Life Skills Books for 3rd Graders

Tomorrow is Mom’s birthday, and Heidi has a secret plan - a handmade bracelet from her very best beads! But first she has to find three bead boxes hidden in the weirdest spots around her room. Can she dig through toy chests, tumbling drawers, and a wobbly laundry mountain without turning her bedroom upside down? And what will Mom say when she sees her gift? This decodable reader practices the ei phonogram in words like ‘beige,’ ‘heights,’ ’neither,’ and ‘weighed.’

Nitwit’s nose is twitchy, his eyes are watery, and his throat feels like he swallowed a cactus - but is he going to rest? No way! Not when he’s tough as an elephant and one hundred percent fine. Can Nitwit march past his friends, dodge a sneezy dog, and outsmart his own cozy bed? Or will one mighty ACHOO change everything? This decodable reader practices the ‘ph’ sound in words such as ’elephant,’ ‘phone,’ ‘phony,’ and ’triumphant.’

What happens when one curious cat climbs the tallest tree in the yard and flatly refuses to come down? A simple rescue soon turns into a broken ladder, a screaming baby, a kitchen-raiding monkey, and a very hungry dog with a nose for trouble. Can anyone possibly convince the teacher that every single wild word of this story is true? This decodable reader practices si making /zh/ in words such as ‘occasion,’ ‘confusion,’ ‘pleasure,’ and ‘unusual.’

What happens when a tiny toy boat meets a big, gray factory pouring dark gunk into the sea? When a child spots a bruised reef and drifting ghost-fish, can three huge letters carved in the sand really call for help? Will anyone up above look down in time to save the ocean’s juicy stories? This decodable reader practices the ‘ui’ sound in words such as ‘bruised,’ ‘cruise,’ ‘pursuit,’ ‘sluice,’ and ‘juicy.’

Today, I have a plan - I am going to show Mom EVERY single thing I can do! Can I really chop vegetables, water the flowers, and hang up the washing all by myself? And what about riding my bike - will my wobbly knees let me down, or will I be flying down the street? This decodable reader practices the ‘kn’ sound in words like ‘knack,’ ‘knew,’ ‘knelt,’ and ‘knuckles.’

Have you ever waited weeks and weeks for someone special to arrive? When a cousin finally comes walking up the road, there’s one kid with a big, big plan: a farm to show off, a fish to catch with bare hands, and the best snack in the whole wide world. But can one day really be the best day ever? This decodable reader practices the ‘augh’ sound in words like ‘caught,’ ’taught,’ ’laughter,’ and ‘granddaughter.’

Phoebe the fish knows her lake is the best lake in the whole wide world - cool green shade, smooth rocks, and every ripple just right. But one morning, something strange bobs on the surface, and rubbish starts drifting past her nose. Who would dump junk in her beautiful home, and can one small fish really make them stop? This decodable reader practices the ‘ph’ sound in words like ‘phenomenal,’ ‘catastrophe,’ ‘megaphone,’ and ‘phantom.’

Lily woke up with a pain so big it felt like a giant monkey clinging to her back, heavy and squeezing and impossible to shake off. Everywhere she went, the monkey came too - even when she tried picking tomatoes in the garden or practicing her dance for the village art festival. But what happens when the festival is only three days away and the monkey just won’t let go? This decodable reader practices the soft g sound in words like ‘gentle,’ ‘huge,’ ‘village,’ and ‘magic.’

Big Sis is the coolest kid in the whole world. She climbs to dizzy heights, laughs off a feisty dog, and never, ever cries - not even when she tumbles smack into the dirt! So when her little sibling spots real, wet tears rolling down her cheeks in the kitchen, what on earth could have finally cracked the bravest kid around? This decodable reader practices the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘height,’ ‘weird,’ and ’neither.’

What happens when a sticky orange ice block meets a whole market full of fancy things to touch? Grace had the best day ever at the city market - she danced to flute music, spotted lace skirts, and hugged a crying boy. But her fingers got stickier and stickier, and every single thing she touched seemed to notice! Can she make it home without causing more trouble? This decodable reader practices soft c words such as ‘city,’ ‘ice,’ ‘juice,’ and ‘fancy.’