Secret of the Old Chest”

  • Age: 6+
  • Publisher: AST

What was in that very old chest? The author Narine Abgaryan, who wrote the bomb saga “Manyunya”, as well as the novels “Come in large numbers”, “People who are always with me” and “Three apples fell from the sky”, will keep the intrigue to the very end. By the way, this technique is very good for those who are just starting to read and have not yet fallen in love with this business. The Secret of the Old Chest is a cool children’s detective story, a continuation of the popular book Chocolate Grandpa. Readers will find a lot of unexpected plot twists, magic and chases. nine0003

Narine Abgaryan “The Secret of the Old Chest”. Photo: ast.ru

The Norwegian children of Matilda and Martin Sursen have a sweet-toothed grandfather. He loves sweets, cakes, jam. For this addiction, he was nicknamed Chocolate Grandpa. Of course, there is never a dull moment with Grandpa Oscar. One day, Matilda and Martin decide to go to visit him. And then they will be embroiled in incredible adventures. They have to get acquainted with real Vikings and find a stolen chest, which contains a magical artifact that can fulfill the most cherished desire. nine0327 But there is a real hunt for the chest. If he falls into the hands of the insidious Paulsen sisters, there will be trouble. The sisters hate sweets and wish there were none at all. Nice wish? The world must be saved from disaster!

10. Fuglesang Arne Christer “Underwater World”

  • Age: 6+
  • Publisher: AST

Fuglesang Arne Christer “Underwater World”. Photo: ast.ru

The author of this book is an unusual writer. Christer Fuglesang is a Swedish physicist and the first Swedish astronaut! “Underwater World” is one of many books that tells about the unusual adventures of the scientist Uncle Albert and the children – Marcus and Marianne. This time this cheerful and courageous company will find themselves in the deepest point of the ocean – the Mariana Trench. They will get acquainted with the inhabitants of the oceans – huge squids, unusual fish, as well as alien creatures. Marcus, Marianne and Uncle Albert have a serious mission ahead of them.