Children's Books for 3rd Graders
The Lotl Gang
The sea is warm, the sun is pink, and everything feels perfect - until the fish all vanish and something HUGE stares up from the deep. Who is hiding on the ocean floor? Can Jack, Zom, and Skel find someone brave enough to face a gang of honking, snapping axolotls? And is anyone truly never, ever scared? This decodable reader practises the ‘ph’ phonogram in words like ‘atmosphere,’ ‘phantom,’ ‘catastrophe,’ ‘phew,’ and ‘morphed.’
The Monkey on My Back
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 practising 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 practises the soft g sound in words like ‘gentle,’ ‘huge,’ ‘village,’ and ‘magic.’
The Need for Seed
Zom is tired of the quiet stone room while Skel is off hunting, so he decides to become a farmer! He builds a lovely planter, scoops up every seed he can find, and plants them in neat little rows. But what happens when wild chickens come stomping through? And horses? And sheep, cows, and pigs? Can Zom possibly save his garden - or will he end up with something far stranger? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘celery,’ ‘circus,’ ‘advice,’ and ’excellent.’
The Ocean World
Sara loves the water more than anything, and dreams that her little stream might one day carry her all the way to the sea. But what happens when a tiny, bossy fish called Pixie bursts out of the weeds and promises her a gift beyond imagining? Could there really be a secret world hiding beneath the waves, and might Sara be the very first human to find it? This decodable reader practises the ‘wr’ sound in words like ‘wriggled,’ ‘wrapped,’ ‘wrenched,’ and ‘wrinkled.’
The Odd Egg
Zom and Skel have raced to the top of a hill - but what is that strange, glowing egg Zom has found at the bottom? Nobody seems to want it. Not a hen, not a squid, not even a dragon! Will Skel ever find out what laid this odd egg, and what sort of creature might hatch out of it? This decodable reader practises the ‘kn’ phonogram in words like ‘knew,’ ‘kneel,’ ‘knocking,’ and ‘unknown.’
The Secret Prima Ballerina
Miss B walks with a cane and taps her way around the dance studio, calling out to her three giggling girls. But what if their sweet old teacher used to leap past gnarled bridges and float under starlight? What if she once danced on every stage in the world, from Paris to Rio? Could Miss B be hiding a dazzling secret behind that quiet tap, tap, tap? This decodable reader practices the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnarled,’ ‘reigned,’ ‘foreign,’ and ‘sign.’
The Swamp Hut
Deep in the misty swamp, a wooden shack sits high on stilts, wrapped in vines and guarded by a witch with too many teeth. Can Skel and his loyal dog Bones sneak past the gnarled trees, dodge glowing potions, and grab the glittering treasure inside? Or will Bones spot the witch’s black cat and blow the whole plan? This decodable reader practises the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnarled,’ ‘gnashing,’ ‘gnat,’ and ‘resigned.’
There Are Ants!
A long line of ants is marching straight across the yard, and they look hungry - very hungry! Where are they going, and how much food is enough for so many tiny mouths? From roller skates to a picnic blanket, from the kitchen cupboards to a sweet surprise on the counter, these tough little workers will not stop searching. Will they find the perfect snack? This decodable reader practises the ‘ough’ sound in words like ’thought,’ ’enough,’ ’tough,’ and ‘brought.’
Tonight, I Fight!
Every night, Ned locks his door, pulls the covers tight, and listens to the zombies groan outside. He’s tired of hiding from the monsters in his neighborhood - but what can one boy do against an army of creepers and skeletons? When The Book whispers about a weapon made of iron, could Ned finally be brave enough to stand and fight back the dark? This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram through words like ‘weigh,’ ‘weight,’ ’eight,’ and ’neighbor.’
Too Loud for Red!
Red made himself a big promise: walk through the whole noisy town without covering his ears, not even once. But with honking cars, zooming scooters, and drills rattling the road, can one small guy really keep his cool? And will he ever spot his friend’s bright red cap bobbing through the crowd? Join Red on a brave, bumpy, ear-splitting adventure! This decodable reader practises the augh phonogram in words such as ‘caught,’ ’taught,’ ’laughter,’ and ‘onslaught.’