Children's Books for 3rd Graders

Yellow Rabbit Balloon wants nothing more than to float up, up, up - past the treetops, past the kites, past everyone telling him to hold still. But what happens when the sky turns out to be full of pecking birds, scary flames, and smoggy air? Will anyone down below look up in time to catch a tired little balloon? This decodable reader practices the ‘gn’ phonogram in words such as ‘reign,’ ‘gnat,’ ‘gnarled,’ ‘gnome,’ and ‘signpost.’

Have you ever wondered if somewhere out there, someone looks exactly like you? Join a curious child on a search to find their perfect match. They look everywhere - checking every face and every body they can find. Could there really be another person with the same laugh, the same personality, and the same likes and dislikes? What do you think they’ll discover on this special journey?

Kobi the white buffalo calf has the biggest job of his life: leading the New Year parade through the glowing city. Abi has promised to stay by his side every single second - but what happens when the crowds get loud, the lanterns get bright, and the scent of hot rice and spices drifts from the food stalls? Can one small boy keep one nervous calf calm? This decodable reader practices soft c words such as ‘celebration,’ ‘city,’ ‘crescent,’ ‘scent,’ and ‘voice.’

Chui the leopard is the most magnificent animal on the savanna, or so he believes. But when his plain gold coat shines against the bush and scares off every meal, what is a hungry hunter to do? Could the answer lie with an old painter and her pots of clay? This warm tale shows that what you truly are may be more than it seems. Level WR practices the ‘wr’ sound with lesson words like ‘wriggle’, ‘wrist’, ‘wrinkled’, ‘wretched’, and ‘wrong’.

Zom has a BIG plan - he’s going to be rich! All he needs is cows… lots and lots of cows. Brown ones make chocolate milk, white ones make vanilla, and that splashy pink one? Strawberry, obviously! But when three curious villagers come running in pursuit of the sweet smells, will Zom’s sneakiest new flavor win them over, or send them sprinting down the path? This decodable reader practices the ‘ui’ phonogram in words like ‘fruit,’ ‘juicy,’ ‘suit,’ and ‘recruited.’

Hank has big plans for the greatest garden his street has ever seen - but what happens when the sky lights up with strange swirling colors? What falls out of those clouds, and will anyone believe him when he tells the tale? Grab a shovel and dig into this wonderfully weird backyard adventure packed with surprises on every page. This decodable reader practices the eigh phonogram in words such as ’eight,’ ‘heavyweight,’ ’neighborhood,’ ’neighbors,’ and ‘weightless.’

Anansi the spider has a plan. The great fig tree drips with sweet fruit, but a swarm of hornets has claimed every last one, stinging anyone who dares come close. How can one small spider outwit a whole angry swarm and win back the figs for his hungry village? With a ‘wry’ grin and a clever trick, Anansi sets to work, while the hornets buzz with ‘wrath’ at his whispered words. This Bookbot level practices the ‘wr’ sound in words like ‘wrapped’, ‘wrangle’, and ‘wriggled’.

Kwaku Anansi has a plan so big it makes his eight eyes shine: gather all the wisdom in the world into one pot and become the wisest creature alive. But when his climb keeps ending in a slide back to the roots, who offers the simplest idea of all, and why does the pot suddenly feel so heavy? Can a clever spider learn to ’laugh’ at himself? This Bookbot level practices the ‘augh’ sound in words like ‘haughty’, ‘distraught’, ’naught’, and ‘onslaught’.

Jack the scarecrow is the world’s worst at scaring - but he’s determined to fill the farm with bees, birds, and bats! When his neighbor Zom asks for help with pesky mosquitoes, Jack sets out to build the coziest, darkest hideaway any bat could dream of. But where do you put a bat box on a sunny, open farm? Will the bats ever come? This decodable reader practices the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘height,’ ‘weight,’ ’neighbor,’ and ‘receive.’

There’s a naughty little mouse in the house, and nobody knows how to catch it! Grandma shrieks, Mom swings her broom, Dad hides behind the curtain, and even the cat refuses to help. Can one tiny, cheeky critter really outsmart a whole family? And when the baby giggles instead of screaming, could laughter be the secret to making a new friend? This decodable reader practices the ‘augh’ phonogram in words like ‘caught,’ ’naughty,’ ’laugh,’ and ’taught.’