Children's Books for 3rd Graders

Red loves three things: swimming, looping, and lunch in his cool, cool pond. But what happens when Big Bad Fish comes gliding out of the dark, with rows of sharp teeth and a creepy little light on his head? Can one tiny fish and his nervous pals outsmart a giant with snapping jaws? Red has a really big idea - but will it work? This decodable reader practices the ‘ph’ sound in words like ‘phenomenal,’ ‘phantom,’ ‘phew,’ and ’triumphant.’

When the barn window is left open just a crack, Starfang the spider slips out for a wild adventure in the forest. At first the world is full of tasty flowers and juicy berries - but what happens when a nest of cave-spider bruisers comes creeping after him? Can Bones the farm dog pick up the trail and track down his missing friend before it’s too late? This decodable reader practices the ‘ui’ sound in words like ‘fruit,’ ‘juicy,’ ‘pursuit,’ and ‘suits.’

High in a sunny tree, Mother Crow sings to the whole neighborhood - but her three hungry chicks need breakfast right now! Can she spot something tasty from the sky? When she sees a lady strolling by with a basket full of silver fish, Mother Crow makes a bold decision. But two rival crows have spotted the prize too, and they want it just as badly! This decodable reader practices si making /zh/ in words like ‘decision,’ ’treasure,’ ‘vision,’ and ‘precision.’

Every year the great baobab drops its sweet fruit for the whole village to share. But when a greedy hyena named Fisi arrives at dusk, he wants every last pod for himself. Can a clever girl and a patient old tree teach him that you cannot steal what a tree gives freely? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ph’ sound making /f/, with lesson words like ‘phantom’, ‘phony’, ‘phase’, ‘oomph’, and ’triumph’.

Eight year old Tiren is the smallest herd boy in the camp, and this morning he must guide forty cattle to the water alone. Can a boy with short legs and one smooth stick outsmart a hungry hyena and a storm rolling in fast? When the herd scatters and the mud pulls the cows down, will his father’s rod really be enough? This Bookbot level practices the ‘gn’ spelling in words like ‘gnarled’, ‘gnashes’, ‘gnaw’, and ‘signs’.

Rabbit thinks his farm is the best place in the whole wide world - the crispest lettuce, the juiciest carrots, and a friendly farmer who never chases him off. But when Farmer sets off with a big basket, curious Rabbit hops right in for a ride. What happens when the basket tips and tumbles? Can a pampered little rabbit survive the wild, wide world outside his cozy neighborhood? This decodable reader practices the eigh phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ’eighty,’ ’neighbor,’ and ‘weighed.’

On the wide red plains of Somalia, Hodan guides her family’s five camels from well to well. When she finds fresh lion tracks circling the camp one morning, can a young girl outsmart a patient predator? And when raiders appear at the far edge of the salt flat, will Hodan find a way to lead her precious herd safely home? A brave, heart pounding adventure of wits and courage. This Bookbot level practices the /n/ sound in words like ‘knot’, ‘knees’, ‘knows’, and ‘knuckles’.

In the misty highlands of Ethiopia, a proud judge sets young Tigist three impossible tasks. Fill a whole room with something that fits in one hand? Arrive neither walking nor riding? Bring a gift that is not a gift? Her family cannot afford to fail, but this clever girl ‘knows’ that every trap hides a simple truth. Can she outwit the cleverest man in the land? This Bookbot level practices the ‘kn’ sound in words like ‘knows’, ‘knee’, ‘kneel’ and ‘knot’.

The Clever Hare loves to talk his way out of trouble, but when Leopard finally corners him on a narrow path with nowhere to run, has our quick-witted friend finally met his match? Hare begs to be thrown anywhere but the thornbush at the ’edge’ of the path. But is that really what he fears? Read on to discover his cleverest trick yet. This Bookbot story practices the soft ‘g’ sound in words like ‘huge’, ‘danger’, ‘village’, and ‘gently’.

On a small island of coconut palms, Siti finds one strange nut that hums instead of rattles, and when it cracks open at last it changes everything. Who is hidden inside, and what would you carry through the dark to bring someone home? A warm tale of courage, kindness, and open hands. This Bookbot level practices the ’ei’ sound with words like ‘weird’, ’neither’, ‘height’, ‘seize’, and ‘receive’.