Looking for the best chapter books for third graders? You are in the right place! while as an adult, middle grade books are my sweet spot, my next best thing would definitely be chapter books! I love chapter books or early readers as they are sometimes called because they introduce new readers to longer stories. options for younger children (kindergarten through second grade) tend to have fewer pages, shorter chapters, and even larger fonts (expect a post on that soon). however, chapter books for third graders go one step further.
Just for reference, in the United States, third graders are generally around eight years old. If you’re lucky, you may already have a great reader on your hands who isn’t afraid to pursue younger middle-grade titles like some of the ones on this list. in general, though most eight-year-olds prefer smaller chapter books, under 150 pages, with lots of pictures and larger fonts than the typical middle grade book. Kids this age also like series: they want to stay in the same universe as long as possible, which is why most of the books on this list are part of a series.
You are reading: Books for 3rd graders to read
These chapter books for third graders are great for independent reading as well as reading aloud! all but one are heavily illustrated and I have tried to include selections for a variety of interests.
Let’s get started. Click on the book covers to go their Amazon pages.
📚 Books Disclaimer: Just so you know, Middle Grade Reading uses affiliate links. This means that when you shop through the links in our posts, we may earn a cent or two at no additional cost to you. Thank you for contributing to our book purchase fund.
70 best books for third graders
here are 70 best books for third graders:
stella diaz has something to say
Published: January 16, 2018
stella diaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, pancho. but stella diaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom, her brother, and her best friend, Jenny. The problem is that Jenny is in a different class this year and Stella is feeling very lonely.
When a new boy comes to Stella’s class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and mispronounces the words, causing her to turn red. Plus, she has to speak in front of her entire class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because she stella diaz has something to say! Stella Diaz Has Something to Say introduces an infectiously charming new character with relatable writing and adorable black-and-white art throughout. Simple Spanish vocabulary is also integrated within the text, providing a bilingual element.
mercy watson to the rescue (series)
Published: August 23, 2005
to mr. and mrs watson, mercy isn’t just a pig, she’s a swine wonder. And for the portly, good-natured Mercy, Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery, toasty feeling you get when you snuggle up in bed with them. however, this is not so good for the watson’s bed. boom! fissure! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink into the ground, Mercy slips away in an instant, “to alert the fire department,” its owners claim. But is it possible that mercy has another emergency in mind, like a sudden craving for her neighbors’ sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson, a rousing character for early chapter book readers in a series that is destined to become a classic.
Maya and the robot
Published: July 13, 2021
Maya is nervous about fifth grade. she tries to stay calm by reminding herself that she knows what to expect. but then she finds out that this year will not be like the last. For the first time since kindergarten, Ella’s best friends Jada and Ella MJ are placed in a different class without her, and the introverted Maya has trouble making new friends.
tries to put on a brave face since they’re in fifth grade now, but maya is nervous! just when she seems like they’re changing too much, she finds a robot named ralph on the back of mr. mac convenience store locker. Once she uses her science skills to get it going, a whole new world of connection opens up to her as Ralph becomes a member of her family and Maya begins to take on her power. In this moving novel, Eve L. ewing combines a story about community, adapting to change, and the magic of wit that reminds young readers that they can always turn to their own curiosity when they feel lost.
the princess and absolutely not a princess (miranda and maude #1)
Published: August 7, 2018
Princess Miranda doesn’t want to go to school. she wants to tap her feet, organize parties and decorate the castle. Maude can’t wait for school. she loves rules and social justice and getting good grades. She also loves hard-boiled eggs, much to Miranda’s dismay. When a tense first week of school results in Maude being excluded from the royal birthday party, Maude decides she’s found her first fight for social justice: a birthday boycott. This hilarious and heartwarming chapter book series teaches empathy and reminds us that your best friend could be a desk away.
lola levine is not bad
Published: November 3, 2015
Lola Levine likes to write in her journal, drink her mom’s latte, eat her dad’s matzah ball soup, and play soccer with her team, the orange smoothies. So what if she doesn’t always fit in?
Lola is fierce on the field, but when a soccer game during recess gets too competitive, she accidentally hurts her classmate Juan Gomez. now everyone calls her bad lola levine! Lola is feeling terrible, but with the help of her family, her super best friend Josh Blot, and a little “pencil power,” she just might be able to turn it all around.
In this first book in a series, young readers will be inspired by Lola’s big heart and creative spirit as she learns to navigate second grade in true Lola style.
a boy named bat
Published: March 14, 2017
for bixby alexander tam (nicknamed bat), life tends to be full of surprises, some good, some not so good. today, however, is a good day of surprises. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she must care for until she can deliver it to a wildlife shelter.
but the moment the bat meets the kit, it knows they belong to each other. And he has a month to show his mom that a baby skunk would make a great pet.
jd and the great battle of the barber
Published: February 23, 2021
j.d. has a big problem: it’s the night before the start of third grade and his mom has just given him his first and worst haircut at home. When the constant stream of insults from the entire Douglas Elementary student body becomes too much for J.D., he takes matters into his own hands and discovers that, unlike his mother, he is a genius with scissors. His job makes him the talk of the town and brings him enough barber business to open a barber shop in his room. But when Henry Jr., the owner of the only official local barbershop, realizes he’s losing customers to J.D., he tries to shut it down for good. How do you find out who is the best barber in all of Meridian, Mississippi? with a great barber battle!
international day of anissa
Published: September 20, 2022
anisa is so excited for the international day and can’t wait to share her mom’s samosas with her class. But when someone else has the exact same idea, Anisa is crushed.
going to your aunt’s dholki party gives you an idea of the perfect activity: mehndi! There’s just one problem: Anisa’s best friend doesn’t seem to like the idea. It seems that she doesn’t even like Anisa anymore.
will anisa ever be able to enjoy the international day?
Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles
Published: December 17, 2013
It’s hard being the new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin had a lot of friends at his old school, but the kids here don’t even know that he’s pretty good at skateboarding or how amazing he is at soccer. And when his classmate Richard arrives and the boys end up in trouble, Gavin not only risks losing his new friend, but also has to take care of his Great Aunt Myrtle’s hideous little dog as punishment. To make matters worse, Gavin seems to have attracted the attention of the school bully. Will he be able to avoid getting hit at the skate park? And how is he going to show that he’s okay with a little barking Pomeranian wearing a pink bow next to him?
jada jones: rock star
Published: September 19, 2017
When Jada Jones’s best friend moves away, school feels like the last place she wants to be. she would rather wander outside looking for cool rocks to add to her collection, since finding rocks is much easier than finding friends. So when Jada’s teacher announces a class project on rocks and minerals, Jada finally feels like she’s in her element. her only problem: one of her teammates doesn’t seem to like any of jada’s ideas. She doesn’t seem to like Jada much either. Can Jada find a way to a winning science project and a new friend?
definitely dominguita: gentleman of the cape
Published: March 2, 2021
The only thing Sunday wants to do is read. especially the books in Spanish that Grandma gave her just before she moved. They were classics that grandmother and dominguita read together, classics that her grandmother brought with her from Cuba when she was a child. help dominguita feel like grandma is still there with her.
one of his favourites, don quixote, tells of a brave knight errant who tries to do good deeds. Dominguita decides that she too will become a knight and do good deeds in her community, creating a great adventure to share with her grandmother. And when the class bully tells Dom that girls can’t be gentlemen, Dom is determined to prove him wrong. With a team of new friends, can Dominguita learn to be the hero of her own story?
jake the fake keeps it real
Published: March 28, 2017
Jake can barely play an instrument, not even a kazoo. and his art? it is more suitable for pictionary than for picasso. Which is a real problem because Jake just spoofed his way to the Academy of Music and Art for the Gifted and Talented (and Jake’s pretty sure he’s not). More of a prankster than a songwriter, Jake will have to think of something quick before he gets the last laugh
weekends with max and his dad
Published: April 5, 2016
max and his dad love weekends together. weekends mean pancakes, pizza, spy games, dog walking, school projects, and amazing neighbors. Every weekend she hosts a little adventure as Max gets to know her dad’s new neighborhood and learns new ways to think about home.
Acclaimed author Linda Urban deftly portrays the inner world of a third grader during a time of transition in this sweet and fun illustrated story that bridges the beginning reader and the middle grade novel.
news from me, lucy mcgee
Published: October 9, 2018
even if it means skipping songwriting club? even if she has always been too popular to give you the time of day? even if she asks you to paint the walls and pour tea…?
Soon Lucy McGee realizes she’s been tricked into becoming Scarlett Tandy’s errand girl, and is getting in trouble for skipping her after-school activities. things get complicated as she tries to balance school, friends, friends, songwriting, and family expectations of her. clearly lucy has to fight back! but it turns out that singing and playing the ukulele, and having a lot of fun doing it, is the best revenge.
In this new series from state award favorite Mary Amato, a plucky heroine matches her wits with a mean girl and learns that high school can be a balancing act, so you can’t lose sight of what’s next. is important.
marya khan and the amazing henna party (marya khan #1)
Published: October 18, 2022
Marya’s 8th birthday is coming up in a week, and all she wants is an over-the-top birthday party like the ones her rich neighbor Alexa always throws. When Ella Alexa walks into school with fancy invitations, Ella Marya can’t help it: she claims she’s having the most epic henna party ever. she now has to convince her family to make it happen. go into operation help the khans! Marya’s brothers clearly need help with her projects. Maybe she could make dinner for her parents or clean Grandma’s room for her? Except everything Marya does seems to end in disaster. Will Marya and her family be able to get organized and throw the best party ever?
aven green: detective machine
Published: April 13, 2021
Aven Green, a third grader, has been solving mysteries for a whole month, solving cases like the mystery of the cranky mother. But can this sharp-witted detective solve two cases at the same time? first, his teacher’s lunch bag goes missing. Then Aven’s great-grandmother’s dog disappears. Fortunately, since Aven was born without arms, all of the “arm” cells went into her superpowered brain. (that’s his theory). This hilarious chapter book shows a new side of Dusti Bowling’s unforgettable protagonist.
road trip with max and his mom
Published: April 17, 2018
3rd grader max goes on a road trip with mom. With miles to travel, cousins to meet, and a tall roller coaster to ride (maybe), it’s going to be an adventure! but max always spends the weekends with dad; Will dad be okay if he stays behind? Will Max be brave enough for all the new explorations that lie ahead of him?
like insect juice in a hamburger (series)
Published: January 1, 2013
I hate camping. I just hate it I wish I hadn’t. but I do it. being here is worse than bug juice on a hamburger. or homework on thanksgiving. or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Pickle Juice on a Cracker, Eleanor heads off to summer camp. At first, she’s excited to continue the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there, she finds disgusting bugs, horrible food, and worst of all: swimming lessons, where she can’t seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go by, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises, and that growing up is full of failure.
the year of the book (anna wang series)
Published: May 22, 2012
In Chinese, peng you means friend. But in any language, the one thing Anna knows for sure is that friendship is complicated.
when anna needs company, she turns to her books. Whether traveling through a wrinkle in time or looking over my side of the mountain, books provide what real life can’t: constant companionship and insight into your changing world.
