3rd grade is a crucial time in the education of most young readers. Most adults don’t remember how they learned to read. Some remember being frustrated. There is a step between knowing the pronunciation of letters and words and reading sentences, paragraphs, and chapters that is difficult to teach. We are mostly expected to get it on our own. Most children have some degree of difficulty with the comprehension, so they resist reading chapters. The key factor in becoming a reader is practice. As a homeschool teacher I have watched 3 kids go through this and found it challenging to find books interesting enough to capture their attention long enough to finish the books. For a beginner the length is a stumbling block-not because he/she can’t do it, but because it takes too much time and effort. Providing books with a high level of interest can motivate the student to finish.
3rd to 6th grade is when most of us become readers (or not) because starting with 7th grade, homework increases dramatically. People who aren’t readers may not understand how important enjoying reading is. It gives the student enough practice to do schoolwork without difficulty (still a challenge but not impossible seeming).
Searching for captivating books can be aggravating, so I have put together a list that I know can be successful in kickstarting a life of reading. Every child will not like them all. Some may even do better with only nonfiction for a few years. If so, great-look at the shelves in your local library or bookstore that deal with subjects of interest to that particular child. Note: There are many series designed to give children practice. Series such as Goosebumps, Animorphs, Nancy Drew, etc. tend to lack substance. They don’t give a child an understanding of the wonder of reading. Here’s a list I hope you will find more inspiring.
Updated 10-18-12
3rd Grade Level
Poppy Series by Avi (Wortis) REVIEW
Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? by Avi (Wortis) REVIEW
Windcatcher by Avi (Wortis) REVIEW
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
The Mouse on the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Frindle by Andrew Clements REVIEW
The Landry News by Andrew Clements REVIEW
Lunch Money by Andrew Clements REVIEW
The School Story by Andrew Clements REVIEW
Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer REVIEW
The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer REVIEW
The Magic Shop Series by Bruce Coville REVIEW
Thor’s Wedding Day by Bruce Coville REVIEW
There’s an Owl in the Shower
by Jean Craighead George REVIEW
Qwerty Stevens, Stuck in Time with Benjamin Franklin
by Dan Gutman REVIEW
Guardians of Gahoole Series by Kathryn Lasky SERIES LIST
Ben and Me by Robert Lawson REVIEW
Seven Spiders Spinning by Gregory Maguire REVIEW
Boys Against the Girls Series
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor REVIEW
The Orphan Train Series by Joan Lowery Nixon REVIEW
Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel REVIEW
Time Warp Trio Series by Jon Scieszka SERIES LIST
The Boy of a Thousand Faces by Brian Selznick REVIEW
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick REVIEW
Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon REVIEW
The Legend of Thunderfoot by Bill Wallace REVIEW
Wingwalker by Rosemary Wells REVIEW
Skunk Scout by Laurence Yep
4th Grade Level – Slightly more challenging and mature but still enjoyable for 3rd graders
The Boggart by Susan Cooper
Victory by Susan Cooper REVIEW
Befiddled by Pedro de Alcantara REVIEW
The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright REVIEW
Pure Dead Series by Deb Gliori REVIEW
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen REVIEW
Putnam & Pennyroyal by Patrick Jennings REVIEW
Paul Revere and I by Robert Lawson
Charlie Bone Series by Jenny Nimmo REVIEW
The Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O’Brien and Jane Leslie Conly REVIEW
Archer’s Quest by Linda Sue Park REVIEW
Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett REVIEW
The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen REVIEW
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park REVIEW
Riding Freedom by Pam Muñoz Ryan REVIEW
Rules of the Universe by Austin W. Hale by Robin Vaupel REVIEW
The Ravenmaster’s Secret by Elvira Woodruff REVIEW
Sherwood edited by Jane Yolen (short stories) REVIEW
5th Grade Level – More challenging and mature but 3rd graders can read and enjoy
The Calder Game by Blue Balliett REVIEW
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett REVIEW
The Danger Box by Blue Balliett REVIEW
The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood REVIEW
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer REVIEW
Charlie’s Raven by Jean Craighead George REVIEW
The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
by Brian Jacques REVIEW
Redwall Series by Brian Jacques REVIEW
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones (part of Chrestomanci series) REVIEW
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery SERIES LIST
Shiloh Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor SERIES LIST
The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park REVIEW
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park REVIEW
Hatchet & sequels by Gary Paulsen REVIEW
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
by J K Rowling SERIES REVIEW
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling
Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan REVIEW
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
September 16th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
A friend commented that some of the books listed are difficult for the ages listed. I expect that some of the books would be a challenge, but they are also high interest. My point is that books for beginners aren’t all that interesting. I have found that kids will accept a challenge in reading if they have sufficient motivation. Beginners need to see a reason to keep reading.
September 24th, 2010 at 2:16 am
i was just pondering this very same thing prior haha, excellent article
October 16th, 2011 at 10:23 am
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January 26th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
I have less time nowadays for reviewing. That is why I don’t post as often. The reviews themselves are not too much effort if I can do it in a timely manner. The actual reading is what takes effort. I am finding less children’s books lately that I want to read, or that I feel worth the time. Have been reading some adult. Some is not appropriate for this site, and it also takes longer to read. Searching for something also takes effort. I don’t have a new books store in my area anymore, since the Borders closed.