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The Best Wholesome Books For 3rd Graders

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Photo by Ksenia Chernaya
This article showcases our top picks for the Wholesome Books For 3rd Graders. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below). We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

Future Plans For Kids by Stephanie Audrey

This product was recommended by Jill Caren from Blue Collar Brain

This book takes kids on a career exploration adventure with Wally, Max, and Josie who are all researching skilled trade careers. Children reading the book will learn what it is like to work in construction, machinery, and more. Even if a child does not want to work in these fields – it will help them learn just how hard these people work so we can have the lives we have.

Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne

This product was recommended by Jay Pearson from ReviewsWhiz

One great book series for third graders is the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. In these books, Jack and Annie travel back in time to explore different periods in history. Not only are the adventures fun and exciting, but the books also teach kids about historical events and figures. Kids can have fun with this series while at the same time learning key aspects and events from the past.

Cucumber Quest by Gigi D.G.

This product was recommended by Min Tom from Happy Hong Konger

This story is about Cucumber Bunny as he embarks on an adventure to defeat the Nightmare Knight despite the fact that all he wants to do is leave the adventuring to his sword-wielding sister Almond and enroll in magic school.

Narwhal by Ben Clanton

This product was recommended by Min Tom from Happy Hong Konger

An actual narwhal and a jellyfish become friends in this hilarious graphic novel and embark on crazy adventures together. This is one of those books for third graders that is ideal for kids who love adventure stories and are starting to read books on their own thanks to its vivid and colorful illustrations.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

This product was recommended by Min Tom from Happy Hong Konger

Friendships can be challenging, and no one does it better than Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. Hale takes us from her first day of kindergarten through sixth grade as she recounts her own struggles to make friends in elementary school. Parents might want a hankie while reading, and Pham’s artwork is as gorgeous as ever.

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang

This product was recommended by Jack Williams from Handyman Reviewed

Hopper and Eni discover robots that clean the sidewalks and devices that stop bullies from happening at Stately Academy, which is full of mysteries and coding puzzles. Through thoughtful illustrations and vibrant artwork, readers will become familiar with the fundamentals of coding.

Dragons In A Bag by Zetta Elliott

This product was recommended by Jack Williams from Handyman Reviewed

Three siblings must work out how to get rid of the dragons their mother unintentionally brought home in this action-packed adventure. This is one of those books for third graders that is ideal for kids who love a good story, filled with magic, mischief, and mayhem.

The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin

This product was recommended by Jack Williams from Handyman Reviewed

J.J. is a retired search-and-rescue dog who now spends his days caring for a brood of four baby chicks who, despite his best efforts, continue to cause trouble for themselves.

Saving the Team by Alex Morgan

This product was recommended by Eleanor Fletcher from The Best Brisbane

The Kicks series, written by an Olympic gold-medal-winning soccer player, opens with ten-year-old Devin settling into her new soccer team in Kentville, California—who really needs some guidance.

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

This product was recommended by Eleanor Fletcher from The Best Brisbane

Ben Hatke, a Flight veteran, tells a humorous and engrossing story of friendship and redemption in Zita the Spacegirl. Additionally, it has more wacky, striking monsters that are reminiscent of Miyazaki than you can shake a stick at.

Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina

This product was recommended by Eleanor Fletcher from The Best Brisbane

Children will follow the exploits of a young girl named Juana who lives in Bogotá, Colombia, in this tale. Juana is a perceptive young lady who enjoys asking questions about her surroundings. Juana’s adventures will keep your kid interested whether she’s trying to find the ideal pet or learning how to ride a bike.

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

This product was recommended by Robert Leonard from Aimvein

When Scooby’s spring break plans suddenly fell through, he didn’t know what to expect. And when his grandma said they were going on a road trip together – retracing the steps of one she took with his grandpa years ago – he was less than thrilled. But as they drove across America, listening to music from the Green Book and learning more about their family history, Scoob slowly began to understand both where he came from and the role his ancestors played in shaping America.

Giving Gal and the Christmas Cookie Extravaganza by Stephanie L Jones

This product was recommended by Rachel Fischer from Smith Publicity

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it is important for children to remember that Christmas is about more than presents and material things. Gifts can cost us little time or money and they can even be free, such as the gift of friendship or the gift of working together. Author and giving expert Stephanie L. Jones aims to illustrate this sentiment in her book Giving Gal and the Christmas Cookie Extravaganza, which shares the message that Christmas is a wonderful time to find ways to give back to others, sometimes in unexpected ways.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

This product was recommended by Brigida Aversa from Tiny Hoppers

Pippi Longstocking is a classic story of a young, independent girl who attracts adventure. With no parents to tell her what to do, most kids quickly become infatuated or at least entertained by Pippi’s story. It is an excellent read for ages eight and up as it is broken up into digestible sections allowing them to work with punctuation. Pippi herself is a bit outlandish, and the book has been modified since its original publishing to better suit today’s audience. Overall it offers an excellent opportunity to engage your child’s mind and critical thinking skills when talking about the character of Pippi.