The books, however, can’t tell anna how to find a true friend. she will have to find out on her own. In the tradition of such classics as Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books and Eleanor Estes’s One Hundred Dresses, this novel subtly explores what it takes to make friends and what it means to be one.
big foot and little foot (book #1)
Published: April 10, 2018
hugo is a young sasquatch who yearns for adventure. Boone is a boy who longs to see a Sasquatch. when his worlds collide, they become the most unlikely pair of best friends. At the Academy for Curious Squids, Hugo learns all kinds of stealth; after all, the most important part of being a sasquatch is staying hidden from humans. but hugo dreams of roaming freely in the big world instead of being locked in caves. When he has an unexpected encounter with a young human, Hugo seizes the opportunity for a grand adventure. Soon, the two team up to search high and low for mythical beasts, like ogopogos and bratty gints. Through the discovery of these new creatures, Big Foot and Little Foot together explore the ins and outs of each other’s very different worlds, but learn that, deep down, they may not be so different after all.
maybe maybe marisol rainey
Published: May 4, 2021
marisol rainey’s mother was born in the philippines. Marisol’s father works and lives part-time on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. and marisol, who has a great imagination and likes to name inanimate objects, has a tree in her backyard that she calls pepina. . . but she is too scared to climb it. All of this makes Marisol the only girl in her small Louisiana town with a mother who was born somewhere else and a father who lives somewhere else (most of the time), the only girl who is afraid of adventure and fun.
Can Marisol save her summer and have fun with her best friend Jada? maybe. Will Marisol figure out how to get annoying Evie Smythe to leave her alone? maybe. Will Marisol be able to spend enough real time with her father? maybe. Will Marisol find the courage to climb Peppina? maybe.
harriet only
Published: February 1, 2022
there are a few things you should know about harriet wermer:
- just finished third grade.
- has a perfect cat named matzo ball.
- doesn’t always tell the truth.
- She is very happy to spend the summer vacation away from home and her mom and dad and all the wonderful things she had been planning all year long.
Okay, maybe that last one isn’t entirely true.
Of course, there’s nothing Harriet doesn’t like about Marble Island, the tiny island off the coast of California where her nanny runs a cozy little bed and breakfast. and nobody doesn’t love moneypenny, nanu’s old basset hound. but harriet doesn’t like the fact that dad made this decision without even asking her.
However, when Harriet arrives at the Marble Island, she discovers that it is full of surprises and even a mystery. one that seems to involve her father, when he was a child living on the marble island. one that harriet is absolutely going to solve. and that’s the truth.
the magnificent mya tibbs: spirit week showdown
Published: January 26, 2016
Nine-year-old cowgirl Mya Tibbs is excited for the best week of the entire school year: Spirit Week! She and her mega-popular BFF, Naomi Jackson, even made a pinky promise to be Spirit Week partners so they could win the grand prize: special VIP tickets to the Fall Festival.
But when the mate choice goes terribly wrong, Mya is paired with badass Connie Tate, the school’s biggest bully. and she can’t get out of it. good sauce!
now naomi is mad at mya for breaking a promise, even though mya couldn’t help it, and everyone at school insults her. Can mya work with mean connie to win the vip tickets and get her best friend back?
bobby against girls (accidentally)
Published: September 1, 2009
all the problems in bobby ellis-chan’s life can be summed up in one word: girls.
See Also: 20 Best Leadership Audiobooks to Inspire You and Your Team | Audible.com
There’s his sister Casey, who has a strange obsession with Bobby’s goldfish, Rover.
There’s Jillian Zarr, who gets mad every time a guy looks at her.
Most of all, there’s Holly Harper, Bobby’s ex-best friend. who is now, for some reason, jillian’s best friend. she liked frogs and rolling downhill; she now she wears dresses and straightens her hair. Holly is running against Bobby for student council representative. she knows all her secrets, and it is possible for her to spill them.
bobby vs. holly, boys vs. girls, in the biggest battle ever at Rosetta Ranch!
a new friend (1) (the adventures of sophie mouse)
Published: January 20, 2015
In the first book of the Sophie Mouse Adventures, spring has come to Silverlake Forest! animals are coming out of their houses, buds are blooming on the trees, and the air smells of honeysuckle and tree bark. Sophie Mouse can’t wait to go back to school after the long winter break.
