Children's Books for 3rd Graders
Literacy changes lives, and we’re dedicated to making quality books accessible to every young reader. Explore kids books online designed for 3rd graders ages 7-8. Our children’s books feature advanced vocabulary and chapter-style stories. Discover picture books, storybooks, and read aloud stories that challenge and engage third grade readers.
Dolphin Dilemma
Zom often talks about his time under the sea with the dolphins. Jack and Skel said that he ought to take them with him so that they could see the sights for themselves. The next day that they had free, they set out.
Cat's House
Meet a very confident cat who has some strong opinions about life! This fluffy feline believes the house belongs to HIM, and the family are just his pets. He knows the best napping spots, catches every mouse that dares enter, and has big plans for the annoying boy next door. But what happens when you think you’re the boss of everything? Discover the hilarious world through the eyes of one very proud cat!
Ned Gives a Haircut
Ned has made a neat home in the flower fields. With the help of his magic book, he built himself a shed. But there was a big problem with it.
Ned the Swordsman
Ned discovered a magic book on the beach that helped him build a house and start a wheat farm in a strange new world. But when the sun sets, terrible monsters come out - zombies, skeletons, spiders, and creepers! Every night, Ned has to hide inside his house, too scared to go outside. The magic book tells him there might be a way to fight back. Can Ned find the courage to face the darkness and become a true warrior?
Starfang's Big Night Out
Starfang the spider loves his cozy life on the couch, but when someone leaves a window open, he can’t resist slipping out for a nighttime adventure. At first, everything is exciting - new smells, new tastes, and so much to explore! But when Starfang stumbles into a cave full of tough, scary cave spiders, his fun night takes a dangerous turn. Will his friends Bones, Skel, and Zom find him before it’s too late?
There Are Ants!
The ants are looking for food and they find some in the cupboard. They follow a smell to find more food and it leads them to the person’s snack. They take the food and leave.
A Hot Christmas
Did you know that in some parts of the world, Christmas happens in the middle of summer? Join Dr Can Do, Jill, Minx, and their friends in Canville for a very different kind of holiday celebration. Instead of snowflakes and warm coats, there’s swimming, sunshine, and splashing! With a decorated tree, a visit from Santa, and plenty of Christmas crackers, this festive day is full of surprises. What makes a summer Christmas so special?
A Green Thumb for Ned
Ned has a cozy little shed, but it needs something special to make it feel like home. His magical Book sends him on an adventure to the beach to find mysterious blue clay. With his trusty iron shovel, Ned discovers he can transform the clay into something amazing! But when he tries to gather colorful flowers to brighten up his place, some angry bees have other plans. Will Ned outsmart the buzzing bees and turn his boring shed into a beautiful home?
A Special Flower
Meet a little white oak flower who feels different from all the other blossoms. While other flowers seem so much more beautiful with their bright colors and pretty shapes, this flower wonders why it looks so unusual. One night, the stars seem to whisper a secret message. What will the flower discover on its magical journey through the world? Can being different actually be something wonderful?
Ned Digs and Digs
Ned had come to this new, unknown world wanting one thing. A place to live and to settle down in. With the help of his magic book, he found it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 3rd grader be reading?
By third grade, children are typically transitioning from ’learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’ — what Jeanne Chall’s Stages of Reading Development (1983) describes as a critical shift. They should be reading texts with multi-syllable words, more complex sentence structures, and a mix of fiction and nonfiction. Our scope and sequence shows how reading skills build to this stage.
Why is third grade considered a pivotal year for reading?
Research consistently identifies third grade as the point where children must read with enough fluency and comprehension to learn from text across all subjects. Snow, Burns and Griffin (1998) found that children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade face compounding difficulties in later years. These books help bridge any remaining gaps with structured phonics practice.
Are these 3rd grade books free?
Many books are available on the Bookbot website, with a number of titles free to read online. Select books also offer PDF downloads or read-aloud features. Learn more about the benefits of reading aloud.
How do I know if my 3rd grader is reading at the right level?
Have your child read a page aloud — if they can decode most words accurately and tell you what the passage was about, the level is appropriate. The National Reading Panel (2000) found that guided oral reading with feedback is one of the most effective ways to build fluency and comprehension. You can filter books by grade and phonics level to find the right match.
What topics are available for 3rd grade readers?
The collection spans adventure, mystery, science, mythology, fantasy, sports, and many more topics — because children who are interested in what they read will read more often. At this stage, offering variety is especially important as children develop lasting reading preferences.