The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng

This product was recommended by Kreisel Jaquish from hellovein

No matter what language you speak, friendships are always complicated. For Anna, this is especially true because she tries to make friends with everyone she meets. When Anna feels lonely, she opens a book. Whether time-traveling through A Wrinkle in Time or adventuring solo in My Side of the Mountain, books are always there for her—providing companionship and valuable insights into her ever-changing world. In order to find a true friend, Anna will have to veer from the classics like Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books and Eleanor Estes’ One Hundred Dresses. This novel takes a closer look at what it requires to make friends and contemplate what it means being one.

Aven Green Sleuthing Machine by Dusti Bowling

This product was recommended by Wolfe Bowart from ViviPins

For a whole month, third-grader Aven Green has been solving mysteries, such as The Mystery of the Cranky Mom. But can this perceptive detective solve two cases simultaneously? First, her teacher’s lunch bag disappears. Then Aven’s great-grandma’s dog goes missing. Fortunately, since Aven was born without arms, all the arm cells went to her super-powered brain instead (at least according to her theory). This hilarious chapter book showcases a new side to Dusti Bowling’s unforgettable protagonist.

Carl the Cantankerous Cat by Donna Paul

This product was recommended by Donna Paul from That’s So Montessori

Introducing Carl the Cantankerous Cat, an educational picture book that helps 3rd graders expand their vocabulary. Readers follow the hilarious antics of one crabby cat and learn new words along the way. This engaging book features over 30 pages of eye-catching color images and more than 70 advanced vocabulary words with their definitions. It’s the perfect read-aloud for elementary kids who love to learn!

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

This product was recommended by Iqbal Ahmad from Britannia School of Academics

Beverly Cleary’s Henry Huggins is one of the best book series to give a third-grade student to make them fall in love with reading. I read this book to my eight-year-old son every night, and we both enjoyed the book. I had to explain to my son what a typewriter was and how you couldn’t get just backspace and fix a mistake! Scenes like this were common in the 1950s; these must be explained to curious children on the spot. We don’t have a dog, but we enjoy the adventure of having one. Overall, a great, original, beautifully written novel with no violence, no ridiculous cartoonish characters, and, most importantly, no true villain.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

This product was recommended by David Zhang from Kate Backdrop

As a Father, I highly recommend the 3rd graders Matilda by Roald Dahl. This classic story contains themes relevant to today’s world: the power of encouragement, standing up for yourself, and believing in your capabilities. It also provides a great lesson in overcoming adversity. The whimsical stories and the mischievous character of Matilda will keep the readers hooked.

Nana Will Say Yes by Alise Curran

This product was recommended by Alise Curran from AliseCurran

This new picture book, Nana Will Say Yes, is the perfect gift for a third grader this holiday season and would make a great stocking stuffer! This sweet and sentimental rhyming book will have children yearning for time with a grandparent and adults reminiscing about childhood memories of their own. Nana Will Say Yes shows the sugary relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother as they spend the day together. If YOU could ask for anything, what would it be?

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

This product was recommended by Gretchen Boyd from NYC House Cleaners

Every child likes Katherine Applegate’s imaginative novel, Crenshaw. A small boy named Jackson, who has a talking cat for an imaginary companion named Crenshaw, is the book’s primary character. The young person has had many hardships throughout his life, and his fictitious friend has been a huge help to him with both words and deeds. The connection between Jackson and Crenshaw, as well as the themes of family, friendship, and perseverance in the face of difficulty, were all superbly described by Katherine. I tell young people to do this. They enjoy reading this gripping and heartfelt book.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

This product was recommended by Irene Graham from Spylix

This series, which chronicles the adventures of four orphaned kids who live in a boxcar, is a classic that will never go out of style. The first volume recounts the events that led to their current predicament, while the others detail their different experiences. Children who enjoy reading novels in a series will enjoy this collection.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

This product was recommended by Irene Graham from Spylix

The Illustrated Adventures of Flora and Ulysses In this endearing fable, a squirrel named Ulysses encounters a vacuum machine and emerges from it with superhuman abilities. Flora, a self-proclaimed cynic, and Ulysses quickly become fast friends. It’s clear that Flora’s second great love is comic books; thus, the story combines elements of both forms to show this. This book is great for reading aloud to your third grader or reading on their own.

Sarah Plain & Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

This product was recommended by Irene Graham from Spylix

Sarah Plain and Tall is the first book of a planned trilogy about Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, who, in the 19th century, moves from her home in Maine to the prairie to be with her widowed father and his two young sons. Anna and Caleb, both quite young, are very curious about Sarah before she leaves for that faraway land. Is there any indication of her character? Is there a chance that she’d enjoy them? Grab this book to find out, then put the remainder of the series on hold if you think your kid would be interested.

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