Even better, there’s a new student in the class. Sophie loves meeting new animals! But the class gasps when Owen walks in: it’s a snake! no one is brave enough to sit near him, or play with owen at recess, or even talk to him. Can Sophie help her friends understand that Owen isn’t scary after all?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page, The Adventures of Sophie Mouse chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.
planet omar: magnet for accidental problems
Published: February 4, 2020
welcome to omar’s imaginative brain!
omar and his family just moved and he is not excited about starting a new school. what if the work is too hard, the kids are mean, or the teacher is a zombie alien?
but when omar makes a new best friend, things start to look up. That is, until a big bad thug named Daniel makes every day a nightmare! Daniel even tells Omar that all Muslims will be expelled from the country. . . could that be true?
Fortunately, Omar’s huge imagination and his fun family get him through life’s ups and downs.
omar’s funny and close narrative is the perfect answer to the need for both mirrors and windows to fill the shelves with different stories.
the unfriendship bracelet (book 1 cunningly forever)
Published: March 27, 2018
In the first book of the Craftily Ever After chapter book series, a new student comes between best friends Emily and Maddie, and changes the meaning of their friendship bracelets!
emily adams, maddie wilson, bella diaz and sam sharma are eight-year-olds with one special thing in common: they love to create. everyone has unique talents too! emily is great at building and building; Maddie has an eye for fashion, fabrics and sewing; Bella is an gadget whiz; and sam is a gifted artist. Together, these four cunning friends come up with new projects to design, build, and create, and through their experiences, they’ll learn how to handle various obstacles at school and in their eight-year-old daily life.
In the first book of Craftily Ever After, best friends Emily and Maddie are so close that they spend most of their free time together, and they also wear matching friendship bracelets! One day, a new student named Bella Diaz shows up at Mason Creek Elementary. Maddie immediately befriends her and discovers that she is also very cunning. as maddie and bella spend more time together, emily spends more time alone…until she realizes that the boy who’s been sitting next to her in class all this time loves to draw and create as well than her When Emily’s friendship bracelet falls off and Maddie doesn’t even notice, Emily begins to think that maybe it wasn’t a friendship bracelet after all.
beatrice zinker, reverse thinker
Published: September 19, 2017
beatrice does her best thinking backwards.
hanging from the trees by the knees, doing a handstand. . . for beatrice zinker, the other way around always works. She was definitely in over her head when she and her best friend, Lenny, agreed to wear matching ninja outfits on the first day of third grade. But when Beatrice shows up at school dressed in black, Lenny arrives with a cool new outfit and a cool new friend. What’s worse, she seems to have completely forgotten about the top secret operation they planned!
Can beatrice use her backwards thinking to save the mission, repair their friendship, and turn things around?
zara’s rules for unprecedented fun
Published: April 19, 2022
meet zara saleem, the queen of the neighborhood. Zara is in charge of everything: she organizes the games, picks the teams, and makes sure everyone has a good time…and they always do. When a new family moves in across the street, Zara’s reign is suddenly threatened by Naomi, who has her own ideas about how the neighborhood kids can have fun. To get everyone’s attention back to her, Zara decides she’s going to break a Guinness World Record, if Ella’s little brother Zayd doesn’t mess things up. But as she finds herself increasingly alone in her quest to break records, Zara begins to wonder if sharing the crown and making a new friend might end up being the best rule of all.
meena meets her partner
Published: January 29, 2019
meena’s life is full of color. She wears vibrant clothes, eats all the shades of the rainbow, and picks up flashy trash from neighborhood recycling bins.
But when Meena’s best friend Sofia stops playing with her at recess and experiences an unexpected and terrifying incident at breakfast, nothing can combat the grey.
That’s when meena comes up with a plan to create the best and most colorful valentine box in the class. With the help of her cousin, Eli, and her stuffed zebra, Raymond, Meena discovers that the best way to get over the blah is to let her true colors shine through.
give way to dyamonde daniel (series)
Published: May 14, 2009
Dyamonde Daniel may be new in town, but that doesn’t stop him from carving out a place for himself in no time. With her positive attitude and her incredible mental power, she conquers the whole neighborhood. the only thing that puzzles her is the other new boy in her class. he’s grumpy, but dyamonde is determined to get to the bottom of her attitude and make a friend.
henry huggins
Published: November 7, 2017
Just as henry huggins complains that nothing exciting ever happens, a friendly dog sits next to him and looks pleadingly at his ice cream cone. from that moment on, the two are inseparable. But when Ribsy’s original owner shows up, trying to get the dog back from him, Henry is faced with the possibility of losing his new best friend.
has klickitat street seen the latest in rambunctious trinkets?
jasmine toguchi, queen mochi (series)
Published: July 11, 2017
Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is a flamingo fanatic, tree climber, and top-notch messer!
She’s also tired of her older sister, sophie, always doing things first. for once, jasmine wishes she could do something before sophie—something special, something different. The new year is coming, and as the toguchi family gathers in los angeles to celebrate, jasmine is jealous that her sister helps her make mochi balls by hand with the women. Ella’s mother says that Jasmine is still too young to join, so she hatches a plan to help the men pound mochi rice. surely her sister has never done that before.
but churning mochi is traditionally reserved for children. and the mochi hammer is heavier than it looks. Can Jasmine build her case and her muscles to make mochi in time for New Year’s Day?
sona sharma, best older sister?
Published: September 14, 2021
sona sharma’s house is filled with three generations of people who joke often and argue sometimes. relatives drop by unannounced, the phone rings frequently, and friends drop by all the time. then one day amma tells sona that she is going to have a baby. is that good? Sona isn’t so sure. she doesn’t want to share her room or her things with a new baby, not to mention the attention of amma, appa, thatha and paatti. And despite Amma’s assurance that the sky always has room for new stars, Sona doesn’t feel flexible or big-hearted like the sky. But when she finds out that there will be a baby naming ceremony, she is determined to find the best name for her new brother or sister, one as pretty as her own, a Hindi word for “gold”. Perfectly geared towards young readers, this change readiness story is followed by a glossary of Indian words to explore in the story.
stink and the great guinea pig express (series)
Published: April 9, 2013
When three guinea pigs from the local pet store run away, stink moody and his friends webster and sophie spring into action. ta-da! the fantastic furry friends gather the little balls of fur and bring them safely to the lady. the birdwistle shop, where they discover oohla-la! guinea pig pandemonium! It’s time for the big guinea pig giveaway! Stink and company hit the road aboard the Squeals on Wheels Express on a mad quest to find good homes for 101 little pigs that squeak, whistle, gurgle and wag. furry!
the daily bark: the problem of the puppy (the daily bark, 1)
Published: January 18, 2022
Gizmo is a city dog, so when he moves to puddle town with his human journalist, he doesn’t know what to expect. certainly not flowers. or bees. and he couldn’t even have imagined the mud. luckily he has jilly, the wolfdog next door, to show him around.
but jilly has a problem. her puppies will be adopted by new owners who live far away, she will never see them again! Gizmo has a nose for stories and a great idea to help Jilly. what if puddle dogs started a newspaper to spread the word and keep these pups closer to home? stop the presses!
mia mayhem vs. the mighty robot (series)
Published: November 26, 2019
Eddie, Mia’s best friend, has built an amazing robot that is supposed to be a powerful cleaning machine! And at first, everything runs smoothly as the robot helps out at home and at school! But things quickly go haywire when Mia accidentally makes the robot grow three times its normal size. Does Mia have what it takes to take on a big, powerful robot?
Wednesday and wow #1: Catastrophe
Published: May 24, 2022
Detective Tip #1: Try not to jump to conclusions. wednesday and her service dog, wow, are the best detectives in the world, or at least in their neighborhood. but they can find the lady. winters lost cat before his big trip? Or will the case of the kitten sleeping by the cat be his first unsolved mystery?
donut feed the squirrels
Published: September 29, 2020
norma and belly would really, really, really, really want a doughnut.
With a burnt breakfast and a cranky donut vendor at the local food truck, they might just have nuts to eat. . . unless they can steal the biggest, most delicious donut of their little lives!
mika’s song gives readers something to laugh about as these squirrels try their best to get some donuts while almost everything goes wrong. a fun graphic novel that focuses on crazy action, problem solving, and the power of working together.
bernice buttman, model citizen
Published: March 26, 2019
When you’re a buttman, the label “thug” comes with the territory, and Bernice lives up to her name. But life as a stalker is lonely, and if there’s one thing Bernice really wants (even more than becoming a Hollywood stuntwoman), she’s a true friend.
After her mother leaves her in a new city with her aunt (who is also a real nun), Bernice decides to make amends and become a model citizen. If her plan works, she could make it to the Hollywood Hills stunt camp! But it’s hard to be nice when no one is showing you nice, so some cheesy jokes may still be up your sleeve. . . .
dog man: from the creator of captain underpants (dog man #1)
Published: August 30, 2016
george and harold have created a new kind of justice. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound burrows into deception, scratches thieves, tramples thieves and scampers after squirrels. Will he be able to resist the call of nature to answer the call of duty?
Dav Pilkey’s popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes such as empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of being true to yourself.
a bad case of stripes
Published: March 1, 1998
category: make friends“what we have here is a bad case of stripes. one of the worst I’ve ever seen!”
Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. why? because the other kids at their school don’t like them. and camilla cream is very, very concerned about what others think of her. in fact, she’s so worried that she’s about to break out in…a bad case of streaking.
tola too small
Published: March 2, 2021
In a trio of hilarious stories, award-winning author and storyteller Atinuke introduces an endearing and enduring character with a lot to prove. Tola lives in an apartment in the busy city of Lagos, Nigeria, with his sister, Moji, who is very intelligent; his brother, dapo, who is very fast; and the grandmother, who is very bossy. Tola may be small, but she’s strong enough to carry home a basket full of groceries from the market, and she’s smart enough to count Grandma’s change. when the faucets in the apartment break, it is tola who brings water from the well. and when mr. Abdul, the tailor, has an accident and needs help to take the measurements of his clients, only Tola can save the day. Atinuke’s trademark wit and charm are on display, accompanied by delightful illustrations of Onyinye Iwu. too small tola evokes the urban bustle and rich mix of cultures in lagos through the eyes of a girl with an oversized will and an even bigger heart.
mrs. piggle-wiggle
Published: August 14, 2007
meet mrs. piggle-wiggle! He lives in a topsy-turvy house with a kitchen that’s always full of freshly baked cookies. She even was married to a pirate once! Best of all, she knows everything there is to know about children.
when mary becomes an answering machine or dick becomes selfish or allen decides to be a slow-eater-of-little-biters, mrs. piggle-wiggle has the perfect cure. and his solutions always work, with lots of laughs along the way. this is the book that started it all!
frankie sparks and the class pet
Published: June 18, 2019
The best thing that ever happened to Frankie Sparks’ third grade class: they’re getting a class pet! Their teacher, Miss Cupid, tells them that they will vote for their pet, but she has to meet some “parameters.” your pet must:
1. fit in aquarium.2. it costs less than $50.3. be easily portable.4. being able to stay alone for the weekend.
Frankie thinks a rat, like the rats in her beloved Aunt Gina’s lab, would be a perfect fit. But her best friend, Maya, doesn’t think a rat is good at all. they’re kind of gross and not as cool as a hermit crab, which is maya’s next best thing. Using her special workshop, can Frankie find a way to convince her teacher and her best friend that team rat is the way to go?
muggie maggie
Published: October 6, 2009
At first, Maggie feels just plain stubborn when she declares that she won’t learn cursive. what’s wrong with printing, anyway? and she can easily type on a computer, so why would she need to know how to read those wavy lines? But soon all of her classmates are buzzing about Maggie’s refusal to learn, especially after her teacher, Mrs. leeper says that maggie’s cursive is so sloppy that her name looks like “muggie”.
With “muggie maggie” ringing in her ears, maggie definitely won’t back down…until she’s named class mail carrier. all the cards that mrs. The messages that Leeper sends to her office are written in italics, and Maggie thinks they are written about her. but there’s only one way to know for sure… so what’s maggie going to do?
nina soni, former best friend
Published: October 1, 2019
See Also: Terry McMillan – Book Series In Order
nina soni is a lovable, absent-minded American Indian girl with big plans and a cast of family and friends to help her make her dreams come true, or solve the chaos that often results. about her school project. Luckily, a class lesson on Alexander Fleming hints at how she could make a great discovery, and thus a great project! But with little sister Kavita’s birthday party just around the corner and her longtime friendship with Jay On The Rocks, Nina has a lot to keep track of.
the amazing life of azaleah lane
Published: January 1, 2020
azaleah is looking forward to her class’s field trip to the national zoo in washington d.c., especially when her teacher announces the opportunity to earn extra credit. But when Azaleah gets home, she quickly realizes that extra credit isn’t as easy as she thought. Azaleah’s younger sister, Tiana, can’t find Greenie, her stuffed animal, and she’s sure it’s been stolen. With Mom at the diner and Dad working a big case, it seems Azaleah is the only one available to track down the stolen stuffed animal. Will Azaleah be able to get to the bottom of the mystery in time to finish her extra credit?
fenway and hattie
Published: February 9, 2016
fenway is an excitable and endlessly energetic jack russell terrier. He lives in the city with the food lady, the man he’s looking for, and of course, his beloved little human and best friend in the world, Hattie. But when his family moves to the suburbs, Fenway faces a world of change. he’s very happy with the huge dog park behind his new home, but he’s not so happy with the mean squirrels taunting him from the trees, the super slippery dining room floor, and the changes that have happened lately. Instead of playing with Fenway, she seems more interested in her new short human friend, Angel, and learning how to play baseball. His friends at the dog park next door say Hattie is getting over him, but that can’t be right. And she’s going to show it!
the lunch lady and the cyborg substitute
Published: November 30, 2011
at the service of justice. . . and lunch!
Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she’s not serving the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have many cats at home? little do they know, the lunch lady doesn’t just serve sloppy food, she serves justice! whatever danger lies ahead, she is no match for the lunch lady!
cilla lee jenkins 1
Published: March 28, 2017
priscilla “cilla” lee-jenkins is on a tight deadline. Ella’s little sister is about to be born, and Cilla needs to become a successful author before her family forgets about her completely. she so she writes about what she knows best: herself! and she cilla has a lot to write about: how did she deal with being bald until she was five years old? How did she overcome her difficulties with reading? How are her family traditions with Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins different from her family traditions with her Chinese grandparents, nai nai and ye ye?
Written by susan tan and illustrated by dana wolfekotte, cilla lee-jenkins: future author extraordinaire is a novel brimming with love and humor, told through a brilliant and compelling biracial protagonist who will win your heart and make you laugh.
/p>
alvin ho: allergic to girls, school and other scary things
Published: July 8, 2008
Alvin, an Asian-American second grader, is afraid of everything: elevators, tunnels, girls, and most of all, school. he is so afraid of school that, while he is there, he never, ever says a word. But at home he is a very loud superhero named Firecracker Man, brother to Calvin and Anibelly, and a knight in training, so he can be like his father.
the new princess (1) (little kitty princess)
Published: February 4, 2020
something exciting is happening in lollyland. Itty bitty kitty’s eighth shooting star is about to arrive and that means she’s going to become a princess! itty is excited, but when she finds out about all the things that are going to change, she gets nervous too. Between trying out new hairstyles and hearing that she can no longer attend her usual school, Ella Itty begins to feel that she is not cut out for this princess job. will itty bitty kitty turn into itty bitty princess kitty after all?
it’s me. (kitten #1)
Published: March 26, 2019
from new york times bestselling author jim benton, meet catwad! he’s blue, he’s a bit of a curmudgeon, and his best friend is a goofy cat named blurmp who can see the bright side of anything. From pizza and computers to love and happiness, this moody tabby has a funny take on just about everything and isn’t afraid to share it. This collection of short comics will make even the grumpiest of curmudgeons laugh and is not to be missed!
ruby lu, brave and faithful
Published: March 1, 2004
most days, the best thing about being a ruby is everything. like when she’s the star of her own backyard magic show. or when she gives a talk at a school safety assembly about the benefits of reflective tape. or when she rides the no. 3 buses to Chinatown to visit Gunggung and Pohpoh.
And then there are the days when it’s really hard to be a ruby. Like when her mom suggests Chinese school on Saturdays. Or when his little brother, Oscar, reveals all of Ruby’s best magical secrets. Or when his parents think he’s not old enough to drive!
Join ruby lu on her first adventure and discover the best of her!
anna banana and the breakup of the friendship
Published: May 5, 2015
Meet Anna and her beloved dachshund, Banana, in this start of a charming series of illustrated chapter books about the joys and challenges of friendships in elementary school.
anna has been best friends with sadie for as long as she can remember. So Anna is completely stumped when, on Anna’s birthday, Sadie unceremoniously claims Anna’s new pony necklace, then stops talking to Anna altogether. ana did something wrong? With a little help from her dachshund, Banana, as well as some sage advice from her family, Anna makes some important discoveries about what it means to stand up for herself and how to be a true friend to her. /p>
old friends (must love pets #1)
Published: May 31, 2022
A new middle grade teen series that combines the heart and friendship of the Babysitters Club, with the irresistible appeal of the lovable animals!
pet sitters for rent!
Imaan Bashir loves dogs, but he doesn’t have one. even. If only there was a sure way to demonstrate his special canine connection to his mother. she would then be well on her way to pampering her own pup.
When one of Imaan’s neighbors needs a last-minute pet sitter for her dog, Mr. Teddy, a great idea comes up. Imaan and her friends london and olivia will take care of the pets! Imaan’s mother will be so impressed with Imaan’s amazing animal skills that she will beg him to adopt her own dog. or something like that. . . But the reality of pet-sitting is a bit more complicated: Imaan soon finds out that Sir Teddy is a real fanatic!
the secret explorers and the lost whales
Published: July 7, 2020
meet the secret explorers! This group of brilliant kids gathers from the four corners of the globe to solve problems, solve mysteries, and gather knowledge from across the globe and beyond. whenever your help is needed, a special sign will appear on a door. they go to the exploration station and receive their mission…
In The Lost Whales, marine life expert Connor needs to use his underwater expertise to help save a pod of humpback whales that have gone missing. Along with space expert Roshni, he embarks on a submarine to search for a way to redirect the whales, but encounters unexpected problems along the way, including missing baby whales and a fleet of ships. Will the secret explorers succeed in their mission?
mindy kim and the delicious seaweed business
Published: January 14, 2020
mindy kim only wants three things:1. a puppy!2. to fit into his new school3. so that her father can be happy again
But getting all three things on your list is a lot more complicated than I thought. On her first day of school, Mindy’s dried seaweed school snack isn’t exactly popular on the lunch table. Luckily, her new friend Sally makes the snacks look totally yummy for Mindy’s new classmates, so they decide to start the yummy seaweed business to try and raise money for that pup!
When another student decides to try to sabotage her business, mindy loses more than she bargained for and wonders if she’ll ever fit in. Can mindy overcome her uncertainty and find the courage to be herself?
p>side stories of the school by the wayside
Published: May 26, 1998
Accidentally built on its side and thirty stories high (the builder said he was very sorry for the mistake), the roadside school has some of the most extravagant classes in the city, especially on the thirtieth floor. That’s where you’ll meet bebe, the fastest cartoonist in art class; john, who only reads backwards; myron, the greatest class president of all time; and sammy, the new guy, is a real rat.
izzy barr, running star (franklin school friends book 3)
Published: April 28, 2015
izzy barr is the star athlete of the third grade: she hits home runs on her softball team and is one of the fastest runners in her class. But at home, her half-brother Dustin seems to be her dad’s favorite athlete; otherwise why would her father go to all of her games and miss out on so many of hers? izzy pretends she doesn’t care, but while she, her friends annika riz and kelsey green, and the rest of her class are getting ready for the class picnic, she can’t help but hope her dad is there to cheer her on at school. great race against his rival, skipper tipton. Dad doesn’t make it to the picnic, but when he realizes how important izzy is to him, he and all of her friends and family are there to watch her run the town’s 10K. p>
cat kids comics club
Published: December 1, 2020
Naomi, Melvin, Pedro, and Poppy are just a few of twenty-one boisterous, funny, and talented baby frogs who share their stories at the Cat Kid Comic Club. Can Li’l Petey, Molly and Flippy help students express themselves through comics? Adventures in class and on paper unfold with hiccups and fun as creative baby frogs experience mistakes and the progress that comes with practice and persistence.
“squid kid and katydid”, “baby frog squad”, “monster cheese sandwich”, “birds flowers trees: a haiku photo comic” and other mini-comics are presented as stories within a story, each done in a different style, using humor and drama, prose and poetry, illustrated in different media, including acrylics, pastels, colored pencils, markers, clay, handmade cardboard sculptures, photographs, pipe cleaners, construction paper collages, and cookies.
the miniature world of marvin & james (the adventures of the masterpiece, 1)
Published: February 4, 2014
In this adventure masterpiece, the first in a companion series for younger readers from bestselling author Elise Broach, James goes on vacation for a week. her best friend, marvin the beetle, has to stay home. Without James to keep him company, Marvin has to play with her annoying cousin, Elaine. Marvin and Elaine quickly find themselves in all kinds of trouble, including getting trapped inside a pencil sharpener! Marvin misses James and begins to worry about their friendship. Will James still be friends with Marvin when he gets home or will he have found a new best friend?
the one and only ivan (excellent read aloud recommendation!)
Published: January 17, 2012
Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his mall enclosure, Ivan has grown accustomed to being watched by humans. he hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. instead, ivan deals with television, with his friends stella and bob, and with painting. But when he meets Ruby, a wild-caught baby elephant, he is forced to see her home and his art through new eyes.
In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte and Stuart Little’s Web, Katherine Applegate blends humor and heartbreak to create an unforgettable tale of friendship, artistry, and hope.
flip forward turning back
Published: August 2, 2022
Claire is by far the best gymnast on her team and is on her way to qualifying for the state championships. the gym is where claire shines. but at school, she is known as a troublemaker. she seems to spend more time in the office than in class, which is fine with her as it allows her to hide the fact that she can’t read. she has never been able to understand the wobbly jumble of letters on a page. no one except her best friend knows. But when a sympathetic director questions if Claire is misbehaving because she’s dyslexic, her mother balks. She is afraid Claire will be labeled “stupid” and she refuses to get tested. Claire has always assumed that she is dumb; she never imagined that her reading problem could have a solution. Is she strong enough to take on both her reading challenges and her mother’s denial? Is it worth risking her place in the playoffs? Told in clear, moving verse and black-and-white illustrations, Claire’s struggle with something that seems easy to everyone else will resonate with readers and have them cheering her on.
the mouse and the motorcycle
Published: October 24, 2017
In this imaginative adventure from Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary, a young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of thrills when a young boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check into the Mountain View Inn.
>
When the ever-curious Ralph sees Keith’s red toy motorcycle, he vows to ride it. So when Keith leaves the bike unattended in his bedroom one day, Ralph makes the move on him. but with all this freedom (and speed!) comes many obstacles. Whether it’s fending off a noisy terrier or keeping his nosy cousins away from his new wheels, Ralph has plenty to do! And with a friend like Keith always looking out for him, there’s nothing this little mouse can’t handle.
harriet only
Published: February 1, 2022
From the award-winning author of A Boy Called Bat comes a new middle-grade series in the tradition of Ramona and Clementine, starring an unforgettable girl named Harriet.
there are a few things you should know about harriet wermer:
– she just finished third grade.
– has a perfect cat named matzo ball.
– she doesn’t always tell the truth.
– he is very happy to spend the summer holidays away from home and his mom and dad and all the wonderful things he had been planning all year long.
Okay, maybe that last one isn’t entirely true.
Of course, there’s nothing Harriet doesn’t like about Marble Island, the tiny island off the coast of California where her nanny runs a cozy little bed and breakfast. and nobody doesn’t love moneypenny, nanu’s old basset hound. but harriet doesn’t like the fact that dad made this decision without even asking her.
However, when Harriet arrives at the Marble Island, she discovers that it is full of surprises and even a mystery. one that seems to involve her father, when he was a child living on the marble island. one that harriet is absolutely going to solve.
and that’s the truth.
the touch of chocolate
Published: July 2, 2013
can you ever eat too much of your favorite food? john midas is about to find out….
chocolate twist remains a favorite of millions of children, teachers and parents for generations. it’s an enjoyable story that appeals to even reluctant readers.
ivy & bean (book 1)
Published: April 20, 2006
The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they weren’t going to be friends. But when Bean pulls a prank on her sister, Nancy, and has to quickly hide, Ivy comes to the rescue, proving that sometimes best friends are people who never meant to like each other. vibrant characters and plenty of humor make this a charming and addictive introduction to the ivy and bean series of books.
clementine (series)
Published: September 15, 2006
When it comes to tackling third grade, Clementine is at the top of her game, okay, so maybe not all the time. After Clementine’s teacher announces that the third and fourth graders will be putting on a talent show, Clementine panics. she does not sing or dance or play an instrument. she can’t even jump gracefully. And as if that didn’t make her feel bad enough, her perfect BFF, Margaret, has so many talents, does she have to alphabetize them to keep them in order? how can clementine hope to compete?
As the night of the big “talent-palooza” approaches, Clementine is desperate for an act, any act. but the unexpected talent that she shows on the show surprises everyone, especially herself.
there they are: 70 of the best chapter books for third graders! you can find even more chapter books on this list, here, and here. It’s important to note that chapter books are not a replacement for picture books, even for older children, so don’t hesitate to keep them in your library. I’ve read several on this list myself, and recently downloaded a few others on my kindle. You can check out my reviews of the chapter books I’ve read by following goodreads.
more book lists
- second grade books
- fourth grade books
- great fifth grade books
How do you feel about chapter books? Which of these third grade chapter books have you read and loved? any more recommendations? please share!
See Also: The 16 Best Comedy Books of 2014